|
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]
|