Category Archives: Insurance Services

Insurance Services

Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Confused.com Reveals the Vehicles Most Likely to be Stolen in the UK

Confused.com has revealed the UK’s most frequently stolen vehicles and has teamed up with Michael Fraser, an ex-burglar, to help drivers keep their vehicles from being stolen.

The least stolen car, based on Confused.com’s customer data, is the Ford Ka3 with no incidences of theft among 9,070 owners between 2004-2011. The Toyota Yaris is the number one most stolen car with a 0.41% incidence of theft. This means that car thieves drive off with approximately one in every 244 Toyota Yaris’. Data looking at claims from 2004-2011 showed experts at Confused.com that after the Toyota Yaris, The Volkswagen Touareg (0.39%) (1 in 256); Volvo XC90 (0.27%) (1 in 370); Porsche 911 (0.24%) (1 in 417) and Seat Altea (0.23%) (1 in 435) are the next most stolen cars.

The least stolen cars based on Confused.com’s customer data is the Ford Ka3 followed by the Chevrolet Matiz, Suzuki Ignis, Hyundai I10 Comfort and Nissan Skyline which all have tiny theft rates of 0.02% (1 in 5000) or less.

Car insurance specialists at Confused.com have interviewed security expert and ex-burglar, Michael Fraser, to get a picture of what car owners can do to avoid losing their car to a thief. Motorists can access Michael’s tips and a Confused.com video on how to beat car thieves and keep cars safe by visiting the Confused.com website.

34 years ago, Michael stole cars himself, choosing the Ford Capri and Bedford vans due to the fact that they were relatively easy to take. Michael Fraser now advises on which vehicles thieves might target, and his advice includes a look at how new technology is affecting car theft.

Michael said: “The best way to keep your vehicle safe is to put a tracker on it, wheel locking nuts, a sticker saying the vehicle is alarmed, keep the inside tidy, keep the car locked, the windows shut and everything out of sight.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Poll Reveals UK Drivers Want a Crackdown on Drug Driving

A new poll from Confused.com reveals that ‘Crack down on drug driving’ is the message from drivers to the UK government. 70% of drivers say they don’t think enough is being done about this problem and 71% want to see the government do more to combat drug driving.

25-34 year olds are most likely to drive while on drugs (8% admit to having done it), according to the Confused.com poll, while drink driving is most likely among 45-54 year-olds (34% admit to having done it).

The ‘drug and drink driving’ poll of 2,000 drivers in the UK reveals 37% of drivers think drug drivers are less likely to get caught than drink drivers (8% say more likely and 55% see no difference). Meanwhile, 25% of men and 18% of women believe drug driving is more widespread than drink driving on UK roads despite figures showing 5% of drivers admit to drug driving and 28% of drivers admit to drink driving. Moreover, more men admit to drink driving than women (38% as opposed to 19%). Most notably, the poll reveals 77% of women want to see the government do more about drug driving, compared to 65% of men.

The Department for Transport reported a fall in alcohol-related accidents last week. Mike Hoban, Chief Marketing Officer for Confused.com, thinks that drug driving might be a hidden menace on our roads. He said: “The Government has been boasting about cutting public service advertising but it’s clear that people are concerned about the potential dangers of drug-driving. The Government has a responsibility to let drivers know that the penalties are severe and that drug-drivers are a danger to themselves and a danger to others.”

The penalties for drug driving are the same as for drink driving: a drug driver will receive a minimum 12-month driving ban, a criminal record and a fine of up to £5000.

The conviction for driving (or attempting to) when unfit through drugs is DR80 and this stays on the driver’s license for 11 years (attracting up to 11 points). DR90 is the conviction for being in charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs. This stays on licenses for 4 years and can attract 10 points.

Notes to Editors:
The poll of 2000 drivers in the UK was carried out by Onepoll on behalf of Confused.com and all figures have been rounded up to the nearest 1%

Information on penalties and laws around drink driving and drug driving sourced from direct.gov.uk.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services

Diamond Reveals Nation’s Children Sick Of Car Journeys

Diamond has released the results of a new study that reveals one in four British children suffer from travel sickness. The research also suggests the affliction could run in the family.

The study of 2,000 parents by the women’s car insurance specialist has shown even those whose children aren’t regularly travel sick prepare for the worst with two fifths taking the precaution of keeping sick bags in the car just in case.

And for the parents of children who do get car sick, three quarters have to stop and pull over for their child to be ill, travelling an average of just 35 miles before halting the journey. The research also found two fifths of unlucky parents have been left cleaning up after their child was ill in the car mid journey, while a similar number avoid long car journeys altogether because of the stress of their children possibly getting sick.

Interestingly, the research suggests parents who suffered from travel sickness as a child themselves are five times more likely to have a child who also gets ill in the car, compared to parents who did not get sick as a child:

– 41% of parents who suffered from travel sickness as a child have a child who also suffers.
– 8% of parents who did not suffer from travel sickness as a child have a child who suffers.

Although many children will grow out of being car sick, the findings reveal this isn’t always the case. Three in five parents who said they suffered from travel sickness as a child, still experience symptoms as an adult.

Diamond’s managing director, Harriet Neale said: “Car journeys with children can be difficult at the best of times, but when you throw in travel sickness, they become even more stressful for parents and children alike.

“Our study certainly suggests travel sickness runs in the family so many parents will empathise with their children and hopefully know a few remedies to make car journeys that little bit easier.”

The study found that many respondents found opening the windows and getting air circulating around the car as the best way to alleviate the symptoms of travel sickness, with three quarters saying it works. Almost half of parents said travel sickness pills or avoiding looking down will stop their children feeling sick, while acupressure wristbands, chewing gum and closing eyes are the least likely to work.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Finds £4,000 Average Annual Car Insurance Cost For Young Drivers

Confused.com has revealed that car insurance costs for 17-20 year olds have crashed through the £4,000 barrier, with the average 17-20 year old male now paying a staggering £4,006 per year for comprehensive cover.

This is the first time since the Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index began in 2006 that average annual car insurance costs for young men have exceeded £4,000.

Bizarrely, young driver car insurance costs for males were around £1,000 lower if the driver is married and adds their partner to the policy.”

In order to afford a £4,000 a year premium and cover the cost of running a car, the average single male would need to spend £6,500 a year – almost half of the average salary of full-time employees at this age. This effectively prices them out of the market.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance for Confused.com commented: “For young male drivers it has never been more important to shop around for the best price. Our consumer research shows that 50% of under 25s could save up to £556 on car insurance* by using Confused.com. This is one way to help combat these rises.”

The news isn’t only bad for young drivers though. The average cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy across the UK stands at £858 (as of the end of June 2011), marking a year on year rise of £170.

Despite the huge increase in the last twelve months, prices are still continuing to rise. In Q2 of 2011, prices inflated by an average of 25% compared to Q2 2010.

For more information on car insurance rises for young drivers, or to see the interactive car insurance infographic, interested parties can visit Confused.com for more details.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Reveals Over A Quarter Of UK Motorists Have A Pet Name For Their Car

Confused.com has revealed new research that shows 33% of car owners initiate a daily car-versation with their motors, talking to them not only about day-to-day matters and their frustrations on the road, but also about relationships and personal problems.

The average UK motorist considers their car to be female, with a personality that is sensible (25%), cute (8%) or playful (7%). Findings also confirm that 16% of men see their cars as women, choosing words such as sexy (6%) and mischievous (5%) to describe the personality of their vehicles.

Peter Collett, Psychologist and author of ‘Driving Passion – The Psychology of The Car’ suggests that naming your car can reduce the risk of incidents on the road.

“A majority of car owners feel the need to give their car a distinctive name, usually an affectionate title that expresses how they feel about their car and how they regard it as being different from everyone else’s. The drive to individualise one’s car in this way is very widespread and it also lays the foundation for how people treat their cars. By giving their car a special name, drivers are treating their car as something that deserves to be cared for – a friend, a pet, a companion, sometimes even a lover.”

So, to encourage the nation to care for its cars, Confused.com has developed an online car name generator, which automatically generates a name for the user’s car. Customers simply answer a few questions about their motor such as colour, personality, number of years of ownership to generate a name. User’s will also be able to print out a certificate, which can be kept with vehicle documents or passed on to the next owner.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance: at Confused.com said: “Nearly one fifth of motorists who name their cars believe it encourages them to be more careful on the roads. We have nicknames for our friends, partners and even pets so why not our cars. Drivers with an emotional attachment to their vehicles are more likely to take better care of it on and off the road. We’re calling for all motorists to use the car name generator, and start caring for your car.”

Additional findings from the survey also uncovered a variety of unusual pet names for cars including Albie the great, Baldrick, Claris, Elektra, Lemmy, Michaelangelo, Snoop, Talulah, Florence (the machine) Horatio, Fadgehammer and Yannis.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Reveal Drivers Are Only Swayed By Price In The Hunt For The Best Car Insurance Deals

Confused.com’s latest survey has found that consumers use price-comparison sites purely because they help slash insurance bills with the minimum of hassle.

More than half of the survey’s 2,600 respondents said that special offers such as cashback or vouchers had absolutely no bearing on their decision to use a comparison site. A further 40 per cent said the only kind of marketing incentive that would appeal to them was some form of discount on their premiums.

Head of car insurance at Confused.com, Gareth Kloet, said: “When it comes to car insurance, consumers aren’t necessarily loyal, so price is key. That’s why using a price comparison site is so important, it gives drivers the opportunity to compare not only price but a range of features. So you can either opt for the cheapest or the best value for money. With Confused.com, the price you see is the price you pay.”

When it came to choosing an insurer, three-quarters of consumers said the only thing that would cause them to switch providers was a cheaper price. Around 15 per cent said they would move to a new company purely because it was a trusted brand, while just 9 per cent said they would switch if the new insurer offered extras such as free breakdown cover.

Unsurprisingly, price was the number one reason respondents gave for using price-comparison sites – more than 90 per cent cited this as a major factor in using these services, and 40 per cent also said they appreciated the fact the sites saved them so much time in their search for the best value cover.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services

elephant.co.uk Reveals Most Car Thefts Happen On The Weekend

elephant.co.uk has revealed that although for most of the working population, the weekend is a period of rest, the same cannot be said for car thieves, as new research shows that they’re at their most active over the weekend.

The research, carried out by car insurance specialist elephant.co.uk, shows the day of the week most cars are stolen is a Saturday while the day most items are taken from cars is a Sunday.

elephant.co.uk looked at 45,000 theft claims over the last 5 years to see on which day most car crime took place. While Saturday was the most popular day for vehicle theft claims, it was closely followed by Friday, Thursday, Monday, Sunday, Wednesday and then finally Tuesday. Additionally, Sunday was the most popular day for theft from vehicle claims, then followed by Tuesday, Saturday, Monday, Thursday, Wednesday and Friday.

Brian Martin, elephant.co.uk managing director, commented: “The last thing you need after a hard week’s work is for your car to be stolen or broken into so this research will make unhappy reading for motorists. With most people out and about at the weekend, there’s a likelihood they’re leaving their cars unattended either in a car park or at home which could tempt thieves to make their move.”

But what exactly are criminals stealing from cars? Over the past 5 years, the most common items have been Sat Navs followed by CDs and stereos. In fact, these three items are all more than twice as likely to be stolen as anything else.

The full list of the items most likely to be stolen from cars also includes iPods/MP3 players, sunglasses, mobile phones, clothes, computers, child car seats and cameras.

Brian continued: “Car thieves are opportunist, and too many motorists present them with an opportunity by leaving valuable items on show, or even leaving their windows open. Motorists need to remember not to make themselves an easy target.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Reveals Slow Drivers Are The Biggest Frustration For UK Drivers

Confused.com has released new research which reveals that dawdling drivers are the top cause of irritation for UK drivers. The survey by the car insurance experts shows that over half (60%) of motorists experience an increase in stress levels and a heightened irritability when faced with a vehicle driving slower than the rest of the traffic.

In reaction to these slow drivers, almost half (45%) of motorists risk overtaking, thus increasing the chances of an accident. Research from the Department for Transport also reveals that 143 accidents a year are caused directly by slow drivers or “Sunday drivers” as they are known.

With little to prevent drivers from travelling too slowly, half of British motorists are supporting the idea to introduce the first ever ‘slow speed camera’ to the roads of the UK. The slow speed camera will specifically catch slow motorists, penalising them with a fine for driving slower than the minimum designated speed limit. This has come as a reaction to the fact that although minimum speed limits are enforced on some UK motorways, there are few preventative measures that are used widely.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: “Slow drivers need to be taken as seriously as motorists caught speeding. Findings confirm they are a constant source of anxiety on UK roads and responsible for a large amount of accidents each year.”

Kloet continued: “We support the introduction of a programme of measures to eliminate this hazard as our research has highlighted that excessively slow driving is a real problem – the government introduced speed cameras and now even a super speed camera so should also consider the same rigour to combat slow driving as it could make a difference and help reduce motorists putting themselves or others at risk.”

The Confused.com car insurance survey’s additional findings also uncovered other solutions for limiting slow drivers. Suggestions included imposing a minimum speed limit on ALL British roads (37%) the introduction of a slow lane (26%), dedicated times for slow drivers to be on the road (15%) and even a warning badge system to be displayed by offending motorists (5%).

Peter Rodger, Chief Examiner from The Institute of Advanced of Motorists (IAM) supports the need for change on Britain’s roads. He said: “All forms of inconsiderate driving need to be tackled. Drivers who are unnecessarily excessively slow lead others to make rash moves.”

For more information on car insurance, interested parties can visit confused.com/car-insurance.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services

Admiral Reveals More Than A Quarter Of Motorists Admit To Drink Driving

Admiral, a leading car insurance expert, has revealed worrying new research that suggests the number of people drink driving has risen in the last year. It found that 28% of motorists have driven their car in the knowledge they were over the legal alcohol limit, up from 24% in 2010.

Admiral commissioned YouGov to survey 2,500 drivers for the annual Admiral Survey of Motorists, which includes questions about drink driving. With summer in full swing and the temptation to drive after a few drinks in a beer garden or at a barbecue high, the results raise concerns that the anti-drink driving message is failing to hit home.

Many motorists still believe a few drinks before getting behind the wheel won’t hurt. So while nearly half of those questioned said they would only consider themselves safe to drive after drinking no units of alcohol, one in ten said they think they are still safe after drinking three or more units.

When it comes to gender, men appear to be far more likely than women to drink and drive. 37% of men said they have driven while over the limit, compared with 16% of women, and 16% of men said they think they are still safe to drive after three or more drinks, compared with just 1% of women.

Roger Singer, head of road safety charity DDE+, gave his thoughts on why drink driving is such a concern in the summer: “Firstly, and it seems too simple, it’s warmer, so try not to drink alcohol for thirst – have a pint of squash first and then savour that pint of lager or glass of wine at a more leisurely pace.

“Secondly the drinking episodes can be longer, we start stoking up the lunch-time BBQ about 11am on Sunday morning sampling the bottled lager to make sure it’s up to standard at the same time. We’re finishing the last of the Rosé as we are clearing up at midnight. Without realising it we’ve consumed a total of 29 units – it’s only a beer or a glass of wine an hour but it means we won’t be able to drive till 4pm Monday.”

Another major risk highlighted by Admiral’s research is the number of people who admit they have driven the morning after drinking heavily the night before. Nearly a quarter of motorists admitted they have done this while they suspected they were over the limit, while a further 16% are unsure if they were safe to drive.

Sue Longthorn, managing director of Admiral, said: “These statistics are a real concern; the number of people who say they have driven while over the limit is up from last year and stands at nearly three out of ten motorists. We just want to highlight these figures and point out why it is never worth the risk.

“Motorists who get caught drink driving could also find it difficult to get insured. They will at least find their car insurance premiums have increased, and this increase could be significant, and in some extreme cases they could even be refused insurance completely.”

More information on this and the rest of Admiral’s Annual Survey of British Motorists can be found at www.admiral.com/surveyofmotorists.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money, Personal Finance

M&S Money Reduces Loan Rate

M&S Money is reducing the rate on its personal loans from 6.9% APR to 6.7% APR (representative). The offer applies to personal loans between £7,500 and £15,000.

M&S loans are available between £1,000 and £25,000 with flexible repayment terms over 12 to 84 months. Customers have the option of making no repayments for the first three months, subject to lending criteria.

Colin Kersley, M&S Money Chief Executive, said: “We are pleased to offer a reduced rate on M&S Personal Loans. The latest offer of 6.7% follows other competitive loan rates we have launched this year. The reduced rate also applies to M&S Car Buying Plan which allows customers to defer a fixed percentage of their loan.”

M&S Car Buying Plan allows customers to defer a fixed percentage of their car buying loan, giving them the following options at the end of the term:
– Keep the car and carry on making monthly payments until the whole of the loan is repaid
– Keep the car and pay off the remainder of the loan with a lump sum
– Sell the car and use the money to pay off the remainder of the loan

When borrowing with an M&S Personal Loan, customers are reminded that they should consider their ability to maintain the monthly repayments. Customers can view more information on the M&S Money website, with further information available via our customer services teams over the phone.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Sees 2000% Surge As Customers Flock To Save Money On Energy

A surge in energy prices announced by British Gas within the last few days has prompted a 2000%* jump in visits to comparison site Confused.com as customers rush to save money. People are flocking to the price comparison site to find the best deals and avoid the price hikes.

Confused.com Chief Marketing Office, Mike Hoban said: “At a time when utility suppliers are reporting record profits and massive price rises, consumers are voting with their laptops and looking for the cheaper deals.”

Confused.com also offers popular hints and tips on how to reduce energy used around the house, as well as an impartial comparison service which makes it easy for people to shop around and save on gas and electricity bills.

British Gas is the second of the Big 6 to announce gas and electricity price rises. Gas prices are set to increase by an average of 18%, electricity by an average of 16%, effective from 18 August 2011. This increase means around £190** will be added to the average household bill for the customers affected.

Lisa Greenfield, energy analyst at Confused.com commented on the price rises:
“Struggling households will be dismayed by this news, and as British Gas is the largest supplier in the UK, many families will be hit hard.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

 

 

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

Confused.com Reveals Big Rise In Prices For New And Learner Drivers

Confused.com has revealed that newly qualified drivers can expect to pay around £2,000 or more to insure a small hatchback this year as the cost of insurance continues to soar.

This time last year the cheapest premium for a new driver insuring a Ford Ka for a year came in under £900. Now the best quote for a newly qualified driver wanting to insure a Ford Ka has soared to more than £1,900, according to consumer research by the popular comparison site Confused.com.

The Fiat 500 Pop now tops the list of most popular vehicles for a newly qualified driver, based on 6 months of quotes from Confused.com during the first half of 2011. Unfortunately, for many newly qualified drivers it will cost more than £1786 to insure it. The Fiat 500 knocks last year’s favourite, the Vauxhall Corsa, from the top spot, becoming the most popular choice in this Confused.com study of learners and drivers who passed their test within the last 12 months.

Confused.com’s head of car insurance, Gareth Kloet said: “The Fiat 500 is a new favourite with freshly qualified drivers – this model didn’t appear at all in the Confused.com top ten for new drivers last year. The popularity of these cars may have been led by their use by many driving instructors, and also by the relatively cheap insurance cost compared to other small cars.

“Getting reasonably-priced car insurance can be a nightmare for younger drivers but 50% of under 25s could save up to £571 on car insurance* premiums by using Confused.com to find the best deal. With rising premiums it’s more important to compare prices now than ever before.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com designs new pothole warning sign

Confused.com has designed a new road sign, specifically to alert road users to the UK’s two million potholes*. The road sign is the first of its kind and the car insurance expert is petitioning to urge the Department for Transport to introduce it to roads across the UK.

A constant source of frustration for drivers, the sign has been developed in response to recent findings that even with sufficient budgets; it would take councils at least 11 years to repair the UK’s damaged roads**. With this in mind, 82% of drivers would like to see a road sign dedicated to potholes.

Mike Hoban, chief marketing officer at Confused.com said: “Although repairing these roads is obviously the long term solution, something needs to be done now. Currently the UK’s road signs include warnings for wild horses, wild animals, cattle and even toads but potholes aren’t considered worthy enough? A pothole road sign is a vital step in preventing accidents and reducing insurance claims whilst road maintenance continues.”

The road sign design was inspired by local pothole crusader Ted Relf, a plumber from Kent, who made national headlines in April 2010 when his home made warning sign against potholes was removed by the local council.

Ted Relf commented: “We all moan about potholes and now we have the chance to do something about them. I created my own pothole sign last year because I was concerned for the safety of drivers on my road. I fully support the introduction of an official pothole road sign and urge the nation to sign the petition at Confused.com.”

The pothole road sign has been produced in accordance with the signage guidelines set by the Department for Transport and is the brainchild of Phil Baines from Central St Martins, University of the Arts London. Baines, designer and signage expert, added: “Warning road signs are there as a safety measure to warn drivers of potential dangers, and potholes certainly fall within that category. Given the scale of the current problem I would welcome a specific pothole sign being added to the Traffic Sign Manual.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services

elephant.co.uk reveals young men have more expensive car crashes

elephant.co.uk has revealed that while many men like to think they are the superior gender when it comes to driving, new research from the car insurance specialist shows men have bigger crashes that cost more money than women.

elephant.co.uk looked at more than 200,000 claims and found young men in particular have more expensive crashes. Accidents involving men aged under 25 cost on average 15% more than those involving women of the same age. In fact, the cost of accidents involving male drivers of all ages is 6% higher than accidents involving women.

To help improve the driving ability of both men and women, elephant.co.uk has joined forces with Fifth Gear’s Tim Shaw and made three short films which can help any motorist learn how to drive like a professional and control their car should they get into trouble.

The insurance videos (http://www.elephant.co.uk/drivelikeapro) contain tips and advice from a professional driver and reveal how to manage a car if it begins to skid, how to corner safely and why vision is so important when it comes to reacting quickly and braking in a safe manner.

elephant.co.uk managing director, Brian Martin, said: “Since passing our driving tests most of us might have picked up some bad habits and probably don’t give too much thought to improving our driving skills. But driving well can mean more than just keeping out of trouble on the roads.

“At a time when most of us are trying to save money, as well as demonstrating how best to control your car, our films also reveal how smooth and efficient driving can help your car perform at its peak and be more cost efficient.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Launches New Savings Site

Confused.com has announced the launch of its new online savings site to help savers compare interest rates, find the most competitive ISAs and understand some of the jargon often found in financial documents.

Confused.com have also launched a new redesign of the savings section of the site to help users navigate the page easily and quickly find the best deal on their savings accounts.

With the brands such as Nationwide, Santander and ING on board, Confused.com’s savings offering is free and independent. Savers can quickly and easily compare different types of savings accounts, from simple instant access accounts to tax free ISAs and fixed rate bonds. This service compliments the existing loans, mortgages and financial services products already compared by Confused.com, which compare deals from the major high street and online financial service providers.

Chris Griffiths, head of savings at Confused.com said: “With interest rates being low and inflation high, it’s important to check that your savings are in a competitive account otherwise you could be missing out on improving your interest earnings. We aim to give savers more information about the different accounts available, as well as information on each specific account and its provider – ultimately to allow our customers to quickly and easily compare a variety of savings products to find the best one for their needs.”

Confused.com has provided information for customers about savings and how to switch their accounts on its savings account page on the website.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Reveals 56% of Drivers Forget Where They Park

Confused.com has revealed that 56% of UK drivers have at some point, forgotten where they have parked their car, and 3% have picked up the phone to ask their breakdown service to help them find it. More than 50 in 2,000 drivers in the UK admit to making that call according to a new survey by car insurance comparison site Confused.com.

The Confused.com survey has revealed some of the gaffes of UK drivers, which have led them to phone for their breakdown service, like 25% of drivers have locked their keys in the car and 10% of drivers have had to call for their breakdown service to help them sort the problem out. Putting the wrong fuel in the car has happened to more than 10% of Brits, with half of those affected (5%), also calling for assistance from a breakdown service to put things right. A small number of UK drivers also admit to calling the breakdown service, not just when their car fails but when they get lost (3.5%), lose their car (3.5%) or the sat nav is playing up (2%).

Needing help changing a wheel (21%) and topping up oil or engine coolant (13%) are other reasons why drivers have called out their breakdown service.

When it comes to forgetting where they’ve parked, women fare worse than men with 63% of women owning up to losing track of where they parked, compared to 43% of men. A whopping 78% of women have run out of petrol, with 69% of men admitting that gaffe. 9% of men and 5% of women have called their breakdown service to help them when their fuel ran dry. This is assuming they’ve managed to put the correct fuel in the car in the first place: more than 14% of men have put the wrong fuel into the car, compared to just 8% of women.

Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com said: “This survey just goes to show how much people use and appreciate their breakdown cover, especially when they get themselves in a potentially embarrassing situation. Shopping around for breakdown cover by using a website like Confused.com can make it more affordable. Although it’s no substitute for remembering where you parked.”

According to the survey of 2,000 drivers, which was carried out at the end of May 2011, almost a quarter of men and just under a quarter of women do not have any breakdown cover.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Reveals The Unluckiest Make Of Car

Confused.com has revealed the unluckiest make of car in the UK by looking at 12 months’ worth of customers quotes and finding out which make and model had the highest accident rates.

Top of the list was Honda’s FR-V six-seater. 2,529 owners of this vehicle made 466 accident claims in the past five years. That’s a claim rate of 18.4 per cent, or almost one in five.

Next came Volvo’s XC90. Of the 3,886 drivers of this model who bought cover through Confused.com, 619 made claims for accidents – a rate of 15.9 per cent.

The Lexus RX had a claim rate of 15.5 per cent (574 claims out of 3,701 drivers), followed by the Mazda 5 (15.3 per cent, or 373 out of 2,431).

Also in the top 10 vehicles for claims were Honda’s Jazz and CR-V models, Volkswagen’s Touran, the Hyundai Santa, the Toyota Rav and the Mazda 3. Each had a rate of about one accident claim for every seven vehicles insured through insurers on the Confused.com panel.

Confused.com also looked at which cars were least likely to be involved in accident claims.

Apparently the ‘safest’ of all was the Mazda 2 TS TD – out of a total of 1,076 owners, only nine accident claims were recorded in the last five years. That makes a claims rate of less than one in 100. Also hovering around the 1 per cent claims-rate mark were Nissan’s Skyline, the Ford Focus RS and the Fiat Cinquecento.

Confused.com’s head of car insurance, Gareth Kloet said: “Car accidents are rarely a result of mechanical failures: they are more often caused by human error or just bad fortune. It could be that drivers of this model happen to be more careless or reckless than other motorists. Or it could simply be that this group of road users has been particularly unlucky in the period when the data was collected.”

Confused.com’s statistics show just a snapshot of accident-related claims made by owners of a particular make and model of vehicle. So it is worth stressing that if one particular car appears to have a relatively high rate of claims, it does not follow that this vehicle is inherently more dangerous than others.

This research reflects only the experience of Confused.com customers: other companies’ figures could show different trends.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Reveals The 10 Most Popular Car Games

Confused.com has revealed the 10 most popular games families play in cars on long journeys.

52% of UK car owners avoided the tailbacks on the Bank Holiday and stayed at home or used another method of transport, according to new research from car insurance comparison site Confused.com.

But for those who stuck with tradition, a car packed with kids, pets and picnics awaited. Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com said: “Keeping your kids entertained on long car journeys is always a challenge.Of course there are a lot of gadgets such as games consoles and DVD players that can help time pass more easily, but some families might prefer a more sociable solution.

“Car games that mum and dad can play with their kids have a long tradition in Britain – so we’ve tracked down 10 of the best to help you stave off boredom on those long trips.”

Classic games such as ‘I spy’ and ’20 questions’ made it on to the list, alongside more educational pursuits such as encouraging children to help with map reading and getting them to spot landmarks as they are approaching.

Many of the games which made the list focus on what things children can spot while they are travelling. These include the ‘yellow convertible mini’ game, where children have to spot a yellow car, a mini or a convertible, but get more points for spotting combinations of the three. There is also the ‘three for a pig’ game, where different amount of points are awarded for all the different animals that are spotted, and the alphabet game, where children aim to spot consecutive letters of the alphabet on road signs or registration plates. Children can also make a simple game out of counting cars, and trying to be the first to spot a certain number of a particular colour or make.

Other games to make the list were ‘I went to the shops’, where children try and list items while working through the alphabet, and ‘What can you do with?’ where players think of all the possible uses for household objects.

No doubt the most popular game amongst travelling adults is ‘sleeping lions’, where children have to try and keep quiet for as long as possible.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Uncover the Nation’s Amorous Auto Habits

Confused.com has revealed that almost half* of male drivers in the UK admit that they have had got frisky in their car, and almost 30% of women admit this too. However, having an argument is a more likely pursuit, with nearly 60% of men and almost 63% of women fighting with their loved ones while in the car.

Other popular pastimes while in a vehicle include dumping a boyfriend/girlfriend (10% of men and 8% of women), being dumped (6% of men and 5% of women), flirting with another driver (24% of men and 18% of women), eating something (73% of men and 76% of women) and having a nap (42% of men and 29% of women).

Men voted Audi drivers the sexiest women drivers (21%) and women agreed, also voting male Audi drivers top with 31%. Male BMW drivers are considered second sexiest by women, with 25%. Men’s second choice was female Mini Cooper drivers with 14%.

The city admitting the most car friskiness is Brighton with 68% of drivers admitting having done the deed in their cars, while only 22% of drivers in Worcester say they have got frisky while in their cars.

Drivers were also asked how often they have sex each week, with the highest average of 2.9 times per week among those living in Coventry.

Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com said: “The results of this Confused.com survey bring a new meaning to the UK being a nation of car lovers. Although this is not a rating question that insurers would ask when people are applying for car insurance, perhaps it’s something we should look at in the future, judging by how many people are getting frisky in their cars.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services

Diamond Reveals The Most Popular Hairdresser’s Car

Diamond has revealed that the Mini One is the most popular car among British hairdressers.

The term ‘hairdresser’s car’ has long been used to describe sporty little run-arounds popular with nation’s style conscious hair stylists. Women’s car insurance specialist Diamond decided to find out what hairdressers really drive and can reveal that the most popular, and therefore ultimate ‘hairdresser’s car’, is the Mini One.

Diamond looked at data from over 18,000 hairdressers to create a definitive list of the most popular cars amongst Britain’s hairdressers*. The Mini One is three and a half times more likely to be driven by a hairdresser than everyone else. The next most popular for hairdressers are the Vauxhall Tigra and Volkswagen Beetle, which are both more than three times as popular with hairdressers than the rest of the UK. Rounding out the top five are the Ford Ka and Mini Cooper.

Commenting on the findings, Diamond managing director, Elwyn Gedrych said: “It’s not surprising that the Mini One is so popular amongst hairdressers, as it’s stylish, modern and looks great. In fact, with two Mini models in the top 5, that certainly cements its place as the ultimate ‘hairdresser’s car’.”

Diamond also wanted to see if hairdressers like to show off their perfectly coiffered locks in a convertible car. It found that they’re happy to have the wind through their hair as they’re 33% more likely than non-hairdressers to drive one.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases