ABC Money

Is it Worth Buying a 5G Mobile now or is it Worth Waiting?

Technology

Elliot

-

13 September 2019

Is it Worth Buying a 5G Mobile now or is it Worth Waiting?

The latest buzz in the world of mobile phone technology surrounds 5G, the fifth generation of mobile infrastructure. Given that data traffic is set to more than quadruple over the next five years, it’s a necessary step in ensuring that all of that data is able to travel quickly.

With the help of 5G, users will be able to stream in 4k and download entire movies in a matter of seconds. No longer will there be any network disruption for those trying to use their mobile internet in crowded venues, like sports arenas. And there are security advances to consider, too.

If you’re the sort of technophile that likes to live at the cutting edge, then you might be tempted to adopt a 5G-capable smartphone right from the word go. But whether this is worthwhile will depend on your personal circumstances.

5G is Fast

A 5G connection theoretically offers speeds of up to a whopping 10 Gbps. Whether these speeds are achievable in practice will depend heavily on the user’s location. In practice, an inner-city 5G user can expect speeds in the hundreds of megabytes, but that’s only once the infrastructure is in place.

5G will spread

As the technology becomes more widely adopted, providers will expend more and more effort in improving the infrastructure. If you already have a 5G-capable phone, you’ll be able to benefit from these improvements as soon as they happen. In the meantime, you’ll still be able to make use of the LTE infrastructure.

5G will have growing pains

Any technological transition of this magnitude is inevitably going to run into technical problems along the way, which will only be solved by rigorous EMC testing at every stage of the network, and a great deal of trial and error. The technology has still yet to become reliable, and you might run into patchy performance that falls well short of the advertised download speeds.

5G is expensive

At the moment, only the world’s most prestigious smartphones are able to access the 5G network. Which means, if you want to adopt early, you’ll be paying a hefty premium of more than £1000. For some, this price of entry might be justifiable – particularly if you’re living in the middle of London. For others, it might be a considerable barrier. If you wait, then you’ll find that the 5G technology filters quite quickly into the lower end of the market, and your initial investment will lose its value. Such is the price of early adoption!

As well as the cost of the handset, there’s a premium charged for data over a 5G network. You might find that your monthly bill goes up, even if you buy the phone outright. Naturally, you’ll need to go for an unlimited data package – otherwise, you could easily exceed your limit in a matter of seconds!

Is It Difficult for Businesses to Secure Funding Nowadays?

Elliot

-

12 September 2019

0

Is It Difficult for Businesses to Secure Funding Nowadays?

At one time, getting a business loan was a straightforward yet often lengthy process. There were no extensive checks, with loans being given out to a wide number of businesses. However, these days securing a business loan has become much more difficult.

While the process of actually getting a loan is much faster, the acceptance rate with traditional lenders is a lot lower. Here, we’ll look at why business loans are much more difficult to get and the options available when traditional lenders turn you down.

When starting a new business, one of the most important things to consider is how you will fund your equipment purchases. There are a number of ways on how to finance business equipment, including using a traditional loan from a bank, taking out an equity loan or financing through a private lender.

Why are loans more difficult to get?

The chance of being accepted for traditional loans has declined massively in recent years. There are a few reasons behind this, including stricter lending requirements.

Banks and other traditional lenders now carry out credit checks and require a minimum a of three years’ worth of accounts. Businesses need to have a very good credit rating in order to be accepted, and even then, they may not get the funding they’ve requested.

The cost of starting up a business has also risen. This means start-ups require more funding to get off the ground than they once did. Traditional lenders are often reluctant to lend higher sums of money to start-ups. The loans smaller businesses are applicable for are also often secured against assets. This means businesses without much in the way of assets don’t always get the funding they require.

Many small businesses delay growth due to funding

Due to the pitfalls of traditional lending, a lot of small businesses are holding back their growth. It’s not just the fear of not getting accepted which is holding them back, it’s the potential issues it may cause with the direction of the business.

There’s a fear that taking on investment from a bank or personal investor, would cause them to lose control over where the business goes. So, many business owners are reluctant to rely on finance. This of course means that they’re unable to grow without additional funding.

The alternative options available

Although getting accepted for traditional funding is more difficult, the good news is there’s lots of alternative options.

As well as non-traditional business loan lenders, there’s also options such as a Merchant cash advance. This allows businesses to secure funding against future sales. Crowdfunding is another popular option, along with short term, unsecured business loans. It’s important for businesses to research the options open to them before choosing the best source of finance to fit their requirements.

While traditional lending has become more difficult for businesses to acquire, there’s plenty of alternative options available. It’s not hard to see why alternative funding has become a more popular option for those seeking finance for their start-up and small business.

Why Businesses Should Look at More Sustainable Methods of Working

Business

Elliot

-

12 September 2019

0

Sustainability has become a major focus for businesses today. Regardless of industry, sustainability is crucial in terms of remaining competitive and helping the environment. By developing a strong sustainable strategy, it increases the chance of a business’s long-term success.

Here, we’ll look at some of the reasons why businesses should look at more sustainable methods of working. You’ll also discover some of the best ways to make your company more sustainable.

Why is sustainability important?

There are a number of reasons why sustainability is important for today’s businesses. The most obvious is its benefits on the environment. Global warming remains a serious threat to the planet, forcing us to look at ways we can reduce our carbon footprint. Developing a more sustainable business helps to protect the environment and future-proof the company.

Due to how important sustainability has become, many stakeholders and investors now demand a company be more sustainable before they’re willing to invest. So, if your business wants to bring in an investor, it’s going to need to make sure sustainability is high on its list of priorities. Similarly, customers also look to do business with companies that are eco-friendly.

These are just a couple of reasons why sustainability has become so important for businesses. The question is, how can you make your business more sustainable?

How can businesses improve sustainability?

Businesses have a number of options when it comes to making their company more sustainable. These include:

Minimising odours
Recycling
Investing in greener technologies
Water management
Change to LED bulbs

If your business generates a lot of odours, this isn’t great for air pollution. Not only are odours unpleasant, but they also cloud the surrounding atmosphere, contributing to increased pollution levels. Investing in professional odour control services can help the business to reduce its impact on the environment.

Setting up a good recycling scheme is also a great idea. You can also invest in greener technologies. This includes greener equipment and switching to green energy suppliers. These specialise in renewable energies, minimising their impact on the environment.

Water management can also ensure you aren’t wasting too much water. Meanwhile, making simple changes such as switching to LED bulbs in the workplace can also make a surprising difference to your sustainability. While LED bulbs are more expensive initially, they deliver excellent cost savings in the long term.

As you can see, sustainability is extremely important for today’s businesses. It’s easier than you might think to start adopting sustainable practices into your company. The above are just some of the ideas you can use to ensure your business is sustainable. While it can be expensive initially implementing these changes, you’ll save a great deal of money in the long-term.

Instagram influences holiday choices of more than 10.6Million Brits

Holidays

Elliot

-

6 September 2019

0

Instagram influences holiday choices of more than 10.6Million Brits

According to a new study, upwards of 10.6 million Brits are said to be shunning more traditional guidebooks and holiday brochures and turning instead to social media for inspiration and making bookings regarding their travel plans.

The research, conducted by villa holiday tour operator Villa Plus, surveyed 1,000 British tourists to determine what factors influence their getaways, and which services they turn to when it’s time to book.

Results showed that despite more than a third of Brits admit to being influenced by friends and family when it comes to the holiday-making process, social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, now play a key role in both the way in which Brits browse for holiday inspiration and the method we turn to for making that all important booking too.

Coming a long way since it’s humble beginnings, platforms such as Instagram are now much more than a way of showcasing your holiday snaps. In fact, advancements in the software means users can are now no longer restricted to simply browsing their grid for inspiration but can now also buy or book life’s luxuries such as holidays too – and many of the products needed to take away with you as well.

The data mirrored said advancements and the clear generational shift in terms of both travel priorities and the way in which social media is utilised.

For more than a fifth of 25-34 year olds (22.2%), ensuring your vacation destination is “Instagram-worthy” was a main priority, whilst in contrast, more than a quarter of 55-64 year olds prefer to prioritise the experience itself, admitting they would actively attempt to relive their previous holidays time and again.

For some, price is much more appealing than and the perfect Instagram snap. Men were found to be the more frugal of the sexes, as nearly four times more men than women were likely to choose a location based on whether they could source a cheap deal.

The research also revealed which cities are most influenced by the Instagrammability of their vacation spot:

1. Newcastle (22.7%)
2. Manchester (20.6%)
3. Belfast (20.1%)
4. Birmingham (18.4%)
5. Glasgow (16.3%)

Newcastle claimed the crown, as upwards of 52,000 Geordies believed that an Insta-worthy location was paramount when deciding where to book their holiday.

Despite a fifth of those hailing from Manchester also admitting to being heavily influenced by social media when making choices in relation to location, just 2% stated that they had used the platforms to make a booking.

Similarly, when it came to the booking stage, over a fifth (21%) of 65+ year olds reveal they still prefer more traditional methods, opting to complete these transactions over the phone.

That said, more than 10% of Belfast residents, however, claim to have done so directly through social media. There are many things to do in Belfast, the reason why many people choose it to be a perfect place for a holiday

Further information can be found here: https://villaplus.blog/2019/07/23/how-do-you-choose-your-next-destination/

Simon Lifford, Head of Sales and Marketing from Villa Plus, commented on the findings:

“With the advancement of social media, more and more people want to be able to travel to different locations and share their experiences over social media platforms. As such, it’s inevitable that with the increased influx of these posts, people are constantly exposed to breath-taking views, beautiful beaches and crystal-clear water, and understandably the rise in said platforms influencing the decisions of holiday makers is becoming an epidemic.

“Social media provides a platform where users can explore different destinations at the touch of a button, so it’s no surprise to see the rise in Brits using these networks to book their holiday locations too.

“With social media becoming the norm for holiday inspiration, we predict that this phenomenon will only prosper, and we’re excited to see where it goes from here.”

Top 10 best business wallets for men

Fashion

ABC Staff

-

5 September 2019

0

The best business wallets for men combining style and function

Some days you need to carry your whole life in your wallet and some days all you need are the essentials. What is always needed though, is a wallet that looks sharp and compliments the rest of your business attire, such as Harber London business wallets. Made from durable leather with a focus on style and function, they meet the requirements of a fast paced business life. In order to find the best suitable business wallet for your own needs though, it might be good to have some suggestions as to the kind of varieties that are out there.

The top 10

1. Bifold Wallet – the first variety has the ability to carry everything from cash to credit/debit cards to driver’s license. The stunning bifold design is slimming and it is often possible to choose from a variety of different colours. The bifold wallet is made to be practical as well as beautiful and as such there is easy access to the different card compartments and they often weigh next to nothing in themselves.

2. Card Wallet with RFID protection – another bifold variety only this time with RFID protection as well as room for all of your cards.

3. Bifold Zip Wallet – similar to the previously mentioned bifold wallet with the addition of a zip coin compartment for any loose change.

4. Zip Coin Wallets – this kind is of a smaller variety but still has the ability to carry both cash and cards. The size makes it a perfect fit for the inner pocket of the business suit.

5. Minimalist Wallet – also referred to as a card holder and here minimalistic is the operative word as these types of wallets are made with the intent of only carrying cards. The incredibly slim design will offer anywhere between two to eight pockets for your cards and little else. Minimalist wallets come in a multitude of colours as well as fabrications and sizes.

6. Leather Snap Card Holder – in the same category as the minimalist wallet but with the added snap lock for safety.

7. Travel Wallet – today’s business life often contains travel and at times you might need something more substantial when dashing between destinations. A travel wallet will fit currency, passport, cards and any additional travel documentation that you might need. Perhaps not as slim as the previous varieties but practical nonetheless.

8. Slim Leather Passport Wallet – this version of the travel wallet will still carry everything you need for your business trip with a few exceptions. The elegant design offers functionality as well as style.

9. Wallet Organiser for Smartphones – this variety will keep your phone secure as well as any cards and/or money. When business calls for you to constantly be available this is the perfect solution.

10. Leather Smartphone Sleeve Wallet – another perfect fit for your phone and your money while on the road. This wallet is great when you need to keep tabs on your phone and your finances without carrying your briefcase as well.

Choose the best business wallet for you

These 10 suggestions for the best business wallets for men is not an exhaustive list but it does give a pretty good indication as to the different varieties that are available.

The Importance of Certified Channel Sales Training for Channel Managers

Business

Claire James

-

5 September 2019

0

The Importance of Certified Channel Sales Training for Channel Managers

Ask anyone who works in the channel and you will soon find that two schools of thought exist. One says that channel sales and marketing are merely offshoots of their mainstream brethren and do not require specialist knowledge. The second school asserts that channel business is a discipline in its own right and demands specialist training and certification.

Business training in areas such as channel management and channel marketing has traditionally been provided by employers or consulting companies on an ad hoc basis, leaving a major skills and knowledge gap in the industry. This has been particularly true for new entrants to the profession, who typically come from end-user sales or marketing. These professionals are often recent graduates who are “thrown in at the deep end” of channel management and partner marketing, or simply put through an employer’s own training academy that rarely focuses on industry-wide best practices.

Research was published by the Channel Institute showing the importance to employers of channel management certification for both new hires and career progression. The Channel Institute polled more than 400 Channel VP’s and Directors at large technology companies to learn what they look for when hiring new Channel Account Managers. There were two surprising results: “Innovation & Creativity” and “Commitment to the channel”. These were accompanied by the more commonly expected factors of “Business Acumen”, “Relationship Building” and “Flexible Delivery”.

Innovation and Creativity.

This is not something that was highlighted in previous research by third parties, but innovation and creativity is a skill that appears to have jumped up the rankings. Heads of Channel want to know that new team members can think on their feet and bring new insights that can be shared across the entire channel team. This was mentioned as being particularly important for channel management teams working with channel partners that are still trying to adapt their business to cloud-based models.

Commitment to the Channel.

The second most frequently reported response was that candidates take the channel profession seriously, and do not merely consider it “another type of sales job”. This category covers channel management training topics such as a clear knowledge of how channels work, the channel landscape, and excellent skills in joint business planning. Channel leaders are clearly raising the bar on the profession, recognizing that the subtleties associated with channel management require training skills that can only be acquired through a combination of formal channel training and experience, as opposed to the more ad-hoc learning approaches of the past.

Job candidates could set themselves apart from the crowd through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) with a business training qualification specifically in channel management or channel marketing. This was particularly important for those companies hiring candidates that are relatively new to the channel profession.

Business Acumen.

The runaway number one sought after skill falls into the general category of “business acumen”. This covered responses such as understanding of new business drivers (AI, Business Transformation, Digital Co-Marketing, Social Selling, etc.) and how these will impact on channel partner profitability. New CAM’s need to quickly grasp the consequences for channel partners of increasingly shifting towards service delivery with recurring revenue models and the impact of this on a business and its profitability. This includes the effective use of tools such as joint business plan templates.

Relationship Skills.

Communication skills, empathy and the ability to develop relationships and trust are obvious skills that any successful Partner Account Manager must possess. These skills were identified as being a basic requirement in channel training and not something that would make a candidate stand out from the crowd.

Flexible Delivery.

Finally, many respondents highlighted that Channel Managers operate in a world that is affected by many stakeholders, and many factors are entirely outside of their control. The ability to maintain focus in the face of turbulence, managing unpredictability and still deliver sales results was identified as a key training requirement.

The top 5 factors listed in order of priority are:

Business Acumen.
Channel knowledge and commitment.
Innovation and creativity.
Relationship building.
Flexible delivery.

Key Learnings:

In our opinion at the Channel Institute there are five key takeaways from this research to help channel professionals progress their career:

Emphasise your channel management training and business acumen.
Channel-specific CPD and channel-business certification is essential to prove your commitment to the channel profession.
Demonstrate “outside-the-box” thinking.
Prove your communication and empathy skills.
Convince employers that you can deliver in the face of unforeseen disruptions.

Building further on this research, the Channel Institute conducted additional research into what future challenges channel leaders see coming for their channel partners. Although a wide range of challenges were mentioned by respondents, there were three standout challenges that were mentioned most frequently and appeared key to success:

Data Management.
Vision and Capabilities
Proving ROI.

According to Meaghan Sullivan, Head of Global Channels at SAP, “Channel partners that are locked into traditional ways of thinking and marketing are likely to get left behind. There are a variety of new partners coming into the market such as a new brand of ISVs which create an expanded ecosystem. The partners that are able to embrace modern marketing techniques and have greater fluency in digital marketing will have much greater opportunities in 2019 and beyond.”

Michelle Chiantera, VP Global Partner Marketing at Cisco says: “Our channel partners will need data and insights about their customers in order to provide them with personalised touchpoints. Data is the fuel that will help them gain deep insights about their customers, become more personal with them, and further drive loyalty and advocacy.”

The aim of the Channel Institute is to bring a more formal, standardised structure to training for channel business professionals. In particular, the Institute aims to focus on the vastly under-served segment of training and certification for those that are relatively new to the channel management profession.

The Institute provides two certified channel sales training courses for channel sales professionals: The Certificate in Channel Management and the Certificate in Channel Sales. Both courses are 100% online with an exam and lead to Certified Channel Professional status.

The Certificates in Channel Marketing and Digital Co-Marketing are also ideal for those charged with channel partner marketing and channel partner training at technology reseller companies, to help them understand vendor-independent global best practices in co-marketing.

Becoming Self-Sufficient: How And Why To Do It

Finance

Claire James

-

5 September 2019

0

Becoming Self-Sufficient: How And Why To Do It

It sounds like a dream come true – living via your own means, not having to work for a salary and not needing to rely on supermarket trips to get food. Instead, you live through nature, growing your own food and becoming truly self-sufficient. Pure bliss.

While this all sounds great, is it actually practical and possible to live like this, on a solely self-sufficient basis? Put simply – not really, but, as the case of the Watkinson family proves, that shouldn’t stop you from doing as much as you can to live independently.

Whether you live in an apartment or on a farm with 200 acres of land, every single one us can do more to become more self-sufficient. Plus, with the UK Government aiming to reduce greenhouse gases to almost zero by 2050, we all need to contribute in our own way to making the planet a much more environmentally friendly place.

Whether it be installing a renewable energy heat pump or simply growing your own food, we can all do something. Here are some of the key reasons why living self-sufficiently is so important, and some effective strategies you should think about implementing.

Reasons for becoming self-sufficient

Everyone has a different reason for wanting to become more self-sufficient. From personal reasons, like wanting to improve someone’s diet, to political justifications, like wanting to ‘stick it to the man’, here are some of the common reasons why people choose to live independently.

One of the main reasons for becoming self-sufficient, many people want to prepare themselves for any potential catastrophe, such as an end to cheap oil, political threat or a zombie apocalypse. Living by your own means can give you peace-of-mind and security in the event of a disaster.
A self-sufficient person may believe that the current social structure is wrong, and that the food infrastructure is badly organised, finding issues with the cultural habits of over-consumption and food waste. By choosing to become more independent, this person could remove themselves from that culture, and start to feel more connected with an already disconnected society.
Perhaps the simplest explanation for self-sufficiency is the personal satisfaction that people gain from the lifestyle. Whether it be growing their own food, raising their own animals or building their own home, people take pride in being able to provide for their family and enjoy the principle of living via their own means.
It’s no secret that climate change is happening – the sea levels are rising, atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing, and ice caps are shrinking. People are becoming more and more aware of their own carbon footprint and are doing all they can to protect the planet. Choosing to be self-sufficient is one of the most effective ways of doing this, by reducing your waste output and heating your home via renewable energy.

How to become more self-sufficient

There are so many different ways you can make you and your home more self-sufficient. Here are five of the main ideas to get you started:

Renewable energy.

Wherever you live, you are going to need energy of some kind. Now, to become more self-sufficient, you simply have to use a form of renewable energy – whether that be solar energy, a heat pump or a biomass heating system.

Being able to produce your own electricity and pay less each month is one of the best parts about living self-sufficiently. Whatever happens in the rest of the world, you can rest assured that you will always have energy when you need it.

Food and Water.

One of the easiest ways to become more self-sufficient is by growing or sourcing your own food. Fruit and vegetables can be easily grown using a few seeds and a bit of knowledge, whereas raising your own animals – such as chickens, goats or bees – can provide you with a constant source of produce. Plus, learning how to fish and hunt properly can be a highly effective way of finding your own food.

In terms of water, you need to ensure you waste as little as possible, so think about installing a greywater system. Also, install a few rain barrels or water butts in your garden to collect water to use as and when you need it. Whether you want to water your plants, wash your dishes or purify it for your own use, you should avoid using water from the tap as much as possible.

Think about finances.

If you choose to ditch your job and live completely independently, you are going to need to secure your finances somehow. Earning your own income is important not just for clearing your debts, but also for ensuring you can continue to live in the event of an emergency, or if your crop yield fails.

Whether you choose to sell your own eggs, lemonade, goats’ milk – whatever – having your own source of income can also help maintain relationships with the self-sustained community. After all, we all need relationships in our life, so shopping for other environmentally-sourced goods from fellow self-sufficient living people ensures you meet this need.

Some things to avoid.

Domestic appliances are serious energy-guzzlers. While some may be required more than others, avoid using your dishwasher and clothes dryer when you can, and start hand washing your clothes using your collected rainwater. Also, think about getting rid of your TV – not only do they use a lot of energy, but they also drain you of your time. Remove it from your life and you’ll be surprised at how much more productive you become.

You should also avoid using products with harsh chemicals in, such as cleaners or bleaches. These are bad for the environment, so follow this guide to learn how to create your own eco-friendly alternatives.

Some things to learn.

Without that TV in your life, you will free up so much more time to learn new things. Whether you choose to do some thing that increases your revenue, or a new skill that will help you in the long run, here are some things you could learn to do in order to increase your self-sufficiency:

How to sew, knit or crochet.
How to make your own candles.
How to make your own soap.
How to make a fire.
How to tap trees.
How to forage.
How to make butter, cheese and yoghurt.
How to utilise the medicinal use of herbs.
How to fish, hunt and butcher.

In conclusion…

Choosing to become more self-sufficient can not only help protect the planet, but make you feel better at the same time. Whether you choose to embed one or all of the strategies we talk about here, you will be making a difference whatever you do, and should find you feel a lot more productive as a result.

How To Complain To The Financial Ombudsman About A Debt Collector or Bailiff

Legal

Claire James

-

5 September 2019

0

How To Complain To The Financial Ombudsman About A Debt Collector or Bailiff

Have you ever been in debt and the debt collectors won’t let you be in peace? If you find yourself in that situation, you could contact the financial ombudsman service for their help.

Companies like Marstons debt collectors Rossendales ltd and Lowell Financial Solicitors are usually hired to act as debt collectors. These companies can be hard to deal with, and they can harass you to clear the debt.

They go to the extent of threatening you that they will register you with the CCJ. When you file a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), they can help you make a plan that can work for you and allow you to pay the debt without being harassed.

Get In Touch

You need to get in touch with the financial ombudsman and file your complaint. When you get your complaint to the FOS, the case may be taken by the handler instantly. Sometimes the FOS may need time to get the right person who can handle your cases.

When you get a case handler, they will try to meet up with you. Then they can ask you to give them any additional information they may be having. This includes a final copy of the final response they sent to you.

Moreover, they take their time to get in touch with the company and hear both sides of the story. This is to give them an insight into your complaint and have all the details.

When you get more information, you can contact your handler. Also, the handler may need more information about your business. This gives them all the knowledge they may need concerning what your business is all about and why you needed to borrow money.

The Communication Process

After filing a complaint with the financial ombudsman services, you need to sit and be patient and don’t contact the bailiff. This is to avoid any complaints between you and the debt collectors.

The FOS communicates to you via phone calls or writing. This is to ensure that they don’t take up most of your time with face to face meetings. They keep everything clear and straightforward.

Also, they have special ways of communication if you have visual or any other problem. They can communicate using braille, large text, or the British sign language.

This is to ensure that you can understand each other clearly. This ensures that their communication between the money lenders and your business is going okay. Also, you get to know all the information about the complaint and how it is going.

Reviewing All The Information

When the FOS has collected all the information, they will let you know if the company treated you fairly. They need to ensure that you are on the right track to avoid you getting registered with the CCJ for not paying your loan.

The FOS explains the reasons for their conclusion. If the company treated you unfairly and harassed you when asking for the loan, they let them know how to make things right.

After the final view is given both you and the company take their time to go through the reason behind it. If you both agree with the final verdict, the case is closed. You both come up with ways to treat each other right depending on who was on the wrong.

If you don’t agree with the final decision, you can file for another complaint. Ensure you provide more information that can make them change their view. When they go through the new information, they provide they may change their mind or not. They will let you know the decision they make after going through everything.

Taking Your Complaint A Step Further

When you have been given the final verdict and still feel like they have made the wrong ruling, you can ask for a case referral. This means that your case is given to an ombudsman.

The ombudsman takes its time going through all the provided details and information. If you have any new information, this is the time you provide it. They take your case as a new case and take their time going through the details.

After going through the information, the ombudsman makes their decision. After the final decision and you accept it. The company may be asked to give you compensation for your trouble.

If you still feel like the decision made was not the right one, you have every right to disagree. You can take any legal action, but the FOS is not involved.

How Long The Process Takes

The process length is usually determined by how complex your situation is. Also, how much time it takes to obtain the needed information. Additionally, if you don’t require an ombudsman to make a final decision, the process is much faster.

If you only had a misunderstanding with the debt collector, the case usually proceeds faster. Also, if your situation is urgent, you need to get in touch with the FOS and tell them the situation.

Conclusion

Debt collectors can be hard to deal with, and sometimes they can harass you. When you need to avoid all this, and you need to have a new plan on how to pay your debt, you can contact FOS. They listen to your complaint and come up with a final verdict on how to pay the debt.

5 Most Successful Casino Players that Edge the House

Finance

ABC Staff

-

5 September 2019

0

5 Most Successful Casino Players that Edge the House

Every casino house is designed with an edge to profit from every game. However, there are a few gamblers who have surpassed the norm. These people have mastered their act and beaten land-based casino games through high intelligence and determination, which wouldn’t be possible when playing Roulette or Blackjack online. In this piece, we will reveal the five most successful casino players of all time.

1. Edward Thorp

During his time, Edward Thorp was a mathematics professor and an enthusiast of blackjack. After a series of game time, he realized that there is a mathematical method to beat the game. Thorp simulated a billion hands of blackjack to understand the game better.

He discovered that smaller cards are more beneficial to the dealers. However, when they are placed on the deck, the advantage edge would shift to the players. Hence, the best move is to bet more. With his method, he figured that it is possible to earn 5% advantage over the house. For years, he won severally from Vegas casinos with his accomplices. However, once he started winning an outrageous amount from the casinos, many casinos owner banned him from their house. Thorp went on to develop the “ten count system,” and eventually, he was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame.

2. Richard Marcus

In history, Marcus is one of the most successful gamblers in the world. He developed the popular roulette strategy known as “The Savannah.” This method works by betting a low denomination of chips to avoid attention from casino owners. Anytime that he won, he would be excited just like any average gambler.

However, while the dealers are wondering why he was so happy for such a regular win, he would then hit them hard. Marcus would reveal a brown $500 chip beneath the three $5 chips to the dealer; a chip which has been placed there right from the start by him. But if Marcus failed to win, he would take out the $00 chip secretly.

Over time, Marcus and his groups started placing $5,000 chips beneath the $100 ones. However, Marcus was caught eventually after raking in more than $5 million in profits.

3. MIT Blackjack Team

This team consists of a few students from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who came together to develop a statistics-based system. The system is designed to beat Blackjack – and it was successful. These students asked colleagues to join them in a bid to learn the system of card counting, which gave them an edge over the house.

The team was able to lower their chances of getting caught, and after several hours of perfecting their system, they visited a real live casino.

With backing from several investors, they were able to beat many Vegas casinos with more than $400,000 winnings in one weekend. Before long, some casinos noticed their game and they were forced to stop after a legal battle. Nevertheless, the team went away with over $5 million in profit.

4. Louis “The Coin” Colavcchio

Colavcchio was an expert in duplicating precious metals and stones. However, he used the duplicate to win as a professional gambler. After FBI raided his house, several hundreds of duplicated slot tokens from different casinos were found. Colavcchio, also known as The Coin, was able to beat several casinos in North America before he was caught by the law.

Casino owners began to notice the activities of Colavcchio when a massive amount of coins were showing up on the inventory of casinos located in other parts of the continents. While the exact amount won by Colavcchio wasn’t known, it is believed that it will worth up to $500,000.

5. Ida Summers

During the ’60s and ’70s, Ida successfully raked in several thousands of dollars from casinos with guile and shiftiness. While using the famous “hand-mucking” on the blackjack tables, she would conceal a card, which had been removed from the game. Afterward, she will then reintroduce the card with sleight of hand to benefit herself.

With her amazing look and figure, Ida was able to switch cards without drawing attention to the game. She successfully used her cunning ways to enter Las Vegas, where she introduced cold decks and coolers to her game. For a long time, Ida was invincible, until FBI caught up with her.

And there you have the five most successful casino players to have edged past the house. With their trickery, smartness, and intelligence, they were able to win a massive amount from the casinos.

Author of The Magnesium Miracle Dr. Carolyn Dean Discusses the Power of Magnesium for Brain Function

Health

Claire James

-

1 September 2019

0

Author of The Magnesium Miracle Dr. Carolyn Dean Discusses the Power of Magnesium for Brain Function

There has been much evidence come to light in recent years regarding the positive effects of magnesium on human brain function. Magnesium deficiency has been highlighted as an underlying cause for many conditions affecting the neural system, including Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, depression and even fear. Magnesium can also be used to successfully aid and enhance recovery from conditions such as brain trauma, stroke and a variety of other ailments.

Dr. Carolyn Dean has authored many medical books, exploring both traditional and alternative medicines. These include The Magnesium Miracle, which includes more than 600 well-researched references to scientific and medical evidence of the health benefits of this mineral.

Reversing Brain Ageing

One research study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology looked at how to overcome poor absorption of magnesium after identifying the role the mineral plays in slowing down or even reversing ageing in the brain.

The study, which was performed on rats, utilized a unique magnesium compound known as magnesium-L-threonate, which is more easily absorbed and was shown to increase levels of magnesium in the brain by up to 15%. This increase in brain magnesium led to improvements in brain plasticity, which is the term used to describe the ability of the brain to form new connections.

The plasticity of the human brain naturally deteriorates as we age, making it more difficult to store new information and retain memory. The results of this study, which were published in 2016, showed beyond doubt that raising magnesium levels in the brain resulted in significant, direct improvements in memory and learning.

Unfortunately, this study and the marketing afterwards led the public to believe that magnesium-L-threonate was the only magnesium that could breech the blood brain barrier. The study compared the L-threonate magnesium to another magnesium and found only a 7% increase in magnesium in the cerebrospinal fluid – hardly a wide margin to declare superiority. There is copious evidence that any magnesium, no matter how poorly absorbed, will have a positive effect on the brain. Within a year of the publication of this study, the cost of magnesium L-threonate increased by 300%.

Mood Elevation

There have been various studies into the effect of magnesium on disorders affecting our mood, including depression, anxiety, irritability and even psychosis. Magnesium has long been used as a home remedy for all manner of emotional ailments.

Case studies and controlled trials have identified magnesium as a remedy for sleeplessness, hypomanic depression, postpartum depression, cravings, anxiety and irritability, among many other conditions. Some physicians believe that incidence of depression is on the rise due to a wider prevalence of magnesium deficiency among the global population.

Magnesium performs up to 1,000 essential tasks and 80% of known metabolic function within the human body. One of these is suppressing the stimulation of the hippocampus for stress hormone release. Stress has been identified as an underlying cause of many mental health disorders.

NMDA Receptors

Nerve cells in the human body contain NMDA receptors (N-methyl-D-aspartate), which aid the development of the brain, learning and memory functions. Magnesium acts as a gatekeeper between these NMDA receptors and the brain, relaying messages back and forth between brain and body. Magnesium works to prevent weak signals from triggering these receptors unnecessarily in healthy adults. Low magnesium levels result in these weak signals getting through, which leads to overstimulation. The effects of overstimulation can lead to the death of nerve cells, which can ultimately result in brain damage in extreme cases.

Headaches and Migraines

Headaches and migraines can be alleviated in many cases by administering magnesium. Research has shown that around 80% of patients suffering from chronic migraines found that their levels of pain were significantly reduced within just 15 minutes when an IV administered ionized magnesium. Around half of all people who suffer from migraines are found to have deficient levels of magnesium and as many as 60% of chronic migraine sufferers have a decreased ability to metabolize magnesium due to genetic changes.

Dr. Carolyn Dean recommends taking ReMag supplements regularly to ensure a healthy level of magnesium is always maintained. ReMag is designed specifically to be absorbed properly and achieve saturation levels (without the laxative effect), readily crossing the blood brain barrier and providing enough magnesium for optimum brain function.

5G is Fast

5G will spread

5G will have growing pains

5G is expensive

The best business wallets for men combining style and function

The top 10

Choose the best business wallet for you

1. Edward Thorp

2. Richard Marcus

3. MIT Blackjack Team

4. Louis “The Coin” Colavcchio

5. Ida Summers

ABC Money 2025 - 1st Edition