Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Personal Finance

The Latest LV= Home Insurance Survey Reveals Addresses In Britain Are Being Devalued By A Total Of £71 Billion* As A Result Of Eyesores In The Local Neighbourhood

Of those questioned, 44% Brits live close to a dilapidated home which experts say typically knocks up to 10%** (£15,675) off the average house value of neighbouring properties.

Common ‘neighbouring problems’ which can affect a property’s value include overgrown or unkempt front gardens (22%), peeling paintwork (19%) and dumped furniture or mattresses left outside the property (10%). Persistent noise pollution such as invasive music from a house next door (11%) can also reduce the value of a typical property by an average of £18,000.

Analysis commissioned by LV= home insurance, reveals that would-be homebuyers assume that these problems indicate a ‘neighbour from hell’ which reduces the price they are prepared to pay and in many cases completely deters buyers from making offers.

Currently 11% of UK adults live next to a rundown property and generally the closer the proximity of a neglected or noisy home, the greater the effect on a property’s value, according to chartered surveyors Zennor Consultants.

In the present market downturn, valuation surveyors are also more likely to down-value a property where they can see that the tone of the area is negatively affected by evidence of anti-social behaviour, or by a significant lack of maintenance on adjoining properties. Conversely, when property prices are booming, they are often more willing to overlook even significant defects.

Poor maintenance of the house next door can also have other serious consequences. 33% of Brits have had their homes damaged by an adjacent property. Frequent problems include flooding or damp (11%), pest infestations (11%) and adjoining fence damage (9%), which overall costs the average homeowner £1,600 to repair. Just 19% of the next door properties’ owners covered such costs – either from their own pocket or by claiming on insurance.

John O’Roarke, managing director of LV= home insurance, said: “This research shows that the financial price of living near to an untidy neighbour could have dire consequences, not only on your lifestyle but also on a home’s value and maintenance costs.

“People living near these properties need to ensure they have suitable home insurance in place so that if the worst does happen they can claim for any damage to their home. Our research also found that unkempt properties have caused seven per cent of homeowners to fall out with their neighbours, so ensuring a good relation is always sensible – that way unpleasant situations can often be prevented.”

 

Research carried out on behalf of LV= by Opinium Research and Zennor Consultants.

* According to DCLG there are 25,754,000 UK households. 44% adults live near untidy property. Average UK house price £156,756 (Land Registry March 2009). Average reduction in value for an untidy street property = 4%. £6,270 x 0.44 x 25,754,000 = £71,050,135,200
** According to Zennor Consultants in March 2009.

About LV= 
LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. The new LV= brand identity was launched in March 2007.

LV= insurance offers pet, home, travel and car insurance direct to consumers by telephone from its UK call centres in Bournemouth and Croydon and online from its website. LV= has been awarded the Defaqto five star rating for home insurance and car insurance. LV= insures over 1.6 million cars and 480,000 households in the UK.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority register number 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Business, Currency, Financial, Financial Information, Forex, Money, Stocks, Trading

For the very latest in currency reporting, check out the brand new Best Currency Performance Tables on Currency UK

Foreign Exchange specialists Currency UK are today launching their Best Currency Performance Tables, which reveal the strength of worldwide currencies and act as a comparison tool to show how each currency is performing against another…

For the very latest in currency reporting, check out the brand new Best Currency Performance Tables on Currency UK.

The simple to use tables not only show how well a currency is performing in its own right, but also compares each one against other global currencies to see how they stack up.

The best and worst performing currency over the last month, six months and year is also clearly shown. This invaluable information makes for essential reading for all would be investors as it sets out which currency has been the best to invest in over the past year.

The Tables show that the New Zealand dollar was by far the best performing currency over the last 28 days, up 15 per cent against the US dollar and a whopping 17 per cent against the Japanese Yen. The New Zealand dollar increased against every other currency included on the list, rising 10.3 per cent on average.

Other strong performers were the Swedish Krona, which rose on average 6.28 per cent against other currencies. The Australian dollar rose 3.67 on average against other currencies, rising by 10 per cent against the Japanese Yen.

After a strong showing over the last year, the Japanese Yen was the worst performing currency over the last 28 days, falling an average of 7.15 per cent against each other currency. The Yen’s biggest fall was 14 per cent against the New Zealand dollar. It also fell 9.6 per cent against the Australian dollar and 6.5 per cent against the Euro.

Other weak performers were the British Pound, which fell on average 4.37 per cent against the other currencies, falling by four per cent against the Euro and 12 per cent against the New Zealand dollar.

Adrian Jacob, Senior Account Manager at Currency UK said, “The Japanese Yen is doing particularly badly at the moment due to the once strong trade surplus turning into a trade deficit.

“This is likely to remain the case for at least the next six months and, as Japan is no longer unique in its low interest rates, investors have been losing interest which has obviously affected the Yen.

“In terms of performance by other currencies, the British pound has been struggling due to quantitative easing and a lack of risk appetite and the Australian dollar has been doing well as it is no longer a plaything for investors as it is no longer tied to risk appetite,” added Mr Jacob.

Currency UK is a one stop shop for all your currency needs. Other features on the site include 13 individual currency pages, each giving a detailed description of a specific currency, along with advice and rankings.

There is also a ‘buy currency’ page on which you can buy and sell Sterling, Euros, Dollars and all other major currencies commission free at exceptional rates not available on the high street.

The currency conversion page reveals the latest rates, historic charts and tables for all of the major currencies and the Regular Payment Service allows you to benefit from the best rates and low charges when sending regular foreign currency payments.

Visit Currency UK, one of the UK’s leading currency brokers, to view the Best Performance tables or call 020 7738 0777 for more information or to talk to a currency advisor.

Notes to editors:

Founded in 2000, Currency UK is a foreign exchange and international funds transfer specialist. One of the UK’s leading currency brokers, Currency UK has helped thousands of customers move hundreds of millions of pounds around the globe.

As Currency UK doesn’t have the large overheads of the major banks, it is able to pass the savings on to customers by providing better value for money on foreign exchange services.

Currency UK Ltd is a member of the Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP) and is the preferred foreign exchange partner of The Offshore Financial Trade Association (OFTA).

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

Lloyds TSB study highlights the plight of the 13.5 million recession novices in the UK, as the financial recession hits the real economy

According to a new study* from Lloyds TSB the current economic downturn is the first recession which over one in four of British adults** have experienced in their adult life. While recession veterans are realistic about what to expect, these recession novices are more optimistic and less prepared to change their lifestyles.

The report found 21% of all Brits – regardless of past experience – felt the current climate has led them to suffer from ‘recession depression’. 17% claimed they had sleepless nights worrying about personal finances and 36% are spending more time at home.

The report indicated that a third of recession veterans feel better prepared for today’s economic woes because they have lived through a downturn before, although 44% acknowledged it feels very different to last time. Many said their confidence comes down to better financial management. 68% felt better prepared because they are more careful and don’t overspend (compared to 57% of novices) and 66% said they are better prepared because they don’t rely on credit to fund their lifestyles. 56% of those with recession experience simply thought they were more realistic than younger generations about how much they can spend.

Corinne Sweet, Psychologist and author commented: “When times are bad and money is tight, people experience fear and anxiety, making them more conservative and less adventurous and expansive overall. Recession novices will be feeling the greatest shock, and worrying about how to maintain their lifestyles while paying off debts, while those that have lived through it before will probably cope better, reverting to old methods of survival.”

Recession veterans are taking sensible steps to rein in spending, like buying cheaper brands (42%) and becoming more frugal. Novices are less prepared to take drastic steps. Just 24% admitted drastically cutting their spending (compared to 30% of old timers) and only a fifth are becoming more frugal compared to 39% of recession old timers. Recession novices are also less prepared to cut back on holidays and breaks away with 19% cutting back compared with a quarter of recession veterans.

To help customers during this difficult period, Lloyds TSB has created a guidance microsite for people looking for financial help. Savvy Guidance is an online resource providing useful tips and information on managing finances in the current climate, along with interactive explanations of the credit crunch, a jargon buster, FAQs and real life video stories showing how the guidance and support from a financial health specialist, can help in times of financial difficulty.

Throughout the country 1,500 financial health specialists are also on hand in Lloyds TSB branches to help customers review their finances, manage their money better and givetailored guidance and support.

About Lloyds TSB:
Lloyds TSB offers customers a wide range of current accounts, savings accounts, insurance, personal loans and credit cards, designed to meet different customers’ needs.

Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes.

Lloyds TSB Bank plc Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales no. 2065.

Notes to editors:
* Opinium Research carried out an online poll of 2,221 British adults from 30th January to 3rd February 2009. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria. 
** Based on UK population figures and that anyone aged 34 or below will not have been an adult during the last recession (1992). This equals 13,580,000 UK adults (28.3% of 47,778,000 UK adult population) who have not lived through a recession before in their adult life.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Personal Finance

LV= Has Announced That Its Level And Decreasing Term Assurance Products, As Well As Optional Critical Illness Cover, Are Now Available On The Moneysupermarket.Com Price Comparison Website

This is the first time LV= has launched its protection products online through an aggregator website. Customers can now compare the LV= life insurance and Critical Illness Cover products against the others which are available in the market, as well as any additional benefits that may be offered, with the ‘more than a cheque’ benefits from LV= which include ‘Healthy Steps’, an online health assessment and advice service, as well as free terminal illness cover.

Robin Willison, LV= Financial Advice Director commented: “It’s great that potential customers will now be able to compare the value and features of our life insurance against a number of other providers in the market. We are conscious of the financial pressures that many people are facing at the moment, and this move will demonstrate how competitive we are, and allow consumers to get the best value cover at a price that is right for them.”

Emma Walker, Head of Protection at moneysupermarket.com said: “We have been working with LV= through our off line advice team for five years and are now delighted to welcome LV= to the moneysupermarket.com consumer facing website, as we constantly strive to provide customers with the widest choice across the market. In the current climate it is more important than ever for customers to be able to compare prices and investigate levels of cover available. This is a great move for a protection specialist like LV= as they really are helping people to look after what they love in life by joining our platform.”

* Terminal Illness cover is included free and applies if the customer has less than 12 months to live, allowing customers to claim on their policy.

About LV= 
LV= and LV= Liverpool Victoria are trademarks of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited and LV= and LV= Liverpool Victoria are trading styles of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. The new LV= brand identity was launched in March 2007.

LV= employs more than 3,800 people, serves around 3.2 million customers and members, and manages around £7bn on their behalf. We are also the UK’s largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Yearbook 2006/2007, total net assets) and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and entered on the Financial Services Authority Register No. 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Personal Finance

LV= Research Reveals Importance Of A Good Claims Service

LV= research has revealed that 83% of people interviewed who had made a claim on their car insurance said they would pay more for their insurance cover if they had the assurance of a good claims service. However with many people buying insurance just based on the very cheapest price, LV= is warning consumers not to forgo quality just to save a few pounds.

Peter Horton, operations director for the LV= general insurance business said: “Many people are understandably looking to make savings and cutbacks on their insurance at the moment, so they might be tempted to buy a policy from the insurer offering absolutely the cheapest quote. However the danger is that they may save themselves a few pounds in the short term but end up seriously out of pocket if that insurer offers a substandard claims service.”

LV= operates an award winning claims service and so far this year has received two more accolades for its service, including a Consumer Intelligence Gold rating.

The latest Gold Award is based on Consumer Intelligence research among over 2,000 people who made a claim on their motor insurance in 2008.

People were asked to rate their overall satisfaction with the service they received from their provider and give their views on specific elements of the claims service, including courtesy cars, repair quality and levels of communication.

The award comes hot on the heels of a Which? Magazine’s People’s Choice award received by LV= last month.

The People’s Choice accolade is awarded to the best financial service providers across a number of categories as voted for by 15,000 Which? members. Members of the Which? online panel that had experienced a claim within the last 12 months were polled to find the top provider and LV=’s claims service provided under the Frizzell brand was voted as the best.

Peter Horton concluded: “The whole point of insurance is to ensure that if your car is involved in an accident or stolen your claim will be dealt with quickly and efficiently and you won’t end up out of pocket. It’s a false economy to go with a bargain basement price only to end up paying for premium rate telephone lines every time you need to speak to the insurance company, or being stuck without a vehicle for weeks on end. People shouldn’t just consider the price but also check the insurer has a good claims service.“

Peter concluded, “LV= is a mutual insurer, meaning we aren’t liable to stock market fluctuation or shareholder pressures in the same way as many other insurers, so we are able to put service at the forefront of what we do whilst still offering a competitive price. As these award wins show, our claims service is one of the best in the market – as voted for by people who have experienced a claim, and who better to ask than them?”

 

About LV= 
LV= offers car, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to consumers by telephone from its UK call centres in Bournemouth and Croydon and online from its website. LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. LV= employs over 3,800 people, serves around 3.2 million customers and members, and manages around £7 billion on their behalf. We are also the UK’s largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Key Statistics 2008, total net assets) and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority register number 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

College Finance, Financial, Financial Services, Loans, Money

Indiana Campaign Finance Announces Payday Loans

Now, through Indiana Campaign Finance — fast payday loans — from the convenience and privacy of your desktop. No fooling — there’s no faxing. Just quick funding. No tedious, time-consuming, paper-greedy processes to hold you back or tie you down from the solution that awaits you, thanks to Indiana Campaign Finance.

ICF knows that some situations call for a fast and trouble-free fix, so our knowledgeable experts have created the online No-Fax Payday Loan, for the fastest prescription for your short-term financial crunch.

For those urgent, worrisome times when “help can’t wait,” Indiana Campaign Finance (ICF) can come to your rescue. home loans ICF isn’t just any port in the storm — it’s your modern-day solution for modern-day financial woes. Use fire to fight fire — apply for your ICF Payday Loan, and get help, fast.

Apply for an easy, fast ICF student loans or Payday Loan online and get your money deposited directly and conveniently straight into your bank account, with no faxing or intervention required. No anxiously waiting for mail deliveries that might get held up or misdirected – you’ll be the first to know when help has arrived, not your mail carrier.

If you can type, ICF can help — it’s just about that simple. Armed with just your paystub and the privacy of your computer, you can truly feel better fast by attacking what really needs to be done: dealing with urgent debt and quieting creditors through help from ICF.

Now is the time to exchange desperation for relief — why wait? ICF is on your side. — or can be, as soon as you say the word. 

Don’t hesitate to turn to ICF for help — with financial debt, like a hole in the roof, things will only deteriorate the longer you wait. 

Act now to stop your expensive debts from getting even bigger. With the savvy and sympathetic staff at ICF, there’s no need to wait or hesitate.

Afford yourself some urgently needed peace of mind: with a quick-fix remedial Payday Loan from Indiana Campaign Finance, you can buy yourself some breathing room to think straight and fly right. Apply For the ICF No Faxing Payday Loans Online And Get Your Loan Now! Indiana Campaign Finance Payday Loan online applications are at your fingertips, at http://www.indianacampaignfinance.com/loans/payday-loans.html.
Remember, the sooner you apply, the sooner you’ll breathe easier. See also : auto loans, bad credit loans

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Banks, Checking & Savings, Financial Services, ISAs, Money, Personal Finance

Lloyds TSB Announces That It Will Be Increasing Rates On Its Fixed Rate Cash ISA By Up To 1 Per Cent

Available from 24th March 2009, the rate on the Lloyds TSB Fixed Rate Cash ISA is guaranteed for 12 months from the date of account opening. Accounts can be opened with a minimum deposit of £3000 and will accept transfers from previous tax years.

Colin Walsh, managing director savings and investment at Lloyds TSB said: “This latest rate increase is just one example of how we are working to help savers make the most of their money in today’s difficult economic climate. Given the current low rate environment, it is more important than ever to make use of your tax free allowance and we would encourage savers to take action before the tax year end on April 5th.”

Existing customers who already hold a balance within the improved tiers will also see their rate increase from the 24th March. This means customers who have a balance of £9000 or more will earn a guaranteed rate of 3 per cent for 12 months.

Research from the bank shows that almost half of savers would prefer a fixed rate, in today’s uncertain economic climate.

Colin Walsh continued: “The ISA market has been active for ten years now and many savers have built up a substantial tax free nest egg. Unlike a number of the headline ISAs on the market, our product allows customers to transfer in their previous ISA savings, so they can earn a competitive rate on the maximum balance.”

More information on the Lloyds TSB Fixed Rate ISA is available through branches of Lloyds TSB or online.

Rate increase applies to 2009 Fixed Rate Cash ISA launched on 16th
February 2009. Rates on 2008 Fixed Rate ISA remain unchanged.

About Lloyds TSB: 
Lloyds TSB offers customers a wide range of current accounts, savings accounts, insurance, personal loans and credit cards, designed to meet different customers’ needs. Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes. Lloyds TSB Bank plc Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales no. 2065. 

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Services, Home Equity, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Fixed rate mortgages are low, particularly for those with at least 25% equity, but will they/can they get any cheaper?

Tracker mortgage rates mirror any change in bank rate, but with mortgage lenders increasing tracking margins, and with bank rate at 0.5%, have you missed the boat?

Unusually, standard variable rates may also look attractive, but are lenders passing on any change in interest rates, as they struggle to retain savers?

If you are unsure what to choose, here are some L&C tips on how you could hedge your bets.

A mix and match mortgage is where you take part on a variable rate and part on a fixed rate. This gives you some security but will also mean you don’t completely miss out if rates fall again. The downside is that you’re likely to pay an arrangement fee for both schemes.

Drop lock mortgages, offered by lenders such as Halifax, Nationwide and C&G, allow you to take a tracker deal, but switch to a fixed rate in the future without penalty.

This might seem the perfect solution but timing your switch will be tricky, and is likely to involve your home being revalued. With house prices continuing to fall, a revaluation could see you move into a higher loan to value band with higher rates, so even if fixed rates generally fall, you could end up paying more. Any switch is also likely to mean a new arrangement fee.

You could also consider a capped tracker mortgage. The tracker means you don’t miss out on interest rate cuts, and adding a cap means there is a maximum rate you can pay, so if rates rise above the cap, you don’t need to worry.

The Coventry and Yorkshire Building Societies and Woolwich have all recently launched capped trackers.

To find out more visit the best buy mortgages section of the L&C website.

Whatever you do, L&C’s advice is don’t delay. With lenders reserving their best deals for those with up to 40% equity, and falling house prices eroding your equity, any delay could cost you dear.

For more information and no-fee advice, borrowers should call free on 0800 373300.

 

London & Country (L&C) is the UK’s leading no-fee mortgage broker. Based in Bath, it provides whole of market advice via telephone and post to clients nationwide. As well as residential mortgages, it also specialises in the Buy-to-Let and adverse-credit sectors.

L&C is a Climate Neutral company and for the last seven years has invested in climate friendly projects and tree-planting to help offset its emissions and those of its customers. For more information, go to www.lcplc.co.uk/green

L&C has won numerous awards including:

Best Mortgage IFA/Adviser of the Year – Money Marketing, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008
Best Technology Adviser – Money Marketing 2007
Best Mortgage Broker outside London – Mortgage Strategy, 2004 and 2005
Best National Broker – Mortgage Introducer 2005, 2006 and 2007
Best Overall Broker – Mortgage Introducer 2005
Overall broker of the year – Pink Home Loans, 2006 and 2007
Top 100 company in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 for 2004 and 2005
Business of the Year – The Bath Business Awards 2005
Growth Strategy of the Year – National Business Awards (Wales and West) 2008
Business Leader (Broker) – British Mortgage Awards – 2008
Online Mortgage IFA of the Year – Financial Adviser – 2008

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Business, Costs, Financial, Financial Services, Money, Profits

Forward Thinking PEO Services Provider Brings More Money to Businesses

It’s a known fact that American businesses these days are searching for more progressive ways to keep their organizations viable and profitable. The current economic situation has businesses locally, nationally and globally strategizing on how to balance income and expenses. Many companies are struggling with decisions like; should we diversify, cut payroll costs, adjust our employee benefits structures or shut the doors. A current reality facing all business decision makers is that it’s time to implement reorganization and restructuring strategies geared towards keeping their companies from experiencing devastating losses.

Fortunately, a Professional Employer Organization, PEO, can help in some very beneficial and economic ways. A PEO company is a one-stop human resources hub that can help any business streamline their back office support essentials like payroll processing, tax filing, and more. National’s PEO Services begins with a team concept that means the client has the attention of several experienced PEO staff and not just one or two persons. Whatever your business needs; payroll, human resources, workers compensation and benefits administration, to name a few, a professional and experiences PEO can save businesses money. Organizations with the staff sizes as small as10 or as large as 500 employees, are National PEO’s specialty.

Payroll Outsourcing Services is just one benefit provided a National PEO client. They can and have saved many companies hundreds to thousands of dollars. National PEO’s highly trained and accomplished staff can get your clerical and back office needs met quickly and efficiently. Many experts in business have proven that if a company enlists the help of payroll outsourcing services, the executives and management personnel are free to give their attention to the product or service offered to the consumers. What does all this translate to the new client of National’s PEO Services? It means more income to operate and less expense allocated in the clerical or administrative divisions.

Owning a business with employees means payroll processing. Payroll workers can spend countless hours tracking the employees time and where it was spent, tallying the figures for Federal, State, and Medicare taxes (this doesn’t include filing the tax forms quarterly or yearly), and writing the paychecks. Every business is unique and a perfect solution, for any business dilemma, can be found with the assistance of a talented and experienced PEO. The PEO team acts like a one-stop payroll administration center that incorporates the management of all human resource responsibilities such as: payroll processing, payroll tax filing. National PEO is not limited to payroll; they offer human resources information management (John Rico), benefits administration, information technology (Kevin Davis), paycard services and so much more.

Business experts and business professionals from all types of commerce and enterprises will warn newbie business owners to not take the accounting, clerical and payroll end of business for granted. It is in these areas that bad decisions or neglect can topple a company into bankruptcy. Don’t like the bookkeeping or back office end of business? Consider researching the services at National PEO, a
reputable professional employer organization.

Businesses today need state of the art information technology. Difficult economic times do not have to mean the end of any business enterprise. The smart business person and decision makers are always open to strategize internal changes that can keep operations profitable and continue to provide customers the quality service and product they have come to expect. Peo Services like National PEO, puts money back into business. They can handle numerous requirements presented by the business owner or corporation, in return, saving that business precious time and money.

About National PEO, LLC:

Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, National PEO has been in business since 1999. They specialize in providing professional employer services with an emphasis on teamwork. A highlight of National PEO is that clients can purchase bundled or ala carte services. National PEO caters to businesses of any size.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Services, Loans, Money, Personal Finance

Woolworth’s Release Everyday Money Credit Card

If you are a Woolworth’s customer or thinking of becoming one then the new “Woolworth’s Everyday Money Credit Card” offer is for you. The advantage of the new Woolworths credit card is that it rewards you for being a loyal shopper. You receive bonus points f r o m Shopping at Woolworths and partner stores around Australia. Rewards For Shopping at Woolworth’s Supermarket. 

Earn 3 points for every dollar spent on select products at Woolworth’s supermarkets. If you spend $200 on food shopping per week then this would equate to 600 bonus points added to your Everyday Money bonus points account. Earn 2 points for every other product you buy at Woolworths, Safeway, Big W, CALTEX WOOLWORTHS/SAFEWAY co-branded fuel outlets, epump, Woolworth’s/Safeway Liquor, Dick Smith PowerHouse and participating Dick Smith Electronics and Tandy stores. The Everyday Money deal also gives you 1 point for any other purchases made on your credit card. This product gives you the opportunity to earn reward points for your everyday shopping in Australia.

Redeeming your Points
Every 4 months depending on how many points you have earned in this period Woolworth’s customers will earn a Shopping Card that can be used at Woolworth’s stores and participating partner networks. The shopping card can be used for anything f r o m food shopping to the petrol pump.

Credit Card Features
The Everyday Money Card is issued on behalf of the HSBC Bank and is subject to their lending requirements. The low purchase interest rate as of March 24 2009 is 17.99 percent. For a limited time only the Everyday Money Mastercard comes with a $50 bonus shopping card upon the first card usage, and zero dollar annual fee for the first year, after which the annual fee is $49 per year. If the balance transfer is not paid off within this period then the standard purchase rate applies.

Conclusion
If you are a Woolworths customer and a responsible credit card user then the rewards program offered by the Everyday Money Mastercard will provide you with advantageous benefits. Woolworths is one of Australia’s most reputable organisations and the partnership with HSBC Bank gives the Australian consumers a deal that will save.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Banks, Bonds, CDs, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Interest Rate

NS&I Changes Premium Bonds Prize Structure And Variable Rates On Savings

NS&I has announced that f r o m the April prize draw onwards one of the two monthly Premium Bond jackpot prizes of £1 million will be replaced by a wider mix of prizes in the monthly draws, allowing more people to win but still retaining the chance of winning the £1 million jackpot prize. Similarly, a new £25 Premium Bond prize will be introduced and used alongside the existing prizes (ranging f r o m £50 to£1 million). These changes have been introduced because Premium Bond holders say that maintaining the chances of winning tax-free prizes on a regular basis is particularly important to them.

In addition to these changes, NS&I is reducing the Premium Bond prize fund rate f r o m 1.8% to 1%. This rate will be held at least until the June 2009 draw even if there are further changes to the base rate. This is the first change NS&I has made to the prize fund rate since December last year – during which time the Bank of England base rate has fallen f r o m 3.0% to 0.5%. The revised prize fund rate will come into effect f r o m 1 April 2009.

The current odds of each £1 Premium Bond number winning any prize will remain unchanged at 36,000 to 1, so with average luck an investor with £30,000 in Premium Bonds could win 10 tax-free prizes a year. The unclaimed premium bond prizes range all the way f r o m £25 up to £100,000. NS&I gives away over one million tax-free* Premium Bond prizes each month.

NS&I is also reducing the interest rates on its other variable rate savings by up to 0.50%, following movements in the Bank of England base rate. The revised interest rates will come into effect f r o m 18 March 2009.

Peter Cornish, Director of Customer Offer, NS&I, said: “Premium Bonds are unique and are hugely popular with our customers. Replacing one of the £1 million jackpot prizes with a wider mix of prizes and introducing the new £25 prize category will help us maintain the frequency of tax-free prizes – something that we know is particularly important to Premium Bond holders. “

He continued, “We always aim to reward as many of our customers as possible f r o m the prize fund available, together with having the right mix of prizes. We continue to pay out hundreds of thousands of tax-free prizes each month and customers also benefit f r o m a 100% guarantee on their investment because we are backed by HM Treasury.”

As always, NS&I will communicate all of these changes to customers via a range of outlets, including press advertisements and NS&I’s website, as well as putting an updated Premium Bonds prize draw details leaflets in all Post Offices and updated interest rates leaflets in most branches of WH Smith throughout the UK.

* Tax-free means that interest and prizes are exempt of f r o m UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax Gross means the taxable rate of interest without deduction of UK Income Tax.

 

When interest rates are s e t on tax-free products, NS&I takes into account the amount of tax the Exchequer would have received if the product had been taxable.

About NS&I
NS&I is one of the UK’s largest financial providers with 27 million customers and over £94 billion invested. It is best known for Premium Bonds, but also offers inflation-beating savings account guaranteed equity bonds, savings bonds easy access accounts and children’s bonus bonds in its range. All products offer 100% security, because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury.

Out of hours above number diverted to staff mobile phone ISDN line for interviews: 020 7602 4522.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Home Equity, IRA, Money, Personal Finance, Retirement

Recession Woes Grow For Pensioners

New Prudential Class of 2009 retirement survey reveals the UK’s deepening economic crisis will mean the 3.25 million UK adults who plan to retire in 2009 can expect to receive £2.87 billion* less in their pensions than those who planned to retire in 2008.

The survey found UK workers planning to draw their pension in 2009 expect to get an average income of£17,779 a year, £884 less than those retiring in 2008 who anticipated an average annual income of £18,663. Retirement will mean taking a £7,129 cut in income compared with the national average salary of £24,908** but some believe they will be considerably worse off.

The Prudential survey showed that 11% of people retiring in 2009 expect to receive an income of less than £10,000 a year from their pensions and investments, with 12% of women expecting to manage on this level of income compared to 9% of men.

While 39% said their pension and savings would give them a decent retirement income, 61% were doubtful that they would have enough money to enjoy a comfortable life in retirement. When asked if they thought they were financially well prepared for retirement, only 47% responded positively.

Keith Haggart, Director of Lifetime Mortgages at Prudential said: “The global economic recession is relentless and indiscriminate in its impact and it was only a matter of time before we began to see British pensioners bear the brunt.”

He continued, “Although the results of our survey make unsettling reading, there are ways for pensioners to maximise their incomes during these difficult times. Drawing on some or all of the assets saved throughout their working lives, including releasing value from property through equity release schemes, can boost annual incomes without having a detrimental impact on quality of life or forcing pensioners to downsize or embark on a fire sale of their possessions and assets.”

Keith urged anyone approaching retirement or who has recently retired to talk to a financial adviser to help them review all their assets and savings to see how they could be used to maximise income.

Prudential’s retirement planning website helps consumers and employers tackle retirement issues. The website features a Retirement Planner which has been designed to help determine how much income a customer’s current arrangements might give them in retirement, factoring in current pensions, property, savings and investments. The Planner also shows customers how they might be able to boost retirement income, if there is a gap between what their current arrangements will provide at the point of retirement and what they anticipate they may need.

* Office of National Statistics 2007 show 24,990,500 adults aged 45+ in the UK. Prudential research shows that 13% of UK adults aged 45+ (youngest age stated by individuals planning to retire in 2009) said they planned to retire in 2009 = 3,251,854 people. Multiplied by £884 individual shortfall = £2.87 billion.

** 2008 ASHE survey results show median weekly pay for full-time employees in UK grew by 4.6% in the year to April 2008 to reach £479 (multiplied by 52 weeks =£24,908).

Survey conducted online by Research Plus among 1,000 UK adults aged 45+, during 10–18 November 2008.

About Prudential
“Prudential” is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, which is registered in England and Wales. This name is also used by other companies within the Prudential Group, which between them provide a range of financial products including life assurance, pensions, savings and investment products. Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Registered number 15454. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

401K, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, IVA, Money

NS&I Has Launched A New Online Feature, The Five Questions, Featuring Sir Alan Sugar, To Encourage The British Public To Give Their Personal Finances A Much Needed Health Check

With research from NS&I revealing that 40 per cent of the population have no long-term financial plan and almost a fifth (17 per cent) don’t seek information on managing their money because it is too confusing, the need for a quick, simple way to help people review their current financial situation is clear.

The Five Questions prompt individuals to consider important aspects of their financial management, including how much debt they have and what their cash and assets are worth. Each question is designed to ensure that everyone, regardless of age or situation, really thinks about their current financial situation and plans accordingly for a secure financial future.

John Prout, Director of Customer Sales and Retention at NS&I said: “The Five Questions help focus the mind and help people make an honest and straightforward appraisal of their financial situation. This is part of our ongoing work to fulfil our duty, as an organisation in the financial services industry, to help everyone understand the basics when it comes to making financial decisions.”

Once answered, the five questions link to specific information on NS&I’s You and your money website. This is an impartial website launched by NS&I in 2008 as part of an ongoing drive to improve the public’s understanding of personal finance. The site has a dedicated financial jargon-buster guide and sections on key life stages, such as planning for a family or retirement. Just like The Five Questions, it is simple and easy to use, even for those who find finance difficult to understand.

John Prout added, “Most people are very familiar with the healthy eating model of ‘five portions of fruit and veg daily’. We want to encourage a similar mindset about financial planning to ensure people review their finances on a regular basis.”

Nick Cann, Chief Executive at the Institute of Financial Planning stated, “Asking the key questions to help you get your finances in better shape needn’t be hard work. Through basic planning techniques, individuals can then make the first step to improve their overall financial ‘fitness’. We welcome this initiative, and it aligns well with the IFP’s development of a national Financial Planning Week – scheduled for September 2009.”

You and your money has a range of useful links and tools to help people decide what action they should be taking. These include:

-pensions and personal inflation calculators
-FSA online tools
-Government online tools and calculators

NS&I plans to add further lifestyle sections to the website over time.

*The survey, which questioned people about financial planning, was carried out by TNS in 2008 among 1009 GB adults aged between 16 and 64.

About NS&I
NS&I is one of the UK’s largest financial providers with 28 million customers and over £88 billion invested. It is best known for Premium Bonds, but also offers Inflation-Beating Savings and investment accounts, Guaranteed Equity Bonds and Children’s Bonus Bonds in its range. NS&I also provides a choice of isa accounts with the direct isa and a cash isa which will remain available to new customers until 5th April 2009. All products offer 100% security, because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury. NS&I has a number of spokespeople available for interviews via ISDN line: 020 7602 4522.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

401K, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, IRA, Retirement

New Book Reveals Safe And Lucrative Investment Alternatives

“Unlimited Investing with a Self-Directed IRA LLC or Solo 401(k): Break Free F r o m Wall Street to Build Real Wealth with Alternative Investments” teaches investors safe and effective ways to build and protect their wealth.

With investors fed up with corporate greed, corrupt financial institutions and risk-laden Wall Street investments, now more than ever investors are looking for strategic ways to accumulate, grow and preserve their wealth outside of Wall Street. “Unlimited Investing with a Self-Directed IRA LLC or Solo 401(k): Break Free F r o m Wall Street to Build Real Wealth with Alternative Investments,” enables average investors to start learning how to identify safe, alternative places for their money so they can achieve financial freedom and financial security. The book is co-authored by the world’s leading self-directed investing expert, Jeff Nabers, and real estate and financial author, Phoebe Chongchua. Download the first chapter at UnlimitedInvesting.com

Nabers says that unlimited retirement accounts have been used to invest in alternative assets for decades, but few investors take advantage of these opportunities because of a lack of awareness. “Until recently, everyone thought the road to riches was paved with stocks and bonds. But today we know this isn’t true. Investors can no longer depend on untrustworthy financial institutions and greedy Wall Street executives to secure their financial future for them,” says Nabers.

“Instead, this book will teach investors how to convert their shrinking mutual fund portfolios into solid portfolios of real assets.”

Unlimited Investing includes everything an investor needs to know about protecting and growing wealth in today’s uncertain terrain, including:

• How to profit f r o m the decline of the dollar
• How to recession-proof your investments
• How to get your assets in your hands and stop risking them with untrustworthy financial institutions
• Understanding your Self-Directed IRA or 401(k) investment structures’ options
• How to avoid large or unnecessary fees and expenses

“Anyone who has ever wanted to invest in real estate, gold and silver, private equities, private debt instruments and international investments will benefit f r o m the practical advice and rare information available in this book,” says Chongchua.“It’s time for investors to wake up and explore the investment opportunities that await them outside of Wall Street. They’ll be glad they did.”

Nabers says he believes average and sophisticated investors alike can benefit f r o m his years of knowledge. “I’ve dedicated six years of my life to learning everything possible about self-directed investing and am making all this information available for public consumption for the first time ever with the release of Unlimited Investing,” says Nabers.

“Unlimited Investing” can be pre-ordered directly at http://www.UnlimitedInvesting.com

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Jeff Nabers is a nationally recognized educator, speaker, and consultant specializing in the topic of investing with Self-Directed IRA & 401(k) plans. He is the founding member and chairman of IRA Association of America, the industry’s only non-profit trade association. Jeff is also CEO of Nabers Group, a full-service self-directed retirement plan provider. Years ago, as a real estate investor and owner of a mortgage lending company, Jeff set out to learn the ins and outs of using a Self-Directed IRA. It turned out to be a long and strenuous process. Jeff found himself traveling all over the country to pick up bits and pieces of useful information f r o m dozens of sources. Unlimited Investing is a compilation of the fruit of Jeff’s research combined with the experienced perspective f r o m Jeff’s participation in thousands of transactions involving both alternative assets and retirement plan funds.

Phoebe Chongchua has a 20-year background in journalism, marketing, and customer service. She specializes in real estate writing and her work is featured in Donald Trump’s book “The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received,” and “The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Buying Foreclosures.” She is the author of “If the Trash Stinks: TAKE IT OUT! 14 Worriless Principles For Your Success.” Phoebe began her career in TV as an anchor and news reporter for ABC News in San Diego, California. She holds a real estate license in California and continues to write and educate consumers on real estate and financial issues in various columns and publications online and in print. She is a columnist for Realty Times, Bizymoms Expert on Real Estate, and the publisher of Live Fit Magazine. After writing several articles on the topic of alternative asset investment vehicles, she realized how little the average consumer understands this highly powerful method of investing. Catalyzed to improve awareness, Phoebe’s research dug deeper, and the helpful findings are presented in this book.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

401K, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, IRA, Retirement

Sunwest Trust, Inc., Self Directed IRA Custodian Announces 19% Growth in 2008

Self Directed IRA Custodian, Sunwest Trust, Inc., which is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, defies economic odds by growing by 19% in 2008 despite the recessive economy. Sunwest Trust has diverse business interests and services self directed IRA and 401k clients nationwide.

Despite the grim economic climate and the receding value of the DOW, “Sunwest Trust continues to thrive and grow,” says Terry White, Chief Executive Officer for Sunwest Trust, Inc. In 2008, Sunwest Trust experienced their most profitable year in the company’s history and has grown by nearly 19% during the recession. White attributes much of their 2008 growth to the recent exodus from Wall Street, resulting from the daily fluctuations in the stock market. He adds, “Investors are pouring out of the stock market because they are fed up with the downward market free fall.” With the DOW down as much as 7000 points since last June, many IRA and 401k accounts have seen negative growth and have fallen by as much as 50%. As IRA holders see their retirement accounts deteriorating, “they are eager to look for investment alternatives,” says White.

Indeed, Sunwest Trust is positioned to meet this need; Sunwest allows their clients to invest in anything that is not specifically prohibited by the IRS code. Basically, this includes anything other than life insurance and collectibles. Although Sunwest allows clients to invest alternatively, White adds, “We strongly encourage our clients to exercise thorough due diligence and speak with a tax professional before making any alternative investments.”

Dustin White, Business Development/ IRA Specialist, suggests, “Our reasonable fee structure and customer service have also had a hand in our success in 2008.” Sunwest Trust IRA account fees have remained unchanged over the past seven years, and according to Dustin, “we do not plan on raising our fees in the foreseeable future, especially in this economic climate.”

Sunwest continues to provide outstanding service by managing their growth one client at a time. “We strive to personalize our clients’ experience. For example, when you call Sunwest Trust, you’re not going to get an automated voice answering system; you’re going to talk to a real person,” adds Dustin.

“February 2009 was another record-breaking month for Sunwest, in terms of new accounts received. All indications point to another great year for the company. We grew 19 % last year, and I see no reason why we can’t top that again this year,” says White.

About Sunwest Trust:
Sunwest Trust is an independently owned private company that offers self-directed IRA custodian and escrow services. The company offers a huge range of financial services providing post retirement benefits, private mortgages, real estate contacts and other related fields for its clients. FDIC insured banks back the self directed IRA funds of their clients. For more information on the activities of the company, please visit http://www.SunwestTrust.com.

Also, you can learn more about Sunwest Trust by watching their self directed IRA videos on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PlPhDnsbMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLbAd65wO1c

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Bankruptcy, Debts, Financial Services, IVA, Loans, Mortgage

Tackling Unsecured Debt Can Prevent Repossession

Responding to the 2008 repossession and arrears statistics released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), debt specialists Debt Advisers Direct have stressed the relationship between unsecured debt and mortgage arrears.

“As the CML reports, there were 40,000 repossessions in 2008,” said a spokesperson for Debt Advisers Direct, “and a further 219,000 mortgages ended the year more than three months in arrears.

“For many of those people, however, the problem lay not in the cost of their actual mortgage payments, but in the cost of servicing their unsecured debts. Charging significantly higher interest rates than mortgages, unsecured debts can easily ‘snowball’ to the point where borrowers simply can’t keep up with them – where their monthly payments barely suffice to pay off the accumulating interest.

“Unsecured debts can also be alarmingly easy to take on. Credit cards and store cards in particular allow significant levels of debt to accumulate gradually: people who would hesitate to take out a £2,000 loan can find they’ve acquired £2,000 of debt on a number of cards without even noticing it.”

This combination of high interest rates and ease of access has left many homeowners with unsecured monthly debt repayments that take up some or all of the funds they need to service their mortgage debt. Unless they take steps to address this, it can end up leading to repossession.

“There are ways of reducing the burden of their unsecured debts,” the spokesperson continued. “Many people successfully negotiate with their unsecured lenders – either on their own or through a professional debt management organisation – asking them to accept lower payments, freeze interest and/or waive charges, to ensure that servicing their unsecured debts doesn’t take up funds they need to stay on top of their mortgage payments.

Others find that their unsecured debts have passed the point where negotiation is a realistic option: “In 2008, some 106,000 people in England and Wales turned to insolvency (bankruptcy or an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement)) as the only realistic path out of debt – and experts such as KPMG believe this figure could easily grow by 50% this year.

“For the majority of homeowners, an IVA offers distinct benefits over bankruptcy. Like bankruptcy, an IVA lets them write off the debt they can’t afford to repay, and will have a severe impact on their credit rating. Unlike bankruptcy, however, it will allow them to retain ownership of their property.”

This is what makes it a particularly interesting option for homeowners who worry that their unsecured debts could end up costing them their home: “An IVA requires substantial commitment, as they will need to make regular payments towards their unsecured debt for five years, but those payments are designed to be affordable.

They will be calculated to take up the individual’s entire disposable income – the money they will have left after taking into account their essential monthly expenditure, such as food, petrol, utility bills and (most importantly) mortgage payments.

“So a homeowner in an IVA will be required to contribute all their disposable income to their IVA for a full five years, as well as releasing some equity halfway through the final year of the IVA to maximise the amount they can pay their unsecured creditors.

“However, they’ll know they’re protected from any legal action by their unsecured creditors – including attempts to make them bankrupt – and they’ll know their outstanding unsecured debts will be written off at the end of that period. Most important of all, they’ll know the budget they’re following is specifically designed to ensure their monthly mortgage payments will be met.”

“The important thing is to take action in time, as soon as their unsecured debts reach unmanageable levels. An IVA is a legal procedure that requires the approval of creditors who collectively ‘own’ 75% of the debt in question – in general, the sooner an individual speaks to an Insolvency Practitioner about an IVA, the better their chances of gaining that approval.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services

The Incentive Group, Inc., Works to Assure Event Success and National Financial Recovery

Talk about full service: The Incentive Group, Inc., a Corporate Event Planner, not only provides comprehensive services for planning employee incentive programs or sales recognition programs, but now its activities behind the scenes are helping to put guidelines in place to ensure that your company’s incentive activities are conducted in compliance with new federal laws and to ensure that your company maintains eligibility for federal emergency funding. 

The Incentive Group, Inc. provides all-inclusive services in conducting a variety of corporate events, from 

routine meetings and conferences, to sales recognition programs and employee incentive programs. The Incentive Group, Inc. maintains that company productivity and profits can be sustained and improved, even in tight economic times, by improving relationships with two major sources that are essential to business success: good customers and good employees. Even the most successful businesses must regularly take external and internal action to maintain happy customers and happy, productive employees.

Sales recognition programs have long been deemed essential management tools, utilized by companies to motivate and boost the confidence of their sales employees. More recently, companies have recognized that employee incentive programs targeting non-sales employees also have a measurable positive effect on the bottom line. Well-informed companies now view both types of programs as necessary to nurture good relationships with one of their most valuable resources – their employees.

Why incentives? Why not cash? The Incentive Group, Inc. presents a compelling case in favor of Travel Awards Employee Incentive Programs. Independent studies support the position that such incentives work better than cash to create feelings of satisfaction and to produce a high level of individual motivation.

Why not just organize your own events? The Incentive Group, Inc. has the purchasing power and connections to negotiate the best rates on services. Minimizing costs helps maximize attendance, ensuring greater success. Letting The Incentive Group handle the details free up company personnel from the onerous obligation of struggling to complete all the tasks necessary to set the stage for these kinds of events. Your employees are then able to spend their time doing what they do best: Their jobs.

You definitely need to consult with a professional corporate event planner before hosting any incentive event if you have received emergency government lending for distressed corporations. Under calls from the Obama administration, as well as a bill proposed in the U.S. Senate, the Secretary of the Treasury would be required to “develop and publish corporate governance principles and ethical guidelines for recipients of emergency economic assistance including restrictions governing payments for conferences and events.” (S.133, “Troubled Asset Relief Program Transparency Reporting Act,” Introduced 01/06/2009). The bill also mentions travel accommodations, travel expenditures, entertainment, holiday parties, and employee recognition events.

The Incentive Group, Inc. is a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), one of a group of eight event industry associations that have stepped forward to voluntarily create a “Model Board Policy for Approval of Meetings, Events and Incentive/Recognition Travel.” Although the Model Policy will constrain the very corporations that use the services of member corporate event planners, it will also protect the uninterrupted, smooth operation of the event industry.

MPI members like The Incentive Group, Inc., have thus dedicated themselves to assisting economic recovery by taking action to protect the significant percentages of jobs, tax revenues, and travel-related spending generated by the event industry, and also by aiding client companies that receive federal emergency funding to avoid legal problems over its use.

About The Incentive Group, Inc.

The Incentive Group, Inc. offers comprehensive corporate event planning, from local, regional, or national meetings, to custom-designed Travel Award programs, to participant feedback reports, plus everything in between. All services provided by The Incentive Group, Inc., have a unified goal in mind: To understand your business and to provide what you need in order to obtain measurable results.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Business, Costs, Financial, Financial Information, Money, Profits

npower Urges Businesses To Act Now In Order To Profit From Emissions Reduction

Npower has commissioned a new white paper which reveals that businesses that make emissions reduction a board level priority can reap the rewards of a low carbon Britain.

The newly published white paper, UK Climate Policy for Business, was commissioned by npower from the London School of Economics.

The white paper comes on the back of research from npower, which revealed that many businesses are concerned that Government regulation to reduce carbon emissions will make the UK uncompetitive and add more cost than benefits.

To address this concern and to stress the potential financial reward of emission reduction, the white paper provides a guide to the UK’s emission reduction regulations and gives advice on the actions businesses need to undertake to succeed in a low carbon Britain. It also underlines that early adopters will be in the driving seat to make the most of a smaller carbon footprint.

The white paper stresses that the new regulatory instruments will not be without their complexities and that firms will have to learn new skills to ensure compliance with the rules, but that those that can do this early will be best placed to take advantage of the opportunities that might arise. It states carbon policy is specifically designed to reward firms that spot opportunities to reduce emissions, cut costs and adopt low-carbon processes.

“Reducing a firm’s carbon footprint can be a challenge, but the measures needed are often cash-flow positive, with investments recouped in a short period of time,” says Dr Samuel Fankhauser, author of the paper, principal research fellow at the Grantham Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and a member of the Committee on Climate Change.

“Reducing a carbon footprint is all about sound management and success will be determined by the priority businesses attach to emission reduction. Research has shown that well-managed firms tend to use less energy per unit of output than less well-run firms and are therefore better placed to succeed,” he adds.

David Titterton head of business development within energy services at npower adds: “Our aim in commissioning the white paper is to help businesses understand the current regulatory framework and point to the benefits firms can enjoy if they position emission reduction as central to their business goals. By doing so, we hope to ease the concerns that businesses clearly have.

“We understand that these are challenging times for businesses and many are focused on cost saving. Putting in place an energy management programme to reduce consumption can help manage costs, while also reducing emissions. Businesses doing this will be better placed to operate under the UK’s climate change policies and succeed in a Low Carbon Economy.”

The White Paper, UK Climate Policy for Business, can be downloaded at www.npower.com/businessenergy

 

About npower:
npower is one of the top energy suppliers to the UK business market, serving over 230,000 small to medium sized enterprise sites and around 15,000 industrial and commercial customers, with over 100,000 sites.

npower is dedicated to helping UK businesses use energy more efficiently and therefore spend less money on their bills. We aim to have a positive impact on the communities we serve and reduce our customers’ carbon footprint whilst always improving our service to our customers.

npower specialises in risk management solutions, including market-leading flexible energy purchasing, energy efficiency, and broader energy management functions, tailored to every size of business. npower customers include BT, Wembley Stadium plc, AstraZeneca and Sainsbury’s.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Business, Financial, Financial Information, Investment, Money, Profits

Online Marketing Strategies Leave IT Departments Isolated Reveals Rackspace

IT decision makers are increasingly falling into a “Website Wilderness” as they fail to align technology with the delivery of online marketing, according to international research launched by Rackspace Hosting (NYSE: RAX). The research also indicates that businesses are not engaging effectively online or aligning formal objectives with business goals.

The survey investigated the views and future plans of 250 IT decision makers among eight industry sectors and across several regions – the UK, Northern Europe (Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark) and South Africa.

According to the study nearly two-thirds (64%) of UK respondents expect to see more investment in online marketing in the coming year, but almost the same number (65%) claim they would not be involved in its delivery. The findings were similar across Northern Europe, where 44% stated online marketing would be a big focus, but 45% did not expect to get involved in it. Considering 90% of shoppers bought their Christmas presents online in 2008*, these findings are particularly startling.

As well as the disconnect between IT and the delivery of online marketing, only 20% of UK businesses and 32% in Northern Europe are investing in blogs and web forums. This could put businesses at a competitive disadvantage as the use of social media as a channel to communicate with customers increases in many sectors.

Just over a third (36%) of IT decision makers have formal objectives aligning IT with business goals, highlighting a disconnect between business strategy and technology implementation. This number is less in Northern Europe (28%). With so many options on how technology is delivered to the business, it seems that IT decision makers are confused by the array of applications they can host, which
include hosting, accounting, finance, email, ERP, payroll and websites.

Fabio Torlini, marketing director at managed hosting provider Rackspace, said: “The online ambitions of the marketing departments need to be supported by the technical expertise of the IT department for the benefit of the whole company. Technology has evolved in such a way that businesses can have almost any service adapted to support their marketing needs. So for businesses not to use this to their advantage is completely misguided.

“Marketing leaders must tap into the expertise of the IT department and IT decision makers become engaged in the marketing strategy. The challenge for IT people is to look to new ways of working, such as online engagement and hosted applications, to enhance competitive edge. In particular I would expect to see a review of strategies in line with the economic downturn. Outdated views of technology and a disconnect between IT and the wider organisation will present a risk for businesses in 2009. Set against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, making mistakes in IT strategy could prove costly to repair.”

 

* IMRG e-Retail Customer Service (e-CSi) Index, Dec 08

The research was carried out by independent research company, Loudhouse Research, who interviewed 100 IT decision makers from UK, including IT Directors, IT Managers, IT Project Managers, Heads of IT, Network Managers, MDs and CEOs.

About Rackspace Hosting
As the world’s leader and specialist in hosting, Rackspace Hosting is changing the way businesses worldwide buy IT. Rackspace delivers computing-as-a-service, integrating the industry’s best technologies into a flexible service offering, making computing more reliable and affordable. A trusted partner to companies of all sizes, Rackspace enables IT departments to be more effective. Rackspace is distinguished by its award-winning Fanatical Support, furthering the company’s mission to be one of the world’s greatest service companies. Rackspace featured in the top 30 of both the Sunday Times 100 Best companies to work for list and the Financial Times Great Place to Work Awards, 2008. Rackspace’s portfolio of hosted services includes managed hosting, email hosting and cloud hosting.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases