Welcome to Tony Holkham's website. This page tells you about the support I can give to consumers.
Go to my home page for my many other services, or click below.
| Home | Business writing | Consumer | Debt | Writing tuition | Genealogy | Ghostwriting | Shop | Bookshop | Contact | Search site |

FREE Consumer Help from Tony Holkham
Help with debt, money, disputes, income, and more...

(see below, contact me for more info or go to my home page for details of other services)

ON THIS PAGE (scroll down for plenty of free advice, or contact me if you can't find what you want) :
GENERAL POINTS
MONEY PROBLEMS : Debt - insurance claims - avoiding bank charges - accounts - loans - controlling spending.
FAULTY GOODS : What is a fault? - Repair or replace? - evidence - stating your case - getting compensation.
GET MONEY OWED : Who actually owes? - Finding a decision-maker - threats & promises - expenses - compromise.
OTHER ISSUES : Finding work - employee relations - extra income - cash from collecting - taking control.

GENERAL POINTS

Whether in business or private life, we all have consumer problems from time to time - problems with aggressive financial institutions, manufacturers and retailers of faulty goods, and people or organisations who won't pay what they owe. The question is: what are you going to do about it?

There are many ways of securing your rights, and most can be successful without resort to the courts. It is well-chosen and well-timed words which usually win the day, rather than the threat of legal action. When you come to my, my years of experience will help solve the problem.

Why not read my consumer help book "DON'T TAKE IT LYING DOWN". If you want to throw the book at them, this is the one to throw. You can get a copy of it (at cost) on disk from me.

Below are some of the issues I can help with, and a little advice thrown in. Scroll down the page for more detailed information on these topics.

Contact me if you 'd like to discuss a problem. If I can help, we'll discuss any expenses in advance. My advice is free (see below).

I can't guarantee it, but usually my advice will save you more than it costs.

MONEY PROBLEMS

Debt management. Is there life after debt? Yes! It's surprising how many people panic when they get into financial difficulties. It doesn't help. Let me look at your whole situation and make some suggestions. I understand the difficulties people have with debt and with organisations like the CSA, DSS and Inland Revenue and Customs.

Insurance claims. Making insurance claims is always fraught because insurance companies don't want to part with the money. I have (legal!) ways of making them listen. An insurance company is just a shop, and you deal with it as you would any other retailer.

Avoiding bank charges. Unless you're a limited company, you don't have to pay bank charges, even if you are in business. Starting a new bank account preiodically can give you continuous free banking. Ask me how.

Keeping accounts. Accountancy is simple - what money have you made, and what did it cost you to get it? Keeping proper accounts is the only way to know [a] where you stand, [b] where you're headed and [c] how to avoid disaster. I can show you how to do this, or even do it for you. I use Microsoft Excel to do all my book-keeping work.

Controlling spending. It's a skill you can learn and make a habit. There are many ways of acquiring what you need without paying through the nose for it. Do you ever go to car boot sales? You can sell there, as well as buy. I might be able to save you 25% of what you spend, and tell you a bit about haggling for lower prices.


FAULTY GOODS

What is a fault? I can help you to define the problem so you can make a reasoned and strong claim.

Repair or replace? You usually have more than one option. I can help you decide which is best.

Keeping evidence. I advise about collecting, keeping and presenting evidence, and even forseeing the need for it.

Stating your case. Keeping emotions out of the case is just one of the ways in which to be taken seriously.

Compensation. There is almost certainly more available than you are led to believe. Everything is negotiable.

Contact me about any of these issues. No obligation. No charge (unless it's going to involve me in a lot of expense - in which case we will agree that first). Do it now.


GET MONEY OWED

Who actually owes the money? Approaching the wrong person or organisation is a waste of time. And there are many shortcuts.

Finding a decision-maker. It's no good trying to reason with someone who can't solve your problem for you. Does the person you're talking to have the authority to make decisions?

Threats and promises. Making them, taking them and keeping them is all part of the skill.

Expenses. What did it cost you to complain? What other expense have you incurred? I can help you get it back.

Compromise. Which would you prefer, £50 now or £100 next year? I can help you decide.

Contact me about any of these issues. No obligation. No charge (unless it's going to involve me in a lot of expense - in which case we will agree that first). Do it now.


OTHER ISSUES

Finding work. With the concept of a 'career' going out of the window, what other ways are there of securing a steady income? Plenty. Starting your own local (or wider) business is not difficult.

Employee relations. Diplomacy, profit sharing, flexible hours - just some of the issues to be considered in the search for good relations.

Extra income. Even if you have a steady job, extra income is always welcome; the opportunities are out there. Have you looked at eBay, for example? Don't throw it away - someone will buy it.

Cash from collecting. It is possible to make a few hundred pounds extra every month if you know what's worth buying cheaply to sell at a profit.

Taking control. The reason many problems become crises is that action isn't taken early enough. Learn to see the warning signs.

Contact me about any of these issues. No obligation. No charge (unless it's going to involve me in a lot of expense - in which case we will agree that first). Do it now.

[Back to top]