Monthly Archives: May 2012

Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, IRA, Money, Personal Finance, Retirement

Standard Life Reveals Most Parents Feel Financially Supporting Their Grown Up Children Is ‘Their Duty’

According to Standard Life research, over half of parents feel it is “their duty as a parent” to financially support their grown up children.

A third of parents worry that without financial help their children would suffer and not achieve their full potential. 37% of parents recognise the impact that the current economy is having on their children’s financial status while a third of parents expect to have to financially support not just their children but also any grandchildren.

Parents are expected to help pay for a variety of amenities; 38% expect to help foot the wedding bill, the most significant cost, with university fees second. More than one in three parents pay university fees or expect to do so, whilst a third of parents are paying towards university accommodation. 34% pay towards their child’s car or expect to do so and a quarter will be likely to pay towards a deposit for a first home. Even a quarter are expected to help with mortgage and credit card debts.

Julie Russell, Head of Customer Relationships at Standard Life, commented: “The economic downturn and price increases have left many parents expecting to have to financially support their children into adulthood. The only way to achieve this is through careful financial planning, so that the financial sacrifices parents make for their grown up children are not to the significant detriment of their own long term plans. Parents need to make sure their money works as hard for them as they are working for their children. That means being efficient with their savings and making the most of tax breaks offered by products like ISAs and pensions.”

Pensions are a tax efficient way for parents to save, with every £4 a person contributes, the government effectively contributes £1 as it rebates the income tax on contributions*. For those who are in a workplace scheme, their employer is likely to be topping up the contributions too.

ISAs help to build up a tax free cash lump sum which can be used to pay for a child’s wedding or to fund university fees. Parents can invest up to half of the annual ISA allowance and earmark that to help themselves and their children with more immediate costs. They can also consider investing the remainder of their allowance in a stocks and shares ISA which has the potential of greater tax efficient growth over the longer term to help with larger future costs.

Via EPR Network
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Business, Career, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services

Ezra Penland Actuarial Recruitment Employs Two; Announces Scholarship Recipient; Sally Ezra Quoted

The Leader in Actuarial Recruitment, Ezra Penland, is proud to announce the hiring of two new employees at the rapidly-growing, Chicago-based firm. Thomas Clohisy joins Ezra Penland as an Actuarial Recruiter. Tom has executive recruiting experience, as well as recruitment business development skills. He was also a successful commodities trader for a number of years, after having earned an MBA from Loyola University and a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University. Tom can be reached at tom@EzraPenland.com.

John Gieger joins Ezra Penland as Corporate Librarian and Data Specialist. John earned a Masters of Library and Information Science from Dominican University, as well as a Bachelor’s in Audio Engineering from Belmont University. He has varied experiences as a data manager and a librarian, and brings with him exceptional computer skills and an innate ability for information organization. John may be reached at john@EzraPenland.com.

Additionally, Ezra Penland proudly awards their most recent $500 Actuarial Scholarship to Jordan Nadler. Ms. Nadler is a junior at Missouri State University where she is a Mathematics major with a concentration in Actuarial Science, and she is minoring in Finance and Risk Management & Insurance. In addition to tutoring mathematics, she is a member of the Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity and treasurer of the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, the Risk Management,Insurance and Actuarial Science Fraternity. Nadler has held an internship at American National and will hold an internship at Ernst & Young this summer in New York. She has passed two Actuarial Exams and is pursuing a career as an Actuary.

And, finally, Sally Ezra, Partner at Ezra Penland Actuarial Recruitment, was interviewed in the May-June, 2012 Contingencies, the magazine of the American Academy of Actuaries. The topic was the “Workers Compensation Predictive Modeling Comes of Age”, and Ms. Ezra discussed the hireability and availability of actuaries with such skills.

Via EPR Network
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Banks, Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Confused.com Reveals Cost Of Back Seat Driver Distractions

Confused.com has revealed the true cost of giving friends and families a ride home. Two thirds (66%) of British motorists have been victims of unwanted attention from self-appointed back seat drivers, and almost 1 in 4 (24%) have been in an accident whilst dealing with the distractions of other passengers. These distractions mean that 20% of British motorists will have to fork out up to £500 to repair accidental damages ’caused’ by back seat drivers in their driving life.

The research from the car insurance experts also reveals that the worst backseat pests are bus drivers, train drivers and delivery men who obviously forget that they’re off duty. On the other hand, teachers are the most patient of passengers and put up with the driver’s bad habits.

When it comes to family life, most respondents confess that they would rather journey with colleagues than loved ones. This is because partners are the worst backseat drivers, with husbands and boyfriends disrupting the driver most often and 45% of them voicing their traffic-tips several times during the shortest of journeys.

Particularly bad at knowing when to keep quiet are parents who feature second on the list of frequent offenders (28%) when it comes to interfering from the back seat.

The most popular backseat gestures include the terrified grip-tightening on the door handle; the not-so-subtle glance at the speedometer or, the favourite of partners and parents across the country, the imaginary brake pedal push.

When it comes to the world of motoring, Confused.com revealed that unfortunately, stereotypes are surviving, with women and the elderly being the most likely to suffer from backseat bad manners. Over two thirds of women (68%), and a shocking 70% of drivers over the age of 55 find themselves on the receiving end of this bad etiquette. Especially patronising are comments about the speed of the car (24%) or their proximity to other cars (25%).

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com, said: “As motoring costs continue to rise at a meteoric rate, it’s never been more important for drivers to keep their costs as low as possible. Our research shows that having other people in the car can distract us from the road, and lead to accidents which in turn increase the cost of our car insurance policies.”

Jo Bryant, spokesperson for etiquette experts Debretts added: “If you’re a passenger in someone else’s car, your behaviour must be polite at all times, just as it would be if you were visiting their home. The Etiquette Guide for Back Seat drivers will ensure that every journey is courteous and civilised.”

Via EPR Network
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Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, ISAs, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Virgin Money Launches New Fixed Rate ISAs And Fixed Rate Bonds

Virgin Money has launched new issues of its popular fixed rate bond and fixed rate cash ISA range. The accounts offer customers a competitive rate, combined with certainty of returns for either one or three years. Accounts are available through Northern Rock branches, online, by post and over the telephone, and interest rates are the same through all distribution channels. ISA customers receive the same rates as those with a non-ISA account.

The Virgin fixed rate ISA offers customers a rate of 3.30% for one year (issues 9 &13) and 3.60% for three years (issues 10 & 14) respectively. This matches the rate available for a non-ISA savings account and savers also benefit from the tax-efficiency of the ISA wrapper. These accounts allow transfers in from existing ISAs. Customers can withdraw subject to a charge equivalent to 60 and 120 days’ loss of interest respectively.

The one year Virgin fixed rate bonds offer customers a fixed rate of 3.30%, while the three year Bond pays 3.60% per annum. Accounts can be opened with a minimum deposit of just £1, and additional deposits can be made into the bonds during the offer period, up to a maximum of £2 million per customer. Interest can be paid annually, or for those who prefer a monthly option, on the last day of the month (available first business day of the following month). Customers choosing to receive their interest monthly receive the same AER as those receiving annual interest.

The Bonds are non-redeemable and do not allow any withdrawals or closure during their respective fixed rate periods. They are strictly limited issues and may be withdrawn without notice once fully subscribed. Once withdrawn, no further deposits can be made into existing accounts. Upon maturity the account will become a no notice matured bond account and investors will be notified in writing upon maturity of the interest rate payable.

More information on Northern Rock’s savings range is available at www.northernrock.co.uk/savings

Via EPR Network
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Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, IRA, Money, Personal Finance, Retirement

Prudential Reveals Pensioners Fail To Count The Cost Of Ill-Health In Retirement

Prudential has revealed new research which shows that despite the ongoing debate about the need to fund long-term care for the elderly, only one in five people planning to retire this year have made financial provision for ill-health in retirement.

Prudential’s ‘Class of 2012’ study into the finances and expectations of those planning to retire this year shows that just 20 per cent have set money aside for any care needs. This drops to 16 per cent among those aged 65 plus.

Prudential’s research also found that less than half (45 per cent) of this year’s retirees have planned for the fact that they may need more income in retirement as they get older.

However, funding long-term care has never been more important. Although average life expectancy for men over the age of 65 is 17.6 years, and 20.2 years for women, healthy life expectancy is just 9.9 years for men and 11.5 years for women.

Vince Smith-Hughes, retirement expert at Prudential, said: “People retiring this year realise that living longer may mean they will need a higher income as they get older, but few of them have made the connection between the risk of ill-health, and needing money to pay for healthcare.

“Although life expectancy is increasing, healthy life expectancy is flat-lining. With the average person now working until they are aged 63.4, people are enjoying fewer healthy years in retirement.

“Spending the first few years of retirement trekking in the Andes and running around after grandchildren may be a reality for some, but it is important not to forget that health will worsen as pensioners get older.

“Making financial provision for the possibility of ill-health in retirement should be an integral part of the retirement planning process.”

Across the country, those planning to retire this year in Wales are the most likely to have prepared for the risk of ill-health in retirement (32 per cent), while those in the East of England (7 per cent) are the least prepared.

The Government is currently considering recommendations from the Dilnot Commission on the Funding of Care and Support which, in July 2011, proposed that an individual’s contribution to social care should be capped at £35,000, with any additional costs funded by the State.

Via EPR Network
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Debts, Financial, Financial Services, Loans, Money, Personal Finance

Cash Advances US Presents Installment Loans For Bad Credit

Being a reputable and trustworthy provider of online lending service Cash Advances US is being constantly developed by the professional and well-trained team of managers. Now the company is exploring the new ways to give people access to additional funds required in particular situations.

Today the company is proud to present a new product that is available even for consumers with non-perfect credit score and for those who find it difficult to repay the total amount of cash loan on the next payday. The service is called “installment loans”. This form of online cash advance is associated with the specific installment plan and consumers taking out this loan can pay it back according to the set terms.

The main feature of a newly announced product is its repayment terms which allow the borrowers to make partial payments during the particular period of time. Some customers say that this way they find it easier to manage their budget and this was the main reason for Cash Advances US to design the service. There are a lot of people who experience difficult financial times and the goal of the company is to provide an instant access to extra cash that may be paid off in parts releasing people from concerns related to monetary hardships.

Most consumers applying to Cash Advances US are using the obtained money to manage the short-term needs and even though the amount available for borrowing is typically less than $1,500 some people still consider that it is financially hard for them to pay back the total cost of the loan on the next payday. Thus, the direct lenders cooperating with the company suggested to perform the kind of payday advance that can be repaid in installments and may be helpful either for people with perfect credit or with the poor one. Now, the company offers its customers to try bad credit installment loans.

The application process for these short-term cash advance loans is absolutely the same. An individual willing to borrow some money in a form of installment loans for people with bad credit needs to fill in the online form presented on the website of the company. The loan amount and terms are to be negotiated with the direct lenders participating in the network of CashAdvancesUS.

The Managing Director Clare Miles said: “The aim of our company is to give people access to fast and affordable solution to their money-related problems. Thus, we do our best to develop an easy and hassle-free service that will satisfy any customer applying to Cash Advances US.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Reveals Homeowners’ Most Expensive Possessions Are Not The Most Valuable To Them

Confused.com has revealed that homeowners’ most financially valuable possessions are not the ones which are the most precious to them. Computers and jewellery top the list of the most expensive items owned, but 74% of homeowners tell us that sentimental items such as photos, letters and drawings their child has done are more precious than their most costly items.

In a survey of 2,000 homeowners, Confused.com discovered that nearly three quarters said that the most financially valuable item they own is not the most precious item they possess, with photos being considered the most precious or sentimental items owned by UK homeowners.

Men differ from women with more men (29%) than women (23%) saying that the most financially valuable items they own are also the most precious to them, while women (47% compared to 34% of men) feel that photos are the most precious/sentimental items they own. The second most popular sentimental item for women is jewellery while the second most popular items for men are letters.

Older people (over 55s) are more likely to say that items inherited from a relative are among their most precious items but photos and letters are consistently precious across all age groups.

When it comes to insuring possessions, Londoners are most likely to take the gamble and fail to take out a home contents insurance policy: only 64% of Londoners who own their home tell us they actually have home insurance, compared to a national average of 80%. When it comes to 18-24 year-old homeowners, 16% of these do not even know if they have home contents insurance or not. 30% of 18-24 year-old homeowners say they don’t have a policy.

Despite such a large proportion of homeowners telling us that they do not bother with home insurance, 20% admit that they have been burgled in the past. Jewellery is the top item stolen by burglars, followed by items of sentimental value.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: “Home insurance and a good awareness of home security can help to keep property safe. Sadly burglary is a fact of life that one in five of homeowners who we surveyed had already experienced. While insurance cannot replace items such as photos, it is possible to name precious items (that have a value of more than £1,000) on your home insurance policy. This helps ensure that possessions such as jewellery or antiques or expensive technology can be replaced or compensated for in the event of a burglary.”

For more possessions research, Confused.com’s unique infographic can be found here:www.confused.com/news-views/infographics/what-items-people-value-more-at-home-sentimental-or-expensive.

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Reveals Young Drivers Spending More Than 18% Of Their Annual Salary On Car Insurance

Confused.com has revealed young drivers are paying an average of £2,499 for their annual comprehensive car insurance. Meanwhile the older generation are statistically the cheapest to insure, with average premiums costing an average of just £440 per year for 66-70 year olds, the equivalent of around £1.20 per day.

With ONS figures revealing that the average income for 18-21 year olds in the UK comes to £13,972, when a young driver pays for their own car insurance this could swallow up more than 18% of their salary. For men of this age group it’s likely to be an even greater chunk of their salary as they try to afford premiums costing an average of £3,635 (compared to £1,869 for young women 17-20).

Older drivers are currently enjoying the lowest premiums, with drivers aged 71+ paying an average of just £436 per year. A combination of driving experience, likelihood to travel shorter distances and owning lower-powered cars can make older and retired drivers statistically a lower risk, despite the possibility that their reactions could be slower due to age.

Average costs dip significantly for drivers aged 36-40 with the average price coming in at £597, but rise dramatically again for 46-50 year-old drivers who pay an average of £733.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: “Each age group is costed by their statistical risk and this includes the value of the car itself, the experience levels of the driver, past history and where they live among other factors. Younger drivers are hit significantly harder than more experienced motorists but Confused.com is working hard to find ways to help young drivers bring down the costs, such as working with telematics providers who offer a discount for drivers who can prove that they are safe on the road.”

There are however tips for younger drivers who are looking to reduce their car insurance costs which includes choosing a smaller and lower powered car, installing a telematics device and considering excess protection but as with any product or service, it pays to shop around for the best price by using a comparison site such as Confused.com:

Customers can access Confused.com’s car insurance price calculator, which gives data on regional prices, at www.confused.com/car-insurance/price-index.

Via EPR Network
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Vebnet Reports J.P. Morgan In Its Element With Take Up Of Re-Branded Employees Benefits Scheme

J.P. Morgan, advised by Vebnet, has just announced impressive results from the recent re-brand and re-launch of their employee benefits scheme. Enrolment first opened in February 2012 and within the first three weeks over two-thirds (66%) of staff had made active benefit choices, an increase of 26% on the previous year.

J.P. Morgan employs around 13,500 staff in the UK and before the re-launch had significant challenges communicating the benefits package they were providing their UK employees.

Adam Brooke, Vice-President of Employee Benefits, J.P. Morgan said: “Information about many of the benefits on offer to employees, including core benefits, was scattered across a confusing array of different company websites. This meant that employees were often not even aware of what benefits they had.

“Employees were not proactively engaged with their benefits so they, and the company, were missing out on valuable benefits and tax savings. We needed to go back to basics and develop an innovative approach to communicating and explaining our benefits.”

J.P. Morgan started working with Vebnet in September 2011 to develop a new brand, look and feel for the company’s reward package. The two teams developed a new website that pulled all the information in to once place and re-named the scheme ‘Elements’.

Pat Appleby, Senior Communications Consultant, Vebnet commented: “With the new brand, we wanted to convey the fact that the reward package as a whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts so in ‘Elements’ we have the ideal name.”

Elements opened for enrolment in February this year and while 66% have made active choices 77% of staff have logged on to the website.

Adam Brooke added: “The fact that over three quarters of employees have logged onto the site at least once, if not necessarily to make active changes, instantly gives staff a better awareness of the total value of all their benefits – from core benefits and pensions to flex.

“And this isn’t a one-off project; we’re using the website to publicise wellness seminars and improve information about pensions: initiatives that will bring traffic to the site throughout the year, beyond enrolment.

“Next year we’ll be looking to add a big new benefit or two to the scheme, but so far I’m very proud of what it’s achieved.”

Via EPR Network
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The Royal Mint reveals Britannia 25th anniversary sets for 2012

The Royal Mint has announced that it will reprise Philip Nathan’s original 1987 depiction of the British icon on the Gold and Silver Proof coins for 2012, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Britannia commemorative coin. To mark the milestone The Royal Mint has also created two very special sets that will feature all nine of the Britannia coins launched since 1987 available together for the first time.

Since her first appearance on English coins in the seventeenth century, Britannia has grown to become a powerful emblem, personifying the spirit of Great Britain. Her elevation to gold coinage came in 1987 and still today she adorns the high value coins of the realm. During the last 25 years nine different renditions of this most British of female figures have graced Britannia coins.

Designed by Philip Nathan, the 1987 portrait depicts Britannia as a standing figure in a classical, flowing gown, armed with her trident and shield and wearing a Corinthian helmet. This famed design has been chosen for 2012 to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and is complemented by the current portrait of The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS on the obverse. All coins within the range feature the crenellated edge particular to Britannia coins.

Britannia’s first appearance on English coinage was on copper coins issued during the reign of Charles II. Since this time, Britannia has become an increasingly important symbol, her image becoming synonymous with national pride, unification and celebration.

Commenting on the 2012 Britannia design, Dr Kevin Clancy, Director of The Royal Mint Museum said: “Philip Nathan’s design captures Britannia in her full splendour and is itself a triumph of numismatic art. It draws its inspiration from a strongly maritime approach, Britannia windswept on a cliff-top, the very essence of authority and elegance. In such a momentous year for Britain it is entirely fitting for the coinage to be graced with an acknowledged masterpiece.”

The 2012 UK Britannia Gold Proof range includes a Tenth-Ounce Coin, a Quarter-Ounce Coin, a Three-Coin Set and a Four-Coin Set. The 2012 UK Britannia Silver Proof range includes a Brilliant Uncirculated One Ounce Coin, a Proof quality One Ounce Coin and a Four-Coin Set.

In addition to the Gold and Silver Proof coins now available within the 2012 Britannia range, The Royal Mint has created a very unique 25th anniversary set, in both silver and gold Proof, which includes all nine designs of Britannia struck as half-ounce coins and dated 2012. This landmark collection includes a special 25th anniversary booklet and Certificate of Authenticity. The Gold Nine-Coin Anniversary Collection is available to purchase exclusively via The Royal Mint’s contact centre on 0845 60 88 222. All other coins and sets are available to purchase now from The Royal Mint’s website www.royalmint.com.

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Launches New Social Media Campaign

Confused.com is challenging the British public to show everyone what they can do in 5 seconds, coinciding with the launch of Confused.com QuickQuote.

This latest social media campaign forms part of Confused.com’s ongoing marketing strategy for QuickQuote, a new text message service which can return a motor car insurance quote in seconds. The campaign reinforces the importance of having a car insurance policy and how this can be achieved in seconds by using QuickQuote.

For the ‘5 Second Challenge’ Confused.com is asking people to upload videos of themselves to YouTube and show us what talent they can perform in just 5 seconds, with the winner receiving a prize of £500. The social media campaign demonstrates the concept of time and what can be achieved in 5 seconds, a creative twist on the fact that the new ground breaking Confused.com QuickQuote service allows customers
to get a car insurance quote in seconds.

The social media competition started at 9am, Wednesday 16 May and finishes 9am, Wednesday 23 May and will be supported through the use of YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. To enter the competition, the British public simply have to upload their 5 second talent videos to YouTube by 9am, Wednesday 23 May 2012 and either email the URL to 5secondchallenge@confused.com or tweet @Confused.com with their URL and the hashtag #5secondchallenge to be entered. Some examples of talent at Confused.com can be found at http://bit.ly/confusedtalent

The videos will then be entered into Confused.com’s YouTube slam, which will be found at http://bit.ly/5secondchallenge from 12pm Wednesday 23 May.

The Confused.com YouTube slam will begin at 12pm, Wednesday 23 May and will finish 12pm, Monday 28 May 2012.

Sharon Flaherty, head of content at Confused.com, commented: “We are encouraging people to vote for their favourite video in our 5 second challenge on YouTube slam. To see the video of their choice rise up through the leader board, viewers simply need to vote for their favourites. We are hoping to find out what else the British public can do. By simply entering, someone could win £500 just by performing for 5 seconds. Who knows, fame could come early for someone.”

Via EPR Network
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UK Payday Loan Study Predicts Increased Borrowing

A recent study by a loan comparison site, InstantApprovalPaydayLoans.co.uk (IAPL) has produced some interesting results concerning the usage of payday loans and the current market trend in order to predict future usage. Currently payday loans, also known as cash advances, are used by people in need of cash urgently. They are high interest, short term loans designed with ease of borrowing in mind.

Currently over 1 million people each year within the United Kingdom use payday loans to get access to instant cash, due to the economic climate and moves towards recession this figure is set to increase drammatically in the coming years. If existing trends continue it is predicted that by 2016 that over 2.1 million people will make use of a payday loan company, totalling over £2bn of combined borrowing. The majority of payday lending is carried out online on websites such as instantapprovalpaydayloans.co.uk which makes the process hassle free, however it is important that new borrowers realise the potential downsides to using this form of borrowing as expenses can spiral out of control.

Projections analyst at IAPL, Tim McGregor explained, “Although the forecast is for a steady increase in lending to occur throughout the UK the trend can be greatly affected by outside influences, for instance a stable economic recovery will significantly reduce the numbers of people borrowing with payday loans due to the positive effect of lowering the existing record-high unemployment figures.”

It is widely noted that a majority of people looking to get quick finance have a bad credit history, cash advances are often described as loans for bad credit however, as long as the borrower is fully aware of the contract they are entering in to with a payday lender and make repayments on time there will be no further problems.

Via EPR Network
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Experian Reports Slough Overtakes London As Identity Fraud Capital Of UK

Experian has revealed that Slough has overtaken London to become the identity fraud capital of the UK.

The Berkshire town recorded 25 identity fraud attempts for every 10,000 households, with residents targeted at around four times the UK national average – seven households in every 10,000. Residents of London, Gravesend, Birmingham, Luton, Manchester and Leicester, were also targeted at twice the national average rate.

London as a whole experienced 22 attempts for every 10,000 households, although attempts were not spread evenly across the capital. Financial service providers detected 78 incidents for every 10,000 households in East Ham, as residents were targeted at more than 11 times the national rate. Woolwich and Stratford also experienced significant identity fraud activity, recording 46 and 43 identity fraud attempts respectively for every 10,000 households.

While the instances of fraud across all financial products remained at a constant level between 2010 and 2011, with six in every 10,000 applications were found to be fraudulent. The data shows that there was a surge in identity theft via current accounts and mortgages during this period, with rates doubling, from six to 14 in every 10,000 applications, and quadrupling, from one to four in every 10,000, respectively. Identity fraud attempts on credit cards fell from 17 to four in every 10,000 applications.

For the first time, young people renting small flats from local councils or housing associations represent the demographic most likely to be targeted by identity fraudsters. This group, known in Experian’s Mosaic classification as Upper Floor Living, saw its identity fraud risk score increase by 47 per cent to 256 in 2011. Its constituents are two and a half times more likely than the average UK resident to be targeted.

Previously, the wealthy Alpha Territory demographic – representing the wealthiest sections of society living in fashionable London neighbourhoods – were most likely to be targeted. The risk score for this group helved in 2011, from 301 in 2010 to 149, as fraudsters turned their attentions to younger and less affluent sections of society.

Nick Mothershaw, UK director of identity and fraud services at Experian, commented: “The increasing prominence of lower income demographics at the top of Experian’s identity fraud risk table, alongside declining risk scores for the wealthiest groups, represents a notable shift in fraudsters’ tactics.

“Identity fraudsters have traditionally focused the bulk of their attentions on the wealthiest sections of society living in prestigious London postcodes. Our research shows that the risk continues to spread, with the highest rates of identity fraud now to be found in the Thames Valley and London’s Olympic neighbourhoods.

“Financial services firms and other providers of credit recognise the financial and reputational risks associated with identity fraud, and have put in place increasingly sophisticated identity verification and anti-fraud measures to combat the threat. Individuals also have a role to play fighting the fraudsters and it is important that they take steps to protect their personal information.”

Via EPR Network
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SecureTrading provides Checkout on Demand with multi-channel payment solution to support SME retailers

Checkout on Demand, a provider of multi-channel retailing software has selected SecureTrading, the UK’s leading independentpayment processor to provide on-line payment processing for its latest retail solution. Checkout on Demand is an ‘off the shelf’ yet scalable eCommerce platform solution aimed at SME retailers which, coupled with SecureTrading’s fully PCI compliant payment gateway, provides enhanced customer experience and multi-channel functionality.

With smaller companies facing new challenges in the retail sector, Checkout on Demand and SecureTrading offer all the advantages of shared resources, including reduced costs and scalability. Both companies are hugely experienced in the retail services arena, and SecureTrading’s payment gateway, provides a cutting edge, flexible and scalable solution to drive retailers’ growth and expansion strategies.

All the software is provided remotely and supported by a dedicated team of experts, removing the need for costly hardware installation fees, or in-house IT support staff. And by implementing SecureTrading’s payment solution, retailers benefit from full PCI compliance and transaction security.

Irene Chadwick, Managing Director of Checkout on Demand says: “We chose SecureTrading for its combined strengths in payment software and the helpful attitude and support exhibited by their staff during the implementation process. We look forward to working with them in the future”

Tim Allitt, Head of Sales and Marketing at SecureTrading, comments: “Multi-channel retailing and flexibility will become increasingly important to ensure commercial success. SecureTrading’s payment gateway can be adapted to meet the full range of ecommerce solutions and integrates with Checkout on Demand’s scalable multi-channel products.”

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard PayTag Turns Any Mobile Phone Into A New Way To Pay

Barclaycard has announced the launch of Barclaycard PayTag, a new way to pay with a mobile phone. Millions of Barclaycard customers will be offered the chance to make payments with any mobile phone by simply sticking a Barclaycard PayTag to the back of their handset.

Available at no cost, and exclusively to Barclaycard Visa cardholders, Barclaycard PayTag is an extension of a customer’s credit card account. At a third of the size of a normal card, the credit card stickers can be discreetly stuck to the back of any mobile phone. Once attached, it can be used to make payments of £15 and under, rising to £20 in June, by simply being held over a contactless payment terminal.

David Chan, CEO of Barclaycard Consumer Europe, said: “We are offering the choice of mobile payments to millions of our customers at no additional cost to them. More than half of us say that the item we’re most lost without is our mobile phone*, so we’re giving people the option of using them to make easy, convenient, everyday payments without the need to upgrade their current handset.”

The announcement comes as Visa predicts that the number of contactless point-of-sale terminals in the UK will rise by 50% to 150,000 in 2012. Major retailers that offer, or are introducing, contactless include Waitrose, McDonalds, Boots, WH Smith and Tesco. By the end of 2012, London buses will also accept contactless payments, followed by the Tube and the rest of the transport network in the Capital in 2013.

Barclaycard PayTag is safe and secure, and comes with the same 100% fraud protection as any Barclaycard. An exclusive group of customers will be invited to receive their Barclaycard PayTag in the coming weeks, before they are offered to millions of Barclaycard customers later in the year.

David Chan, added: “Barclaycard is developing a wide range of initiatives which will ultimately enable everyone to enjoy the benefits of mobile payments. Barclaycard PayTag is another milestone on our journey to make paying easier, and sits alongside other easy ways to pay with your mobile such as those we offer in partnership with Orange.”

Barclaycard and Orange announced that credit or debit card holders from all UK banks would be able to load money onto Barclaycard’s mobile payments application, in the Quick Tap wallet. This will open up the opportunity for contactless payments to more Orange customers. Orange also confirmed that it would be making Quick Tap available on a range of Android smartphones, with the first to be announced in the coming weeks.

Research carried out on Barclaycard’s behalf predicts that £3 billion worth of purchases will be made with mobile phones in the UK in 2016**. Barclaycard PayTag provides customers with the choice of simple mobile phone payments now, without having to wait to upgrade, and at no additional cost.

Via EPR Network
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Assets, Business, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Software, Financial Solutions

APT Calls For Risk To Be Brought Into The Front Office

In a provocative yet insightful paper to be delivered to delegates attending the SunGard Industry Seminar on London, May 2nd, it will be argued that one of the biggest challenges facing risk managers is not the complexity or volatility of global markets but the need to simply prove the value of their work to the front office. This is despite the increasing recognition of the importance of risk management and risk analysis for financial institutions.

The paper, entitled ‘Searching Alpha and Avoiding the Abyss: Bringing Risk into the Front Office & Forecasting the next Greece’ will be presented to delegates from all sectors of the investment industry at a seminar organised by SunGard APT, the leading provider of investment technology and solutions.

The paper’s authors, Ian Barnett, head of Front Office Analytics at HSBC, and Dr. Laurence Wormald, from SunGard, argue that the need to clearly demonstrate the value of risk management has never been stronger. As well as this, for its effectiveness to be truly realised, it must come out from the back or middle office and be placed centrally in the front office. They go on to outline ways in which risk could be‘brought in from the cold’ by producing actionable risk insights that could add significant value to the day-to-day work of traders and portfolio managers.

The SunGard Industry Seminar in London on May 2nd will be held at the Andaz Liverpool Street Hotel. Part of a series of global events and seminars entitled‘Capitalizing on Change through Transparency, Efficiency and Networks’ delegates will explore how they can best meet the challenges presented by a wave of new regulations, along with continued growth of emerging markets and the technological revolution, which are all rapidly transforming how the financial services industry operates.

SunGard is one of the world’s leading software and technology services companies. With four businesses, including APT, the company serves approximately 25,000 customers in more than 70 countries. The seminars will be held across the globe, giving practitioners the opportunity to capitalize on change wherever they are based. Similar events featuring high profile speakers and industry experts are already scheduled to be held over the next few months in Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Sao Paulo and Dubai.

Via EPR Network
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Paydayloansavailable.com Aiming to Decrease Application Times

Paydayloansavailable.com is the latest online payday lender to have adapted an online lending portal to service UK residents who may be in need of an unsecured lending facility. With the onset of broker style lending,  payday loans are now being processed online in the UK by many service providers using state of the art ‘’Pingtree” technology, working in unison with the UK’s leading payday lenders, and the application facility now being operated by Paydayloansavailable.com is certainly no exception.

The application harnesses secure technology to enable new and existing applicants to push their details through to a panel of lenders after submitting one application form online. The details are transmitted through to the lenders via the application and the subsequent decision is made by one of the chosen payday loan lenders. Jenny Davis, applications manager at Paydayloansavailable.com explained, ‘’we have decided to integrate a Pingtree style application within the site to give applicants a credible opportunity to access funds. The main advantage we have is that all of our applications are submitted to different lenders. The payday providers will then either accept the loan application based on the data that has been submitted, or it will be declined. Either way there is a reduced time implication which can only serve to benefit our customers”.

Online payday lenders are now entrenched within the UK’s unsecured finance sector and it is evident the increased competition has not always culminated in an improved service provided. But, Paydayloansavailable.com aims to at least serve their customers quicker than ever before, as well as giving them increased opportunity to secure short term, unsecured funding online. Jenny Davis added, ‘’there is still a real need in the UK for short term loans and unfortunately there is not the availability of funding through the mainstream lending channels. Whilst we do not condone irresponsible lending, it is important to acknowledge there is a need for credit and we hope to be able to provide an opportunity for finance”.

Paydayloansavailable.com is aiming to make an impact on the lending sector in the UK. Despite their relatively short time operating online, by implementing cutting edge technology into their service provision, they may well be making a positive statement of intent.

Via EPR Network
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Prudential Reveals Two In Five 2012 Retirees Want To Stay In Work

Prudential has revealed that two in five (40 per cent) people planning to retire this year would be happy to work past 65 if they had the chance.

Prudential’s Class of 2012 study, which looks at the finances and expectations of those planning to retire this year, shows that 48 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women would be happy to continue working past the standard retirement age.

The main motivation for more than two thirds (68 per cent) of this year’s retirees who want to stay in the workforce past 65, is a desire to remain physically healthy and mentally active, while 39 per cent do not like the idea of retiring and just staying at home. More than half (54 per cent) claim that they enjoy working.

However, despite wanting to stay in work, only 13 per would choose to continue to work full-time with their current employer. Nearly half (49 per cent) of those retirees who want to work past 65 years old would prefer to work part-time, either with their current employer or in a new role, in order to strike a better work life balance.

More than one in 10 (11 per cent) of entrepreneurial retirees would consider starting their own business after the age of 65 or earn money from a hobby in order to keep working. Five per cent would work as charity volunteers.

Recent ONS figures show that average retirement ages are rising, with men now retiring at an average age of 64.6, compared with 63.8 in 2004, and women working until 62.3 years compared with 61.2 previously.

Vince Smith-Hughes, retirement expert at Prudential, said: “There is a new retirement reality taking shape across the UK, with thousands of people actively choosing to work past the traditional retirement age.

“The fact that so many of this year’s retirees would keep working on a part-time basis is a strong indication that, for many, working is as much about staying young at heart as it is about funding retirement.

“Gradual retirement is an increasing trend among pensioners, whether this means remaining in the same job on a flexible basis or even setting up their own business. Those retiring at 65 will face an average of nineteen years in retirement which makes the financial and social benefits of working for longer an even bigger draw for a new generation of industrious retirees.”

Around the country, those planning to retire this year from the East of England were the most keen to stay part of the workforce with 54 per cent saying that they would choose to work past 65 if they had the option. Half (49 per cent) of Londoners and 45 per cent of people in the South East would also like to continue to work.

However, just 29 per cent of Scots planning on retiring this year would be happy to work past 65 if given the choice, along with 30 per cent of retirees in Wales and in Yorkshire and Humberside, and only 21 per cent of those in the North East.

Via EPR Network
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Lyon Equipment’s New Supply Chain Solution Will Eliminate Paper Job Cards And Move Document Management Online

Outdoor pursuits and training specialists Lyon Equipment is future-proofing its organisation with a new ERP solution from Access which will automate many manual processes, increase efficiency, and move document management online. The 40 user Access Supply Chain solution is part of a modernisation process Lyon is going through which includes a £3.5 million investment in a new building.

Access’ manufacturing and supply chain offering will revamp Lyon’s returns and manufacturing processes, and support the company as it continues to grow over the next ten years. Rick Cockayne, IT project manager at Lyon, said, “Our business is growing and Access Supply Chain offered us the flexibility to support our planned growth. We were also very impressed with the integrated document management system.”

With two arms to the business; distribution & wholesale, and training courses, as well as some manufacturing there are a lot of paper-based processes in place. “We’re going to be putting everything online from equipment specs and training details to sales invoices and purchase orders. Our manufacturing job cards are currently hand written, and not easily tracked. We’ll be using Access to generate job cards directly from sales orders and track them through to completion. We will therefore be able to easily report on them on a continual basis with no additional effort.” continued Rick.

The new solution will also allow Lyon to modernise its returns system, saving a lot of time and effort. “We currently have a separate returns data base which means there is additional work re-keying information into our current accounts software. With Access Supply Chain we’ll use workflow forms to create a tailored returns system to our design. This will mean we can easily process the return all the way through to credit or replacement all on the one system, removing the additional work and reducing the chances of keying in errors. This will greatly improve the efficiency and simplify the reporting of our returns processing.” said Rick.

“We liked the look and feel of Access Supply Chain from the start, and theflexibility of the product was also a huge plus point. It’s easy-to-use and has more in it than a lot of the other solutions we looked at. It also filled us with confidence to work with the UK author of the product who we felt were willing to look after our needs from the moment we engaged with them,” Rick concluded.

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Revolutionises Car Insurance By Launching Quickquote Mobile Service

Confused.com the leading price comparison site is revolutionising the car-insurance price-comparison quote process by launching a new mobile phone service called QuickQuote.

This simple mobile quote service is available for UK based customers and cannot be found on any other price comparison site. Customers of Confused.com can get a motor car insurance quote and save money just by simply having a mobile phone.

Confused.com have worked with Process Flows a well-established SMS vendor to create the first mobile phone service that changes the way a car insurance quote can be returned. It’s the quickest way of getting a cheap quote when the renewal is due, or if people are just interested to see how much it would cost them to get insured on their dream car.

QuickQuote is an innovative way of allowing customers to get quick and easy car insurance quotes through their mobile phone. To use this simple service, the customer must have used Confused.com before. They simply text the number plate to 66800 and Confused.com will text back with the cheapest quote in seconds. Customers can get a quote for any car just by simply texting 66800 and it only costs £1 per text.

Once the quote is received via their mobile phone, the customer can also access it via their Confused.com account and will be shown the range of car insurance quotes which are available through Confused.com. Currently 130 insurers are available on their panel, offering the biggest car insurance comparison service in the UK.

The advantage of QuickQuote is that the customer’s details can be reused on subsequent occasions, saving customers the time and effort required to re-enter this information every single time they are looking to retrieve a quote on a vehicle.

Jeanette Fennell, Product Manager at business solution provider, ProcessFlows, developer behind the SMS technology driving the QuickQuote service said: “ProcessFlows was recommended to Confused.com. Our SMS technology is designed to meet the needs of large organisations who want to leverage the popularity of text to market and engage with an extensive audience in real-time. Confused.com continues to lead with innovative ideas that make shopping for car insurance quicker. I am sure this latest campaign will be very popular with consumers. Our technical director is already reviewing his car insurance after texting to QuickQuote.”

Mike Hoban, Marketing Director at Confused.com continues: “Confused.com revolutionised the search for car insurance 10 years ago through the launch of Confused.com. To follow on this success QuickQuote has been created to provide a quick and easy car insurance process which we have developed with Process Flows to help customers find cheaper car insurance and save them money. Conducting a car insurance quote can be a laborious task for motorists when it comes to buying or renewing their insurance. However with QuickQuote this will all change.

“With QuickQuote drivers can shop around and get the best quotes and hopefully save a hefty packet on the cost of car insurance in the process. For new car hunters it allows them to find out the kind of car insurance premiums that they could expect on a particular type of vehicle at any place or time; even on the vehicle forecourt, helping to make the big decision a little bit easier.”

Via EPR Network
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