Every day your life is changing in many ways, and new situations can warrant new levels of protection. Things like increases in your income, increases in your expenses, new purchases, moving, or a new baby can all affect your lifestyle and your needs for all kinds of insurance. Your needs for homeowner's insurance, car insurance, and personal insurance will all change over time, and the New Year is a good time to look at these things and make your changesIn fact, an executive at Insurance.com recommends that people treat taking a more active role in managing their life insurance as a New Year's Resolution this New Year. That does not just mean adjusting your policies on homeowner's insurance, personal life insurance, and auto insurance to meet your changing lifestyle, but also learning to read and understand your policies and shopping around for better policies, better rates, and better providers to see if you are getting the best deal.
It's time to decide on your New Year's Resolution; adequate insurance coverage in all aspects of your life is vital, and you can get that through understanding your current coverage and getting more where needed. Protecting yourself and your family is important to you or else you would not be reading this, so take the steps that are necessary to protect them by making sure that things are taken care of in case of emergencies. You should know:
Life insurance should cover both of you. You may not think that a housewife or husband contributes much financially, but you will be disabused of that notion when you are forced to pay for child care, clean house on your own, and take care of the other things that the at-home partner does. Don't forget to add life insurance to cover your debts Add more insurance to cover a few months of living expenses for emergencies You may want to add additional coverage for your children's' college educations as well, if you are concerned about those funds.
Homeowners Insurance Resolution
It is best to get as much homeowners insurance as you can afford. You should also understand your policy, including what is covered under liability versus what is covered under your actual property insurance.
Your Homeowners Insurance Covers:
The structure of your home The contents of your home Your Liability Insurance Covers: Personal liability Medical payments of people hurt in your home or on your property Damage to others' property Personal injury to others
Auto Insurance Resolution
For a similar reason, you should read and understand your auto insurance policy, and shop around for other policies that might benefit you better or cost less (or even both). Insurance.com suggests this, adding that drivers should ask themselves some questions about themselves and their current auto insurance including:
Does your current car insurance provider offer competitive rates? Is the underwriting agency for your auto insurance provider going through any big changes lately that might affect their ability to pay claims? Are you eligible for discounts at this time through your insurance provider or others, and are you getting all the discounts for which you are eligible? Do you have a 24-hour claim service with your auto insurance provider? Is their staff knowledgeable?
By shopping around and checking out what other auto insurance companies are willing to offer, you can save yourself more time later, as well as money, and even get better service and easier claims processes in the bargain.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Canada Car Insurance Money Saving Tip
You can utilize many tips and tricks when you are looking into auto insurance. However, there is one major one that we usually forget to look into that can help you save money:
Those who are shopping for car insurance in Canada usually remember to discuss the obvious factors that can help their premiums with their agent. These are generally driver's training classes they have taken, dropping collision coverage from an older car, using your car only for pleasure and not work, and the like. However, those who get a quote in Canada may forget to mention that they have anti-theft devices installed on their auto. If you do not mention you have this, you may be missing out on some major insurance discounts over the life of your auto insurance premium!
Canadians pay approximately 1.2 billion per year in auto theft costs. This includes legal bills, the insurance costs, as well as any medical bills that occur if the theft involved injuries. It is therefore in everybody's best interest, even Canadian insurance companies, to use anti-theft deterrents on your vehicle and to get the insurance discounts associated with having them. Any type of insurance discount gets you more money in your pocket!
You can use three different types of anti-theft devices. When you know and understand them, you can get a better price on your Canadian auto insurance quote:
1. Mechanical - Devices such as a locking bar can prevent the steering wheel from moving, until the owner unlocks it himself or herself.
2. Car alarms - You can install an alarm in your car that causes alarms and lights to go off if someone tries to break into your vehicle.
3. Electronic - These are immobilizers that will cut off the power to the ignition, making the car impossible to start.
These three anti-theft devices probably sound very familiar to us. The most familiar are the electronic immobilizers, as the Government of Canada has just recently made them mandatory. These three categories can be broken down as well into two more categories of anti-theft deterrents:
Active Devices: These anti-theft deterrents require that you have to turn them on yourself to make them operate.
Passive Devices: These come on automatically when the engine is turned off, so you do not have to worry about forgetting. Canadian auto insurance companies prefer that their customers have passive devices as they consider them the better of the two. This is because we do not run the risk of forgetting to turn them on, causing our cars to be stolen.
Take advantage of all the possible discounts you can receive before you settle on a car insurance quote. Write down any anti-theft devices your vehicle may have, what kind it is, and anything else that you believe could save you money on your auto insurance. Ask about each discount. Do not just assume that because an engine immobilizer is now mandatory that you automatically get the discount. Make a point of asking to receive every discount you are entitled to!
Those who are shopping for car insurance in Canada usually remember to discuss the obvious factors that can help their premiums with their agent. These are generally driver's training classes they have taken, dropping collision coverage from an older car, using your car only for pleasure and not work, and the like. However, those who get a quote in Canada may forget to mention that they have anti-theft devices installed on their auto. If you do not mention you have this, you may be missing out on some major insurance discounts over the life of your auto insurance premium!
Canadians pay approximately 1.2 billion per year in auto theft costs. This includes legal bills, the insurance costs, as well as any medical bills that occur if the theft involved injuries. It is therefore in everybody's best interest, even Canadian insurance companies, to use anti-theft deterrents on your vehicle and to get the insurance discounts associated with having them. Any type of insurance discount gets you more money in your pocket!
You can use three different types of anti-theft devices. When you know and understand them, you can get a better price on your Canadian auto insurance quote:
1. Mechanical - Devices such as a locking bar can prevent the steering wheel from moving, until the owner unlocks it himself or herself.
2. Car alarms - You can install an alarm in your car that causes alarms and lights to go off if someone tries to break into your vehicle.
3. Electronic - These are immobilizers that will cut off the power to the ignition, making the car impossible to start.
These three anti-theft devices probably sound very familiar to us. The most familiar are the electronic immobilizers, as the Government of Canada has just recently made them mandatory. These three categories can be broken down as well into two more categories of anti-theft deterrents:
Active Devices: These anti-theft deterrents require that you have to turn them on yourself to make them operate.
Passive Devices: These come on automatically when the engine is turned off, so you do not have to worry about forgetting. Canadian auto insurance companies prefer that their customers have passive devices as they consider them the better of the two. This is because we do not run the risk of forgetting to turn them on, causing our cars to be stolen.
Take advantage of all the possible discounts you can receive before you settle on a car insurance quote. Write down any anti-theft devices your vehicle may have, what kind it is, and anything else that you believe could save you money on your auto insurance. Ask about each discount. Do not just assume that because an engine immobilizer is now mandatory that you automatically get the discount. Make a point of asking to receive every discount you are entitled to!
Fortis Health Insurance
Fortis Health Insurance is a registered trademark of Fortis Health Insurance. Fortis Health Insurance is not affiliated with, nor does it endorse or sponsor, the contents of this webpage or the InsuranceUSA.com website. Trademarks referring to specific providers are used by InsuranceUSA.com for nominative purposes only: to truthfully identify the source of the products about which information is provided. Such trademarks are solely the property of their respective owners. For more than a century, our company, Fortis Health Insurance has focused solely on health insurance coverage. Fortis has a reliable variety of health care coverage available to individuals and families, small group employers, and specialty health insurance coverage. This is perfect for those who are self-employed, or for those working for an employer who does not provide health insurance. You will find that our specialty medical products include international and student health insurance coverage, and that our company provides long term or market leading short term insurance for all needs. Fortis Health Insurance also has a variety of discount plans that include Prescriptions and Dental-Vision. Check our website to see which one of our Fortis Health Insurance services can meet your needs at this time. With this wide variety of available insurance plans, Fortis Heath puts insurance back in the hands of you, the consumer, providing health insurance at an affordable price and as you want it.
Fortis Health's unique approach to health insurance allows you worldwide coverage 24 hours a day. There is no need for referrals to see a specialist. There is a lifetime benefit maximum of $8 million. Fortis Health Insurance allows you the choice of doctors and hospitals from extensive networks. There is also a first-year rate guarantee.
Fortis Health Insurance provides a wide variety of plans for individual policies. The types of plans include Network, Traditional, and Health Savings Account (HSA). For businesses, there are choices of Medical Plans, online management tools for the business owner and employees, and customer service all day, everyday so that your business does not have to skip a beat in today's demanding world. Business Medical plans range from Major Medical, Consumer Choice Plans, Self-Funded Products, and Ancillary Products. Undergraduate and graduate college students who are no longer being covered under their parents' heath care plan can benefit from Fortis Health Insurance as well. Our International Medical plans can also make sure that trip abroad does not interfere with heath coverage, so that you can rest knowing that you are covered not only in the United States, but overseas as well.
Fortis Health Insurance provides Assurant Health's Short Term Medical (STM) insurance and is the national leader in providing short term medical plans for those who are in between jobs, laid off, on strike, waiting for group coverage, seasonal employees, early retirees who are waiting for Medicare to begin, and those waiting for their employee group coverage to start. Fortis Health Insurance provides temporary health insurance plans that can offer coverage for as little as 30 days, or as long as 365 days.
Fortis Health's unique approach to health insurance allows you worldwide coverage 24 hours a day. There is no need for referrals to see a specialist. There is a lifetime benefit maximum of $8 million. Fortis Health Insurance allows you the choice of doctors and hospitals from extensive networks. There is also a first-year rate guarantee.
Fortis Health Insurance provides a wide variety of plans for individual policies. The types of plans include Network, Traditional, and Health Savings Account (HSA). For businesses, there are choices of Medical Plans, online management tools for the business owner and employees, and customer service all day, everyday so that your business does not have to skip a beat in today's demanding world. Business Medical plans range from Major Medical, Consumer Choice Plans, Self-Funded Products, and Ancillary Products. Undergraduate and graduate college students who are no longer being covered under their parents' heath care plan can benefit from Fortis Health Insurance as well. Our International Medical plans can also make sure that trip abroad does not interfere with heath coverage, so that you can rest knowing that you are covered not only in the United States, but overseas as well.
Fortis Health Insurance provides Assurant Health's Short Term Medical (STM) insurance and is the national leader in providing short term medical plans for those who are in between jobs, laid off, on strike, waiting for group coverage, seasonal employees, early retirees who are waiting for Medicare to begin, and those waiting for their employee group coverage to start. Fortis Health Insurance provides temporary health insurance plans that can offer coverage for as little as 30 days, or as long as 365 days.
Google CEO Eric Schmidt leaves Apple’s Board of Directors
In a completely unexpected move, today (August 3, 2009), Google CEO Eric Schmidt has decided to leave the Apple Board of Directors he’s been a part of since April 2009. While Google and Apple have seemed to look at the technology world from almost to completely different viewpoints, it seemed that Schmidt would remain on the Apple board for the foreseeable future.
It’s been known that Schmidt would remove himself from talks on the board when the conversation turned to something in which the two companies competes. For a while, that was limited only to talks of the iPhone. Recently, however, Schmidt has also had to remove himself from conversations about the Mac OS thanks to the recently announced Chrome OS. As Apple CEO Steve Jobs says in the press release, “Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest.”
What’s not mentioned is the recent Google Voice/iPhone debacle. It wouldn’t be surprising if Schmidt was upset about the app being rejected. It would be even less surprising if Jobs grew to be infuriated when the FCC decided to step into the situation. Schmidt probably wouldn’t have full sway to get the app put into the App Store, but one could assume he probably would have tried.
Also not mentioned is how this will affect the relations between Apple and Google. Apple integrates Google service such as Maps and YouTube into both the iPhone and parts of its main OS, including iLife and iWork. There is a small chance that those partnerships might be a bit strained going forward. Apple wouldn’t (or at least shouldn’t) take those features out of future releases, but this situation casts a a shadow over possible future integrations. Those integrations will always be available in Android, and presumably Chrome OS, however.
It’s been known that Schmidt would remove himself from talks on the board when the conversation turned to something in which the two companies competes. For a while, that was limited only to talks of the iPhone. Recently, however, Schmidt has also had to remove himself from conversations about the Mac OS thanks to the recently announced Chrome OS. As Apple CEO Steve Jobs says in the press release, “Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest.”
What’s not mentioned is the recent Google Voice/iPhone debacle. It wouldn’t be surprising if Schmidt was upset about the app being rejected. It would be even less surprising if Jobs grew to be infuriated when the FCC decided to step into the situation. Schmidt probably wouldn’t have full sway to get the app put into the App Store, but one could assume he probably would have tried.
Also not mentioned is how this will affect the relations between Apple and Google. Apple integrates Google service such as Maps and YouTube into both the iPhone and parts of its main OS, including iLife and iWork. There is a small chance that those partnerships might be a bit strained going forward. Apple wouldn’t (or at least shouldn’t) take those features out of future releases, but this situation casts a a shadow over possible future integrations. Those integrations will always be available in Android, and presumably Chrome OS, however.
Nokia’s second quarter earnings plummet
Nokia has announced that its second-quarter earnings plummeted by 66%. The company blames the recession for the drop, saying demand for its products has diminished due to the economic turmoil. Their net profit was $535 million down from roughly €1.4 billion this time last year. Nokia shares fell 11% as a result of the news.
The company shipped 103 mobile devices this quarter, down 15% from a year ago and prices on their handsets fell to US $88 from US $104 last year. Their North American distribution fell 30%. Facing strong rivals in Apple and RIM, the company says it is trying to transform itself:
The company shipped 103 mobile devices this quarter, down 15% from a year ago and prices on their handsets fell to US $88 from US $104 last year. Their North American distribution fell 30%. Facing strong rivals in Apple and RIM, the company says it is trying to transform itself:
Setting up conferences gets easier
While the Internet has been a valuable tool for small business owners, teleconferences remain a popular way to meet with clients, employees and colleagues. However, in today’s busy world they aren’t always easy to set up. With the increasing popularity of ultra portable notebooks and mobile broadband, the people you need to conference with are as or more likely to be out of the office than in it.FreeConference, a service offering free audio conferences, has announced a new text messaging service that can make it easier. For just $0.45 a message, they will send a text reminder to your phone 15 minutes before your conference. Organizers can send an On Demand message to their phones which will allow them to set up a conference call from their phone quickly and easily.
Tips How to View Private Myspace Profiles
We all notice that if you are a MySpace user, you've come across some profiles that you're dying taboo to view but only to catch out that they're set to private. You realize that the simply way to view their profile is to add them as a friend and hope they accept. Unfortunately, nearly of the time they don't know you and they wont accept your friend request. However, I can show you how to view private profiles on MySpace.I know personally, I've stumbled upon a profile of someone I thought I recognized. All I need to do is look into some more pictures on their profile to be sure. But when I try to view their MySpace profile, I find it's set to private. Now I see the only way I can view their pictures is to send a friend request to them. But we all know that this can be tiresome and most of the time not work at all. If their profile is set to private, they'll most potentially not add you as a friend.Private profiles is a great feature on MySpace, however they can be a real annoying when it comes to finding friends that you haven't seen in a long time, or becoming friends with someone that you think look cool.Fortunately, I came across a site recently in some dark corner of the internet. On this site, you can enter the MySpace user ID and it will return with every picture that user uploaded on their profile, without having to send a friend request or gain access to their private MySpace profile. This is the greatest tool i've found in a long time
conference call recording services, on-line meeting, operator assisted toll free conference call, conference call recording, low cost calls, conferen
Conference calls have now become a day to day usage calls and all the people are using them regularly for various purposes. Depending upon the requirement they are using them the way they want. The conference calls are of huge demand and with the kind of situation like this the service providers are making most of them.
Actually there is no need for you to pay anything to the service providers as there are service providers who are ready to provide the service for free. They are providing with all the things that you get with the paid service. If the same kind of service is available for free then why do you want to pay for the same kind of service!
Check out with any of the service who are providing the service for free of cost and you will come to know the various benefits that you are going to get with the help of the free conference call service. But here also some people might ask you to call a long distance number but not provide you with a normal dial in number or a local number.
If they ask you to dial a long distance numbers then better check with the other one as you have an option to get a local number. As the service is absolutely free then you can test them for free too and you will not lose anything. If you want you can find the address of one company who is ready to provide the service for free without any subscription charges or monthly service charges using the above link.
Actually there is no need for you to pay anything to the service providers as there are service providers who are ready to provide the service for free. They are providing with all the things that you get with the paid service. If the same kind of service is available for free then why do you want to pay for the same kind of service!
Check out with any of the service who are providing the service for free of cost and you will come to know the various benefits that you are going to get with the help of the free conference call service. But here also some people might ask you to call a long distance number but not provide you with a normal dial in number or a local number.
If they ask you to dial a long distance numbers then better check with the other one as you have an option to get a local number. As the service is absolutely free then you can test them for free too and you will not lose anything. If you want you can find the address of one company who is ready to provide the service for free without any subscription charges or monthly service charges using the above link.
Who is Nomadic Display?
Nomadic Display - The World’s Leading Producer of High-Quality and Modular Trade Show Displays!
Nomadic Display revolutionized the industry 30 years ago when we introduced the world’s first pop up trade show display - Instand. Today, "pop up" trade show displays are the most popular portable trade show display in the world. As the world’s leading producer of high-quality portable trade show displays and modular trade show displays, we have helped businesses around the world produce dynamic selling environments. Our international client base use displays to effectively communicate their message with visual impact while building their brand. We offer a complete range of trade show displays that include banner stands, table top trade show displays, pop up trade show displays, kiosks, hybrid displays and custom modular laminate exhibits.
Our trade show displays are designed to quickly, clearly, and memorably communicate your message. As a Nomadic owner, you can display with confidence. Our products are backed by the industry’s best services before and after-the-sale. Our portfolio includes the following services:
InstaShip delivery with no rush charges on our most popular products
Nomadic LifeLine, 24-7 hotline
Lifetime product warranties
Global network of distribution partners
Nomadic Display revolutionized the industry 30 years ago when we introduced the world’s first pop up trade show display - Instand. Today, "pop up" trade show displays are the most popular portable trade show display in the world. As the world’s leading producer of high-quality portable trade show displays and modular trade show displays, we have helped businesses around the world produce dynamic selling environments. Our international client base use displays to effectively communicate their message with visual impact while building their brand. We offer a complete range of trade show displays that include banner stands, table top trade show displays, pop up trade show displays, kiosks, hybrid displays and custom modular laminate exhibits.
Our trade show displays are designed to quickly, clearly, and memorably communicate your message. As a Nomadic owner, you can display with confidence. Our products are backed by the industry’s best services before and after-the-sale. Our portfolio includes the following services:
InstaShip delivery with no rush charges on our most popular products
Nomadic LifeLine, 24-7 hotline
Lifetime product warranties
Global network of distribution partners
MOTOR VEHICLE WARRANTY AND LEMON LAW
A purchaser or lessee of a motor vehicle has various rights under both state and federal law if the vehicle does not perform as provided under an express warranty. Warranty law can be complex, and it is impossible to describe comprehensively all of the law in a brief space. The following comments briefly explain the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and what is popularly known as the "Lemon Law."
This message is not a substitute for your contacting your own lawyer who can best advise you of your rights under the particular circumstances of your case. The Attorney General's office cannot advise you of your legal rights and cannot represent you in a warranty dispute.
Coverage For New Motor Vehicles.OVERVIEW OF SONG-BEVERLY WARRANTY RIGHTSThe Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (beginning with Civil Code section 1790) provides protection for consumers who lease or buy new motor vehicles. The law requires that if the manufacturer or its representative in this state, such as an authorized dealer, is unable to service or repair a new motor vehicle to meet the terms of an express written warranty after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the manufacturer is required promptly to replace the vehicle or return the purchase price to the lessee or buyer. The purchase price that must be returned includes the price paid for manufacturer-installed items and transportation but does not include the price paid for nonmanufacturer items installed by the dealer. The lessee or buyer is completely free to choose whether to accept a replacement or a refund. Whatever the choice, the manufacturer is also responsible to pay for sales or use tax; license, registration, and other official fees; and incidental damages that the lessee or buyer may have incurred such as finance charges, repair, towing, and rental car costs.
The lessee or buyer may be charged for the use of the vehicle regardless of whether the vehicle is replaced or the purchase price is refunded. The amount that may be charged for use is determined by multiplying the actual price of the new vehicle by a fraction having as its denominator 120,000 and as its numerator the number of miles traveled by the vehicle before it was first brought in for correction of the problem. For example, if the car had traveled 6,000 miles before it was first brought in for correction of the problem, the lessee or buyer could be charged 5% (6,000/120,000 = 5%) of the purchase price for usage.
The law applies for the entire period of your warranty. For example, if your vehicle is covered by a three-year warranty and you discover a defect after two years, the manufacturer will have to replace the vehicle or reimburse you as outlined above if the manufacturer or its representative is unable to conform the vehicle to the express warranty after a reasonable number of attempts to do so.
Song-Beverly does not apply if the problem was caused by abuse after the vehicle was delivered. Be sure you follow the terms of the warranty for maintenance and proper use of the vehicle.
Although there is a four-year statute of limitations to bring a law suit for breach of warranty or for violations of Song-Beverly, you should act promptly to try to resolve the problem fairly and quickly without legal action if possible.
THE "LEMON LAW" AND WHAT IS A REASONABLE NUMBER OF REPAIR ATTEMPTSWhat is considered a reasonable number of repair attempts will depend on the circumstances including the seriousness of the defect. For example, one or two repair attempts may be considered reasonable for serious safety defects such as brake failure, depending on the exact situation.
A special provision, often called the "Lemon Law," helps determine what is a reasonable number of repair attempts for problems that substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. The "Lemon Law" applies to these problems if they arise during the first 18 months after the consumer received delivery of the vehicle or within the first 18,000 miles on the odometer, whichever occurs first. During the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the "Lemon Law" presumes that a manufacturer has had a reasonable number of attempts to repair the vehicle if either (1) The same problem results in a condition that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven and the problem has been subject to repair two or more times by the manufacturer or its agents, and the buyer or lessee has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the problem as provided in the warranty or owner's manual or (2) The same problem has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer or its agents and the buyer has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the problem as provided in the warranty or owner's manual or (3) The vehicle is out of service because of the repair of any number of problems by the manufacturer or its agents for a cumulative total of more than 30 days since delivery of the vehicle.
The "Lemon Law" presumption is a guide, not an absolute rule. A judge or arbitrator can assume that the manufacturer has had a reasonable number of chances to repair the vehicle if all of the conditions are met. The manufacturer, however, has the right to try to prove that it should have the chance to attempt additional repairs, and the consumer has the right to show that fewer repair attempts are reasonable under the circumstances.
Be sure to check your warranty and owner's manual for instructions. You may be required to directly notify the manufacturer of the problem(s). It is a good idea to send your written notice to the manufacturer at the address shown in the warranty or owner's manual by certified mail, return receipt requested so that you have proof that your letter was received. Keep a copy of all correspondence.
If the manufacturer maintains a state-certified arbitration program, the consumer must submit the warranty dispute to the arbitration program before the consumer can take advantage of the presumption in court. Arbitration is an alternative to court proceedings. The consumer may assert the presumption during arbitration. Information about any arbitration should be described in the warranty or owner's manual.
Not every manufacturer maintains a state certified program. You should check with the Department of Consumer Affairs' Arbitration Certification Program at (800) 952-5210 or on the Internet at www.dca.ca.gov/acp/. You can also ask for the department's free pamphlet that explains more about arbitration, "Lemon Aid for Consumers."
WHO IS COVEREDThe law applies to a new motor vehicle that is bought or used primarily for personal, family or household purposes. The law also applies to a new motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds that is bought or used primarily for business purposes by a person, including a partnership, limited liability company, corporation, association, or any other legal entity, to which not more than five motor vehicles are registered in this state.
WHAT IS A NEW MOTOR VEHICLEThe law discussed above applies to "new motor vehicles." (Certain limited protection may apply to used vehicles as described in Section 2.) The term "new motor vehicle" includes not only new motor vehicles but also demonstrators; the chassis, chassis cab, and propulsion system of a new motor home; and any other motor vehicle sold with a manufacturer's new car warranty. For example, a two-year old used car sold with the remaining one year portion of a manufacturer's three-year new car warranty would be treated as a new motor vehicle. The term "new motor vehicle," however, does not include motorcycles or exclusively off-road vehicles.
Coverage For Vehicles That Are Not "New"Although the special provisions discussed above apply to new motor vehicles, Song-Beverly has many general rules that apply to any consumer product sold with an express written warranty. As a result, there is important coverage for motorcycles, the living quarters of a mobile home, used vehicles sold with a dealer's express written warranty, "lemon" vehicles repurchased by the manufacturer and sold to consumers with an express written warranty covering the defect, and vehicles sold with a service contract.
A full description of warranty rights is beyond the scope of this message, but you should be aware that coverage is not identical to the coverage for new motor vehicles. For example, a warrantor who is unable to conform a consumer product to its express warranty within a reasonable number of attempts is required to replace the goods or refund the purchase price less an amount attributable to the consumer's use. Unlike the special rules on new motor vehicles, however, there is no set formula for determining the charge for the consumer's use before the discovery of the defect, and the Lemon Law presumption does not apply.
This message is not a substitute for your contacting your own lawyer who can best advise you of your rights under the particular circumstances of your case. The Attorney General's office cannot advise you of your legal rights and cannot represent you in a warranty dispute.
Coverage For New Motor Vehicles.OVERVIEW OF SONG-BEVERLY WARRANTY RIGHTSThe Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (beginning with Civil Code section 1790) provides protection for consumers who lease or buy new motor vehicles. The law requires that if the manufacturer or its representative in this state, such as an authorized dealer, is unable to service or repair a new motor vehicle to meet the terms of an express written warranty after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the manufacturer is required promptly to replace the vehicle or return the purchase price to the lessee or buyer. The purchase price that must be returned includes the price paid for manufacturer-installed items and transportation but does not include the price paid for nonmanufacturer items installed by the dealer. The lessee or buyer is completely free to choose whether to accept a replacement or a refund. Whatever the choice, the manufacturer is also responsible to pay for sales or use tax; license, registration, and other official fees; and incidental damages that the lessee or buyer may have incurred such as finance charges, repair, towing, and rental car costs.
The lessee or buyer may be charged for the use of the vehicle regardless of whether the vehicle is replaced or the purchase price is refunded. The amount that may be charged for use is determined by multiplying the actual price of the new vehicle by a fraction having as its denominator 120,000 and as its numerator the number of miles traveled by the vehicle before it was first brought in for correction of the problem. For example, if the car had traveled 6,000 miles before it was first brought in for correction of the problem, the lessee or buyer could be charged 5% (6,000/120,000 = 5%) of the purchase price for usage.
The law applies for the entire period of your warranty. For example, if your vehicle is covered by a three-year warranty and you discover a defect after two years, the manufacturer will have to replace the vehicle or reimburse you as outlined above if the manufacturer or its representative is unable to conform the vehicle to the express warranty after a reasonable number of attempts to do so.
Song-Beverly does not apply if the problem was caused by abuse after the vehicle was delivered. Be sure you follow the terms of the warranty for maintenance and proper use of the vehicle.
Although there is a four-year statute of limitations to bring a law suit for breach of warranty or for violations of Song-Beverly, you should act promptly to try to resolve the problem fairly and quickly without legal action if possible.
THE "LEMON LAW" AND WHAT IS A REASONABLE NUMBER OF REPAIR ATTEMPTSWhat is considered a reasonable number of repair attempts will depend on the circumstances including the seriousness of the defect. For example, one or two repair attempts may be considered reasonable for serious safety defects such as brake failure, depending on the exact situation.
A special provision, often called the "Lemon Law," helps determine what is a reasonable number of repair attempts for problems that substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. The "Lemon Law" applies to these problems if they arise during the first 18 months after the consumer received delivery of the vehicle or within the first 18,000 miles on the odometer, whichever occurs first. During the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the "Lemon Law" presumes that a manufacturer has had a reasonable number of attempts to repair the vehicle if either (1) The same problem results in a condition that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven and the problem has been subject to repair two or more times by the manufacturer or its agents, and the buyer or lessee has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the problem as provided in the warranty or owner's manual or (2) The same problem has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer or its agents and the buyer has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the problem as provided in the warranty or owner's manual or (3) The vehicle is out of service because of the repair of any number of problems by the manufacturer or its agents for a cumulative total of more than 30 days since delivery of the vehicle.
The "Lemon Law" presumption is a guide, not an absolute rule. A judge or arbitrator can assume that the manufacturer has had a reasonable number of chances to repair the vehicle if all of the conditions are met. The manufacturer, however, has the right to try to prove that it should have the chance to attempt additional repairs, and the consumer has the right to show that fewer repair attempts are reasonable under the circumstances.
Be sure to check your warranty and owner's manual for instructions. You may be required to directly notify the manufacturer of the problem(s). It is a good idea to send your written notice to the manufacturer at the address shown in the warranty or owner's manual by certified mail, return receipt requested so that you have proof that your letter was received. Keep a copy of all correspondence.
If the manufacturer maintains a state-certified arbitration program, the consumer must submit the warranty dispute to the arbitration program before the consumer can take advantage of the presumption in court. Arbitration is an alternative to court proceedings. The consumer may assert the presumption during arbitration. Information about any arbitration should be described in the warranty or owner's manual.
Not every manufacturer maintains a state certified program. You should check with the Department of Consumer Affairs' Arbitration Certification Program at (800) 952-5210 or on the Internet at www.dca.ca.gov/acp/. You can also ask for the department's free pamphlet that explains more about arbitration, "Lemon Aid for Consumers."
WHO IS COVEREDThe law applies to a new motor vehicle that is bought or used primarily for personal, family or household purposes. The law also applies to a new motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds that is bought or used primarily for business purposes by a person, including a partnership, limited liability company, corporation, association, or any other legal entity, to which not more than five motor vehicles are registered in this state.
WHAT IS A NEW MOTOR VEHICLEThe law discussed above applies to "new motor vehicles." (Certain limited protection may apply to used vehicles as described in Section 2.) The term "new motor vehicle" includes not only new motor vehicles but also demonstrators; the chassis, chassis cab, and propulsion system of a new motor home; and any other motor vehicle sold with a manufacturer's new car warranty. For example, a two-year old used car sold with the remaining one year portion of a manufacturer's three-year new car warranty would be treated as a new motor vehicle. The term "new motor vehicle," however, does not include motorcycles or exclusively off-road vehicles.
Coverage For Vehicles That Are Not "New"Although the special provisions discussed above apply to new motor vehicles, Song-Beverly has many general rules that apply to any consumer product sold with an express written warranty. As a result, there is important coverage for motorcycles, the living quarters of a mobile home, used vehicles sold with a dealer's express written warranty, "lemon" vehicles repurchased by the manufacturer and sold to consumers with an express written warranty covering the defect, and vehicles sold with a service contract.
A full description of warranty rights is beyond the scope of this message, but you should be aware that coverage is not identical to the coverage for new motor vehicles. For example, a warrantor who is unable to conform a consumer product to its express warranty within a reasonable number of attempts is required to replace the goods or refund the purchase price less an amount attributable to the consumer's use. Unlike the special rules on new motor vehicles, however, there is no set formula for determining the charge for the consumer's use before the discovery of the defect, and the Lemon Law presumption does not apply.
How Our Experts' Choices Were Made
To select our WebMD the Magazine Experts' Choice Best Baby Care Products winners, our three experts considered hundreds of items. Their mission? To help parents read labels, understand ingredients, and choose the best washes, creams, and wipes.
About our experts:
Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, nutritionist and president, Keri Glassman, A Nutritious Life, New York.
Sharon Glick, MD, director, Pediatric Dermatology; associate professor of dermatology and pediatrics, SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn.
Colette Lieber, MD, in private practice and pediatric dermatology consultant, New Jersey.
Watch for more Experts' Choice winners in future issues of WebMD the Magazine.
Note: WebMD Experts' Choice reflect the opinions of the editors or experts only, not of WebMD. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.
Honorable Mention: Best Wipes
"I like the smell and the feel," says Lieber of Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes ($2.99). "Plus, it doesn't rip easily." The only major brand with wipes made of soft cotton, Pampers is fragrance-free, making it ideal for the most sensitive of bottoms.
Best Wipes
Parents use these handy cloths for more than just wiping baby's bottom, says Glassman, who finds them especially useful for cleaning her kids' hands and faces after playtime at the park. And for derrieres and hands and faces, Earth's Best Tender Care Chlorine-Free Baby Wipes ($3.79) was the panel's top pick. They're hypoallergenic, unscented, and alcohol-free, and contain aloe vera and vitamin E. They are also the sturdiest and cleanest of the bunch. "I like the texture, and they feel solid and strong," Glick says.
Honorable Mention: Best Body Wash/Shampoo
Method Baby Squeaky Green Hair and Body Wash ($6.99) scored major points for its "adorable packaging," which includes a lid that doubles as a cup to rinse your baby's head. "What a genius idea," Glassman says. "I'm always looking for a cup." The product contains fragrance, which disappointed our panel. "But I do like that it has olive oil," says Glassman. "It's very soothing and moisturizing for the skin."
Best Body Wash/Shampoo
Until the age of 1 or 2, your little (and likely bald) one doesn't need a separate shampoo and body wash. And, surprisingly, the two-in-one product you use "doesn't have to say 'baby' on it," Lieber says. "That's just marketing." Because Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($7.63) was created specifically for sensitive skin, it's the ideal wash for a newborn. "Cetaphil is as gentle as water," Glick says, "and it's what I use myself and what I recommend to all my patients" Both Glick and Lieber also used it on their children.
Honorable Mention: Best Sunscreen
Earth's Best Chemical Free SPF 30+ Baby Sunblock ($10.99) wowed our judges, who found it not as sticky and easier to apply than our winner, but it lost points for having less zinc oxide. "It's chemical-free, which is so important for babies," Glick says. "That's why it's definitely necessary to read labels."
Best Sunscreen
California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion ($19.99) impressed our experts with its UVA and UVB protection and because it is a physical block. "You never want to put a chemical block on a baby," Lieber says. A chemical block protects by absorbing UV radiation, takes 20 minutes to work, and could cause contact dermatitis, explains Glick, while a physical block reflects sunlight, and will not cause dermatitis. Although it's a little thick, it's ideal for babies 12 months and under.
Honorable Mention: Best Body Lotion
Earth's Best Organic Everyday Lotion ($8.79) won points for smell, feel, and clean ingredients. Glassman likes that it contains lavender. "It's relaxing and will help baby sleep," she says. Also, it's organic and housed in a pump, but the only downside, the group says, is price. "It's the most expensive of the bunch," Lieber notes.
Best Body Lotion
Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion ($6.29) was our experts' pick, which bested the other brands because it spreads easily and is fragrance-free and economical. Glick applauds Aveeno's nongreasy feel as well as the pump container. In addition, it protects the skin more than other lotions, because unlike most petroleum-based products, it contains allantoin, which is soothing to the skin. It also lacks the stickiness of a cream.
Honorable Mention: Best Diaper Rash Product
Our experts chose Method Squeaky Green Diaper Cream ($6.99) for everyday use. "I like that it comes in a pump, which is sterile and easier to use," says Glick, who also praised its ingredients, which include sunflower seed oil and rice, and its naturalness (95%).
Winner: Best Diaper Rash Product
Boudreaux's Butt Paste ($4.99) beat its old-standby competitors by a landslide, in part because it's a paste, which is more effective than a cream and provides a better barrier against urine and other irritants. It is also fragrance-free and has an especially high concentration of zinc oxide, which helps speed healing. To offset the cost (the only downside our experts noted), use it only to clear up a rash and opt for a less-expensive product for everyday use. "All my patients love it," Glick says, "because it works."
Buy, Buy Baby
Lost in the pastel-hued wilderness of baby care products? Every item on the shelf seems to claim it is fragrance-free, unscented, organic, natural -- the words make your head spin. We turned to the pros for help. Our panel of experts, two pediatric dermatologists, Sharon Glick, MD, and Colette Lieber, MD, and health and wellness expert Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, judged dozens of baby care products on five criteria: scientifically sound; brand promise; price; look, smell, and feel; and overall excellence.
What can be done to prevent boils (abscesses)?
The regular use of antibacterial soaps can help to prevent bacteria from building up on the skin. This can reduce the chance for hair follicles to become infected and prevent the formation of boils. Your health-care practitioner may recommend special cleansers such as pHisoderm to further reduce the bacteria on the skin. When hair follicles on the back of the arms or around the thighs are continually inflamed, regular use of an abrasive brush (loofah brush) in the shower can be used to break up oil plugs and other buildup around hair follicles. Pilonidal cysts can be prevented by avoiding continuous direct pressure or irritation of the buttock area when a local hair follicle becomes inflamed. Regular soap and hot water cleaning and drying can be helpful. For acne and hidradenitis suppurativa, antibiotics may be required on a long-term basis to prevent recurrent abscess formation. Finally, surgery may occasionally be needed, especially for hidradenitis suppurativa or pilonidal cysts that recur.. For pilonidal cysts, surgically removing the outer shell of the cyst is important to clear the boil. For hidradenitis suppurativa, extensive involvement can require plastic surgery.
When should I seek medical attention?
You should call your doctor and seek medical attention if:
the boil is located on your face, near your spine, or near your anus;
a boil is getting larger;
the pain is severe;
you have a fever;
the skin around the boil turns red or red streaks appear;
you have a heart murmur, diabetes, any problem with your immune system, or use immune-suppressing drugs (for example, corticosteroids or chemotherapy) and you develop a boil;
the boil has not improved after five to seven days of home treatment; or
you get many boils over several months.
Should boils be treated with antibiotics?
Antibiotics are often used to eliminate the accompanying bacterial infection. Especially if there is an infection of the surrounding skin, the doctor often prescribes antibiotics. However, antibiotics are not needed in every situation. In fact, antibiotics have difficulty penetrating the outer wall of an abscess and often will not cure an abscess without additional surgical drainage.
Should boils be drained?
As long as the boil is small and firm, opening the area and draining the boil is not helpful, even if the area is painful. However, once the boil becomes soft or "forms a head" (that is, a small pustule is noted in the boil), it can be ready to drain. Once drained, pain relief can be dramatic. Most small boils, such as those that form around hairs, drain on their own with soaking and/or heat application. On occasion, and especially with larger boils, the larger boil will need to be drained or "lanced" by a health-care practitioner. Frequently, these larger boils contain several pockets of pus that must be opened and drained.
What is the treatment for a boil?
Most simple boils can be treated at home. Ideally, the treatment should begin as soon as a boil is noticed since early treatment may prevent later complications. The primary treatment for most boils is heat application, usually with hot soaks or hot packs. Heat application increases the circulation to the area and allows the body to better fight off the infection by bringing antibodies and white blood cells to the site of infection.
What is a furuncle or carbuncle?
A furuncle or carbuncle is an abscess in the skin caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. A furuncle can have one or more openings onto the skin and may be associated with fever or chills.
What are the types of boils?
There are several different types of boils. Among these are
furuncle or carbuncle,
cystic acne,
hidradenitis suppurativa, and
pilonidal cyst
What is a boil?
A boil, also referred to as a skin abscess, is a localized infection deep in the skin. A boil generally starts as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm and hard. Eventually, the center of the abscess softens and becomes filled with infection-fighting white blood cells that the body sends via the bloodstream to eradicate the infection. This collection of white blood cells, bacteria, and proteins is known as pus. Finally, the pus "forms a head," which can be surgically opened or spontaneously drain out through the surface of the skin.
Who is most likely to develop a boil?
Anyone can develop a boil. However, people with certain illnesses or medications that impair the body's immune system are more likely to develop boils. Among the illnesses that can be associated with impaired immune systems are diabetes and kidney failure. Diseases, such as hypogammaglobulinemia, that are associated with deficiencies in the normal immune system, can increase the tendency to develop boils. Many medications can suppress the normal immune system and increase the risk of developing boils. These medications include cortisone medications (prednisone and prednisolone) and medications used for cancer chemotherapy.
What are additional causes of boils?
The skin is an essential part of our immune defense against materials and microbes that are foreign to our body. Any break in the skin, such as a cut or scrape, can develop into an abscess (boil) should it then become infected with bacteria.
Why do boils occur?
There are many causes of boils. Some boils can be caused by an ingrown hair. Others can form as the result of a splinter or other foreign material that has become lodged in the skin. Others boils, such as those of acne, are caused by plugged sweat glands that become infected.
What is a pilonidal cyst?
A pilonidal cyst is a unique kind of abscess that occurs in or above the crease of the buttocks. Pilonidal cysts often begin as tiny areas of infection in the base of the area of skin from which hair grows (the hair follicle). With irritation from direct pressure, over time the inflamed area enlarges to become a firm, painful, tender nodule making it difficult to sit without discomfort. These frequently form after long trips that involve prolonged sitting.
What is hidradenitis suppurativa?
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a condition in which there are multiple abscesses that form under the armpits and often in the groin area. These areas are a result of local inflammation of the sweat glands. This form of skin infection is difficult to treat with antibiotics alone and typically requires a surgical procedure to remove the involved sweat glands in order to stop the skin inflammation.
What is cystic acne?
Cystic acne is a type of abscess that is formed when oil ducts become clogged and infected. Cystic acne affects deeper skin tissue than the more superficial inflammation from common acne. Cystic acne is most common on the face and typically occurs in the teenage years.
Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a attenuate blazon of blight that develops in the mesothelial beef that curve abounding organs and physique cavities. The mesothelium (composed of mesothelial cells) is the film that curve three of the body's cavities, and depending on what atrium it curve it is accustomed a specific name: the thoracic atrium (pleura), belly atrium (peritoneum), and the affection sac (pericardium).
Mesothelioma is a attenuate blight that can advance in the mesothelium of the thoracic atrium in the lungs.
The mesothelium that covers the centralized organs is alleged the belly mesothelium, while the band that covers the physique bank is alleged parietal mesothelium.
Mesothelium tissue aswell surrounds the macho centralized changeable organs and covers the centralized reprductive organs in women.
Mesothelioma is an advancing blight of this mesothelium, in which beef of the mesothelium become aberrant and bisect berserk and after order. They can access and accident adjacent tissues and organs. A lot of cases of mesothelioma activate in the thoracic atrium (pleura) or the belly atrium (peritoneum).
Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed anniversary year in the United States, absolute about 3 percent of all blight diagnoses. This blight occurs added frequently in men than in women, about four times added frequent. All forms of mesothelioma, except for amiable mesothelioma, are consistently fatal. The cast for mesothelioma is about consistently poor and a lot of studies address a average adaptation of beneath than one year, but the cast absolutely depends on how aboriginal it is diagnosed and aggressively it is treated.
Causes of MesotheliomaMesothelioma is acquired by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring coarse actuality that was broadly acclimated in the twentieth aeon in a amount of altered industries. Popular because of its durability, blaze resistance, and careful properties, it was consistently acclimated in the accomplish of several thousand altered products, up until the time that asbestos warnings were issued in the mid-1970s. It is estimated that added than 90 percent of mesothelioma cases are affiliated to asbestos exposure.
The exact way in which asbestos causes mesothelioma is not able-bodied accepted admitting doctors and advisers accept put alternating abounding hypotheses. What is apparent, however, is that any breadth of acknowledgment to asbestos can be chancy and may aftereffect in the development of asbestos-related diseases after in life.
Mesothelioma is a attenuate blight that can advance in the mesothelium of the thoracic atrium in the lungs.
The mesothelium that covers the centralized organs is alleged the belly mesothelium, while the band that covers the physique bank is alleged parietal mesothelium.
Mesothelium tissue aswell surrounds the macho centralized changeable organs and covers the centralized reprductive organs in women.
Mesothelioma is an advancing blight of this mesothelium, in which beef of the mesothelium become aberrant and bisect berserk and after order. They can access and accident adjacent tissues and organs. A lot of cases of mesothelioma activate in the thoracic atrium (pleura) or the belly atrium (peritoneum).
Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed anniversary year in the United States, absolute about 3 percent of all blight diagnoses. This blight occurs added frequently in men than in women, about four times added frequent. All forms of mesothelioma, except for amiable mesothelioma, are consistently fatal. The cast for mesothelioma is about consistently poor and a lot of studies address a average adaptation of beneath than one year, but the cast absolutely depends on how aboriginal it is diagnosed and aggressively it is treated.
Causes of MesotheliomaMesothelioma is acquired by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring coarse actuality that was broadly acclimated in the twentieth aeon in a amount of altered industries. Popular because of its durability, blaze resistance, and careful properties, it was consistently acclimated in the accomplish of several thousand altered products, up until the time that asbestos warnings were issued in the mid-1970s. It is estimated that added than 90 percent of mesothelioma cases are affiliated to asbestos exposure.
The exact way in which asbestos causes mesothelioma is not able-bodied accepted admitting doctors and advisers accept put alternating abounding hypotheses. What is apparent, however, is that any breadth of acknowledgment to asbestos can be chancy and may aftereffect in the development of asbestos-related diseases after in life.
Understanding the Mesothelium
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: one layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures. The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity, while the pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis, and the tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
