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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.”

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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.”

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Payday Express helps pave staff career paths

Employee development is at the top of the agenda for short term loan provider Payday Express, which has recently created a new Group Trainer role for one of its rising stars.

Emma Furlong began work at Payday Express in September 2008 and progressed quickly from the role of Customer Support Agent to Senior Customer Support Agent, and then Customer Support Team Leader.

After recognising her passion and aptitude for training and mentoring staff, the payday advance loans company helped Emma to develop her new role and formally launch it in February this year.

Since then Payday Express has also been funding Emma’s place on a training course, with the aim of her attaining a CIPD certificate in Learning and Development Practice. She has so far passed all modules – the only person in her class to have done so – and hopes to become an associate member of the CIPD.

Emma’s journey has been similar to the advancement of many other staff members at Payday Express. Jamie Clifton, who began as an Administrator, is now a Junior Business Analyst; and Charlotte Morris and Ann Shepperley, who started as Customer Support Agents, have now embarked on careers as UAT Testers, where they are helping to test new systems and improvements to their instant approval payday loans website.

Other recent promotions include that of Lara Toomey, who has risen from Debt Administrator to Senior Debt Administrator; and Therese Rydberg, who has progressed from Marketing Administrator to Marketing Executive.

Richard Turner, HR Advisor at Payday Express, commented: “We are always looking for people who wish to develop their careers and will always invest time and money in someone who shows drive and passion to succeed.

“Emma is an excellent example of this. There is nothing better than seeing someone progress and it shows all employees that the opportunity is there to go down any route they wish to.”

With this focus on career development, Emma and Operations Manager Sarah Carroll have worked together to develop an intensive internal Trainee Team Leader (TTL) programme, which has been undertaken by Collections Agent Paul St Ledger and Customer Support Agent Marcus Tibbals, with a view to becoming department Team Leaders at the end of this month.

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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.”

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Payday Express Scores with Staff Sports Sponsorship

Short-term loan provider Payday Express continues to focus on investing in staff wellbeing by sponsoring an employee’s cricket team as it strives for victory in its second season.

After sponsoring a staff five-a-side football team during the winter months and seeing it grow quickly into a seven man outfit, instant cash loans provider Payday Express is now sponsoring Kent Ramblas for the cricket season.

Kent Ramblas was founded by Payday Express data co-ordinator Michael Cooper with a group of friends in 2009, as a way to play regular sport together. This community spirit is supported and encouraged by Payday Express, which is committed to its staff both at work and in their external pursuits.

Michael said: “Before the start of our second season we sorted out a new home ground and a larger fixture calendar of 16 games – as well as a new kit, thanks to Payday Express.”

The team is now midway through its second season and is working hard towards its first win, after seven losses so far in 2011. Despite the scorecard, the team remains undeterred and is focused on continued improvement. With having achieved a draw in its latest game, hopes are high for the nine games left to play this season.

Michael is also looking forward to the honour of being captain at Kent Ramblas’s first ever 20/20 match on 22 June.

Payday Express Operations Manager Sarah Carroll said: “Our aim is to give something back to our staff members and invest in them as people, not just employees.

“Pursuits such as this outside of work are good for a person’s continuing development, encouraging teamwork and healthy competition, which are also essential business traits. We are always looking for opportunities to support and motivate our staff.”

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Payday Express Takes A Leap For Charity Concern

A brave employee of short-term loan service Payday Express is taking the plunge for charity on June 27 by doing a solo skydive in aid of Concern, which supports poverty-stricken communities in third world countries.

Payday Express and its staff are sponsoring contact centre agent Kylie Taylor to undertake her plucky move after a two-day training course. Kylie will jump from the plane alongside her instructor – but without the reassurance of being attached.

Kylie said: “This is my first charity event but I’m hoping it won’t be my last. Next I want to move on to more daring events to raise more and more money.”

Concern was founded in Africa in 1968 and works in both emergency situations and long-term development programmes. On 13 June, the charity organised a meeting in Washington DC with campaign group Bread For The World entitled 1,000 Days To Scale Up Nutrition For Mothers And Children, to pressure G20 leaders to make a financial commitment to improving nutrition in the world’s poorest countries.

Payday Express Operations Manager Sarah Carroll said: “This is such a worthy cause and we’re honoured to be able to help. One of Concern’s main schemes is in Quetta, in Pakistan, where it runs drop-in centres for children who make money for their families by scavenging on rubbish tips and selling their finds.

“Concern offers education, food and healthcare, as well as the chance to play with toys. The charity also supplies protective clothing to protect the children from injury and infection; and training in manual trades to give them a better chance for the future.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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Confused.com Launches New YMCA Advert

Confused.com has announced that the well-loved 70’s disco anthem YMCA is the soundtrack to the latest advert “Con-Fused-Dot-Com” featuring animated logo Cara. The new thirty second advert, focusing on car insurance, launched on Sunday 22nd May, with its peak spot taking place during the new ITV1 drama Vera.

The new advert is once again voiced by Louise Dearman who plays the lead in the popular West End hit musical, Wicked. Animated and produced by Hornet, with musical arrangement from Speckulation entertainment, the advert will feature living logo Cara singing the catchy anthem before being joined by a lively backing group of animated singers and dancers. Previous adverts featuring Cara include covers versions of songs from Queen and Diana Ross.

Mike Hoban, marketing director at Confused.com, said: “Confused.com is the UK’s first price comparison site and this advert is an entertaining way to remind people how easily they can save money on household bills.

“The new series of adverts have been so successful that Confused.com has added more than 2 million customers since the campaign launched.”

In addition to this thirty second car insurance advert, a thirty second advert focusing on home insurance and a sixty second brand advert are also launching. The new thirty second car insurance “Con-Fused-Dot-Com” advert can be viewed on Cara Confuseds page now.

Confused.com is also unveiling a new thirty second London region only radio advert on 1st June. Fans of Cara can keep up to date with her on her Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Confused.com’s Car Study Reveals The Vehicles Used By William And Kate

Confused.com has conducted a study to get some insight into the vehicles used by people called William and Kate in the UK.

Drivers called Kate or William (aged 28-40) are more likely to get behind the wheel of a Mini (Kate) or a Rover (William) than the average British motorist, according to a study of 8 million drivers in the UK carried out by car insurance comparison site Confused.com. The traditionally British iconic cars are favoured by Kates and Williams, with Catherines preferring to get behind the wheel of a Citroen. Drivers called William also favour X-type Jaguars, according to Confused.com data.

The research, which was conducted from a database of quotes carried out through the Confused.com site highlighted a number of differences between the driving habits of drivers named William, Kate and Catherine.

The data, which included 28-40 year old drivers in the UK, was overseen by Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at the company. Kloet commented: “The upcoming royal wedding has increased the interest in the names William and Kate dramatically. With Confused.com data to hand, we have found that William and Kate’s around the UK have very sensible car models, a driving attribute that would expect from the royals.”

Confused.com have also discovered a number of statistics relating to the type of home and family expected for a William and Kate in the UK population, referencing data from 2.5 million home insurance customers. The data showed that only 60 couples were called William and Kate as registered on their home insurance policies.

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Payday Express Office Move Takes the Company to a Different Level

One of the leading payday loan lenders in the UK, Payday Express has just completed a beneficial office move that has given the company more space to enable expansion.

Up until recently, instant payday loans provider, Payday Express, was based in offices which due to the company’s rapid growth had become too small. This meant that the company was unable to make necessary expansions for certain departments in order to keep up with the increasing level of business.

Payday Express has now moved in to their new office, which is based in Bromley, Kent and located around the corner from its old office. The more spacious office has not only provided an improved working environment for the employees, but has opened up new opportunities for the company which will enable the business to be taken to a different level.

The project, successfully managed by Payday Express’ Operations Manager, Sarah Carroll, was made even more impressive by the speed with which the move happened.

Agents were able to work normal hours on the Saturday and come into work the following Monday and pick up where they left off with no disruptions.

Speaking about the move, Sarah said: “The new offices and the extra space have made such a difference to the employees. Aside from the obvious benefit of being able hire additional members of staff, it has also helped boost the team spirit and the feeling of togetherness in the company.

“It is interesting to be a part of a company that is constantly growing and offering new opportunities, and the office move has opened up more possibilities. We may only have moved around the corner from our old offices, but it has made a world of difference.”

The office move is the latest development that the quick payday loans company has put into action to boost customer service. Recent projects have included improving the company’s fraud prevention measures and increasing opening hours during the week and on Saturdays too.

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Confused.com Reveals Mothers’ Day Holiday Habits

Confused.com has revealed that many mums may get more than flower and chocolates this Mothers’ Day as more than half of Brits have taken their mum (or mother-in-law) on holiday with them.

The travel insurance provider and comparison site also revealed that the vast majority of Brits would do it again. However, almost one in ten sons admit this is because mum will pay for everything with another reason sons are keen to take mum on holiday being so that she can babysit the kids.

56% of people in the UK have either taken their mums or mother-in-laws or even both on holiday with them, with 85% of Brits who have done so saying they would either take one of both or their mothers/mother-in-laws on holiday again. In addition to this 53% of the people surveyed agreed that their mother (or mother-in-law) was great company on holiday with 50% agreeing that she deserves a treat.

45% of adults have never taken their mothers or mother-in-laws on holiday with them, but of those who have, only 14% would not repeat the experience. The top reason* for refusing take them on holiday again is ‘We like different things’ (33%), with ‘She’s so annoying’ being cited as the second most popular given reason (13.5%). Other reasons for not taking mum on holiday include 10%, who are embarrassed by her behaviour, 9% who think the she would cramp their style and 6% who suggest she flirts too much with the waiters on holiday.

More women than men have taken their mothers on holiday with them than men (women 39% versus men 24%), but some men have ulterior motives for doing so: 9% of adult men saying they take mum on holiday because she pays for everything, whereas only 4% of women admit money is their motivation or taking mum on hols. 11% of men compared to 6% of women take mum on holiday because of her babysitting services.

Londoners are most likely to take mum on holiday (38%), with Northern Ireland (17%) the least likely to do so, according to the survey by Confused.com.

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Think Money Welcomes Fall In Repossessions

Financial solutions company Think Money has welcomed news that repossessions fell sharply in 2010, compared with a year earlier, commenting that it suggests the financial circumstances of homeowners may have improved despite difficult economic conditions.

But the company warned that there are still difficult times ahead for many homeowners, especially when interest rates rise.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said there was a 24% drop in the number of repossessions in 2010, compared with 2009, down to 36,300. Meanwhile, the number of households with mortgage arrears amounting to more than 2.5% of the outstanding balance fell by 13%, down to 169,600.

An expert at Think Money commented:

“Any drop in repossessions and arrears is a good sign. Although the economy is still in a difficult position, it’s likely that a lot of homeowners have taken steps to improve their finances, whether that’s through keeping to a tight budget or entering into a debt solution such as a debt management plan before repossession becomes a possibility.

“Leniency from lenders may have also helped, but equally the troubles of the last couple of years will have prompted many homeowners to be more cautious with their money.

“However, it must be noted that there are a lot of people who are only coping with their mortgage repayments because of low interest rates. When interest rates rise – which could happen this year – we may well see many more homeowners in trouble.

“Anyone already struggling or worried about their ability to meet their payments when interest rates rise should not hesitate to get help from an expert. It’s not usually worth waiting for a change to happen – getting help early could greatly reduce the chances of facing repossession.”

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Confused.com Launches New TV Advert

Confused.com has launched its latest advertisement featuring its animated logo Cara singing the classic hit ‘Chain Reaction’, originally penned by the Bee Gees and made famous by Diana Ross. The sixty second advert first aired on 15 February during coverage of the Brit Awards, this year hosted by James Corden.

Following the success of Cara’s first single, ‘Somebody to Love’, ‘Chain Reaction’ is once again voiced by West End star Louise Dearman. Animated and produced by Hornet, with musical arrangement from Spekulation entertainment, the advert will feature living logo Cara singing the catchy anthem before being joined by a backing group of animated singers and dancers.

The Chain Reaction song, originally recorded by Diana Ross, has been selected due to its popularity with music lovers worldwide and was a popular hit in 1985 on her album ‘Eaten Alive’. Confused.com, the UK’s leading car insurance price comparison site, has worked closely with its creative agencies on this advert to ensure it recaptures the energy of the Diana Ross original.

Mike Hoban, marketing director at Confused.com, said: “Confused.com was the first site to offer price comparison. Our latest advert reminds customers of Confused.com’s leadership position in a fun and entertaining way. With 20 million users, up two million since our first advert, Confused.com is once again demonstrating it is the people’s choice for comparison sites and we are really proud of this.”

In addition to the sixty second advert, a thirty second version is also being launched. The new advert can be viewed on Cara’s page on Confused.com and on Confused.com’s You Tube channel.

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Personal Cash Advance Emphasizes Secure Payday Loan Process

Online sites such as Personal Cash Advance offer a secure alternative in the cash advance industry. Company spokesperson Neil Cutting emphasizes the benefits of utilizing the growing Personal Cash Advance website.

“I am thoroughly convinced that it doesn’t get any safer than online cash advances, compared to the alternatives, Cutting said. “We take the time and effort to ensure that our customers receive a first-rate service all the way through.”

As good news about the economy continues to hit the daily press, Cutting foresees positive things in the future when it comes to personal loans. Additionally, most lenders affiliated with PCA will not require potential borrowers to complete a traditional credit check. Instead, the lenders will rely on other criteria, such as monthly income and employment status, to determine applicants’ eligibility.

“It’s one of life’s great ironies that the people who need to borrow money the most can’t get it because they’ve made a few mistakes with their credit in the past. Credit challenges can haunt a consumer for years and preclude applicants from qualifying for traditional bank or credit union loans. At PCA, we understand that a credit score isn’t everything, which is why we’ve broadened the options available to our visitors with imperfect credit,” explained Cutting.

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Payday Express Launched A New Website To Improve The Customer Experience When Applying Online For Payday Loans

Payday Express, one of the UK’s leading online payday lenders, recently launched a new website to improve the customer experience when applying online for payday loans.

The company has redesigned its website paydayexpress.co.uk with the aim of making the online application process more straightforward and quicker than ever before.

A major part of the design brief also focused on transparency, as Payday Express aim to make their product offering and all charges as clear as possible upfront to customers looking for payday advance loans. Along with various articles providing general information, they have added a repayment calculator to the Home Page, allowing customers to see exactly what they’ll need to repay if they take out a loan.

The application process on the new website has been improved, enabling customers to apply for a loan and receive an approval decision within the space of a few minutes. The company, however, remains committed to responsible lending. Ashleigh Preston, Marketing Manager at Payday Express said, “Whilst we are focused on making our loan application and approval process as quick as possible, to meet our customers need for fast cash, we are also careful to carry out various checks to assess affordability. We also promote responsible borrowing from customers, encouraging them not to apply for a loan if they are not completely sure they will be able to repay it on payday.”

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

Couple’s Horror Story With Bank Charges Highlights A Need For Other Short-Term Credit Options

Payday loans are often given negative attention in the media because they’re viewed as a form of high cost credit. However, while banks are clamping down ever harder on customers who don’t stick to the terms of their overdrafts, and inadvertently pushing some customers into unmanageable debts, a leading payday loan company says payday loans offer consumers another option when faced with a need for emergency credit. It also advocates the simplicity and transparency of this option, especially when compared with unauthorised credit charges.

A national newspaper recently highlighted the plight of a young couple who found themselves being expected to pay out a staggering £1,700 to a high street bank – all because they went overdrawn by eight pence.

Angela Hannibal, from Essex, had an account with a high street bank on which she was charged a monthly administration fee. When, one month, that fee took her overdrawn by just 8p, her bank immediately demanded a £170 administration charge.

Angela, who had a young son with her partner, Wayne Green, could not understand how they were continually paying back money to the bank and then getting charged again every couple of months, which kept the debt spiralling out of their control.

Payday Express maintains that their instant payday loans offer consumers a choice in the short-term credit market; an alternative to being at the whim of fees imposed for unauthorised credit. Angela could potentially have avoided those extra charges had she taken out an emergency loan to clear the debt initially or, better still, to avoid going into unarranged overdraft in the first place.

Via EPR Network
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