Advantages: Great to find quick directions to anywhere in the USA
Disadvantages: Sometimes misleading directions

...**Mapquest is primarily for planning trips in the USA and Canada** Quite often I like to take trips with the family out into the wilds of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Rather than just getting in a car and driving I often research place where I am going and then plan a road trip. I find Mapquest very useful. Not only can it give me city to city directions, but should I have the exact address of the location I am visiting then I can obtain (for free) a road map of the exact directions. Mapquest is one of the better ‘road’ direction finders on the web, maybe not quite as versatile as the professional software that you can buy, but normally Mapquest is normally very accurate and gives excellent directions. It also gives you a printable road map, although I do not find these as useful as the written directions. I do find... Read review

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Advantages: none
Disadvantages: unfair practices & prices

...did however cancel the direct debit instructions. Direct Line had the authority to automaticazlly renew the direct debit take over £1000 and confirm to my old address and ASSUME a renewal when they have not heard from customers. When you then ask for a refund, they only offer 40% refund because you have to cancel within 14 days prior to the new policy starting! This is criminalocracy legalised theft.... Read review

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Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...just one thing to remember - that the new first direct internet banking operation, whilst it has many excellent features, that users must not confuse this internet operation with the telephone banking service that they may use at present. Unlike what many people many think it is not simply a new way to access your existing account with first direct - look instead at it being a "new product" from first direct. I have been with the bank since they first started many years ago - and the service has been great - but the one thing i have hated is the low interest credited to the account. With the launch of the internet account this improves - but you MUST tell them that you want to transfer to the internet version if you already have an account with them - otherwise you will continue to get almost no interest. If you switch, you still get... Read review

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Advantages: Very competitive rates, excellent customer service, very efficient
Disadvantages: None

...Bell Direct are an excellent company, with extremely good customer service and very competitive prices, certainly for young drivers (under 25's) like myself. When i bought my new car at 18 i hunted around and got the cheapest quote i could (not Bell Direct), and i was reasonably happy with it, but when next year came, and it was renewal time, they sent me a renewal quote for over £200 more than i paid the previous year. So started to hunt around again. i did dozens of online quotes, and eventually found that Bell Direct were the cheapest by quite a long way, and they also do a Bonus Accelerator scheme, for people who haven't achieved there maximum no claims bonus yet. Basically this is where you pay and receive 10 months of cover, but after that 10 months you get a full years no claims discount (official), which is a good idea. So... Read review

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Advantages: They offer a quick and easy service which is available around the clock.
Disadvantages: The charges are quite steep if you go over your agreed overdraft facility.

...I have banked with most of the high street banks at one time or another. I have to admit that First Direct offer the best services. They are not the cheapest and do charge the minute you go over your agreed overdraft balance but they are always available on the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have internet access you can do most transactions on line. It is quick and easy and very secure. It makes banking so much simpler. I hardly ever have to deal with the bank itself and do most things myself. It means the customer is totally in control. First Direct were very good to me when my husband and I separated. We had a joint account, which they froze straight away and set up a new sole account in my name. This meant neither of us could raid the account. Any transactions had to be agreed by both parties before... Read review

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Advantages: Lots and Lots
Disadvantages: Nothing Serious

...I would seriously recommend this card to anyone who is thinking of a new graphics card at the moment. Is is NOT the fastest (But not far off at all), or the cheapest...but the image quality is second to none. there are no serious issues that i know of. Also it has more Direct X 8.0 features than any other card taday so when more games/3d applications come out with Direct X 8 support it WILL out perform the other cards availible today - so there is still life after something new comes out. I would seriously recommend this problem to anyone considering a new graphics card, or not!!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Always drive repairers to cut corners as they won't pay the market price for repairs.

...AS an insurance profesional I have been advised by my clients of several instances where Direct Line have deliberately misquoted in order to gain their business and then become very aggressive in recovering the alledged outstanding balance. My advice is if you get a quote from Direct Line don't commit yourself until you receive it in writing and if they try to alter the quote or wriggle out stick to your guns and threaten them with Trading Standards or Watchdog. Always check the small print as they often hide compulsory excess levels in the small print to make their product appear competitive, they also highlight what are standard covers in all packages to make them seem like new features. Rember NOT ALL CAR INSURANCE PACKAGES offer the SAME COVER... Read review

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Advantages: see first half of review
Disadvantages: see second half of review

...as the government, meaning, basically, the decision would be made by a large group of people who had no idea what they were talking about. Secondly, although there is the view that direct democracy means the way the country is run would be more equal, this may not be true.. Bringing back the Ikea issue I mentioned earlier, if a referendum (the typical example of direct democracy) was held on this issue, someone like me, who would vote yes to Ikea simply because I might shop there once a year or so when I wanted a new rug for my bedroom or something, would have the same influence as someone who owns a rival furniture shop, who would almost certainly go out of business, and have their life spoiled. In representative democracy, the politicians would take the person who's livelihood would be ruined more into account than someone who might buy a rug once... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: online access, 24 hr phone, friendly, helpful
Disadvantages: none

...I'm an ex-Barclays customer. I can't believe I was with Barclays for 14 years. I've been wanting to change from them for years, but never seemed to have got round to doing it. The main reason for this was because I was put off by the hassle of having to go into a branch, providing all the necessary documents, and transferring all my direct debits over to new account. But now I have just opened a current account with First Direct and it was so easy to do. I'm amazed how fast and simple it was to change my current account - I should have done it earlier! I applied online, received some papers to sign 2 days later, and my new debit card, PIN, and cheque book came through within 7 days. They also sent me a folder for my statements, a card wallet and some pre-addresssed envelopes for paying in cheques via the post. I was told that my... Read review

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Advantages: A great sound on every track
Disadvantages: Slightly inconsistent

...The Foo Fighters are back, better than ever. There Is Nothing Left To Lose takes the rockers in a new direction, and the diversity and freshness of this album makes it enjoyable all the way. The first single released, Learn To Fly, is typical in that it shows that while it is recognisable as the Foo Fighters but different to anything on previous albums. This album is a must for any fan of the band, or of rock music. Not every track is a classic, but you won't be tempted to skip any. The CD is a polished performance, and it sets a new standard for the band.... Read review

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