The website and software have been tested and work reliably on the overwhelming majority of systems, any difficulties are likely to be something to do with the software configuration on your computer.
The most common of these problems are:

• Your system doesn't accept cookies.
• Your system doesn't allow pop-ups.
• Your system doesn't allow JavaScript to run.
• Our use of some CSS code may result in minor visual defects with older web-browser software.
• The site is designed to best target users of 1024x768 screen resolution. It will be fully functional with lower resolution configurations but the best experience of the site will be at 1024x768

So what can I do about it?

• There are several possible causes for your difficulties, resolving these will fix the problem:
  • Your browser is configured to disallow cookies, popups or JavaScript.
  • There is some other software blocking cookies or popups, some security products can be set up to do this.
  • You have an old or uncommon Web-browser. The site is tested using latest and recent versions of Netscape/Mozilla and Microsoft Internet Explorer, it may degrade on older versions.
  • We are not aware of any specific conflicts between this site and AOL however AOL software has a reputation for presenting the user with difficulties accessing some websites. AOL users can use one of the standard browsers when connected to AOL and we recommend they do so.
  • If you are using a PC within a business it may be that your employers security systems are intervening. Ask your systems administrator for help.
• Configure your software to permit popups, cookies and JavaScript, at least for this site.

If popups, cookies and JavaScript are disabled for security reasons, does it mean that enabling them will make my PC less secure?

• The better security software leaves the choice in your hands on a site by site basis so you can keep the bad guys out and let the good guys in, rather than barring the door to all.
• Having said that, there is a need to be realistic about the level of risk.
• Popups are usually blocked just because some sites over-use them, often for intrusive advertising and they become a nuisance.
• Cookie and Javascript risks are largely theoretical. An up-to-date firewall and anti-virus software are far more essential for safe internet use.
• Cookies, Javascript and Pop-ups are relied on by almost all ecommerce packages and they are widely used throughout the Internet. If your software completely prohibits any of these your Intenet experience is going to be severly degraded and many websites will become unusable.

COOKIES - Cookies are small files written to your computer by the website, usually intended to improve the users experience of the website.
A common use of cookies is to store the current state of an ecommerce shopping cart. This enables you to leave an order incomplete then resume where you left off next time you use the computer.
The only personal information stored in any cookie created by this website is information you have typed into a form on a web-page on this site (e.g. your email address).
The data stored in the cookie is only accessible by the website that placed it and only using your web browser. You may view the cookie by clicking HERE. (Note that the contents of cookies are not designed to be human-readable but it is usually possible to get an idea of their purpose/content).

The most common mis-use of cookies is by websites that serve third party advertising embedded within their site. The adverts can leave a tracking cookie which allows the advertiser to gather some demographic information about web-browsing habits. Good security software allows you to choose only to block third party cookies. In Internet Explorer (Tools>Internet Options>Privacy) the Medium security setting will achieve this.

Many web browsers and security products will include facilities to allow you to control cookies either preventing them altogether or allowing them only in designated circumstances. If you do not wish to have cookies stored on your computer please use one of these facilities, however you should be aware that an agressive anti-cookie stance will significantly degrade your experience of the internet.

POP-UPS - Supplementary "pop-up" browser windows can be an annoyance. Unfortunately some websites abuse the capability and flood you with annoying and unwanted advertisements.

This website will only use pop-ups where they represent the best way of making important information visible to you. Examples of "good" use of pop-ups might be to see a larger photo of a product shown on the web page by a thumbnail image or to show the current state of your "shopping cart" on an ecommerce website.

Many web browsers and security products will include facilities to allow you to control pop-ups either preventing them altogether or allowing them only in designated circumstances. If you do not wish to permit pop-ups please use one of these facilities, however you should be aware that an agressive anti-pop-up stance will significantly degrade your experience of the internet.

The Google Toolbar (available free from http://toolbar.google.com) hands flexible control of pop-ups to the user (and provides some other useful features).

JavaScript - JavaScript is a programming language which is understood by most web-browsers. It is widely used to provide features like validating data input to forms, creating pop-ups, creating navigation buttons which change appearance when the mouse pointer moves over them.
In the past some people have found ways of subverting JavaScript, however these were invariably minor, obscure and would only work on very specific PC configurations. More recent browsers incorporate newer JavaScript interpreters designed to block these exploits.
The most familiar JavaScript related problems come from websites which spawn an unstoppable flood of pages of advertising. Using a good pop-up blocker is a better solution than disabling JavaScript.