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#1
19-11-2009, 09:26 AM
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What every consumer MUST know
Directory Enquiries and phones
If you ask Directory Enquiries to put you through, it can cost you upt to 69cents per minute. Let them text you the number, and then call it directly. "LoCall" number 1890 and "CallSave" number 1850 are significantly more expensive if called from a mobile instead of from a landline? 35c per minute in some cases vs 5c per minute for a so-called LoCall 1890 number. It is often cheaper to call a local number than to call an 1850 or 1890 number. These are explained on SayNOto1890.com Credit Cards If you don't pay off your credit card in full and on time, you will be charged interest on the full amount from the time you made your purchases? Always pay deposits by Credit Cards. If the shop or travel agent goes bust, the Credit Card company must give you your money back. Banking Keep your current account and mortgage in separate banks If you complain to your bank about a charge, chances are they will refund you. Direct Debits If you dispute a Direct Debit within 8 weeks of it appearing on your bank statement - the bank must reverse it without quibble. Check that you are getting all your tax credits And make sure that you have not overpaid tax in previous years At the chemist Always ask your pharmacist if there is a cheaper, generic version of your favourite branded drug available. (Anyone willing to produce a list of common generic drugs?) If you are using a repeat prescription ask for it to be filled in full on one visit so that you only pay one dispensary charge. use 'pill splitting' to reduce to drug costs, e.g. use a pill split to split each 10mg drug into two 5mg drugs, as the 10 mg is generally less than twice the price of the 5mg drugs. Some chemists have 10% discount cards. Other ways to save money at the chemist. Mortgage Protection and Life Assurance You should not buy your mortgage protection policy from your mortgage provider as it is probably a lot cheaper bought through a discount broker such as LA Brokers or Ferga.com It's probably worth shopping around for your mortgage protection policy and other life insurance every so often as prices may well have come down since you took out the policy initially. On retirement When you retire, you should not buy your pension annuity automatically from the company with whom you saved. You will get a much higher quote from New Ireland or Irish Life. Avoid paying Ryanair Credit Card costs through Entropay Cutting electricity costs You can switch your electricity from the ESB to Bord Gais or Airtricity by making a simple phone call. This will save you up to 14%. See Home Electricity Supply Best Buys thread. Supermarket shopping Don't assume that multipacks are cheaper than buying the required number of items individually. Miscellaneous Consider get printer refills instead of buying new cartridges. But is it worth the hassle? You can put your phone number of a database of numbers not to be cold called. Are there other examples of simple things like this which affect almost everyone which we all need to know? Don't worry about being too obvious - I thought that the Directory Enquiries one was too obvious. I will try to put them in a Top Ten in terms of frequency and savings. 
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#2
19-11-2009, 09:37 AM
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Re: How well informed a consumer are you?
Value Ireland has a list of Top Tips from people such as Terry Prone (surprisingly good!) and Leo Varadkar (not bad!)
And from SerialComplainer
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#4
23-11-2009, 09:31 AM
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Re: What every consumer MUST know
Quote:
Leo
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#5
24-11-2009, 03:52 PM
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Re: What every consumer MUST know
Dont be afraid to use loyalty cards also. If there are a few of you in work this can be collected together (or you could, ahem, volunteer to get them)
Centra have a sandwich/lunch one currently that only requires 4 or 5 buys before you get a freebie. Cafe Sol have one for coffee which gives a freebie on every 8. Check out meal deals also where soup/drink and sandwich are good value. M&S are always worth checking out for these also.
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#9
29-11-2009, 10:18 PM
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Re: What every consumer MUST know
Quote:
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