Student Removals- Self Packing and Insurance - For Proper ProtectionWritten by Stephen Willett
Students and people undertaking small removals are very likely to want to pack themselves. Whereas self packing will save money, it muddies water as far as both insurers and removers are concerned. Spurious claims, poorly defined responsibility (e.g you packed it badly), and high administative cost of 'adjusting' claims for small amounts, all mitigate against good value for customer. Policies are so diluted by exclusion and excess clauses, that they are usually ineffective against breakages. You should however, insure your property - against theft, and complete loss or destruction. Moreover you should take a policy independent of a removal company's cover (talk to a student insurance specialist). I will go further: If a remover insists you buy insurance from them find another company... Why? - Consider this: if a removal company is acting as an agent for an insurer, he cannot allow his business to become a funnel for claims. remover will himself look a bad risk and be uninsurable. Not only that, but remover will be contractually obliged not to admit liability on behalf of insurer (like in motor insurance). The removal company may thus be an impediment to your claim. That is not to say that removers are not themselves covered by their own insurance:- as a minimum they will have public liability cover. Protect yourself with an independent policy in your name. Your money is well spent on proper packaging and packing. Most breakages are result of a lack of, or inadequate preparation. If you take all too common view that your mover should just pick an item up and load it on a van, you will become another statistic. When you have agreed a collection and delivery type of arrangement (rather than a packing service), then mover will have no further responsibility beyond loading your property as it is presented to him.
| | PLUS Loans – it's never too late to subsidize your child’s education costWritten by Vanessa McHooley
PLUS Loans – it's never too late to subsidize your child’s education costRising. Soaring. Skyrocketing. These are words that seem to begin every article about college tuition costs – and they are words guaranteed to make every parent cringe. According to College Board, costs for 2004-2005 school year at four-year private colleges are up 6%, while costs at four-year public colleges are up 10.5%. Scary? Yes. Impossible to handle? No! The good news is that there is more financial aid available than ever before. One of most interesting financial aid options is Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students, or PLUS Loan. What is a PLUS Loan? PLUS Loans are federal loans taken out by parents to help pay their children’s college costs. PLUS Loans offer several advantages: •Interest rates are adjusted each year, but are consistently kept low. For 2004-2005 school year, interest rate is 4.17%. It is capped to never exceed 9%. •Financial need is not a determining factor in receiving a PLUS Loan. •No collateral is required. •There is no penalty for early repayment. •Loans can be consolidated. •If you are eligible, up to $2000 in interest may be tax-deductible under Hope Education Tax Credit. Who is eligible for a PLUS Loan? If you are a parent with dependent students attending college at least part-time, you are eligible to receive a PLUS Loan. You do need to have a good credit history. The following credit issues will reduce your chances of getting a PLUS Loan: •Bankruptcies •Defaulted loans •Payments overdue by 90 days or more •High debt-to-income ratio If you are turned down for a PLUS Loan because of poor credit history, you can find someone to co-sign loan with you and then apply again. How much can I borrow with a PLUS Loan? You can borrow up to total cost of undergraduate education expenses, minus other financial aid already received. Expenses can include tuition, room and board, supplies, lab expenses, and travel. How do I apply for a PLUS Loan? You can apply for a PLUS Loan through Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or through William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. FFEL loans come from private lenders or loan servicers, such as your bank. PLUS Loan applications are available from your school or your lender. To apply for an FFEL PLUS Loan, you complete application and then submit it to your school. The school completes its portion of application and sends it to lender for approval. Direct loans come from U.S. Department of Education’s Direct Loan Servicing Center. To apply for a Direct PLUS Loan, you complete a Direct PLUS Loan application and promissory note and submit it to your school’s financial aid office. This form is available from your school’s Financial Aid Office.
|
