Can I unlock my mobile phone for free?

When you buy a mobile phone is may be linked to a particular network such as Virgin, Vodafone, O2, Orange etc. This means that the sim card is locked to the network and will only work with that network.

If you swap your Sim card for another provider the chances are it will not work.

Sometimes, other networks can offer you cheaper calls and text, for example, Orange offer Orange Wednesday where as other networks may offer cheaper of free calls and texts.

One major thing to remember is your mobile may not already be locked, always try and insert a different network sim card into your phone, if you see an alternative network coverage on your mobile screen then your phone is not locked and you should have nothing to worry. (please note 3 mobile use a different frequency) therefore a 3 sim may not always work on your chosen handset.

Likewise, a 3 handset may not accept any other network.

If you have tried a different Sim card and the coverage is not shown and your mobile displays a message such as Sim Blocked etc, how do you go about unlocking your phone.

One of the first things to do is to call your existing network provider and let them know what you want to do. If you are on Pay As You Go and your phone is over 1 year old, you should be able to have your network unlock it for free. Some networks may ask for up to £30. You will need your IMEI number (this is a serial number which can be found by tying *#06# on your handset).

Your network provider will then give you an unlocking code (also known as PAC) which stands for Porting Authorisation Code. This will allow you to move your new sim into your phone!

Make sure you have read all of the small print on your new chosen network, make sure you are going to save money. Sometimes, a tariff you joined 12 or 18 months ago on a contract may not be as good value as todays contracts. To check the current deals available please click here.

You can take your pick of the free SIM cards available at the moment and start enjoying your new network as soon as the phone is unlocked. If you’re planning on using a new SIM card in your phone, it’s worth saving all the contacts and data from your old SIM to your phone, so that you can transfer all your data right away.

Remember, unlocking your mobile phone whilst it is in it’s warranty period could cancel the warranty! Be careful of companies online asking you to pay a Premium rate number to unlock your phone, some of these companies offer nothing else than the advice you have read here. The cost of the calls are around £1.50 per minute and can cost as much as £15-£20 without your phone being unblocked!

The top 5 reasons a Credit Card application is declined.

1. A poor credit history
2. Your partner has had financial problems
3. You’ve been a “credit tart”
4. Register to vote at your current address
5. Your credit score is too low

The above 5 reasons are the most common reason a Credit Card provider has declined you. Remember, Credit Scoring is nearly always down to a Computer. Each piece of information you supply and information that the Credit Reference agencies provide about you is scored.

To give you the best possibility in being accepted for a Credit Card, make sure you keep your applications to a maximum of 2 every six months, Make sure you are registered to vote (contact your council for details) and keep up all repayments on any Credit agreements you have. It’s a time waiting game, but if you are sensible with money then the chances of being accepted for a Credit Card are increased.

There is no way to cheat the system, if you Lie on a credit application you could end up having your details stored by CIFA’s.

If you have no credit and want to start, may we suggest  you opt for a T-Mobile Solo light sim card, it’s a pay monthly sim card starting from only £10 per month but can increase your Credit score as it shows you can manage a Credit repayment on time. Read more about it here.

Consumers applying for, or holding an existing mortgage with Santander, are to be entered into a prize draw to have their mortgage repayments paid for 12 months.

All they are required to do is request a full Santander home insurance quote.

Miguel Sard, director at Santander Insurance UK, said the bank was offering “a great opportunity” for someone to be mortgage-free for a year, at the cost of a simple enquiry.

“In the current climate, offers like this are few and far between and we would encourage homeowners to make the most of the chance of this opportunity,” he stated.

Earlier this week, Santander launched a new range of fixed-rate bonds paying up to 3.75 per cent gross/AER.

The Bank of England has kept interest rates at a record low of 0.5% for the 12th consecutive month.

The decision was widely expected by economists, who believe that any rise in the cost of borrowing could damage the UK’s fragile economic recovery.

Also as expected, the bank has not pumped any more money into the economy under its quantitative easing (QE) programme – for now at least.

Last month the Bank halted QE, having spent £200bn to boost the economy.

The key difference between BaBeeCard and other prepaid cards is users can save money on their everyday family living essentials at high street retailers such as ASDA, Sainsburys’, Argos, Boots, M&S, MotherCare and many more known retailers. There are over 100 retailers to choose from.

Click here to apply for your prepaid BaBeeCard

Pawnbroking is a fast and safe way to help you unlock the value of your jewellery without selling it. Whether you need to pay off an unexpected bill, or raise a little bit of extra cash for a well deserved holiday, we can help by offering you a quick cash pawn loan against your valuable jewellery or quality watch. Herbert Brown has been pawnbrokers since 1840, and we pride ourselves on offering exceptional value and personal service that has been our trademark for the last 170 years.

We will offer all customers the choice of a 7 month loan or to sell there item to us.

The Great Supermarket Robbery…

When was the last time you stood in a Supermarket and said how much? Believe it or not, recent figures suggest that over the past few years, the price of basic food essentials such as Bread, Butter etc has plummeted almost 50%

I’m not making it up! I personally couldn’t tell you the last time I noticed any prices decreasing yet each week my shopping bill appears to rise and rise.

So why are my weekly grocery bills going up?

It’s quiet simply nothing but Robbery… Supermarkets have not been lowering prices in line with the declines, in fact, prices are still going up.

So your loyalty to the big names you know who I am talking about… Is paid back by big bosses taking bigger bonuses yet we are out of pocket more and more!

So how do you beat them at their own game?

You might think you’ll save yourself money by buying larger packs of goods, after all, generally speaking, buying in bulk is supposed to be cheaper…

Think again. According to researh from mySupermarket.com, shoppers could be paying as much as 46% more by opting for bigger packs. There example, an 800g jar of Hellmann’s mayonnaise was found to be 99p (33%) more expensive than buying 2 400g jars.

So if you shop online, always be sure to check mySupermarket.co.uk, you will find out the details of the current offers. The site allows you to check the Uk’s four major supermarkets (Sainsburys, Tesco, Asda and Ocado/Waitrose). You will be able to compare the prices and find the cheapest options. What’s more the site works out the savings you will make too!

Remember the top tips next time you shop

Buy One Get One free deals can be tempting, whilst they are tempting they don’t always offer value for money.

Remember, when buying fresh food such as fruit and vegetables, you won’t eat them all in one or 2 days, so don’t over buy. You will only end up throwing them away.

Buy One Get one half price deals, this I have witnessed myself, prices are sneaked up a week earlier and then like magic prices appear to be amazing on a Buy One Get One Free. Be warned!

Use coupons, even 5p off money coupons can count up on the savings. It’s 5p back in your pocket!

Always stick to your shopping list, don’t be fooled by the clever marketing of the big supermarkets, the smells of chicken, fresh bread etc.

It’s a shame when you think how much we have all supported these chains and made them as big as they are now that they feel the need to rip us off. After all it is ripping us off!

I myself am sick of the bickering that goes on their adverts. If you want my custom Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons. Then it’s simple.

Don’t cut prices on items I don’t use, want or need. Be the cheapest. Guarantee it! Make your slogan, your shopping will cost less, we guarantee it.

Maybe we should all invent an Anti Shopping day, vote with our feet! Who knows….

With a Legal & General Life insurance policy costing from so little, there has never been a better time to take full advantage. life insurance policies are simply designed to pay out a cash lump sum should you die during the policy term. With monthly premiums starting from as little as £6 per month (that’s just 20p a day), protecting your family could be cheaper than you think.

To find out more and to start your cover today, please click here.

They offer 3 plans for the overs 50s, a brief guide is below, to see the full range and to take out a Life Insurance plan with legal & General please click here.

A brief description of the over 50s plans available with Legal & General…

The Fixed plan - Have the certainty of fixed monthly premiums and a cash sum paid out when you die. Premiums could start from as little as £5 a month.  
  
The Increasing plan - Watch your benefit grow in line with inflation when your  premiums increase, which could start from as little as £5 per month.

Finally they also offer the Funeral Plan - Ensures the costs of a traditional cremation funeral are covered, and protected from inflation when you increase your premiums

Click here to find out more about Legal & General Life Insurance plans for the over 50s.

With Legal & General’s range of investments, simply choose the combination of funds that are best for you and invest in an ISA or directly in the unit trust. You can invest from as little as £500 lump sum or £50 a month. You should also remember that your investment is not guaranteed and the value may fall as well as rise.

Click here to find out more about Legal & General’s investments