Archive for July 12th, 2008

Judge won’t dismiss other Adelphia charges

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — A federal judge has refused to dismiss charges of conspiracy and tax evasion against the imprisoned founder of Adelphia Communications Corp. and his son, ruling the charges don’t amount to double jeopardy….

Supplementing Income Through Online Surveys

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Eric Rowe

If you can use a computer and have access to the Internet you can be earning money online. Anyone that has the interest and the desire to earn additional income can take advantage of what online survey companies have to offer. Whether you are a stay at home mom, a stay at home dad, a college student with a demanding class schedule, or a retiree looking for a little additional cash, online survey companies may be the solution for you.

Yes you truly can get paid to sit in the comfort of your own home and be your own boss. Working for online survey companies allows the freedom of choosing your own hours. All you have to do is be willing to let your opinion be heard. As hard as it is to believe companies will actually pay you to tell them what you honestly think of the product that they have to offer.

I bet you are wondering if companies would actually pay just anyone for his or her opinions. The answer is simple, of course they would! They are willing to pay for consumer opinions since you are saving the companies thousands in marketing costs.

By telling them what you like and what changes the companies can implement to improve products or services, you will help the companies increase revenue and perhaps even help open the products and services up to a larger market.

So just how much can you expect to make filling out online surveys? Well, since companies spend millions of dollars every year trying to find the best way to advertise their products and services, they are willing to pay consumers to help make their products more desirable. This is where you come in. Companies are willing to pay anywhere from $1.00 to $5.00 or more per survey to get honest opinions. Most companies know that consumers rush through free surveys and did not give honest, well thought out answers. When companies offer money consumers are more likely to take the job seriously.

If you are interested in a job that will help you pay your bills, take a vacation or maybe even buy a new car then online surveys may be for you.

There is money to be made and plenty of it, but if you want your share you have to be willing to take the time and fill out even the smallest surveys to show company’s that you are loyal and that you are not only looking for the big payout surveys. Be sure to fill out any questionnaire that the companies send you even if they aren’t paid ones, those questions are used by the company to get to know your interests and what products that you use.

If you have a moment go ahead and check online for paid survey opportunities. Consider even the lowest paying surveys but remember you should never have to pay a company for access to online surveys.

To learn more about finding paid survey companies and making extra income filling out paid surveys, visit Survey Wolf (http://www.surveywolf.com/), one of the leading authorities on paid online surveys.

Downfall of Reward Credit Cards

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Tom Tessin

Every individual wishes to have a credit card and having a cash back credit card just adds value to the credit card that you have. Money spent on a cash back card is money owned to the credit card company. If individuals have cash back cards, they stand a chance to win their money back.

People need to be extra careful, as there disadvantages to having cards. Any type cash back credit card charges interest rate. These rates are Annual Percentage Rates (APR). They differ from the introductory rate.

Some Of The Disadvantages Are:

If you do not pay the balanced amount, it will be added to the next monthly bill statement and will ultimately increase the amount you need to pay to the cash back credit card company. It consists of the original balance, the previous month’s balance and the new purchases that you make. In short, pay the minimum balance on time.

When there are repayments, the rate of interest that you need to pay to the credit company increases. The balance has to be paid in full to avoid these issues.

Companies require a minimum payment every month. When the usage of cash back credit card is regular, it is not possible to clear the outstanding balance, as it keeps increasing.

Next, missing payments also do not benefit cash back card holders. For example, it affects your credit card ratings as well. They get a negative rating, which may stop some of the benefits that come with these cash back credit cards.

You may have multiple cards. More cards mean more credit to spend, but it does not mean that you had increased your income. There is a huge danger, when multiple cash back cards are stolen. The thief might change the pin codes for all the cards and he/she may make the codes the same for all.

It is not easy to alter the codes and passwords of all these cards. Hence, the thief will end up using your identity to purchase goods. The interest rate for which has to be paid by the cash back credit card user, i.e., you.

Multiple credit cards have a negative effect on the cash back cardholders rating. In addition, having more than ten cash back credit cards is not advisable. It is wise to cancel unused credit cards.

Multiple credit card holders attract higher interest at different rates. You need to transfer or change it to zero balance accounts to avoid higher rates of interest.

Use the cards frequently to gain reward points. Prompt payments help you gain more rewards.

Cardholders need to keep their information such as passwords and pin codes secure. Cash back credit cardholders are responsible for any kind of security breach.

Cash back credit cards are the trendiest way of shopping. Finally, these cards are a type of financial obligation, and hence you have to use them intelligently and avoid falling prey to their disadvantages. Remember that even though there disadvantages to these cards, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Find reward credit cards and more of Tom’s work at FINDcashbackcards.com

What You Need to Know Before Applying For a Payday Loan

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Ashleigh Preston

Sometimes you might just need a bit of extra cash fast, and a payday loan may be right for you, but there may be other times when this would not be the ideal solution. Whenever you decide to apply for credit you need to consider your situation and the options available to you, and their associated costs, in order to select the best solution for you at the time.

A payday loan will not be right for everyone at all times. There may be times when you could borrow some extra cash from friends or family so as not to have to pay an interest fee, or times when you may need a larger, longer term loan or other solution to your credit problem.

Just as you would not always use a taxi whenever you need transport (for example if you had to travel from one side of the country to the other), but it could be your best option at times, payday loans may at times be a good option for you.

Payday loans, also know as payday advances, or cash advance loans, offer a means of gaining access to some extra cash fast. This could be ideal if you have an unexpected expense that needs paying and payday is too far away, or if you want to avoid going into unauthorised overdraft and don’t have enough money in your account to cover cheques and /or direct debit payments.

You need to be sure that you are not getting a payday loan for the wrong reason. It is not a solution for long-term credit or debt problems. It’s a quick fix in a situation when payday is too far off and you need a cash advance to tide you over until your wages come in.

These days payday loans can offer a very quick fix because you can simply apply online, without having to fax documents, get an instant online approval decision, and receive the money you need in your bank account that same day.

This service comes at a premium – but that premium may be worth paying for in certain situations when you need/want a cash loan fast.

Payday loans companies generally charge around 25% of the money they lend you in interest. (Although, if you are going to take out a payday loan, you should look around as some companies charge more than 25%.) For those payday loans providers that charge 25% interest, you would need to pay £20 interest for every £80 borrowed. The APR rate here would be in the 1,000s (typically around 1286.1% for a loan due for repayment 31 days away). However, APR is not necessarily the best way to asses the cost of credit for a payday loan, which is designed to paid off within a month. APR (Annual Payment Rate) shows the cost of borrowing money over the period of a year. It offers a standard means of comparing payment rates. However, payday loans are different from other loan offerings, primarily in that they are designed for much shorter payment terms, which inflate the payment rate when it’s worked out over the period of a year. It is no secret that payday loans charge high interest rates in comparison to larger and longer term loans. However, you may not always want to take out a larger loan. You may just need a relatively small amount of cash right away, and for a short time.

A payday advance is also generally a cheaper option than having to pay bank changes for having insufficient funds when direct debits are tried and when payments and spending go into unauthorized overdraft. Many banks charge around £35 for each direct debit or standing order payment that is tried with insufficient funds in an account and for every attempted cheque cashing.

However, if you are not going to be able to afford to pay back the cash advance loan on your payday or the following payday, then this may not be your best credit option. While most payday loan companies allow you to extend your payday loan to a subsequent payday, by paying the interest fee each month, this increases the amount you are paying for your credit and is, therefore, not generally advisable.

You need to be an informed consumer that weighs up all of the different options available to you in order to be able to choose the best solution for your need for credit.

Remember that a payday advance loan offers a solution to a short-term credit problem and use it accordingly, if it your best option in this situation and you are happy to pay the associated costs.

Ashleigh Preston – Marketing Manager – Payday Express offers a fast, effective service which is completely confidential. Range of loans includes payday loans, bridging loans and cash advance loans. They understand how costly life can be and how long the wait is until the next payday. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Ashleigh Preston Marketing Manager Payday Express Phone: 020 8461 6700 Email: ashleigh@expressfin.co.uk

Top 10 Considerations Before Deciding on Whether to Get a Payday Loan

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Ashleigh Preston

The payday loan service allows people to gain access to short term funding, for relatively small loans, fast. Before deciding to go down this credit route, you should make certain considerations to ensure that you are deciding on the best option for your situation.

1) Do you really need a Payday Loan?

Is it absolutely essential that you take out a payday loan? Or can that new outfit / ipod or week-end away wait?

If paying for something that you want, and the additional money in interest payments for a payday loan to be able to buy it, is going to stretch you so that you run out of money next month, then perhaps you should consider whether you could rather save up and buy what you need at a later date, rather than borrow money to pay for it.

Of course, if you are aware of the additional costs of buying or paying for something at the time you want it, and are happy with these, and can afford them from your next wage payment, then there should be no problem taking out a payday loan.

2) What is the length of time you need a cash advance for?

Cash advance payday loans are short-term loans. They are designed to bridge the gap between now and your next payday. If you need to borrow money for a lengthy period of time, then a payday loan won’t be ideal.

You can extend the repayment of a payday loan to a subsequent payday by paying the interest payment each month until you clear the full balance. However, the more you do this, the more your original loan costs you. So, if you plan to gain access t some additional money for a long period of time, you should look for alternative forms of credit.

3) How much money do you need to borrow?

Payday loans are typically valued between £80 - £800. However, payday loan providers are not likely to lend you £800 if you only earn £800 as the idea is that you can afford to pay back the payday loan on your next payday.

So, if you are looking to borrow more than £800 and/or more than you can afford to pay back on your payday, then you should look for alternative forms of credit.

4) Do you meet the criteria for a payday loan?

The criteria for most payday loans are as follows:

- To be over 18 years old

- To be a UK resident

- To be in full time employment

- To have a debit card for the bank account one’s wages are paid into.

By their very title, you are required to be in full time employment when applying for a payday loan. If you are a student or currently unemployed, you will not be able to apply for a payday advance.

Obviously, if you don’t meet these, then you will not be eligible for a payday loan.

Some payday loans companies also require that you have a cheque book. However, there are enough payday loan providers that don’t require this that you should be able to borrow from one that does not require this.

5) Are your wages paid directly into your bank account?

Most, if not all, payday loan companies will require a direct bank transfer of your wages onto your debit card account. If you are paid by cheque or cash, you will, therefore, not be eligible for a payday loan.

6) Can you afford to pay a payday loan back?

If you know that you are not going to be able to afford to repay a payday loan, then you should look elsewhere for a solution to your credit problem.

Payday loan providers will allow you to extend a payday loan by paying the interest each month until you can clear the full payday loan. However, it is not advisable to take out a payday loan planning to do this because it will make the cost of your cash advance more expensive than if you paid one interest fee for the advance.

7) Are you aware of the different processes involved in applying for a payday loan?

You need to decide what is important for you when applying for a payday loan. Some companies require that you provide various forms of documentation, including bank statements, on which to base your loan approval. This process can mean that you can’t receive a same day payday loan. If you want to get your cash advance as quickly as possible with the easiest application route, then you should look out for payday loan providers that offer same day instant cash loans online. You will then be able to apply online, receive an instant approval decision and get your cash that same day. Very often, however, they will carry out a credit check in order to be able to make the application process as quick as possible and to be able to offer faxless payday loans. If you do not mind having a credit check on your credit report, then this is a good route to be able to get cash fast.

8) Are you aware of the cost of a payday loan?

Before deciding to take out a payday advance loan you need to be aware of the costs and make sure that the benefits outweigh the costs for you.

Most payday loans companies charge an interest fee of 25% of the loan – although some charge more than this, so be sure to find one that doesn’t charge more if you decide to go with a payday loan.

All finance companies are required to quote an APR (Annual Payment Rate). At a 25% cost of credit for a loan due for repayment 31 days away the typical APR is 1286.1%. While this looks extremely high, one needs to bear in mind that APR involves looking at the payment rate annually, when a payday loan is due for repayment after a month. What is important is the cost of credit within that month – typically 25%. So, for every £80 you borrow, you need to pay £20 in interest. You need to consider whether you are happy to pay this amount of interest to be able to take advantage of the fast cash payday loan service.

9) Are you in a position where your credit and debts are getting uncontrollable?

If you already have a lot of outstanding credit / debt and are battling to meet monthly payments, then you should consider that a payday loan may not be a good option for you.

A payday loan should not be used as a means of solving long term credit / debt problems. If it is used in this way, it will more than likely only add to these problems. You should only take out a payday loan if you are going to be able to afford to pay it back and only if it is used for a short-term credit problem.

10) Is a payday loan your best option?

You need to consider what alternative options are available to you at a particular time and assess whether the benefits of a payday loan outweigh the benefits of its alternatives, also taking into account the cons, including costs, of the various options.

There are times when a payday loan may be a good option at a certain time and/or in a certain situation. You need to weigh up the costs and the benefits and decide whether it is the right form of credit for you at a particular time.

Ashleigh Preston – Marketing Manager – Payday Express offers a fast, effective service which is completely confidential. Range of loans includes payday loans, bridging loans and cash advance loans. They understand how costly life can be and how long the wait is until the next payday. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Ashleigh Preston Marketing Manager Payday Express Phone: 02088 601 161 Email: ashleigh@expressfin.co.uk

Proven Trading Methods of a Master Stock Trader

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Mark Crisp

There are two strategies involving the analysis of trading, the fundamental and technical analysis. Traders rely on these analytical strategies in making decisions. It is must be noted that each stock has its own trends and influencing factors, hence no specific strategy works for all.

Fundamental analysis is mostly used by traders because of the belief that various strategies should be mixed and combined in order to get the best result. Fundamental analysis takes into account all possible factors and elements that influence the market. However, the problem with this strategy is its shortfall in pinpointing the trends of stock prices. It may be able to predict upward or downward movements of prices but can not predict a close price range of the movement. Considering various factors will also create noise in the analysis process. Note that market factors are also dynamic and will not always cause the prices to move at a specific direction.

Technical analysis is used to predict future movements of prices using historical information available to traders. Traders know that prices follow a so-called trend or pattern. Normally, stock prices go down or go up at certain identified levels in the trend. Although historical trends are quite established facts, the dynamic characteristic of the market makes it foolish to think that the stock movement in the future will also behave like the past. However, past movements can be regarded as signals based on a common pattern or path in which the stock prices follow. Technical analysis may not be practical for newly issued stock due to the limited available historical information about the movement on which to base the analysis. Technical analysis allows traders to determine its entry and exit trading points in a rational way.

A specific method used in the analysis is the Elliot Wave. It defines the market movement through a five-wave formation. It suggests that the trend is composed of five waves going down — accumulation wave, correction wave, bigger wave, correction, and then speculative wave. The speculative wave is where the public participates in the trading. It is final wave and is followed by the end of a market cycle or trend. The fault with the Elliot Wave is that it lacks credibility. The great market crash in the early 2000 proved that the market do not necessarily follow a five-wave formation.

Another method is the Gann Line and Gann angle. It geometrically correlates time and price in terms of x and y axes. W.D. Gann called it squared charts and used 1/8 point scale for stocks. This method relies on the speed of stock movement and the changes in the prices of stock. A computer software is available to post the data on the Gann Line. The Gann Line tries to measure the slope of trends and predict potential reverse movement along those trends. Since the future is very uncertain, prediction solely based on Gann Line may proved futile. Even W.D. Gann himself wasn’t able to maintain his trading profits.

Somehow, trading methods must be studied well and can’t be solely relied upon. At times, it may best to combine the different methods available in order to mitigate risks and maximize profit potential.

Get your Momentum Stock Trading System and sign up for my free weekly online trading system newsletter here at: http://www.stressfreetrading.com

Iran sees “renewed strength” in South Pars gas work

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

TEHRAN - Iran’s oil minister has said it was working with “renewed strength” in developing a major gas field after French firm Total has said it would not invest in the project for now because of political tension.

US judge blocks gas drilling in Michigan forest

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A federal judge has overturned a decision by the United States Forest Service to allow oil and gas drilling near a forest and a river in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula….