Tag Archives: Money

Money

Credit Cards, Debts, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

Debt Management Could Help With Unmanageable Credit Card Debt

Responding to a new report suggesting that there are more than 200,000 ‘secret credit cards’ in the UK – cards that are kept hidden from the holder’s partner – financial solutions company Think Money has advised consumers that while credit cards can be a useful means of funding purchases, borrowers should be careful to ensure that they can make their repayments in order to avoid debt problems in the future.

thinkmoney

Research from Halifax Credit Cards showed that people in the UK hide an estimated 217,000 credit cards from their partners. Reasons for doing this included buying items the card holder did not want their partners to know about, hiding existing debt from partners, or simply having emergency funds available.

According to credit card trade association APACS, there are 30.2 million credit card holders in the UK. Total credit card spending in 2008 was £126.2 billion.

Melanie Taylor, Head of Corporate Relations for Think Money, said that while there is nothing specifically wrong with having a ‘secret’ credit card, card holders should ensure they are hiding it for the right reasons – and not in order to hide problem debts.

“It boils down to the same principle as having any credit card. Credit cards can be a very useful source of additional finances, as well as a ‘safety net’ against any unexpected costs. Used correctly, credit cards should not cause the consumer any problems.

“However, it’s when the borrower starts delaying their repayments – paying only the minimum – that the problems can start.

“The trouble with credit card debt is that the interest is a lot higher than on many other forms of credit. If the borrower does not repay the full credit card balance at the end of the month, then the interest that accumulates on the remaining balance may be a lot higher than a lower-interest alternative, such as an authorised overdraft.

“Over time, the interest can begin to ‘snowball’, and it can become increasingly difficult to repay the remaining balance. It may not be long before the debt becomes unmanageable – which is why it’s important to get debt advice at the first sign of difficulty.”

Mrs Taylor added that the relatively low minimum repayment on credit cards means that some people can take a long time to clear the debt.

“Unlike personal loans, which carry fixed regular repayment terms, credit cards only require a minimum repayment each month. This makes it very easy to delay repaying the full balance, which is how problems start for many borrowers.

“In general, we advise people to avoid making large purchases on credit cards unless they can be absolutely sure that they can afford to repay the debt in the near future.”

Mrs Taylor said that anyone who does find themselves struggling to repay their credit card debt should not hesitate to seek professional debt advice.

“Because the interest will only continue to grow, finding the right debt solution is vital for anyone who can no longer afford to repay their credit card debt.

“One such debt solution is a debt management plan, which is an informal arrangement with the lender that can allow the borrower to repay their debt at a more manageable pace. It is often also possible to negotiate a freeze or reduction in interest, which could be especially helpful for repaying credit card debt.

“However, borrowers should always consider all options available to them. A professional debt adviser can recommend the best debt solution for the borrower’s individual circumstances.”

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

Prudential Reveals That Advisers Pin RDR Hopes Online

Prudential has released research demonstrating the need for providers to constantly adapt their services to help advisers in both the online and offline environment, with more than half of the advisers surveyed (58%) ranking better quality or more online information and service options as the most important element of the product provider/distributor relationship surrounding preparations for Retail Distribution Review (RDR).

While improving online servicing is seen as a must do by advisers, they also believe that solid account management relationships must go hand-in-hand with technology. This sentiment was highlighted by 40% of advisers citing more or better dialogue with an account manager as the next most important service element surrounding their preparations for RDR. With a combination of expert face-to-face and telephone account management teams readily available to guide advisers through obtaining and completing sales, this is a service Prudential is already supports.

Ian McKenna, Director of the Finance and Technology Research Centre (FTRC) said: “RDR will make it essential for advisers to focus on the cost of doing business in ways they have never needed to previously. It is not giving the advice that takes excessive time but the preparation. Collating information manually is hugely time consuming, electronic services can deliver in seconds what might otherwise take hours. Historically the cost of those hours has been subsidised by commission, when it is the client potentially paying for the time racking up hours in this way will no longer be acceptable. Automated delivery of information to advisers will be a hygiene factor in a Post RDR environment.”

57% of advisers claimed that their volume of client enquiries regarding retirement planning remains unchanged. This is encouraging news in the current economic climate, proving that it is vital for providers to arm advisers with all the necessary tools to deal with their continuous day-to-day business.

Jon Cross, Head of eBusiness at Prudential said: “Our research shows that advisers are becoming increasingly dependent on online services to help guide them through the changes that RDR will bring. Prudential works very closely with advisers to develop its online services, we constantly review our content and navigational functionality, and will of course continue to evolve our systems to help advisers as they change their business models ready for RDR. We are committed to providing a high level of service to advisers to ensure that they spend as little time on administration as possible. Taking their business online frees up time that would have traditionally been spent processing paperwork.”

The benefits of online servicing are clear for advisers, allowing easy access to brochures, illustrations and valuations outside normal office hours. Prudential’s adviser website houses a wealth of useful material including product guides, support literature, real-time valuations and market analysis from industry experts. Advisers can also find a variety of interactive tools covering pension planning, drawing an income and annuitisation. The ‘Support for you’ section provides advisers with updates and news regarding regulatory issues such as TCF and RDR. Also under this section advisers can hear what Prudential experts have to say as they explore various opportunities and considerations advisers face in helping their clients save for and provide an income in their retirement.

Prudential surveyed 123 independent financial advisers during April 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, annuity products – including retirement annuity, 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.

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Assets, Business, Financial, Financial Services, Money, Security

Battle Against Mortality Fraud Intensifies

In order to offer their customers increased protection against impersonation of the deceased (IOD) fraud, Tracesmart have considerably increased the coverage of mortality data they hold. The consumer data specialists have now incorporated the General Register Office (GRO) death indexes for England and Wales from 1980-1983 into their Tracesmart Corporate suite of services; this being only the beginning of their comprehensive death index digitisation project.

The GRO has collated registers of important civil events, such as births, deaths and marriages, since 1837, but it was not until 1984 that they began to digitise records. All registrations prior to 1984 are held on microfiche. In 2005 the GRO initiated the ‘Digitisation of Vital Events’ (DOVE) project to digitise the birth, death and marriage indexes, but unfortunately following major delays the project was put on hold, with only birth records up to 1934 and death records up to 1957 having been digitised; it is not known when the project will recommence.

Death index data is a pivotal tool in the fight against IOD fraud. With a lack of historical death data available electronically and having acquired microfiches holding all deaths registered in England and Wales covering 1960 – 1983, Tracesmart embarked on a comprehensive death index digitisation project. Utilising an offshore service provider, the company are ensuring 99.95% accuracy on all records digitised through a strict quality control procedure and, when completed in 2010, the project will yield approximately 14,500,000 death records in a digital format.

Tracesmart have completed the initial stage of this project and the 1980 – 1983 death indexes (some 2,500,000 records) have already been integrated into their mortality database. These additions make it both the most comprehensive and extensive commercially available mortality database in the UK.

Whilst the 1980 – 1983 death indexes will be essential for conducting comprehensive identity checks and data cleansing exercises, they will also play a significant role when financial institutions wish to trace people as part of an asset reunification program. From their considerable experience in tracing dormant account holders, Tracesmart know that many of the missing individuals will transpire to have died prior to 1984. Whereas to identify such events previously involved labour intensive research, it can now be done at the click of a button.

Commenting on how the new death records and their ongoing digitisation project will help their customers Mike Trezise, Managing Director of Tracesmart, noted,

“Following on from the integration of death registration information into our anti-fraud services last year, we are continuing to enhance our mortality database. From a service standpoint this data means we can improve and enhance much of our portfolio, especially our identity verification and mortality screening services. This, in turn, allows our clients to better defend against mortality related fraud, protecting both the company and consumer alike.”

About Tracesmart

Tracesmart Limited was formed in 1999 and supplies a diverse range of consumer data cleansing, identity check and people tracing tools to a wide variety of industries. The company’s client base ranges from SME to Blue Chip, who are all recipients of bespoke solutions, built around their specific needs.

Mike Trezise is the founder and Managing Director of Tracesmart. With over 25 years tracing and fraud analysis experience his unrivalled knowledge provides the company with a distinct competitive advantage.

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Banks, Checking & Savings, Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Money, Personal Finance

Barclaycard Retailer Rewards Scheme Takes A Step Forward

Barclaycard, a leading payment provider in the UK, has announced that it has taken a step forward with its plan to introduce a retailer rewards scheme by signing an agreement with Welcome Real-time to provide the scheme’s IT infrastructure.

Welcome Real-time will work with Barclaycard to develop the software that will enable Barclaycard customers to benefit from a retailer rewards scheme that is expected to encompass retailers ranging from sole traders to major high street names.

Dan Salmons, Director of Payment Innovations at Barclaycard said: “Barclaycard is committed to making life easier for its customers, both consumers and retailers and this scheme will enable up to ten million of our card holders to be rewarded when using their Barclaycard to purchase goods and services with retailers participating in the scheme.”

“Barclaycard has close to 90,000 retailer relationships, many of which we expect to participate in the programme, and we believe this scheme will change the way people shop in the UK. That is why we are partnering with a world leading loyalty solutions provider to ensure that we develop a simple hassle free rewards scheme that will truly benefit our customers.”

Welcome Real-time is the global loyalty solutions provider for banks and retailers of all sizes and is headquartered in France.

Francois Dutray, CEO of Welcome Real-time, said of the announcement: “We are delighted to be working with Barclaycard in the UK to develop a rewards scheme that will make a huge impact on the British High Street. It is a great opportunity to develop a scheme with the potential for millions of customers and many retailers in the UK, whether large or small.”

Barclaycard will make further announcements about the development of the rewards scheme in the coming months.

About Barclaycard
Barclaycard, part of Barclays Global and Retail Commercial Banking division, is a leading global payment business which helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and accept payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit when needed. The company is one of the pioneers of new forms of payments and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless credit card and mobile payment schemes for today and cutting edge forms of payment for the future. It also issues business credit cards and charge cards to corporate customers and the UK Government. Barclaycard partners with a wide range of organisations across the globe to offer their customers or members payment options and credit. In addition to the UK, Barclaycard operates in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle and Far East.

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Costs, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

The More Ways You Protect Your Home, The More Willing Insurance Companies Are To Offer Discounts

insuranceagents

Did you know that summer is the most popular time of the year for home burglaries in the US? During the summer months there is a burglary every 10 seconds since so many people are on vacation, away from their homes, and the weather is nice.

An alarm system is one of the best ways of making sure your home is properly protected. However, many people don’t realize that having a home alarm system means homeowners insurance savings.

According to a recent article published by InsuranceAgents.com, “For an insurance company, low risk is the name of the game. They like policyholders who have considered home safety and security and have taken necessary steps to thwart intruders …” This means investing in an alarm system and taking other precautions like installing dead-bolt locks and shatterproof windows can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, in insurance premiums each year.

To many people the idea of installing an alarm system can sound too expensive, but when compared against the 5-20% savings per year on homeowners insurance quotes, the costs suddenly seem much more affordable. Even a simple alarm system can still save you 5% a year or more with most homeowners insurance companies. Also, adding a deadbolt to all entry doors in your home can qualify you for a discount of 5% at many companies.

The InsuranceAgents.com article explains that the more you can show the homeowners insurance company that you are protecting your house against break-ins the more they are willing to discount your policy. With the economy still struggling and people looking to save every penny they can, this is the perfect time to review your homeowners insurance policy and find out how you can start to save more money by taking advantage of available discounts.

Via EPR Network
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Business, Checking & Savings, Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Interest Rate, Loans, Money

Rate Tarts Are In A Jam As 2 Million Balance Transfer Applications Are Rejected

The latest credit card market analysis from uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, reveals that almost 2 million consumers have been rejected for balance transfer deals in the last year. This represents 57% of all credit card rejections, forcing these consumers to fork out £535 million in interest payments in the next 12 months as they are unable to switch to a new provider. In total, £3.5 billion of credit card debt is now stuck on interest bearing credit cards as consumers cannot switch to their next 0% deal.

Across all types of credit card, more than one in ten consumers, totalling 3.32 million, has had an application declined in the past twelve months. This is a clear sign that providers are still acting on the air of caution and only lending to those with a squeaky clean credit record. This is a huge problem in the credit card market, particularly for rate tarts. In 2008, consumers carried out an average of 650,000 balance transfers every month. For many people, the 0% party really is over as they have reached a dead end.

Alongside a drop in acceptance levels, the number of balance transfer deals available is also a problem for consumers. There are now 178 balance transfer credit cards, representing 74% of all credit cards compared to 204 this time last year. The biggest casualty of this has been the 10 month deals which have fallen by 83% to just 1 deal.

With just one provider, Virgin, offering a 16 month 0% balance transfer deal, consumers are pushed towards the more popular six month balance transfer deals which represent a third of the market (33%). However, with the average balance transfer fee currently at 2.9% consumers will have to pay £54.09 on the average balance of £1,846. Unless consumers are planning to pay the credit card balance during the six month offer period, this could be a costly way to move money around.

Louise Bond, personal finance expert at uSwitch, comments: “We can’t ignore the fact that the country is in economic turmoil – a situation which has been catalysed by bad consumer credit. The knock on effect for credit card customers is that those with a less than perfect credit history could find themselves being turned down for the next best 0% deal, forcing them to pay interest. This is a huge problem for switchers as these people have accumulated debt based on the fact they do not have to pay interest on it.

“The knock on effect of rejected credit applications is that it will appear on your credit report and, in the long term, have a negative impact on your score. With this in mind, it’s important to check your report before applying for products to make sure you stand a good chance of being accepted – constantly reapplying to different suppliers will make the situation worse. If you can’t get another credit card, think about using a 0% overdraft, an unsecured personal loan or, if there are no other options and debt is getting out of control, speak to your provider or seek professional advice.”

Bond’s credit card tips:

• Check your credit report before making any applications for credit.

• If you are rejected for your next credit card, do not any further applications until you have checked your credit record. Failed applications for credit will have a negative impact on your credit score.

• You must also close down any credit card accounts you are not using. The available balance on these accounts will be taken into consideration when you are applying for a new card.

• Missed credit card payments also impact your credit score, the best way to avoid this is to set up a monthly direct debit for the minimum payment.

• If you are not planning to pay the balance off in full during the 0% balance transfer period you should consider life of balance cards. This will provide one low rate of interest for the entire time the balance is on the card.

• Depending on which issuer your balance transfer card is managed by, you may not be allowed to switch your balance to another card within the same group. By using uSwitch.com’s balance transfer tool, you will only be allowed to apply for cards that are available at you.

About uSwitch:
uSwitch.com is a free, impartial online and telephone-based comparison and switching service, helping consumers compare prices on gas, electricity, water, heating cover, home telephone, broadband, digital television, mobile phones, personal finance products and car insurance.

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Banks, Checking & Savings, Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Money, Personal Finance

Barclaycard Contactless Payment Revolution Continues

Barclaycard, the leading payment provider in the UK, has announced that it is increasing its roll out of contactless enabled cards to Barclaycard Gold and Classic cardholders. Customers who receive a new, reissued or replacement Gold or Classic Barclaycard will now receive one of the new innovative cards.

Contactless credit card technology, pioneered by Barclaycard in the UK, makes life easier for customers as it saves time when paying for items that people typically pay for in a rush such as the morning coffee, lunchtime sandwich or newspaper and magazine. Contactless credit cards allow secure payment for goods and services costing £10 and under without the need to enter a PIN or signature.

Contactless enabled credit cards can be used at a growing number of outlets throughout the UK including Prêt a Manger, Coffee Republic, Eat, Yo Sushi and a whole host of other independent retailers.

Recent research from Barclaycard showed that 98 per cent of contactless cardholders believe that contactless payments are easy to use and 88 per cent claimed that it enabled them to cut down the amount of time they would usually take to buy items such as a coffee.

Amer Sajed, Managing Director UK Cards, Barclaycard said: “Barclaycard is leading the UK’s contactless payment revolution. In three years we will have an additional four million customers who will be able to make payments using their contactless card.

“We are dedicated to making our customers’ lives easier and are seeing increasing demand for contactless by our customers, who can now make contactless payments at thousands of retailers across the UK.”

Barclaycard currently has almost two million cards in circulation that can be used to make contactless payments. This includes Barclaycard OnePulse, Barclaycard Platinum and Barclaycard Goldfish credit cards.

About Barclaycard
Barclaycard, part of Barclays Global and Retail Commercial Banking division, is a leading global payment business which helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and accept payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit when needed.

The company is one of the pioneers of new forms of payments and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment schemes for today and cutting edge forms of payment for the future. It also issues credit and charge cards to corporate customers and the UK Government. Barclaycard partners with a wide range of organisations across the globe to offer their customers or members payment options and credit.

In addition to the UK, Barclaycard operates in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle and Far East.

Via EPR Network
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Banks, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Interest Rate, Investment, ISAs, Money, Personal Finance

Lloyds TSB Has Announced That It Has Increased The Rate On Its Popular Monthly Saver Account To 5 Per Cent

Lloyds TSB Monthly Saver account holders can enjoy this competitive fixed rate for twelve months on regular monthly deposits between £25 and £250. If customers find they have additional funds to save, they can increase the amount on their monthly standing order at any time during the 12 month period, up to the maximum monthly deposit of £250.

Colin Walsh, managing director of Savings and Investment at Lloyds TSB said, “Given the uncertainty around us, getting into a savings habit has never been more important. This is why we want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to build a nest egg and provide the added incentive of a competitive savings rate.”

Should the need arise customers can also benefit from instant access to their savings, without incurring any withdrawal penalty.

Colin Walsh continued: “We know some savers want the reassurance of being able to access if they need to, so this product allows customers to dip into their funds without penalties.”

Lloyds TSB Current Account holders can open a Monthly Saver account either in branch or through telephone banking.

To help savers make the most of their money Lloyds TSB has a dedicated savings hub at Savvy Saver, full of advice, information and useful planning tools. Users can also submit and share their own savings tips, to help other savers maximise their cash.

– Funds withdrawn from the account cannot be replaced
– Standing Order on the account can be changed at any point during the twelve month period.
– This product is subject to availability

About Lloyds TSB:
Lloyds TSB offers customers a wide range of current accounts, savings accounts, insurance, personal loans and credit cards, investment and cash ISA accounts 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.

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401K, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, IRA, ISAs, Money, Retirement

Historic Losses For 401K Plan Participants

Retirement savings have dwindled significantly over the past 18 months. The median rate of return on 401k balances was negative 28.3% in 2008 according to a study by human-resources consulting firm Hewitt Associates. The average 401k balance dropped from $79,600 at year-end 2007 to $57,200 at the close of 2008.

401kinvesthelp

In the 12 months following the stock market’s peak in October 2007, more that $1 trillion worth of stock value held in 401ks and other “defined-contribution” plans was wiped out, according to the Boston College research center.

Alan Weir, who turns 60 this month, showed 60 Minutes his latest 401(k) statement, which he hadn’t had the courage to open up. “I’m afraid,” he told correspondent Steve Kroft. There’s good reason for his trepidation: nearly half of his life savings have vanished in a matter of months. “It went down again,” Weir told Kroft after opening the statement. Overall, he said he was down about $140,000.

Another woman in a similar situation told Kroft her 401(k) was worth less now than it was in 2005. “And another one went down almost $40,000. One was 80 – 88,000. And then, and then it went down to 50(k),” she told Kroft, crying. The saddest part of this story is that it is being repeated all over the country.

In eastern Pennsylvania, 59-year-old Iris Hontz lost her accounting job and half of her 401(k) investments.

“Unlike Wall Street executives, American families don’t have a golden parachute to fall back on,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA).

www.401kinvesthelp.com is a site designed to assist the Individual in their noble attempt to save for retirement. How does it guide investors? The number one problem investors have while saving for retirement is the potential of suffering devastating losses of 30% or more in stock mutual funds. The ideology of just “buy and hold,” “invest for the long term” only work a small percentage of the time. In addition to the latter problem, 80%-90% of the mutual funds offered within these retirement vehicles are more risky than the benchmark or index they follow. It’s about time someone stepped in to assist Americans with their retirement accounts rather than leaving them helpless and alone. The indicators used within the site are designed to give individuals a sneak peek into the economy and the financial markets. Is it safe to be invested fully? Should I take some off the table and be only partially invested? These are questions everyone has and generally know the answers to, but need someone to help reinforce that decision. The indicators are updated every 1st business day of each week and an email is sent to each subscriber alerting them of any changes, as well as a brief commentary on the financial markets. Investing smart bodes well for those who understand, “It’s just best to sit on the sidelines and watch the fireworks at times.”

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Leonard M. Rhoades, please call Andrea Rhoades at 616-581-5696 or email support@401kinvesthelp.com.

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

According To The Latest Survey From Prudential, Financial Advisers Are Not Convinced That Their Clients’ Retirement Planning Is On Course

The new Prudential survey found that over two-fifths of advisers (43 per cent) said they are either not that confident or not at all confident, that their clients’ retirement planning is on course, compared to just a third (34 per cent) who said they are either reasonably confident or very confident.

However despite their doubts about how well their clients are prepared for retirement, a third of advisers (33 per cent) actually reported an increase in the number of enquiries from clients about pensions and retirement planning over the past three months. Additionally, half of the advisers surveyed said they had seen an increase in the number of clients using the open market option when shopping around for their annuity in the past three months.

Andy Curran, Director of Intermediated Sales at Prudential, said: “Advisers and providers have taken a fair amount of flak over the years for apparently not informing people that they have the freedom to shop around for the retirement products which best suit their needs.

“It’s good to see that half of advisers say they’ve seen an increase in the number of people using the open market option but it seems to me that it’s taken a financial crisis for people to start their financial planning.

“What is worrying is the feedback from advisers that their clients’ retirement planning is not on course, especially in these unprecedented times when personal financial security should be top of the agenda for everyone.”

Prudential surveyed 123 independent financial advisers during April 2008.

About Prudential:
“Prudential” is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited and Prudential Unit Trusts Limited. 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. The Prudential Assurance Company and Prudential Unit Trusts Limited are registered in England and Wales under number 15454 and 1796126. Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, Money, Personal Finance

NS&I Reveals That Brits Are Failing To Make The Most Of Summer Savings

According to the latest NS&I Quarterly Savings Survey, much of the British population is failing to make the most of money saved on household bills and outgoings during the summer months as the increased sunshine makes them forget their budgets.

More than two-fifths (42%) of Britons think they spend less on outgoings such as utilities and groceries during the summer months, with people expecting these summer savings to average more than £75 (£77.39) a month. However, rather than setting these extra pounds aside, it seems they’re being spent on leisure actives. Nearly half (48%) of the population think they spend more on leisure activities in summer, this is more than likely to be impacted by children’s school holidays. During this season, outgoings on activities like socialising with friends, parties and holidays increase by a monthly average of more than £100 (£109.80). The warmer weather carries much of the blame for this rise in spending as 43% of Britons say improvements in the weather made them feel more relaxed about their outgoings.

While 92% of people say they use less heating in summer, four-fifths (82%) hang washing outdoors rather than use the tumble drier and more than two-thirds (70%) save on transport by walking more – there are other expenditures which outweigh these savings. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of the population confess to spending more on holidays in summer than winter and almost two-fifths (39%) are more likely to spend money going out to bars and restaurants with friends.

Dax Harkins, NS&I‘s savings strategist, said: “Everyone loves to see the sunshine, but people should try not to be so dazzled that they forget their finances. It’s great that many essential household costs are less during the warmer months, but Brits would be wise to try and make the most of these savings by putting some of this money away. Summer fun doesn’t need to be expensive.”

In fact, by taking a careful look at their finances, Britons could make even more seasonal savings. More than a quarter (26%) of the population feel there are more opportunities to set money aside during the summer of which they currently aren’t taking advantage. Further, 23% believe that they could look more carefully at the amount they spend socialising to reduce their outgoings

Harkins continued: “Some people (7%) say that they’re too busy to budget properly. I would urge everyone to try and set aside a small amount of time, even just half an hour each month, to review their incomings and outgoings and to assess how they can better plan their budget – and as a consequence make their longer-term finances healthier.”

NS&I’s Savings Survey
For a copy of NS&I’s Savings Survey, case studies or further information on the statistics supplied in this release please contact the NS&I media team. Previous copies of the survey are available from http://www.nsandi.com/press-room/savingsurvey/index.jsp. Selected regional data is also available on request.

The telephone survey was carried out by TNS among 1003 GB adults aged 16 and above, 1 – 3 May 2009.

About NS&I
National Savings and Investments is one of the largest savings organisations in the UK, offering a range of savings and investments to almost 27 million customers. NS&I is best known for Premium Bonds, but also offers a range of savings accounts including easy access savings accounts, savings bonds, investment accounts and high return savings. All products offer 100% capital security, because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury.

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Banks, Business, Costs, Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

Huge Black Hole In Unclaimed UK Business Travel Expenses Revealed By Barclaycard

The new Barclaycard 13th Annual Commercial Business Travel Survey has highlighted a worrying trend that employees might not be as prudent with managing their own business travel expenses as they perhaps should be. Thirty two per cent of the business travellers surveyed stated that they fail to claim back all of their expenses, amounting to an average £373 in unclaimed business travel expenses each year. The survey also found that the more senior an employee is, the more money they are likely to lose in unclaimed expenses. There is also a clear division between the sexes as it appears men are lazier about claiming expenses than their female colleagues.

barclaycard

There are 38,486 companies employing more than 100 people in the UK, according to the Office of National Statistics, and even assuming each of these companies only employs 100 people and a third of these employees do not claim back, the total loss in unclaimed expenses would amount to a staggering half a billion pounds (£473,724,174) in the past year.

Worryingly, if employees tried to claim back almost half a billion in travel expenses from last year, companies could be crippled in an already pressurised economic environment. This begs the question does the government have an obligation to both the individual and businesses to lay down general guidelines on claiming expenses that will protect both parties?

In addition, Barclaycard found that only 61 per cent of respondents claim back all of their expenses – a drop from 79 per cent last year – suggesting that the UK is becoming less rather than more financially prudent as a nation and there is a growing problem with British business travellers managing money.

Neil Radley, Managing Director of Barclaycard Commercial, commented: “Anyone who regularly travels on business knows keeping track of all expenses can be tricky, especially when your top priority is your performance. Managing incidental and often small costs can drop to the bottom of the list of priorities. Barclaycard has found that the most sensible action companies can take is to help their employees to centralise their costs and to give them the facility to create automatic records by using company credit cards responsibly to keep better track of their expenses.”

About Barclaycard Commercial
The 13th annual Barclaycard Commercial Business Travel Survey was conducted in December 2008, amongst a nationwide sample of Barclaycard Commercial card holders. A total of 2,202 respondents (CEOs, chairmen, non-executives, financial directors, executive directors, managers and personal assistants) provided their thoughts on all aspects of business travel including attitudes to the environment and in-flight technology, airlines and hotel preferences and online bookings.

Barclaycard, part of Barclays Global and Retail Commercial Banking division, is a leading global payment business which helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and accept payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit when needed.

The company is one of the pioneers of new forms of credit card payments and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment schemes for today and cutting edge forms of payment for the future. It also issues credit and charge cards to corporate customers and the UK Government. Barclaycard partners with a wide range of organisations across the globe to offer their customers or members payment options and credit. In addition to the UK, Barclaycard operates in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle and Far East.

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Prudential UK Is Set To Improve The Service Delivery Offered To Advisers In The Defined Contribution (DC) Pension Market With The Roll-Out Of A Newly Enhanced Systems Platform

Prudential UK is set to improve the service delivery offered to advisers in the Defined Contribution (DC) pension market with the roll-out of a newly enhanced systems platform. The platform will introduce improved delivery capability and functionality for both new and existing clients and is a clear sign of Prudential’s further investment in the DC market. It also signals a serious commitment to clients and their members through the delivery of enhanced levels of service.

The new platform introduces a step change in the online services provided by giving clients greater branding options and easy access to key data. Recently enhanced retirement planning and investment comparison tools are also available to assist members in making more informed choices to help achieve their retirement goals.

The enhanced platform is designed to sit alongside Prudential’s dedicated account management programme and will produce continued improvements in both quality and member response times.

Martyn Bogira, Director DC Pensions, Prudential said, “Not only have we improved functionality for our clients, we also now have the flexibility to further tailor our service to the specific client and their members. We believe that the new platform in conjunction with our innovative investment solutions, and our communications capability will enable consultants to design bespoke solutions for our shared clients.”

Prudential’s proposition is powered by Capita Hartshead’s HartLink technology and brings together the systems expertise of the Capita Hartshead team and Prudential’s extensive experience in the DC market.

HartLink is one of the largest pension administration databases in the UK and is currently used to administer the records of over 3.4 million members. HartLink has proven to be highly scalable and the underlying architecture is effectively limitless in terms of database storage capacity.

About Prudential:
Prudential is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, registered in England and Wales. This name is also used by other companies within the Prudential Group. Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Registered number 15454. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Prudential has been in the corporate pensions and group pension schemes market since 1929 and now provide DC pensions for over 5,700 schemes. Prudential employs an experienced team of individual’s to support the DC proposition. The DC area spanning servicing, marketing, account management and investment supports over 660,000 scheme members.

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Why do I need bicycle insurance?

The number of bicycles being pedalled on Britain’s roads this summer looks set to increase, according to various accounts. The reasons for this expected rise are numerous: for starters, the weakness of sterling against the euro and the dollar has meant that Brits are holidaying at home instead of abroad this year, and a number of these holidaymakers will be opting to take cycling breaks as a relatively cheap and healthy option.

In addition, the Met Office’s prediction that 2009 will bring three months of hot and dry summer weather is likely to be a motivating factor for many people who would not usually cycle for fear of getting caught in a downpour. Also, with more households than ever before reassessing their energy use in an effort to lead a greener lifestyle, cycling is becoming the transport mode of choice for many individuals across the country.

However, whether you’re a new cycling convert or you’ve been taking to the roads on two wheels for a number of years, it’s important to ensure that you have sufficient bicycle insurance for your needs.

Why do I need bicycle insurance?

Essentially, bicycle insurance provides you with much needed cover should you get caught in a cycling accident or if your bike is stolen. A recent survey from Halifax Home Insurance revealed that there has been a 50 percent increase in bike sales this year; at the same time, research from consumer magazine Which? claims that bikes were among the most popular outdoor items stolen from households, along with garden furniture and plant pots. So, with the cost of replacing an average bicycle now a staggering £350, the value of comprehensive bicycle cover should not be underestimated.

Insurance is particularly important for inexperienced cyclists, who may be more likely to get in an accident either with other cyclists or cars. At the same time, whilst seasoned cyclists perhaps enjoy lower accident risks, it’s crucial not to be complacent about the threat posed by bicycle thieves. One of the most famous victims of bicycle theft in the UK is Conservative Party leader David Cameron, whose bike has been stolen twice in a year – first in June 2008 and again in May 2009. The incident highlights how vigilant cyclists need to be in deterring thieves and that safety precautions should always be taken.

How can I safeguard against bicycle theft or accidents?

Safeguarding against bicycle theft is simple, if you take the right steps. For instance, invest in a hardened, D-shape lock rather than a cable one, as these are more difficult for thieves to cut through. In addition, make sure you lock your bike up in a well-lit, busy area so in the event that your bike is stolen, it is more likely there will be witnesses or CCTV footage to help you find the perpetrator.

Protecting yourself against cycling accidents, can be achieved by always wearing a bicycle helmet and donning high visibility clothing – like a neon yellow jacket or vest – so that other cyclists and motorists can see you from afar.

Following these easy steps is likely to significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of bicycle theft or having an accident, whilst a comprehensive bicycle insurance policy will give you the peace of mind that you will be covered if an unfortunate event does occur. With insurance comparison websites making it easier than ever to find affordable bicycle insurance, prohibitive cost should no longer be a barrier either.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com. Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

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Expats Should Seek Health Insurance For Swine Flu Protection

If the outbreak of swine flu has proven anything, it’s that healthcare systems in Western countries – despite all their flaws – are generally better prepared to deal with such pandemics than their poorer counterparts in Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia. Moreover, whilst the British government may be stocking up on Tamiflu and Relenza to treat people in the UK who contract the H1N1 virus, this is likely to be of little comfort to British expatriates.

health-insurance-comparison

As a result, many experts have urged expatriate communities to seek out comprehensive health insurance policies to protect their medical interests, particularly in countries where hospitals and medical facilities can be unreliable. Navigating the minefield of international medical cover can be difficult – what kind of insurance will you need and how much should you pay? By keeping your most important requirements in mind – and seeking some advice from knowledgeable sources – finding the answers to these questions needn’t be difficult.

How to approach buying international health insurance

As technological advances and the globalised economy continue to make the world a smaller place, British expatriate communities are expanding. For many of these people, dealing with healthcare systems in their chosen country of residence can be the hardest thing about living abroad. For starters, accessing medical treatment on the NHS in the UK is largely free – in other countries, this is unlikely to be the case. Therefore, finding an international health insurance policy that covers the costs you may incur when being treated abroad is essential.

Expatriate financial website ShelterOffshore.com highlights the fact that most international health insurance policies offer similar ‘one-size-fits-all’ policies, wherever in the world the policyholder may live. Depending on which level of cover you opt for – from basic packages to comprehensive policies – these can include a range of benefits, from recouping the costs of GP visits to covering repatriation in the most severe cases.

However, it may not always be necessary to have all of these cover options. In countries with exceptional medical facilities, such as Germany, it’s unlikely you will need to be flown back to the UK for treatment. On the other hand, if you live in rural China, you’re likely to need more sophisticated health insurance in order to cover the cost of transport to the nearest urban centre with access to high-quality healthcare . In fact, one US-based insurer recently revealed to The Telegraph that it could cost up to £20,000 extra to airlift a patient from rural China to Hong Kong or Singapore for medical treatment.

Getting the most out of an expatriate medical insurance policy

If you’re keen to purchase an expatriate health insurance policy that can be moulded to your needs, it’s best to contact a well-established medical insurer – for example BUPA or AXA PPP Healthcare – directly. Alternatively, ask others in your expatriate community who they would recommend for medical insurance. If you work for a multi-national organisation, it’s also possible they already have a preferred health insurance provider with discounted rates for employees.

In the event that no specialist international health insurance provider meets your needs, why not go local? Insurance comparison websites will help you find the insurer that best meets your healthcare requirements. Ultimately, the more research you carry out before purchasing your expatriate health insurance policy, the better you’ll be able to find comprehensive cover at a price you can afford.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com. Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

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Insurancewide Warns Staycationers Of Travel Cover Importance

The first five months of 2009 have been filled with surveys from the travel sector predicting that the number of Brits holidaying at home due to the pound’s weakness against the euro and the dollar, will skyrocket this summer. Sainsbury’s Finance, for example, recently said that caravan holiday bookings are up by more than 40 percent on last year’s levels. Financial information provider Defaqto also revealed that the number of overseas trip taken by people in the UK in 2009 is likely to decline for the first time in 20 years.

insurancewide-travel-insurance

However, Insurancewide – a specialist UK insurance comparison website – is urging so-called ‘staycationers’ not to neglect purchasing travel insurance, even if they are only holidaying a few hours away from their home. Many insurers sell UK travel insurance policies for less than the cost of a cinema ticket, so there should be no financial excuse for forgoing cover on a holiday at home.

Purchasing travel insurance for a holiday at home might not seem as essential as if you were going on holiday in Europe, but it’s still an important consideration. For example, just because you haven’t left the country, that doesn’t mean there’s less of a chance of your belongings being stolen or misplaced. With travel insurance, this eventuality will be covered.

Similarly, UK travel insurance will cover disrupted travel arrangements – if you’re travelling to your British holiday destination of choice by rail and your train is cancelled or severely delayed, you could make a claim on your travel insurance policy – provided you’ve remembered to buy one before setting off. This could be particularly useful if you’re travelling over a long distance – for example, Aberdeen to Brighton – and a delay meant that you missed your connecting train in London. What’s more, many UK travel insurance policies also include a certain level of medical cover – so if you are injured and need a private ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital or back home, your insurance policy should take care of this.

Insurancewide lets travellers compare UK travel insurance online, allowing users to request quotes and contrast policy benefits from different insurers across the market. In addition to purchasing travel insurance, Insurancewide is urging stay-at-home travellers – especially those who are caravanning or camping this summer – to check their car insurance policy for breakdown cover. Many motor insurance providers do not include breakdown cover as standard and travel insurance policies are unlikely to incorporate this feature either, so anyone planning on driving during their holiday should ensure that they are adequately protected.

About Insurancewide
Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com. Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

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Insurancewide, A Leading Insurance Comparison Provider In The UK, Is Urging Insurers To Offer Consumers More Flexibility When It Comes To Health Insurance

The call comes shortly after Tesco Insurance announced it was launching new levels of health cover in response to a customer survey asking for greater flexibility towards private medical insurance. The insurer revealed that it would be adding three new cover options to its list of health insurance products: Operations and Procedures, Consultations and Tests and Additional Therapies. New customers will also have the option of getting three months free when they sign up to Tesco Health Insurance.

Although figures from the Association of British Insurers indicate that the number of people covered by private health insurance is on the rise, with a 2.7 percent increase registered in 2008, Insurancewide believes that further measures can be taken to make medical cover more accessible to the general public.

Making UK health insurance policies more flexible

Since the UK has provided its population with free health care on the National Health Service for over half a century, many Brits tend to look upon health insurance as a luxury rather than a necessity. Yet with medical threats like swine flu making their way closer to home, and NHS waiting times showing no signs of getting shorter, many people have effectively come to consider private health insurance as a requirement and a valuable source of peace of mind.

However, despite this widening market, many health insurers continue to sell general medical insurance packages without giving customers much room to tailor their policy to their own requirements. For instance, a family of four may wish to have a policy weighted towards paediatric care, while a young, single man in his twenties may want to purchase a health insurance policy containing options for alternative therapies such as acupuncture and physiotherapy. Others – especially people who already have a life insurance policy in place – may want to pay less for medical insurance without accidental death cover.

Insurancewide allows customers to compare health insurance policies across the UK market, making it simpler for users to request quotes and contrast policy benefits in order to choose a plan that’s right for them. However, to provide consumers with even more flexibility, the insurance comparison provider urges medical insurers to offer consumers greater choice to build policies to their own requirements, and offer policyholders insurance packages that are bespoke, comprehensive and affordable.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com. Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

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NS&I Invites Voters To Pick Their Favourite Sustainable Garden At BBC Gardeners World Live

The NS&I sponsored Grow Your Own campaign is to showcase three gardens f r o m 10 June in Birmingham.

NSIgarden

For the second year, three unique and visionary garden designs have been selected to be displayed at the BBC Gardners’ World Live event. The designs all feature modernity, sustainability and growing fruit and veg as key themes.

Visitors to the show will be able to vote for their favourite garden in the Grow Your Own area of the show which is also supported by NSI. The overall winner of the NS&I Growing Gardens Today Competition will be announced live on the Grow Your Own area stage by gardening expert Carol Klein on Sunday 14 June.

Of the competition, Carol Klein said. “I am thrilled to be announcing the overall winner of the NS&I Growing Gardens Today competition this year. This year’s designs are hugely creative, incorporating recycled and sustainable materials while showing different ways to grow your own fruit and vegetables. NS&I is a big supporter of encouraging the public to grow their own in a sustainable and cost effective way.”

Visitors to the show will also have the opportunity to pick up good gardening money-saving tips and ideas for contemporary working gardens. Expert gardeners will be giving practical demonstrations and advice on growing and using fruit, veg and herbs.

The winners:
Sheila Jean Dearing, a former bio-medical scientist, f r o m Devon, has always been deeply interested in gardening and developed her passion further when she began cultivating her own gardens. Her design, ‘Forest to Fork’ (located at Stand GA25), combines creativity with science to produce a space that is both beautiful and practical. Designed using FSC softwood throughout, this garden demonstrates how a small space can be productive, low maintenance and eco-friendly with a modern feel.

Christopher Parry and Rene Humphrey f r o m Bath, both graduated f r o m the Oxford College of Garden Design in 2007 before going on to set up their own garden design business TwentyEightDesigns. ‘Urban Veg’ (located at Stand GA23) is the first show garden built by the duo and aims to show NEC visitors a contemporary space made for today’s city lifestyle. Designed with sustainability in mind, the garden includes many recycling components such as reusable materials, a sleek built in compost bin and reclaimed bricks for walls.

Sally Wilding-Webb f r o m Devon has a certificate in garden design and firmly believes that the roots of good garden design are in horticulture. Sally aims to show visitors that a garden can be a sustainable fruit and veg plot as well as an area of relaxation. Her design ‘Everything in the garden’ (located at Stand GA24), encompasses modern techniques – such as a pond to encourage wildlife, lavender to welcome bees for pollination and an array of fruit and vegetables. 

All three gardens are located in the popular Grow Your Own area at the show. Voting commences at 9am on Wednesday 10 June 2009 and closes at midday on Sunday 14 June 2009.

 

About NS&I
NS&I is one of the UK’s largest financial providers with almost 27 million customers and over £92 billion invested. It is best known for Savings Bonds, but also offers Inflation-Beating Savings, Guaranteed Equity Bonds and Children’s Bonus Bonds in its range of savings accounts. All products offer 100% security, because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury.

About the RHS
The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. Its charitable work includes undertaking scientific research into issues affecting gardeners, holding plant trials and educational events and activities.

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NS&I’s June Jackpot Of £1million Has Been Paid To A Surrey Resident, Who Bought His Winning Bond In March 2006

The winner, a gentleman from Surrey who wishes to remain anonymous, became ERNIE’s 233rd Premium Bond millionaire. He said of the win: “When Agent Million knocked on my door and told me that I’d won the jackpot I thought it was a practical joke! I’m still in shock but once the news sinks in I cannot wait to share the good fortune by treating my family to a lovely summer holiday.”

In Surrey, more than 535,300 people hold Premium Bonds worth £1.4 billion. There are more than 13,500 unclaimed Premium Bonds in total worth at least £796,000. This is the 13th time that the £1 million jackpot has been won in Surrey.

In March, NS&I announced that from the April prize draw onwards, one of the two monthly £1 million Premium Bond jackpot prizes will be replaced by a wider mix of other prizes in the monthly draws.

Similarly, a new £25 Premium Bonds prize has been introduced to the draws alongside the existing prizes (ranging from £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 June’s draw ERNIE paid out more than 1.1 million prizes, amounting to more than £33 million in value. There were 40,520,994,477 eligible numbers in the Premium Bond draw.

1. In June there were 1,125,583 prizes and a total prize fund of £33,767,475.
2. All Premium Bonds prizes are free of UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax.
3. Pictures of ERNIE (including the new ERNIE 4 machine), Agent Million and people buying Premium Bonds are available in high-resolution jpeg format from the NS&I media team.

About NS&I
National Savings and Investments is one of the largest savings organisations in the UK, offering a range of savings and investments to almost 27 million customers. NS&I is best known for Premium Bonds, but also offers a range of savings accounts including easy access savings accounts, savings bonds, investment accounts and children’s bonus bonds. All products offer 100% capital security, because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury. Further information and digital images are available from the NS&I media team. An ISDN line is available for interviews.

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