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Efficiency Uplift As Finance Firm Takes To The Clouds

Cloud computing is set to deliver a down-to-earth £40,000 annual saving for a major UK finance group – and provide an ultra-secure back-up for millions of pieces of vital company information.

The Funding Corporation, based in Chester, is now getting ready to scrap more than fifty percent of the 100-plus servers currently used to back-up its customer files and other data.

In place of the costly and bulky physical technology will come a remote back-up facility provided by computer data recovery specialist Acronis.

Not only will the move represent major financial savings for the company, it will also achieve a vast reduction – of over 90 percent – in the time previously spent retrieving archived data.

Time taken to create a full back-up of The Funding Corporation’s systems and information will also be greatly scaled down.

Data sent to the “virtual servers” provided by Acronis is fully encrypted, and the system meets the strict security regulations which govern data storage by members of the financial industry.

Dan Tinsley, Principal Systems Engineer at The Funding Corporation, said that the company’s rate of growth meant that its previous back-up and recovery systems were becoming untenable:

“Simply adding more and more servers to hold our data would not be cost-effective, and would have meant constantly increasing the time taken to retrieve stored information.

“Now, however, we can look at executing a full recovery, should it ever be needed, in a matter of hours instead of days using the company server-based system,” said Dan.

He also points out that by using off-site storage provided by Acronis, The Funding Corporation’s data is completely protected from potential disasters such as fire, floods and theft.

The company, recently named “Responsible Lender of the Year” by Credit Today, provides motor finance for the growing number of people unable to borrow from mainstream lenders.

Via EPR Network
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Payday Express Underlines The Importance Of Effective Staff Inductions

With its recruitment at an all-time high, payday loans specialist Payday Express is keen to point out that a proper induction plays a key role in maximising the potential of new staff.

The instant approval payday loans company recently welcomed 12 new faces into its midst – the highest number of new employees it has ever taken on at one time.

To ensure that new starters are able to embark on their development within the company from the outset, Payday Express has devised an induction process in which all new starters take part to introduce them to the company mission, vision, policies and processes; as well as helping them to develop a big-picture view of the business and where they fit into it.

Lasting two days, the process gives new employees an introduction to how each department operates and how it relates to the rest of the business. The induction also includes training in anti money laundering (AML), data protection, customer service and learning styles, among other subjects.

Following the initial two-day welcome programme, new starters at the fast payday loanscompany then spend two weeks becoming acquainted with the company’s systems and processes and are assigned a ‘buddy’ – an experienced member of staff – to advise them and be on hand to answer any questions they may have.

Payday Express Operations Manager Sarah Carroll said: “We’re very focused on making the effort to recruit the right people for the job and, once we have, to ensure they hit the ground running with training and development.

“This is so that they can play a part in delivering the exemplary service we aim to offer our customers, add value to the organisation, and develop within their careers.

“We are passionate about learning and development and it is important for us to make every effort to afford our staff learning opportunities from the moment they join our company.”

HR Advisor Richard Turner added: “”It’s exciting to see how much the business is growing, with how many new staff we’re hiring. It’s great to see so many new faces this month – and I wish everyone the best of luck in their new roles.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Finds UK Drivers Are Divided On Government’s New Roadworks Idea

Confused.com has polled 2000 drivers, asking their opinions on a new idea from the UK government which could help tackle the problem of roadworks and the resulting traffic jams. The proposal suggests that utility companies could pay a ‘lane rental’ fee to the council if they choose to dig up the road during busy times*.

UK motorists are divided on the proposal with almost half(49%) saying it’s a good plan and that they can’t wait to see it happen and the other half (48%) feeling that it’s not a good idea because utility companies who choose to pay the bills will pass these costs onto the consumer. The remainder were undecided.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: “If these proposals reduce traffic jams then car owners will have something to smile about. Financially it’s been a tough few years for drivers. Consumers are paying an average of £858 for annual comprehensive cover, having seen an increase of £22 in just three months and £170 over 12 months**. Car owners really deserve a break and roads that run freely will be welcomed by anyone regularly blighted by queues.

“The ‘lane rental’ fees could be a good incentive for companies to complete jobs more quickly reducing the potentially dangerous and infuriating situations that roadworks can create.”

Lisa Greenfield, Energy expert at Confused.com added: “With UK energy companies having recently hiked up their prices, the last thing that customers want is any sort of extra ‘tax’ which may end up being paid by the customer. If this proposal goes ahead then UK households will be hoping that utility companies choose to work outside of peak hours and not pay the charges because any further hikes in utility costs would be unpleasant.”.

Regionally, Londoners are most in favour of the plans with more than 52% agreeing that they are a good idea.

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Payday Express Keeps Staff Motivated With Seasonal Incentives

Short term loans provider Payday Express has revealed that high staff morale is an essential ingredient in its recipe for success, with senior managers and team leaders dedicating a huge amount of time and effort to devising and running incentive schemes.

The latest initiative within the Contact Centre and Collections departments of the instant approval payday loans company has a barbeque theme, to celebrate the last weeks of summer, with plenty of prizes available to win on a daily basis.

Created by Operations Manager Sarah Carroll and the departments’ team leaders, the barbeque incentive involves giving away items such as drinks, snacks, picnic blankets, cooking accessories and even actual barbeques to top-performing agents within each team.

Sarah Carroll said: “The prizes have been displayed around the office in recent weeks, giving it a fun and summery vibe and encouraging staff to work hard towards earning them.

“It’s important to keep staff enthusiastic at work. We like to think of different incentives to introduce a bit of excitement and competition into their day, which increases job satisfaction and ultimately productivity, keeping staff, managers and customers happy.”

Collections Agent Steve Marshall agrees: “These incentives are great, as they boost staff morale. They also create healthy competition and a positive atmosphere and working environment – and add a little excitement and variety to the working day.”

Previous schemes at the payday advance loans company have drawn inspiration from popular events such as the Grand National and television shows like Family Fortunes; and also included fun activities such as Easter egg hunts.

One of the most successful incentives was held during last year’s football World Cup, when high-performing staff members were offered the opportunity to challenge managers to a dance or sporting competition on a Wii games console – with the eventual aim of winning one of their own.

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Payday Express Remains Strict on Fraud

The Fraud Liaison Team at short-term loans provider Payday Express has spoken out to warn potential fraudsters that just because customers can expect a quick service online, it does not mean that security will be compromised – and offenders will be prosecuted wherever possible.

Much of the payday loan industry has risen to meet customer demand for speedy digital services, which do not require paper-based applications, meaning that funds for loans till payday can be received quickly – often within as little as an hour.

Such practices can attract the attention of online fraudsters, who are keen to grab credit online wherever possible without the need to forge documents. However, forward-thinking fast payday loans company Payday Express has tackled this risk head-on by implementing a variety of identity verification checks and other measures designed to prevent fraud via its online application system. This means that the vast majority of fraudulent applications are declined at the outset.

Payday Express Operations Manager Sarah Carroll said: “It is impossible to stop all fraudulent applications, but our dedicated Fraud Liaison Team is able to make life a great deal easier for anyone who has been a victim of identity theft in connection with one of applications – and a great deal harder for any criminals attempting to exploit the quick and easy online service we offer our customers.”

The Fraud Liaison team assists fraud victims, investigates suspicious circumstances, and liaises with the police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to report fraudulent activity. Reporting instances of fraud and attempted fraud helps to ensure that fraudsters are prosecuted wherever possible.

Employee Militza Smith has played an important role in the team, including assisting in breaking a fraud ring earlier this year through working with the police.

Militza said: “Seeing a fraud ring uncovered shows the value in victims of identity theft reporting the matter to the police.

“At Payday Express we work very hard to uncover any trends and links to other applications and accounts, to be able to provide as much information as possible to help the police to investigate identity theft and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

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Confused.com Finds 1 In 3 Young People Are More Likely To Date A Car Owner

Confused.com has revealed the results of a new survey that shows many young adults feel that owning a car helps to get a date. More than 1 in 3 young adults (34%) feel that young people who can drive and have a car are sexier than non-drivers, and more likely to get a boyfriend/girlfriend.

More than 1 in 3 (35%) told Confused.com that having a car and being able to drive will improve the chances of getting a date. It doesn’t matter too much what kind of car it is though; only 12% of young adults admit to dating someone because of the car they drive with the majority (65%) say that it’s ‘really shallow’ to date someone because of the car they drive.

Well over 1 in 3 young adults (40%) told Confused.com that they felt getting a boyfriend or girlfriend is more likely for those who have a car and can drive, while 12% think that the better the car, the better love life you have. Women are more likely than men to look for a partner who can drive, with 39% of 17-25 year olds saying they are more likely to date a driver than a non-driver, compared to just 24% of young men. 1 in 2 young men (51%) think that they are more likely to get a girlfriend or boyfriend if they have a car, compared to just 36% of young women.

When it comes to making love, 18% of young men think that the better car you drive, the better love life you have, while only 9% of women surveyed think this is true.

The cost of driving and insurance costs are the highest barriers among young people wanting to get behind the wheel; higher even than the cost of buying the car. Other common barriers, as rated by 17-25 year olds in the UK include passing the driving test, the cost of petrol and fees associated with learning to drive.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: “Getting a car is a sign of growing up and becoming an adult for many people in their late teens and early twenties. The cost of insurance shouldn’t stand in the way of that process. 50% of under 25s could save up to £571 on car insurance by shopping around on Confused.com, leaving them more money to wine and dine a partner.”

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Payday Express Defies Jobs Gloom with Recruitment Drive

Recruitment of key staff members is a strategic focus of short-term loan provider Payday Express at the start of its new financial year.

A number of core positions have been filled in recent months and recruitment is underway for several more vital posts, as the instant approval payday loans company aims to broaden the range of talent and experience within its staff base.

Recent appointments include Carl Mountain, who began his role as Contact Centre Manager in July. He said: “I am really enjoying the new challenge. Customer service and satisfaction is very important to Payday Express and I am pleased to have a pivotal role to play in managing this focus.”

The previous occupant of the post, Chris Gillard, has moved into a Sales Manager role, reporting into Senior Marketing Manager Ashleigh Slade, and is to oversee the creation of a new Account Management team.

Nushin Nahidpour has also recently joined the company as a Digital Marketing Project Manager and will manage various IT projects aimed at improving the company’s digital marketing operations. The first projects she is working on include implementing a blog and an automated news feed on the company website, along with installing new web analytics software.

Recruitment is also in progress for the posts of Marketing Manager, Senior Risk Analyst, Marketing Analyst, and Senior Administrator. A number of Account Managers and Collections Agents will also be required.

Sarah Carroll, Operations Manager at the payday advance loans company, said: “Payday Express recognises how important people are to its success and we are looking forward to growing the team with staff that share our drive and vision, and bring new ideas and experience into the business.”

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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.”

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Homeowners Could Benefit From Latest Fixed-Rate Deals

Now could be a good time to find a new fixed-rate mortgage deal, according to financial solutions company Think Money.

With rates on many fixed-rate deals recently falling – and with uncertainty over when the base rate could rise – fixed-rate mortgages could become an increasingly attractive option for homeowners.

In July, Yorkshire Building Society cut the rate on its best five-year fixed-rate deal to a market-leading 3.49%, with an arrangement fee of £995. Borrowers who don’t want to pay this much up front can get a rate of 3.69% with a £95 arrangement fee.

According to Moneysupermarket, the best five-year fixed-rate deals before this offered rates of 3.79% (Chelsea Building Society) and 3.89% (Nationwide). Even those deals carried lower rates than many of the two-year deals available only a few months earlier.

The recent fall in the interest rates available may reflect intensifying competition between mortgage lenders, says an expert at Think Money.

“Many economists now believe we won’t see an increase in the base rate until late next year, which may have made some mortgage lenders more relaxed about offering lower interest rates. The fact that some of today’s five-year deals offer better rates than some of the two-year deals available a few months ago suggests that mortgage providers are serious about their lending.

“This could make five-year fixed-rate deals a very attractive option for many homeowners. Only a few months ago, such low rates over such a long period would have been unthinkable.

“However, it is worth remembering that tracker mortgage deals still tend to offer lower rates than fixed-rate deals at any given time – so some borrowers may prefer to go down that route instead.”

“Ultimately, the right mortgage deal depends on the borrower’s circumstances – and as such it’s often a good idea to seek advice before they make a decision.”

Lower rates mean lower monthly payments for homeowners. Furthermore, it could reduce costs for those considering borrowing more on their mortgage for other purposes, such as debt consolidation.

“Consolidating debts into a mortgage can greatly reduce the month-to-month cost of repaying those debts, because they are essentially spread over the entire duration of the mortgage. And when mortgage rates are low, this could prove to be a very cost-effective way of dealing with debt.

“However, we advise anyone considering doing this to think carefully, as it will increase the size of the borrower’s mortgage. Furthermore, taking longer to repay the debt may mean the total cost is higher in the long run, and if for any reason they can’t keep up with their payments, they may risk losing their home. But as long as the borrower is sure they can keep up, it could make very good financial sense.”

Via EPR Network
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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.

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New System Means Faster Loans For Payday Express Customers

Innovative short-term credit service Payday Express has improved its operations with the implementation of a new automated Loan Management System for managing loans.

The design of the new system, named Nexus, means that customers will receive a much more efficient service when they need loans till payday.

The new system has been fully integrated with the company’s website, and its automated payment service will enable many customers who apply for fast payday loans online to receive their funds within an hour of applying.

It is also great news for Payday Express staff, who will have fewer manual functions to perform and more time to focus on other areas of the company’s operations to improve efficiencies and ultimately customer service.

The new process is the result of two years’ dedicated, complex work by a development team made up of in-house staff and staff from the company’s head office, who are delighted with its successful launch and will continue to seek ways to improve it.

Such was the level of determination to succeed that some team members worked happily until 2:30am on Sunday 10th July to ensure a successful migration from the previous system and successful deployment of the new system.

Junior Business Analyst Jamie Clifton, who worked on the project for its duration, said: “We probably all put on half a stone over the weekend, due to the amount of food we consumed to keep us active!”

“It’s very satisfying to see something you designed with pen and paper transform into a visual prototype on screen, then continue its development lifecycle to become a working, fit-for-purpose system. The version of Nexus released to business users is a ‘light’ version of what is in the pipeline and a number of additional hugely beneficial features will be available in the near future.”

Operations Manager Sarah Carroll added: “The successful launch of our new loan management system has been the result of a commendable effort from the project team. It will give us a strong platform to be able to grow the business and meet our customers’ needs more efficiently.”

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“You’re Not Alone” Squeezed-Out Borrowers Assured

A fear of rejection is driving more professional people to seek out non-prime motor finance, according to a major lender to those with impaired credit records.

The Funding Corporation believes that a growing number of its customers are those who realise that an application to a mainstream lender for car finance is likely to be declined.

That’s because even minor blemishes on a credit file, such as a few missed credit card or mobile phone payments, can now add up to the rejection of a loan request its says.

Now the company is seeking to assure such customers that they are far from alone in possessing a higher salary which is accompanied by a low credit rating.

A general practitioner, a university professor and a commercial airline pilot are among those who have recently approached The Funding Corporation for help to buy a car.

The company, recently named “Responsible Lender of the Year” by Credit Today, says those with concerns realise that a refused application could damage their credit status even further.

“For this reason, they often de-select themselves from high street lenders rather than have an unsuccessful credit search show up on their file,” said Richard Cox, Head of Motor Operations.

“If we are able to accept them for finance, then they get the loan they need and the opportunity to start repairing their credit record by keeping up repayments,” he added.

The Funding Corporation, said Richard, finds that an increasing number of applicants likely to be considered a “bad risk” by other lenders are younger professionals.

“In these cases, we look more closely at the reasons for any past difficulties and the likelihood of any issues recurring, as well as the person’s ability to service the loan,” he said.

“Often we find that there is no evidence of a chronic repayment problem, but simply past lapses which have since been remedied and are unlikely to reoccur.

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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.

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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.

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New Deal Secures Chester Future for Finance Group

An award-winning finance group has signalled its long-term commitment to Chester by signing a new ten-year deal on its premises just outside the city.

The Funding Corporation, which started life in Chester almost a decade ago, employs around 240 full-time staff, 160 of whom are located at International House on Chester Business Park.

Now the group has agreed a ten-year extension of the lease of its headquarters, and has started on a major re-fit of the 14,000 square foot premises to allow for continuing development.

The £150,000 refurbishment project is being carried out almost exclusively by suppliers and contractors from the region as part of The Funding Corporation’s “buy local” policy.

Everything from the carpets to the new air conditioning system – and even the specially created graphics for the walls – will be sourced from nearby enterprises.

According to Managing Director David Challinor, the wide variety of commerce and industry in the area was one of the reasons why the group originally chose Chester as a business base ten years ago.

He says that The Funding Corporation’s decision to remain in Chester was also influenced by the prospect of being able to draw on many different types of locally available skills:

“We’ve built up a fantastic staff team here, from young trainees to experienced finance professionals, many of whom were already based here in Chester,” said David.

“In fact, we have also linked with West Cheshire College to provide training opportunities and work experience for students who would like a career in the financial services sector.

“We are wholly committed to Chester, and that is why we had no hesitation in negotiating a renewal of our lease which will take us to 2020 and beyond,” he added.

The company provides motor finance for people whose credit status might have been damaged by previous loan repayment problems.

It is, said David, a fast-growing sector as mainstream lenders, such as banks, continue to tighten up on their criteria and accept only the very lowest-risk customers.

The cars against which the company lends are supplied by its subsidiary business ACF Car Finance Limited which operates a national network of car showrooms.

The Funding Corporation’s ethical business policies were highlighted May 2011 when it was named Britain’s Most Responsible Lender in the Credit Today Awards.

The title is a top accolade in the prestigious annual award scheme for finance companies, and contenders included major high-street lenders such as Barclays and the Co-operative Bank.

International House is leased by The Funding Corporation from Prospect (GB) Ltd, one the of the country’s fastest-growing property development and investment companies.

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Payday Express Encourages Healthy Competition Among Staff

Employees at short-term loan specialist Payday Express are planning to make interdepartmental sporting events a regular feature, following the success of a football match earlier this month.

Staff from the instant approval payday loans company’s Contact Centre were pitted against members of its Collections team in the friendly clash, which was held at the ground of a local semi-professional squad, Bromley FC, in Kent.

The final score was a 12-7 victory for Contact Centre, with team stars Jamie Clifton and David Herron being named men of the match.

HR Advisor Richard Turner said: “It’s great to see that all who took part can take the competitive edge outside work, but still enjoy it as a great team building exercise. It’s events like this which add to the great working environment at Payday Express.”

Operations Manager Sarah Carroll confirmed: “The company encourages friendly competition among staff members, and for staff to socialise outside of office hours in order to develop a sense of unity and comradeship. This in turn aids teamwork in the office, helping us to effectively provide payday advance loans to our customers with great customer service.”

Richard also noted that the enthusiastic support of staff spectators appeared to be a factor in Contact Centre’s triumph. The losing team, however, is determined to have its day at a rematch this week – and is hoping to attract a loyal crowd of supporters to rally that of their rivals.

Payday Express is committed to continually boosting the morale of its staff and actively encourages both players and spectators to attend staff games.

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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
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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.

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Mortgage Loan Modifications Made Simple With Cantrell Consultant’s Do It Yourself Modification Software. Stop Waiting In Line And Get Your Paperwork Ahead Of The Rest

Cantrell Consultants Offers Reliable Do It Yourself Mortgage Modification Program to Help Home Owners save their Homes.

With ezmortgagemod.com’s Bank Ready Modification Package, Dr. Cantrell Will Help His Customers In Being One Of The 9 Million Mortgage Holders To Receive A Loan Under President’s Obamas New Package.

The number of people facing problems regarding the payments of their mortgage loans is rising in the United States. The most common problems faced by homeowners today are due to delinquency, high interest rates or reduction in appraised value due to the market crash. While the government has introduced several home and mortgage loan modification plans under HAMP and HAFA programs, only a small percentage of mortgage holders are able to qualify for these modification programs.

Michael W. Cantrell Sr., Ph. D., one of the leading names in the area of home loan modifications, is offering a reliable program that ensures that their client will get all home loan modification documentation with his new ezmortgagemod do it yourself program. Dr. Michael W. Cantrell, Sr. is the president of Cantrell Consultants. He holds a PH. D. in Financial Management and has been in this industry for almost three decades.

Elaborating on his new ezmortgagemod loan modification program, Dr. Cantrell said,“Although I have been serving lenders since 1989, I have now set foot on the other side of the fence, helping homeowners. I believe in making homes affordable with our do-it-yourself ezmortgagemod program that enables people to qualify for a Home Loan Modification approval. The ezmortgagemod program works to benefit the homeowner, not the lenders.”

The do it yourself ezmortgagemod Home Loan modification package offered by Cantrell Consultants is ranked number one among the Do-it-Yourself programs. The ezmortgagemod program is one of the most reliable and user friendly programs available to the public today. The reason for this is that only the ezmortgagemod do-it-yourself program includes exact documents that banks and lenders use for their approval process.

“This unique benefit along with the post review service, ezmortgagemod program saves homeowners, not only the thousands and thousands of dollars they would normally spend, but the nightmare of spending months on the phone with their banks and getting bounced around from department to department trying to do it on their own,” adds Dr. Cantrell.

The ezmortgagemod Home Loan Modification program allows the homeowner to fill out a form and see whether or not they qualify for any of the programs. This saves them a lot of time. The package also offers a step by step guide for the homeowner regarding the procedures and negotiation tactics. More information on Dr. Cantrell’s do-it yourself mortgage loan modification package is available on www.ezmortgagemod.com.

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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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