Credit card surcharges: are they worth paying?

Many Australians love their credit card rewards and regardless of whether you’re preferred reward is flights, cash or merchandise, flashing the plastic for all purchases can be extremely tempting. Right after all, the far more you commit on your credit card, the much more rewards you will accrue, correct?


Properly perhaps, but often the cost of accruing those rewards can outweigh the price of making use of a credit card rather than, for instance, a debit card or money. A case in point is the great old credit card surcharge situation.

It costs firms funds to accept credit card payments and they are capable to pass these fees on their buyers in the kind of a credit card surcharge. These surcharges can vary drastically and some businesses, particularly taxis and airlines, have been accused of levying surcharges far in excess of their costs.

Back in March 2013, the Reserve Bank of Australia gave the go ahead to card providers (feel American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa) to limit surcharges and address instances exactly where merchants are clearly surcharging at a higher level than is justified. Even though average surcharge prices have apparently fallen over the 2 years because, they can nevertheless be oppressively higher. Not that high surcharges quit all consumers: according to a RBA discussion paper, around 5% of us are willing to spend much more than a 4% surcharge. Crazy!

How to use a credit card to your advantage

So – is it worth paying a credit card surcharge to enhance your rewards points balance? Or need to you attain for cold, difficult cash alternatively?

Of the cash rewards applications researched by CANSTAR in the most current Credit Card Rewards Star Ratings Report, none had a return (ahead of annual costs) higher than around 1.5% on invest by means of the card. Most returned significantly much less than this – in the variety of .5-1%. Credit card surcharges on the other hand generally in the variety 1-3% depending on the card scheme. While there might be a handful of cards whose price of return will outpace that surcharge, the vast majority of them will not. You will practically constantly be much better off utilizing another payment method rather than chasing rewards points.

Possessing said that, there are occasions exactly where it tends to make sense to pay a credit card surcharge – for example, some credit cards come with an extended warranty cover or merchandise protection insurance.

Even if you’re not seeking to alter your rewards card, it’s often interesting to see how your card stacks up. The market is consistently changing and you need to have to be positive you are not being left behind. Verify out our most current report and examine credit card rewards right here.

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Credit card surcharges: are they worth paying?

If people are carried on a goods vehicle they must be separated from goods

Question

I would greatly appreciate your assistance with the following. I am a Construction Health and Safety Officer and require clarification on Regulation 247. We are trying to get our vehicles compliant and being a small company we are unable to provide separate transport for goods and persons and so we want to make our vehicles compliant in terms of transporting goods and persons.

My dilemma is that several of the big construction companies refuse to allow us to do so on construction sites, claiming it violates road safety rules. I believe I have the current version of the Regulations which would seem to indicate it is legal as long as persons are protected, but at the end of the paragraph it states “(Proviso to regulation 247 inserted by regulation 38 of Government  Notice R404 of 2007)”. Can you advise what this Notice refers to, I have had little luck trying to find it on the web?

Answer:

The proviso clause determines that goods and persons must be separated. I copy the regulation for you.

Circumstances under which persons may be carried on goods vehicle

Reg 247.    No person shall operate on a public road a goods vehicle conveying persons unless that portion of the vehicle in which such persons are being conveyed is enclosed to a height of—

(a)        at least 350 millimetres above the surface upon which such person is seated; or

(b)        at least 900 millimetres above the surface on which such person is standing, in a manner and with a material of sufficient strength to prevent such person from falling from such vehicle when it is in motion.

Provided that no person shall be conveyed in the goods compartment together with any tools or goods, except their personal effects, unless that portion in which such persons are being conveyed is separated by means of a partition, from the portion in which such goods are being conveyed.

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

Also view:

Transportation of people on back of a bakkie/ goods vehicle

What is the law at this moment about transporting people on back of a bakkie/ goods vehicle?

If people are carried on a goods vehicle they must be separated from goods

If people are carried on a goods vehicle they must be separated from goods

Question

I would greatly appreciate your assistance with the following. I am a Construction Health and Safety Officer and require clarification on Regulation 247. We are trying to get our vehicles compliant and being a small company we are unable to provide separate transport for goods and persons and so we want to make our vehicles compliant in terms of transporting goods and persons.

My dilemma is that several of the big construction companies refuse to allow us to do so on construction sites, claiming it violates road safety rules. I believe I have the current version of the Regulations which would seem to indicate it is legal as long as persons are protected, but at the end of the paragraph it states “(Proviso to regulation 247 inserted by regulation 38 of Government  Notice R404 of 2007)”. Can you advise what this Notice refers to, I have had little luck trying to find it on the web?

Answer:

The proviso clause determines that goods and persons must be separated. I copy the regulation for you.

Circumstances under which persons may be carried on goods vehicle

Reg 247.    No person shall operate on a public road a goods vehicle conveying persons unless that portion of the vehicle in which such persons are being conveyed is enclosed to a height of—

(a)        at least 350 millimetres above the surface upon which such person is seated; or

(b)        at least 900 millimetres above the surface on which such person is standing, in a manner and with a material of sufficient strength to prevent such person from falling from such vehicle when it is in motion.

Provided that no person shall be conveyed in the goods compartment together with any tools or goods, except their personal effects, unless that portion in which such persons are being conveyed is separated by means of a partition, from the portion in which such goods are being conveyed.

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

Also view:

Transportation of people on back of a bakkie/ goods vehicle

What is the law at this moment about transporting people on back of a bakkie/ goods vehicle?

If people are carried on a goods vehicle they must be separated from goods

If people are carried on a goods vehicle they must be separated from goods

Question

I would greatly appreciate your assistance with the following. I am a Construction Health and Safety Officer and require clarification on Regulation 247. We are trying to get our vehicles compliant and being a small company we are unable to provide separate transport for goods and persons and so we want to make our vehicles compliant in terms of transporting goods and persons.

My dilemma is that several of the big construction companies refuse to allow us to do so on construction sites, claiming it violates road safety rules. I believe I have the current version of the Regulations which would seem to indicate it is legal as long as persons are protected, but at the end of the paragraph it states “(Proviso to regulation 247 inserted by regulation 38 of Government  Notice R404 of 2007)”. Can you advise what this Notice refers to, I have had little luck trying to find it on the web?

Answer:

The proviso clause determines that goods and persons must be separated. I copy the regulation for you.

Circumstances under which persons may be carried on goods vehicle

Reg 247.    No person shall operate on a public road a goods vehicle conveying persons unless that portion of the vehicle in which such persons are being conveyed is enclosed to a height of—

(a)        at least 350 millimetres above the surface upon which such person is seated; or

(b)        at least 900 millimetres above the surface on which such person is standing, in a manner and with a material of sufficient strength to prevent such person from falling from such vehicle when it is in motion.

Provided that no person shall be conveyed in the goods compartment together with any tools or goods, except their personal effects, unless that portion in which such persons are being conveyed is separated by means of a partition, from the portion in which such goods are being conveyed.

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

Also view:

Transportation of people on back of a bakkie/ goods vehicle

What is the law at this moment about transporting people on back of a bakkie/ goods vehicle?

If people are carried on a goods vehicle they must be separated from goods

Winter tyres – what are they, and are they worth it?

We may have enjoyed a mild autumn, but make certain you aren’t caught unprepared should freezing weather strike.

Snow and icy roads make driving significantly far more challenging and, even if you drive slowly, it can be all also easy to skid out of control.

Winter tyres can really assist in wintry circumstances, as they are created to perform in temperatures lower than 7 degrees Celsius. They appear fairly considerably like any other sort of tyre, but the large distinction is that they have more all-natural rubber than standard tyres.

Get a grip

This indicates they can nevertheless remain supple even in freezing situations, which makes it possible for them to grip the road far better than normal tyres that harden in colder weather.

The tread on winter tyres is various, as well. They are covered in more tiny channels than standard tyres to assist displace water far more swiftly and to give greater traction in the snow.

The larger channels on typical tyres can quickly grow to be packed with snow, creating it really feel as although you are skating on an ice rink.

Despite the fact that winter tyres do not come cheap – it’ll normally expense you around £300-£350 for a set of 4 winter tyres for a Ford Fiesta, and the expense escalates for larger vehicles – they will usually final for around 2 or 3 winters .

Remember also that employing them also assists conserve your summer tyres for longer, as you will not be utilizing them all year round.

Country life

If you reside in the country and travel on roads that are not generally gritted in cold climate, then it tends to make sense to invest in winter tyres for your vehicle so you can nevertheless drive in snowy situations. If you do not, then you threat becoming efficiently housebound until the snow and ice thaws.

If you do match winter tyres, it’s worth informing your insurer, as some will take into account these a modification which could have an influence on your premiums.

If you reside in an urban location, exactly where roads are routinely gritted in winter and public transport is readily obtainable if you choose not to drive, shelling out for winter tyres is unlikely to be worth the expense.

A spokesman for the AA stated: “It could be tougher to justify the cost (in an urban atmosphere), though this has to be a individual decision depending on the threat of undesirable weather, your self-confidence when driving and how much you have to drive when snow and ice are about.”

If you opt not to fit winter tyres, you need to nonetheless often check your tyres in preparation for winter. You want to be particular the tread is not worn, as this will make you more most likely to skid on icy roads.

20-20 vision

The tread should be at least 1.6mm deep to satisfy legal needs, but at least 3mm is suggested for winter. Insert a 20 pence piece into the tread – if you can see the perimeter edging on the coin, you want to place the funds towards new tyres.

While you are in upkeep mode, check the oil level, anti-freeze and hazard lights as well.

Wherever you reside, you can further shield your self this winter by ensuring that you have extensive breakdown cover in location so that you aren’t left shivering at the roadside if something goes wrong.

Kit automobile

Kevin Pratt, of MoneySuperMarket, stated: “We urge all drivers to take out complete breakdown policies, but it’s also essential to be prepared for the worst case scenario of a lengthy wait in the cold. In extreme climate events, emergency breakdown cover can be stretched thin, and waiting times lengthened.

“We recommend all motorists carry an emergency breakdown kit, with charged-up phone, shovel, blankets, bottled water and sufficient snacks to see you by way of till you are on the move again.”

Winter tyres – what are they, and are they worth it?

Winter tyres – what are they, and are they worth it?

We might have enjoyed a mild autumn, but make positive you aren’t caught unprepared must freezing climate strike.

Snow and icy roads make driving significantly a lot more challenging and, even if you drive gradually, it can be all as well simple to skid out of control.

Winter tyres can really support in wintry conditions, as they are created to perform in temperatures decrease than 7 degrees Celsius. They appear pretty a lot like any other sort of tyre, but the big distinction is that they have far more natural rubber than normal tyres.

Get a grip

This signifies they can still stay supple even in freezing circumstances, which permits them to grip the road greater than typical tyres that harden in colder climate.

The tread on winter tyres is diverse, too. They are covered in far more tiny channels than standard tyres to support displace water much more swiftly and to give greater traction in the snow.

The bigger channels on normal tyres can rapidly become packed with snow, creating it really feel as though you’re skating on an ice rink.

Even though winter tyres do not come low-cost – it’ll normally cost you about £300-£350 for a set of 4 winter tyres for a Ford Fiesta, and the expense escalates for bigger vehicles – they will usually last for about 2 or 3 winters .

Bear in mind also that employing them also helps conserve your summer time tyres for longer, as you will not be using them all year round.

Nation life

If you live in the country and travel on roads that are not typically gritted in cold weather, then it tends to make sense to invest in winter tyres for your car so you can still drive in snowy conditions. If you do not, then you threat being successfully housebound till the snow and ice thaws.

If you do fit winter tyres, it’s worth informing your insurer, as some will take into account these a modification which could have an effect on your premiums.

If you live in an urban area, where roads are routinely gritted in winter and public transport is readily accessible if you choose not to drive, shelling out for winter tyres is unlikely to be worth the expense.

A spokesman for the AA stated: “It might be harder to justify the expense (in an urban environment), though this has to be a private choice depending on the risk of poor climate, your self-confidence when driving and how a lot you have to drive when snow and ice are around.”

If you opt not to match winter tyres, you need to nevertheless often verify your tyres in preparation for winter. You need to have to be specific the tread isn’t worn, as this will make you much more most likely to skid on icy roads.

20-20 vision

The tread need to be at least 1.6mm deep to satisfy legal requirements, but at least 3mm is advised for winter. Insert a 20 pence piece into the tread – if you can see the perimeter edging on the coin, you need to have to place the cash towards new tyres.

Although you are in maintenance mode, verify the oil level, anti-freeze and hazard lights too.

Wherever you reside, you can further defend oneself this winter by making sure that you have comprehensive breakdown cover in location so that you aren’t left shivering at the roadside if one thing goes incorrect.

Kit vehicle

Kevin Pratt, of MoneySuperMarket, said: “We urge all drivers to take out complete breakdown policies, but it’s also essential to be ready for the worst case situation of a extended wait in the cold. In extreme weather events, emergency breakdown cover can be stretched thin, and waiting instances lengthened.

“We advise all motorists carry an emergency breakdown kit, with charged-up phone, shovel, blankets, bottled water and enough snacks to see you by means of till you are on the move once again.”

Winter tyres – what are they, and are they worth it?

The 2015 Ford Mustang Officially Gallops into Europe—But Will They Care?

October 3, 2014 at 4:52 pm by Steve Siler | Photography by Marc Urbano

The 2015 Ford Mustang is on show at the Paris motor show, marking the car’s official debut in Europe. The new-generation vehicle will be the initial Mustang produced extensively available on the Continent—and Ford of Europe is ecstatic. “The new Mustang is a single of the most hotly anticipated automobiles ever we are really excited to now give drivers in Europe the chance to encounter the true point,” said vice president of marketing Roelant de Waard.

It’s tough to envision American roads with out the Mustang, as much more than 9 million of them have been sold more than the last 50 years. But some of us are having a tough time imagining European roads with the Mustang (particularly in Britain, where they’ll get weird-seeking right-hand-drive versions). Our European contributors are somewhat hawkish on the Mustang’s long-term prospects, noting that whilst there is a lot of buzz appropriate now, the car itself is somewhat massive for Euro tastes (it is the land of the modest hatchback, you know?) and that it could need more green tech more than time to meet tightening environmental regulations. The EcoBoost 4-cylinder will undoubtedly be effectively received as Mustangs go, but the all round prospects may possibly certainly be limited.

In the end, time will tell how Europe requires to the Mustang. But based on our first tests of the car, we can say with certainty that however several Europeans end up getting one particular will be damn happy they did.

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The 2015 Ford Mustang Officially Gallops into Europe—But Will They Care?

But Will They Nonetheless Wail? Every single Future Ferrari Engine to Be Turbocharged or Hybridized

The news that every future Ferrari engine will be juiced by either turbos or electricity comes just days after longtime company chairman Luca di Montezemolo tossed his saddle to Fiat-Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne.

The technologies will be split along engine kinds, too: Automotive News, after an interview with powertrain director Vittorio Dini, reports that all subsequent-gen Ferrari V-8s will be turbocharged like the one particular in the 2015 California T, and they’ll also probably decrease in displacement. And it’s also probable that every single V-12 will obtain electrification as noticed on the LaFerrari.

Significantly as Formula 1 has introduced turbos and hybrid energy, Ferrari says those technologies are the only techniques it can meet emissions laws whilst escalating overall performance. There are no plans to combine forced-induction with hybridization, nonetheless V-8s will get pressurized, but considering that Dini says the V-12s would need 4 turbos, they’d get as well large and radiate also considerably heat. Rather, they’ll get their enhance from lithium-ion batteries and electric motors.

The 2015 Ferrari California T packs a 552-hp, 3.9-liter twin-turbo V-8 up front. It packs a smaller ass out back.

Automotive News also reports a refreshed 458 Italia and Spider will sport revised bodywork and a twin-turbo V-8 by 2016, and maybe also a new name. A new FF and F12berlinetta “could be re-engineered” with hybrid systems in 2016 and 2017. Even though we noticed a dampened exhaust and slight turbo lag in the California T, it shouldn’t be adequate for the tifosi to incite riots. And the LaFerrari can do no wrong. The upshot is that Ferrari purchasers can appear forward to a lot more energy, higher levels of efficiency, and, if Marchionne decides to increase annual production from 7000 to 10,000, a lot more automobiles to buy.

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Of course, this development will leave no naturally aspirated screamers left in Ferrari’s lineup, which could turn off purists. They could head to Lamborghini, which seems comfy maintaining its V-10 and V-12 engines cost-free of such technologies. For now, anyway.

But Will They Nonetheless Wail? Every single Future Ferrari Engine to Be Turbocharged or Hybridized

Driving licences are not cellular phone contracts – They don’t get “upgraded”!

Question:

I need help on upgrading my driver licence from EC1to EC. I have been a driver for many years without accident and I obey road laws. Can you give me information how I can upgrade my driver licence?

Answer:

Driving licences are not upgraded. In order to be issued with a code EC licence, you would have to go through the same process that you followed to acquire the code EC1 driving licence, that is you have to apply for a code 3 (Heavy Motor Vehicle) learner’;s licence, write and pass. When in possession of a valid learner’;s licence, then you can apply for a code EC driving licence.

Hopeful that the information provided is sufficient to answer your question.

Clancinah Baloyi

General Manager Business Solutions

Tasima

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Driving licences are not cellular phone contracts – They don’t get “upgraded”!