Credit Control Solutions

Competition to Win 2 x Credit Check Packages worth over £500.00...!

We are offering 2 lucky people the opportunity to win 12 months access to our online credit check service worth over £500. There are no catches and no small print. What you see with this offer is what you get…!

What’s in the package Jamie?

• 12 months access to our on-line credit check service
• You can check any UK Limited Company or Unincorporated Business
• You can credit check any UK Director
• You can perform media searches on any Business/Director in The UK
• You can perform as many credit checks as you like – there are no limits

All services are for 12 months, and the package value is £500+

So how do we win it then?

This is the easy bit! All you have to do is ‘Like’ our Facebook Business page! That’s it! Then on 17th July we will put all of our Facebook ‘fans’ into a random generator and pick out 2 lucky winners..!

That’s it?

Yep, that’s it – go to our Facebook Business Page, click on the “Like” button at the top, and you’re in with a chance! Ask a question on the page and we’ll put you in the draw twice!

Post details of our offer on your own Facebook profile (use the “SHARE” button at the bottom of our page on the left) and we’ll enter you a third time!

It’s that simple – so if you want to be in with a chance to win one of our 2 credit check packages available in this offer, which will ultimately help you to reduce your bad & doubtful debts, help you to make informed decisions about who you grant credit terms to, or if you just want to be nosey and see how well (or not) your friends companies are doing go to our Facebook Business Page, and “LIKE” us now!

 

Jamieo "Making your cash flow"

What are your Thoughts on the Coalition Government?

What are your views on the current coalition government?

Do you think they will be more business friendly than Labour? Word has it that a cut in corporation tax is on the cards. They have also aired that they feel the way out of the recession is to give breaks to small businesses on the basis that if small businesses prosper, they will employ more people which in turn increases the governments tax take. Focusing on helping small businesses is a sensible idea (not only because I am a small business owner) due to the fact that collectively small business owners employ more people than all of the larger UK businesses put together..!

As a staunch conservative, my view is this; I think a Tory/Liberal coalition government is not only an historical event, I think it will work and probably be one of the most successful governments ever (When I look at this post in a few months or years, will I have egg on my face?). The Conservatives are normally quite "hard edged", but I reckon the Lib Dems will soften them down a little (Proof of this already exists in terms of compromises the Conservatives have made thus far)

What are your thoughts?

Jamieo - "Making Your Cash Flow"

Cash Flow is Critical!

The UK is experiencing a major increase in failures. Many companies are just walking away from their problems. 

When you lose £1,000 on a 10% profit margin you'll need to win and be paid for £10,000 of new business to just stand still!

But while you may be sitting on the fence, others are getting in more quickly to collect what little money may be available.

You can do something about it! Contact us through our website and we will react immediately to start the recovery process.

Jamieo "Making Your Cash Flow"

2nd earthquake hits Folkestone

Breaking News - An earthquake has shaken Folkestone in Kent.

The British Geological Survey said it recorded the earthquake at 1435 GMT in Folkestone.

A spokesman said it measured 2.8 on the Richter scale, compared with the quake in April 2007 which was 4.3.

I was in my top floor flat in Folkestone when the earthquake hit on this ocassion. Although it was only 2.8 on the Richter scale, the whole house swayed and the contents of my office rattled and shook! I have experienced an earthquake in Turkey before, although that was 5.9 on the richter scale and was very frighteneing indeed!

Resident Terri Julians said the earthquake "sounded like thunder and everything shook". She added: "It was quite scary but amazing."

Stewart Smith, who works in the east Kent town, said all the buildings shook for five seconds when the tremor hit.

He said offices in the area had been evacuated.

The epicentre of the 2007 quake was in the Channel, but this tremor was about three miles (5km) below Folkestone.

Julian Bukits, assistant seismologist with the British Geological Society, said there was an "event near Folkestone" at 1435 GMT, but that "it wasn't anything near as big as the one two years ago".

He said the fact that it was not recorded on monitors further away from Folkestone showed it was a very localised event.

"There are no reports of damage, but a lot of people will have felt it and remembered the last one," he added.

He said a preliminary report showed the tremor to be 2.8 on the Richter scale - a figure that may go slightly up or down.

Mr Bukits said: "On UK terms it's not that huge.

"To give a comparison of how often we have a 2.8, I think that occurs four or five times every year."

Mr Bukits said scientists were still analysing data from the event.

Kent Police said emergency services had received no reports of any structural damage or injuries, but were liaising with partner agencies to ensure officers provided help and support where needed.

Jamieo "Making The Earth Move for You"

"Article, courtesy of BBC Website"

Get Voting in my Poll on the Credit Crunch

http://polls.linkedin.com/p/24615/byawg

The following question, is contained within a "Linked-in" poll that I have created.

I would be grateful if you could please click this link http://polls.linkedin.com/p/24615/byawg and answer the question - happy voting!

What is your one biggest fear as a business owner in the current climate?

• Not being paid by customers?
• Sales drying up?
• Having to make redundancies
• Your bank not supporting you?

Jamieo "Making Your Cash Flow"

Bank Charges - Banks lose appeal case in charges battle

Banks lose appeal case in charges battle

Latest update: The High Court has ruled in favour of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) today by announcing it can assess bank charges for fairness.

The ruling is in response to an appeal by the eight High Street banks at the centre of the case.

It is unclear at present whether the banks intend on taking their case to the House of Lords to attempt to have the decision overturned.

Either way, consumers will not be able to reclaim their bank charges until the OFT delivers its final assessment on whether the charges are fair.

The OFT has said it will be making a statement on its victory in the appeal case later today.

If the banks do not appeal, the earliest this can happen is later into 2009.

"Article Courtesy of Alan O'Sullivan, This is Money"

Jamieo "Making Your Cash Flow"

Insolvencies to Rise 34%

Credit insurer Euler Hermes warns of company collapses

UK corporate insolvencies will rise 34% this year, with the retail and manufacturing sectors being especially hard hit by the crunch, according to credit insurer Euler Hermes, The Guardian has reported.

Manufacturers need to be especially careful to ensure that their credit control is as effective as it can be. We can help you with this in a number of different ways.

We can:

• Handle your credit control for you on an outsourced basis. This will significantly reduce your costs and improve cash flow at the same time.
• Provide you with advice, guidance & training to help you get the best out of your current credit control arrangements.
• Assist you at the back end of collections by offering you our unique and very cost effective debt collection service.

We have experience within the manufacturing industry and can use our knowledge to guide your business.

We are also more than happy for any prospect to talk directly with our customers about the excellent services we provide them with.

I have 22 years experience within the credit management industry and we have been trading as Credit Control Solutions for the last 8 years, so we know what we are talking about and how best to help you.

We also give out free advice, so if you have any questions about a particular situation, please do not hesitate to contact me

Further information on all of our wonderful services is on our website

Jamieo "Making Your Cash Flow"

Credit insurers take over from Rating Agencies

Insurers are better than rating agencies at determining companies’ credit worthiness, says Aon

Credit insurers have taken over the mantle from ratings agencies in determining UK companies’ credit worthiness, according to Aon Trade Credit.

This shift in power means that businesses’ have to work with credit insurers – which provide suppliers with cover against bad debts – to ensure that they have sufficient insight to enable credit lines for their key suppliers.

Credit ratings agencies play an important role in identifying a company’s financial strength. However, insurers are one step ahead as they use both historical data and up to the minute payment/ key management information, said Aon. Credit insurers also assess companies of all sizes, not just the large corporations that have been the primary focus of the rating agencies.

In light of increasing levels of insolvencies, credit insurers are being much more stringent and thorough in assessing a company’s creditworthiness. This has resulted in a reduction in cover in volatile sectors such as construction, retail and automotive.

Stuart Lawson, head of Aon Trade Credit in the UK, commented: ‘The key is not to see this as an unnecessary intrusion but view information requests from insurers as a positive step to enable credit lines to be maintained or even increased. If a major customer becomes insolvent, your own business could be compromised if you haven’t or were unable to take out insurance to protect against such an event. It illustrates the growing influence and importance of credit insurers in the health of supply chains and reinforces the benefits of working in partnership with them.’

Article, courtesy of StrategicRisk.

Jamieo "Making Your Cash Flow"

Governent Launches Financial Schemes to help SME's (Fact or Fiction?)

The support package, which builds upon the commitments outlined in November's Pre Budget Report, consists of loan guarantees and a new Enterprise Fund aimed at helping companies struggling to access finance for working capital and investment.

My View
In theory the financial packages sound like they will help SME's. Well here we are 3 months on, are these schemes helping SME's?  Apparently not, many of my business contacts advise they are still struggling to obtain funds from banks. As usual, the banks are holding SME's to ransom. Not only are the banks refusing (on the whole) to lend to SME's, they are making matters worse by demanding full repayment of existing credit facilities. Unless the banks change their stance and start to lend again, more and more SME's will go to the wall.

What I find incredibly hard to believe is the fact that most banks almost chucked money at the "sub-prime" market, but when it comes to lending money to business they (the banks) are completely risk averse. Entrepreneurs have a hard time getting backing for any venture that is not considered "the norm" by the banks.

The government (in particular, Gordon Brown) have totally screwed our economy and if they fail to act fast and offer "real" help to SME's, who after all are the lifeblood of this country, it will end up costing the taxpayer very dearly indeed

"60% of the people in The UK are employed by SME's"

I understand why the banks were bailed out by the government (taxpayer), but, I still can't help feeling that to some extend the taxpayer has been ripped off. When you consider that the management of these banks have completely screwed up their businesses through poor "risk" decisions and bleeding the banks coffers dry by drawing huge bonuses and paying themselves obscene salaries.

As an SME, we don't get any such support from the government - wouldn't it  be nice knowing that if your business was on the verge of failure, the government would be there to bail you out!.

Press Release 14/01/2009

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today (14/01/2009) unveiled a package of measures designed to address the cash flow, credit and investment needs of small and medium businesses.

The Government measures include:

* A £10bn Working Capital Scheme, securing up to £20bn of short term bank lending to companies with a turnover of up to £500m

* An Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme, securing up to £1.3bn of
additional bank loans to small firms with a turnover of up to £25m

* A £75m Capital for Enterprise Fund (£50m from Government augmented by £25m from the banks) to invest in small businesses which need equity

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said:

"UK companies are the lifeblood of the economy and it is crucial that Government acts now to provide real help to support them through the downturn and see them emerge stronger on the other side.

"We know that some companies are struggling to secure the finance they need, not because of any failure in their business but due to the tougher credit conditions. That is why we have designed a package of measures addressing different forms of credit and providing real help for businesses."

The Working Capital Scheme is a direct response to the constraint on bank credit available for lending to ordinary-risk businesses with a turnover of up to £500m a year.

The Government will provide banks with guarantees covering 50 per cent of the risk on existing and new working capital portfolios worth up to £20bn.

The guarantee will secure up to £20bn of working capital credit lines for companies - ensuring they are safe from reduction or withdrawal.

In addition, the guarantee will free up capital which the banks must use for new lending as a condition of this scheme. This is lending that would otherwise not have been provided.

The Enterprise Finance Guarantee aims to help smaller, credit-worthy companies which might otherwise fail to access the finance they need for working capital or investment finance due to the current tight lending conditions.

The Government will provide £1bn of guarantees to support to £1.3bn of bank lending to smaller firms with an annual turnover of up to £25m, which are looking for loans of up to £1m for a period of up to 10 years.

The guarantee, available through high street banks, will apply to loans and can also be used to convert existing overdrafts into loans to enable businesses to free up their current overdraft facilities to meet working capital demands.

To help businesses raise new long-term finance, the Government will also offer to invest in viable companies which have high levels of existing debt through a new £75m Capital for Enterprise Fund. Banks are contributing to this fund.

The fund, to be managed externally, will provide long term capital to businesses which have exhausted traditional forms of finance. Companies can then use this capital to invest in and grow their business.

Lord Mandelson also confirmed today the Government is discussing with trade credit insurance providers a Government scheme to help companies affected by reductions in their credit insurance.

In order to help businesses identify their financial needs, the Government is today launching a new "one stop shop" easy-to-use web portal. The portal, on the businesslink.gov website, will direct companies to the most appropriate form of support and help them ascertain their eligibility for a range of government support.

Governement Introduce Scheme to slow Repossessions (Is it too Late though?)

The Prime Minister visited Scotland today and reiterated the Government’s determination to do all it could to stop reposessions.

The Government has announced that it is putting a series of measures in place to help UK homeowners during the current economic crisis.

The Prime Minister said that banks and building societies were in the process of signing moratoriums on repossessions and that some people would be in a position to have the terms and conditions of their mortgages amended.

The PM said:

“What we have been trying to do over these last few months is make sure that there is every procedure gone through before there is any chance of somebody being repossessed.

“We’re signing agreements with the building societies and the banks that there is a moratorium on repossessions for people with these banks and building societies. And we’re introducing measures in the next few days that will be able to underpin people trying to get their mortgage terms of repayment changed.”

The Prime Minister spoke during a visit to Burntisland Fabrications in Fife today. The company has recently announced a £70 million deal to build support structures for an offshore wind farm near Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, creating 150 new jobs.

Mr Brown spent time chatting to workers and apprentices - Burntisland Fabrications introduced an apprenticeship programme in 2007, which now employs 37 young people.

Jamieo "Making Your Cash Flow"