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For most students who incurred various debts and loans opted for a college loan consolidation. For the most students the benefits and advantages out weights the pitfalls. Thus understanding the basics of college loan consolidation gives more options.

Few families and high-school students can afford to pay for a traditional college education without some financial aid, either in the availability of loans or scholarships. Many students who have student loans and are getting stress out with their financial management choose to take a college loan consolidation.

Students currently enrolled in high school that are looking towards the future and college, may not have the costs of their schooling in mind when considering where to apply. Student loan consolidation basically lowers the monthly payment for all the student loans taken earlier.



You can always engage remission if you make a college loan consolidation or a school loan consolidation for all your student loans. Federal Student Loans set up several benefits over private loans. Applying for financial aid or student loan consolidation can seen overwhelming, but it is really quite steady.

Stafford Loans are low interest rate loans borrowed in the students own name. There is no credit report review. Co-signers are not required. The funds for Stafford Loans are provided by private lenders and are subsidized and guaranteed by the Federal government. Generally, federal consolidation loans are easier to put than their private consolidation loan counterparts.

The Direct Federal Loan Consolidation program offers a special income-contingent option to students who permit borrowed at a heavy level. One of the advantages to a consolidation loan is that the new interest rate is a weighted average of the interest rates of the combined loans rounded to the nearest 1/8 of a percent. Even if you put already consolidated loans before, we can refinance lone loan from solitary institution. Stafford loans, PLUS loans, private loans, they are all eligible for consolidation.

Varying scholarships put varying requirements If you are going to settle upon a college loan consolidation or a school loan consolidation get hold of sure to look for the lowest rate of interest so that will not hurt you in the long run. Scholarships are provided by colleges and universities to their prospective students, as well as by private organizations, churches, insurance and mutual companies, and public service organizations. All scholarships carry fostering deadlines and minimum requirements. It is also always a good idea to find your high school counselor to check into local scholarships.

Most scholarships are based on academic merit, athletic skills, religious affiliations, gender, or ethnicity. Many students interested in obtaining assistance with future college costs, apply for specific scholarships.

The Federal Stafford Loans, available to both undergraduate and graduate students, are one of the top-notch affordable ways to pay for school. No credit check is required during the wizardry and there are no fees (in fact, the government prohibits lenders from charging fees) and no exercises verifications The improvement consists of a short federal form listing your contact answer and detailing the loans you owe, who currently holds them and what the balances and interest rates are. Anyone with qualifying federal student loans or federal parent loans is eligible for student loan consolidation.

You can apply as soon as you finish school or after your loans go into a grace or repayment period.Be aware that your current lender may view you as a captive customer and as a result may not be as motivated to offer you additional incentives to consolidate.

In order to permit a better handle on your debt burden, accept a school loan consolidation or college loan consolidation. Given the government sympathize with and subsidy, consolidation loans are very profitable for private lenders.

Being well armed with the knowledge and understanding of college loan consolidation may give you the advantage of negotiating a better deal. College loan consolidation is available to almost any student but you to apply and qualify for it.

Numerous students get stuck in great difficulties of the economical when the time comes to pay the college fee, hostel charge, purchase new books and other pending expenditures. In these conditions they are in need of bridging cash to fulfill these requirements but they don’t have urgent cash. For such conditions College Loans For Students are suited option. With the help of College Loans For Students they can workout any type of problem of the education. People can opt for federal student loans, which is the most usually used and can be of two types, subsidized and unsubsidized. In case of subsidized loan, the government, not students, pays interest on the loan. However, these loans are granted to only those individuals who are already facing huge debts. In case of unsubsidized loans, interest is paid by students and is not delayed until after the student graduates. College loans are mainly two type of loans as College Loans For Students and other college loans for private students that can be provided to any one who has excellent credit score; it can be used for assorted expenses. These types of loans are known unsecured loans. As a result there is no need collateral, that’s why the rate of interest is slightly more than secured loans. The people suffering with default arrears, CCJs or bankruptcy are also worthy applying for College Loans For Students. The remuneration of the College Loans For Students there is no need to get into the credit rating and no paper work. The lenders who are attached with College Loans For Students ask the borrowers to fulfill few criteria as he/she must be more than 18 years, their active checking account must be at least 6 months old in the college bank account, they must be any UG or PG degree and they must have a residential proof of USA country. If the borrower has all the criteria, the College Loans For Students is wired in their college account within few hours on the same day. These types of loans are availed by the parents or the guardians. They can think about the future of their children. The repayment of the College Loans For Students is long terms and the rate of interest is low. So College Loans for Students are very constructive for everyone.

We might think that for a regular college student the main concern is to attend classes, study for exams and turn in the papers before the deadlines. However, this is not the case in North America. The students in the United States and Canada have to deal with quite complicated financial decisions throughout their years of higher education. The reason is that higher education in these countries is provided by private institutions, which offer quality education but at quite spicy costs. In these conditions, students and their families have to face tough financial decisions when they choose a college to attend. For most of them, the fees are too expensive so the first step is to try obtaining a full scholarship or partial financial aid
. For the rest of the expenses, there is the widespread option of contracting a college loan.



Students can contract more than one college loan during their four years of college. If they also pursue graduate studies, it is likely that they will end up with a collection of college loans that they end up paying back for many years after graduation. It thus turns out that a college loan is not something you leave behind at graduation, along with all the other college stories, but it is a life-long commitment. The practice of contracting a college loan is so common that an entire business has developed around it covering financial and legal services for the loan contractors.

A college loan can be offered by either a governmental agency or by a private company that takes care of such financial services. If the student contracts all his student loans from the government, than he can use the option of college loan consolidation. College loan consolidation is extremely advantageous because it actually means replacing a whole set of different loans with various interest rates with just one loan having a unique rate. The main benefit of college loan consolidation is that it gives the chance to lock in the interest rate at its current value (the value at the time when the consolidation is made) thus offsetting changes in interest rates taking place over the next years, when the loan is being repaid. Nowadays, all recent graduates are advised to pursue college loan consolidation as soon as they can because rates for college loans are at an all time low and they will not remain so for too lone. Doing college loan consolidation now means that the student makes sure he or she will pay the same low rate for the following ten or more years, although interest rates for college loans may increase by 10% or more in this period.

College loan consolidation is most commonly done by recent graduates, who are starting to face the difficulties of starting to pay back the loans. Usually, during the college years, the government will subsidize the payment of the rates for students. During the first six months after graduation, young people can still be saved the trouble of having to think about college loan consolidation because they are given a grace period during which no payments should be made. The wisest of them start thinking about college loan consolidation in this time though. They consider alternative options and decide which scheme for college loan consolidation is most beneficial for them. College loan consolidation may be a tough decision to make, the financial packages offered include details that may be tedious to follow and understand. That is why recent graduates may end up postponing thinking about it. However, they are being pressured more and more to become responsible and do college loan consolidation now because of the low interest rates they should be taking advantage of.

While it is most common for recent graduates to worry about loan consolidation, for better informed students there is also the option of in-school consolidation loan. School consolidation loan means exactly that students can put their loans together during the college years. School consolidation loan has become more of an issue nowadays precisely because of the current low interest rates. Current college students also wanted to have the option of locking in these low rates (by graduation time, the rates will already have increased). That is how the option of school consolidation loan became more and more widespread. It is interesting to see how many of the present college students will be able to collect enough information and dedicate their time to get into a school consolidation loan program. Many colleges have started coming up with the option of offering counseling for school consolidation loans because they are aware of the difficulty of the task and of the tendency of college students to procrastinate on such issues. In many cases, it is the parents who take over the task of dealing with the school consolidation loan, which makes sense too especially because in many cases it is still the parents who help college students deal with their financial burdens.

The intricacies of school consolidation loan force college students to face the financial and legal difficulties of adult life in the US earlier on. Perhaps the colleges should start thinking about offering an introductory class on these issues... It is very important that teenagers of all ages, including college students, receive an education regarding the financial reality and how a college loan consolidation could help them. After all, it is not fair to take advantage of the young and inexperienced.

The more you know about insurance and how it works, the more you'll be able to save off your premiums. The good news is that www.kanetix.ca has compiled a list of the most common money-saving tips to get you started.



Insure all your cars on the same policy

Most insurance companies offer a "multi-car discount" for customers who insure more than one car on the same policy. This alone can bring you a savings of up to 10 per cent!

Insure your home and car with the same insurer

You can get up to 5 per cent off your premiums if you insure your car and your home through the same insurance company. This is commonly referred to as a "multi-line discount" and is offered by most insurance companies as an incentive to get your home insurance business too.

Increase your deductibles

A deductible is the portion of an insurance claim you agree to pay. Your insurance company picks up the rest. By taking on more financial responsibility, the insurance company considers you less of an insurance risk and will adjust your premiums accordingly. In other words, the higher the deductible you choose, the lower your insurance rate. How much are we talking about? That depends, but online quotes through www.kanetix.ca show that increasing your deductibles from $500 to $1,000 you could save about 5-10 per cent!

Bonus tip

If your car is getting up there in age, you might want to consider dropping the collision coverage on your policy altogether. Talk this one out with your insurance representative because you need to weigh the cost of the collision coverage with the value of your car and your deductible. But consider this, if your car is worth $1000, and your deductible is $1000, your collision coverage is not going to help.

Choose a car that costs less to insure

Sure they all have 4 wheels and get you from point A to point B, but each car is rated differently - mostly on its previous claims history. For example, the more likely the car is to be stolen or in an accident, the more you will pay for insurance to cover it. If you are buying a new car, compare quotes online first to see how your new car rates with insurers.

Shop around

Auto insurance coverage may be standard throughout the province, but insurance premiums are another story. Coverage from one company to the next can vary by hundreds of dollars. The only way to make sure you are getting the best price for your policy is to shop around and compare rates from several companies.

About the Author: Copyright © CarJunky.com. This article is free for republishing. Original article: http://news.carjunky.com/car_insurance/five-top-tips-to-lower-auto-insurance-premiums-abc280.shtml

Just because you have insurance doesn’t mean it will be enough to protect your hard-earned assets should the inevitable happen. There are countless situations - like a home fire, a car wreck with injuries, or someone getting hurt on your property (to name a few) - where your level of home or auto insurance could make or break your financial future.

Here are five commonly made insurance mistakes and how to avoid them, according to Charles Valinotti, General Casualty Insurance Companies’ assistant vice president, and John Blodnick, Unigard Insurance Group’s vice president.



1. Buying the cheapest policy out there. You might save a buck by getting the minimum amount of insurance you legally can. But if the cost of an accident ends up being more than your policy covers, you’re still responsible for paying the rest. Other parties could go after you and your assets.

2. Forgetting to pay your bills. There are plenty of understandable reasons why you might not pay your bill on time. But be warned that if you don’t pay your bill, your insurance company isn’t obligated to cover you - period. To avoid this, set up automatic payments through your bank or insurer or escrow for your home insurance. Otherwise, move your insurance bill to the top of the stack.

3. Assuming your stuff is covered. Policies limit how much coverage they provide for certain higher value items. Have a diamond wedding ring? Antique silverware? Customized wheels on your truck? Nice stereo system? Expensive guitar? These could fall outside the realm of a typical home or auto policy’s coverage. It’s easy to rectify this problem by “scheduling” or adding extra coverage with an endorsement, which gives you higher limits on certain items.

4. Not bothering with an umbrella liability policy. Umbrellas are only for rich people, right? “No, umbrellas are for every Tom, Dick and Harry. Think about your annual combined household income. Isn’t that worth protecting?” Valinotti said.

What if someone got hurt during your child’s next birthday party or your upcoming backyard barbecue? You can purchase an umbrella for as little as $100 for $1 million of extra coverage, depending on the policy and which area of the country you live in. “It’s a risk not to have an umbrella, like playing the lottery with your financial future,” Valinotti said.

5. Keeping your agent in the dark. If you’ve recently built an addition on your home or made a big purchase (see number three), talk to your agent. Without extra coverage, you could be underinsured. Or if you get your bill and decide you want less coverage, talk to your agent. Policy changes may or may not be a good idea, but it’s your insurance agent’s job to advise you.

"Today, people often feel that an agent is not necessary,” Blodnick said. “However, considering the complexity of the products you are buying in an ever-more complex world, the expertise of a professional agent can be extremely important."

For example, at a glance you may think, “I don’t need ‘other than collision’ coverage on my car.” But your agent would tell you that’s what covers you if your vehicle is stolen, catches fire, is damaged by hail or wind (such as a tornado), or if you hit a deer.

Your agent can also suggest ways to save money on insurance without risking your financial security – such as taking a driver safety class, getting a home security system, taking down the trampoline your kids never use, increasing your deductible, or taking advantage of multi-policy or good student discounts.

Contact your local independent insurance agent for a review of your personal insurance policies.

About the Author: Copyright © CarJunky.com. This article is free for republishing. Original article: http://news.carjunky.com/car_insurance/five-insurance-mistakes-that-could-cost-you-abc288.shtml

The number of auto accidents is decreasing -- and that’s a trend both drivers and auto insurance companies are happy about. As a result, many consumers could see a decrease in their auto insurance premiums this year. During the last year, auto claims at General Casualty and Unigard Insurance Companies have dropped more than 10 percent, a trend occurring across the property and casualty insurance industry. In addition, almost 90 percent of General Casualty customers have been accident-free during the last three years.



Fewer accidents lead to savings

The Insurance Information Institute predicts auto insurance rates will rise only 1.5 percent in 2005, just one half the inflation rate and the smallest increase in five years. Auto owners with good driving records and safer cars could notice a decrease in their auto insurance premiums. How much savings will vary by state, insurance company and individual driver. In 2005, General Casualty auto insurance rates could decrease up to 8 percent. Unigard policyholders could save even more, thanks to decreased claims and a new policy pricing system available later this year.

John Blodnick of Unigard and Charles Valinotti of General Casualty explain several factors contributing to this decrease, including safer and smarter vehicles and drivers.

“Driving safely protects not only you and your passengers, but others out on the road. A clean driving record can also affect your insurance rates,” Valinotti said.

Driving safer vehicles

Valinotti recommends consumers purchase safer automobiles to help prevent accidents and protect their pocketbooks. “Airbags and anti-lock brakes are two auto features that insurance companies consider when pricing auto coverage. They’re virtually standard on all new vehicles,” said Valinotti.

He notes that upcoming safety innovations could lead to even fewer accidents while saving consumers money on their auto insurance:

* Smart cars: Auto manufacturers are upgrading new vehicle models with safety devices such as radar, digital cameras and navigational systems to detect objects in drivers’ blind spots and avoid heavy traffic or collisions. While some models already contain sensors that warn drivers when they’re too close to objects, Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Nissan will begin incorporating other advanced technology soon.

* Smart highways: Future highway technology could help better manage traffic flow and improve safety. Controlled steering, electronic brakes and other devices would help maneuver smart cars on specially engineered highways, helping avoid collisions.

* Breakaway engines: Some vehicles include engines designed to drop down under the vehicle’s floor instead of being pushed into the front passenger area during a frontal collision, helping reduce leg injuries.

* Redesigned vehicles: Auto manufacturers are continually building safer cars. GM’s Uplander minivan model was rated “good” in recent frontal crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The rating is a vast improvement over its predecessor, GM’s Chevrolet Venture and Pontiac Transport/Montana, rated one of the worst performing vehicles in the history of IIHS’s frontal crash tests. Small pickup trucks including the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado and Dodge Dakota also scored better in the tests.

Driving wisely

“Safer, smarter cars only offer so much protection,” said Blodnick. “Safety starts with being an intelligent driver. Pay attention to others on the road and drive appropriately for the weather and traffic conditions.”

To encourage safe driving, Unigard policyholders can accumulate up to 16 percent in savings credits for being accident-free. This credit is reduced if they’re involved in any "at fault" auto accidents, but they may continue receiving a savings for having a safe driving history.

Later this year, General Casualty will also begin rewarding good drivers with a new auto accident forgiveness program. If a policyholder who hasn’t been “at fault” in any auto accidents during the past five years is in a collision and has been insured with the company during that same time period, his or her insurance rates will not include any accident surcharges. This could prevent rates from increasing anywhere from 20 to 50 percent, depending on where the policyholder lives.

Other factors

In addition, Blodnick points to the increase in states with graduated driver licensing programs. As more states implement the program to gradually phase new drivers to full driving privileges, the number of teen driving accidents is decreasing. According to the IIHS, since states began enacting graduated licensing laws in the 1990s, the fatal crash rate for 16-year old drivers has dropped 26 percent (from 1993 to 2003).

Valinotti notes families may have more vehicles than drivers, meaning an insured vehicle spends more time sitting in the driveway or garage and is less likely to be involved in an accident. Rising gas prices could also lead to fewer cars on the road, especially larger, less fuel efficient vehicles.

For more information about safer vehicles and driving and how they can lead to insurance savings, contact your independent insurance agent. Courtesy of ARA Content

About the Author: Copyright © CarJunky.com. This article is free for republishing. Original article: http://news.carjunky.com/car_insurance/save_money_on_car_insurance_1456.shtml

These days, you can’t go five minutes while watching television without seeing the little lizard that is the mascot of you-know-who’s insurance company. On top of that, there are so many different types of insurance companies that it makes it nearly impossible to decide which is the best type of coverage for you. Everywhere you look you can see and hear about insurance companies: on the radio while driving down the road, during the commercial of your favorite show on Monday night, and even online, where each company is boasting that it has the lowest rates.



So, what do you do? How do you narrow it down? First, ask around. Start by questioning your friends or family members about where they go for insurance, how much the rates are, and how intensively the agent covers the important details. Make a list of the insurance company’s names and contact information and grab a notebook to keep your own records of the premiums and deductibles.

Next, go to where you can get coverage: an agent in your neighborhood an insurance company that is online and has an 800 number. Many people recommend going directly to an agent instead of dealing with a direct market company because they are more thorough in configuring what type of coverage is best for which person or family.

The bonus to getting car insurance through a direct market company is the convenience, which is quite possibly the reason it’s so popular. Many insurance companies offer free quotes for coverage that a person can get in a short phone call or by spending a few minutes on the Internet typing in important information. Coverage can often be purchased online, and some insurance companies provide rate quotes for a handful of other insurance providers at the same time to give clients more options and comparison.

To find an agent in your neighborhood, check the phone book’s yellow pages or ask your friends and neighbors about local agents with good reputations. Avoid insurance providers who ask you to buy unnecessary coverage. With an agent, you get to work one-one-one with a certified insurance consultant who will try to find the best possible coverage to suit your needs at your budget.

Also with an agent, when you have a claim to file you are able to deal directly with your agent about that claim. Basically, if there are any problems that develop, you have a person to go to instead of just calling a 1-800 number or logging onto a website.

To save money when buying car insurance, make sure to shop around and get as many insurance quotes as you can from as many different providers as possible. Second, get the highest deductible that you feel comfortable with, because the higher the deductible, the lower your premium and monthly payments will be. Many insurance companies offer multicar discounts, better rates for good drivers, and discounts for safety features like air bags, so that's something else to keep in mind.

Copyright © CarJunky.com. This article is free for republishing. Original article: http://news.carjunky.com/car_insurance/choosing_a_car_insurance_company_ac395.shtml

Auto insurance can make a big hole in your pocket. Insurance premiums vary hugely between companies, agencies or agents, brokers, and of course the make of the car you own and your credit rating. To pay lower insurance you must: 1. Always maintain a good driving record. 2. Never accept the first estimate you receive. Be wise and check comparisons of different insurance providers at your state insurance department website or phone them. Their addresses and contact numbers can be accessed from http://www.consumeraction.gov/insurance.shtml the consumer action website. Be sure to get competitive quotes from different insurance providers. Contact providers that are strongly recommended by people you know well. Keep your peace of mind by checking the financial stability of the companies with rating companies like A.M. Best (http://www.ambest.com/) as well as in forums and blogs.



3. Complete a market survey well before you select a car make and make a comparative table of insurance and other hidden costs. Find out which features increase insurance premiums and which ones reduce premiums. For example if parts of a certain make are hard to find or expensive such cars will have huge insurance premiums, similarly installation of anti-theft devices or an extra brake system lowers insurance premiums. Many questions are answered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at http://www.iihs.org/.

4. Choose to have higher deductibles this will reduce the burden by at least 15-25%. But look at your finances first and determine whether you can set aside US$ 200-US$1000 periodically to create an emergency vehicle fund.

5. Consider availing the insurance from the same company that has you covered for home, accident, or life. Many companies offer concessions to clients who have more than one kind of policy. Known as a multi-policy discount this could benefit you.

6. Most policies are based on your personal credit record. Having an unshakeable credit history can lower costs. Pay bills on time, don’t avail too many loans, and be sure that credit balances are as low as possible.

7. Avoid duplicating medical coverage. Find out whether eliminating medical cover in auto insurance will reduce your premiums or the personal injury protection costs. In some places the reduction is as much as 40%. So, if you have adequate health insurance you could weigh the pros and cons of eliminating this in auto insurance.

8. Find out if insurance premiums are dependant on where you stay. Sometimes staying in a rural community or suburbs as against the city center could save you a bundle.

9. Take advantages of discounts like low risk career, low mileage, taking public transport to work, car pooling, no violations or accidents, taking defensive driving courses, following safety rules and regulations, or having a child who studies far away.

10. Use the reductions offered for insuring more than one car belonging to the family. Many companies have special offers for corporate organizations, club members, professional groups, alumni groups, or clubs.

Make time to make a big saving. Check through all the parameters and mark areas where a saving can be made. The market is competitive and you can be the beneficiary.

About the Author: Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1866Cars.com , the premier website to find help on Cars including topics on car rental, national car rental, thrifty car rental, online car rental, pickup trucks rental, cargo van rental and more. He also freelances for the premier Car Insurance Quotes site http://www.1888Carinsurance.com This article is free for republishing.

Lawyers.comsm

If you've been injured in an automobile accident, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against ther person who caused the accident. The suit tries to prove that the driver of the other vehicle caused the accident due to failing to pay attention or take reasonable care.

To prove that the person wasn't using reasonable care when driving, you need find out if there was:

* The legal duty to use care
* A violation of that duty, and
* A direct relationship between the accident and the injury.

This depends on what the other person should have anticipated at the time of the accident and not what actually happened.



Duty of Care

Automobile accident lawsuits are largely determined on whether the other person met his duty of care while driving their vehicle and if their actions created an unreasonable risk. Generally, if a risk can be reasonably anticipated, it must be avoided.

A particular level or standard or care must be met when operating a car. To meet this standard or duty of care, drivers must:

* Operate the vehicle at a reasonable rate of speed
* Keep the vehicle under proper control
* Look out for all situations that could result in an accident

What Caused the Injuries

For a motorist to be liable for your injuries, his conduct must have caused your injuries. His careless conduct must have in fact contributed to your injuries. If you would have been injured even if the motorist had not acted as he did, the motorist is not liable.

Also, a reasonable person must be able to foresee and anticipate a risk of harm to others. For example, you're crossing the street in the crosswalk and are hit. The person driving should have taken reasonable care that you were walking across the street when they hit you.
Intervening Causes

A defendant may not be liable to the plaintiff if some force intervenes with the defendant's original negligence and actually causes the accident or injury. For example: A motorist was negligent and caused a collision with another vehicle and a police officer responds to the accident. If the officer is then injured in another collision at the accident scene by a third motorist, the negligence of the third motorist is an intervening cause with respect to the police officer's injuries, and the first motorist would not be liable. The action of the third motorist could not have reasonably been anticipated by the first motorist at the time of the first's motorist's negligence, and the third motorist's actions were the actual cause of the officer's injuries.
Damages and Awards

When you propose a lawsuit, it's usually to cover damages to you or your property. The award is usually money, but may be in other forms as well to compensate for injuries or other economic losses, medical expenses and pain and suffering.

Punitive damages are designed to further punish the person or company that has been found guilty in excess of the standard care one would expect.
Defenses to Personal Injury Lawsuits

If someone is being sued because they were somehow at fault, there are certain actions to take to defend themselves.

Contributory negligence is conduct by the plaintiff which creates an unreasonable risk of harm to the plaintiff and which helps to cause the plaintiff's injuries. The plaintiff's negligence and the defendant's negligence together cause the plaintiff's injuries. In states which have adopted the doctrine of comparative negligence, the plaintiff's damages are reduced by the percentage of the plaintiff's contributory negligence.

Assumption of the risk is conduct by which one person agrees to assume the risk of harm arising from another person's negligence, or where a person agrees to accept the risk presented in a given situation. For example, a person can sign an agreement in which he agrees to not hold a second person liable for injuries caused by the second person's negligence. A person can assume a risk by taking action, such as pushing a vehicle in traffic, which involves accepting the risk of being hit by another vehicle.

Under the emergency doctrine, when a person is confronted with an emergency requiring immediate action and doesn't make a decision about what do, they can't be found negligent if they don't choose a course of action that would had a better outcome.

Back in the 1980s word went around that there was a wonderful new way to pay your mortgage. In those days the process of getting and running a mortgage was almost sacrosanct, and little variation was available. A fairly common route to take was to open an account at the Building Society of your choice, and to put in as much money as you could, the intention being to prove to said Building Society that you were prudent and could be trusted with their money.

When the time for a mortgage arrived, it was best suit on for an appointment with the branch manager to convince him of your dependability, and if you were successful you were given a (typically) 25 year repayment mortgage. Inflation was your friend because you usually started off committed to a monthly repayment which made yours eyes water, but as time went by the real value of this dwindled in significance.




When you had completed your 300 monthly repayments the property was yours. It was all very straightforward until the endowment mortgage arrived. With this you paid only the interest due, with a promise of lower monthly commitment. At the end of the term a sum would be handed to you which would be sufficient to pay off the capital sum of the mortgage and leave you with enough to enjoy a brief excursion into the wild life of regular meals and even exotic holidays, which in extreme cases may even have been outside the UK!

That was the dream which was eagerly taken up by many hardworking mortgage owners and unfortunately, also by some over eager salesmen. The sum necessary to pay off your mortgage was not guaranteed, and in the majority of cases it didn't. Therein lies the formation of the mis-selling scandal; many building societies took great care to explain to their mortgage customers the modus operandi of the endowment system and the many pitfalls which could trap the unwary. Tragically many individual salesmen and some building societies omitted to adequately cover some of the less palatable facts.

This created great distress in some cases; figures produced for 2004 show that almost 7 million endowment mortgages were unlikely to provide sufficient funds to pay off the mortgage debts, leaving less than 2 million which should achieve their objective. Thus the flood tide of the 1980s which saw home owners clamouring for endowment mortgages suddenly became an ebb tide, with endowment holders looking for a way of getting back to the old system, or to one of the newer but more reliable alternatives. Great caution is necessary in this situation.

First of all you need to look carefully at your endowment mortgage to determine its value. If you are still in the early years of its operation, you will find that despite your monthly payments you have a document with very little value. This is because you have been paying the premium for the endowment agreement itself, the interest due on your mortgage loan and life insurance to cover repayment of the loan if you should die before completion.

A very important factor in an endowment is the terminal bonus. You will have received the benefit of annual bonuses along the way, but the terminal bonus is normally the very high value one; it could well provide more than half the final value of the payment which you will receive, but will be lost if you cancel. To make matters more difficult, the value of the terminal bonus is not guaranteed and will not be known until the endowment is fully paid up. It may be that you are in the situation where you will lose money whichever route you take.

If you do decide to proceed with the sale of the endowment, either because you need the money or because you are in the fortunate position where sale would be advantageous, you need to shop around. Certainly you should obtain a sale figure from the company who provided the endowment in the first place, but you are also free to go into the market place for these mortgages and see what offers you can get. It is very likely that the price which you will be offered in this way will be better than that which the original issuer is prepared to allow you.

You will find that different companies have different criteria relating to which endowments they would be interested in buying. For instance, some will not be interested if the sale value is below a certain figure, or may require the endowment to have been operational for a specific minimum period. Realistically you should seek professional help in reaching a decision; a company which has contacts within the Association of Policy Market Makers (which represents companies who deal in endowment trading) will be better placed to find you the best deal. There will be a charge for their expertise, but you should benefit from a better price and save yourself a lot of time, work and worry.

Remember that if you sell your endowment mortgage, you will fairly certainly also be cancelling your accompanying life cover and should ensure that you obtain a replacement policy, preferably before the cancellation takes effect. There is little harm in duplicating your cover for a short time, but there could be very unfortunate results from even the shortest period without cover.