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CASHPOINTS

ProShare, an independent organisation which promotes investment in shares, has produced a series of free factsheets covering the nuts and bolts of share ownership in a relatively jargon-free manner. These include "Where To Get Share Information", "Shareholder Rights", and "What Is A Nominee?". For copies of these free Investor Updates (I suggest asking for the entire series of 10) send an SAE (size A4, 39p for first- class post, 31p for second-class) to: ProShare, Investor Updates, Library Chambers, 13 &14 Basinghall Street, London EC2V 5BQ.

Just 10 years after their introduction, more than 30 million people, two-thirds of the UK adult population, now have bank debit cards - Switch, Visa Delta, Connect - according to Visa. One advantage over cheques is that bank statements normally give details of the payee. The next decade will see a further decline in the use of cash and cheques, predicts Visa.

Apologies to anyone who has been trying to get a copy of "Your Credit Rating - Are You A Risky Bet", as detailed in last week's IoS: the telephone number was incorrect. The correct number for obtaining a copy is 0345 321 279.

Want to know the latest share prices? Free price data that is just 20 minutes out of date is now available on the Internet at www.moneyworld.co.uk/stocks

Readers of the Independent are more likely to have a credit card than readers of any other daily newspaper apart from the Daily Telegraph, says research by consultants Datamonitor.

Age Concern Insurance Services has produced a free guide, "Car Owners - A Helpful Guide To Keep You On The Road", which contains advice for older motorists (and details of Age Concern's own car insurance). Call 0345 125 816.

Financial adviser Chase de Vere has a free guide, "What to do with your Windfall Shares". Call 0800 526 093.