Diamond reveals eagerness to accessorise putting some drivers at risk

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:32:16 GMT

Diamond has conducted new research which has revealed that the average UK motorist spends nearly £100 personalising their car with accessories such as seat covers, soft toys and window stickers. For some drivers however, the desire to decorate their car could be putting them at risk of having a crash.

The women's car insurance specialist surveyed 2,000 UK motorists on how they personalise their car. It found that 57% have accessorised their car, with floor mats (35%), novelty air fresheners (15%) and humorous window stickers (14%) being the most popular. Only 4% admitted they have fluffy dice hanging from their rear view mirror.

Worryingly, seven out of ten drivers with humorous stickers on their rear window think they obscure their view from their window.

Diamond's research found one in ten (11%) motorists said they accessorise their car to stand out from the crowd. A similar number (13%) do it to express their personality. But the most popular reason why motorists accessorise their car is to make it more comfortable, one in three (29%) said they do it for this reason.

Diamond managing director, Sian Lewis said: "When you think how much time we can spend in our cars each week, you can understand why so many of us want to make them more comfortable or individual, but car accessories should never impede the driver's vision in any way. If you are going to adorn your rear window with stickers or soft toys, make sure they don't obscure your view."

Personalising a car isn't popular with everyone however, and, for many, adding accessories and novelty items to a car is seen as bad taste. 29% of motorists think it is cheap and tacky to decorate a car in this way.

Whilst more women (59%) than men (54%) adorn their cars with accessories, men spend on average £39 more than women doing so and are more likely to invest in pricier car graphics, wraps and special paint jobs. Women prefer cheaper items such as soft toys, floor mats and window stickers.

The average amount of money motorists spend on personalising their car is £99, but 11% have spent over £200 and one in a hundred have spent more than £1,000.

Adding accessories is certainly most popular with younger motorists. 18-24 year olds are the most likely to have personalised their car (66%), while middle aged drivers in the 35-44 and 45-54 age brackets are the least likely to personalise their car (52%).

Sian Lewis continued: "A car can say a lot about a person’s lifestyle and perhaps even more so if the driver has chosen to jazz it up. Some might choose simple things like a novelty tax disc holders or air fresheners, but others choose to spend a lot more with graphics, tints and wraps.

"If you do have some of the more expensive accessories, it's always worth checking with your insurer to see if they’ll make a difference to your premium."

Notes to Editors:
The research for Diamond was carried out online with Onepoll between 20.01.12 - 23.01.12 amongst a panel of 2,000 UK motorists.

About Diamond:
Diamond launched in 1997, when it was clear that there was a place for a woman only car insurance specialist, and has led the way for similar companies to follow. Diamond has been able to offer women cheaper car insurance for 14 years because, on the whole, women's car insurance claims cost less than men's. Diamond understands what women motorists want from their insurance and meet their needs by offering great service and a great price. The company does not refuse to give insurance quotes to men and are more than happy to provide a quote if requested.

Diamond is a trading name of EUI Limited, and is part of the Admiral Group.

Confused.com guides pet owners through the minefield of pet insurance

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:07:06 GMT

Confused.com has launched its revamped pet (cat and dog) insurance comparison service. The service is more user-friendly, with a quicker quote process and with more insurers to choose from meaning pet owners are armed with all the information needed to make a more informed decision. Confused.com's comparison service makes it easy for customers to compare pet insurance.

Pet insurance can provide valuable peace of mind against unexpected and expensive vets bills; the cost of unexpected operations, expensive treatments and even help with the cost of searching for a missing pet. One simple form searches all Confused.com's pet insurers and will compare the best quotes for your pet.

Confused.com is not a broker, so the website will only offer clear and impartial quotes. With the increased choice of insurers on the panel dog insurance policies can cost as little as £6.29 a month and cat insurance policies can start at £3.13 a month.

Clarissa Baldwin, CEO of Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity said: "Your dog is part of the family and deserves to get the best possible veterinary care when necessary. There is no National Health Service for pets, and veterinary fees continue to rise at a faster rate than general inflation. If you can afford it, we would certainly recommend taking out pet insurance.

"Pet insurance may seem expensive, but it really could mean the difference between life and death for your pet. It would be heart breaking to have your dog put to sleep just because you couldn't afford the necessary veterinary treatment. If your dog is lucky you may never have to claim any money back, but at the very least it really does give you peace of mind."

Kate Rose, Head of Pet Insurance at Confused.com continued: "Finding the right pet insurance policy can be a difficult and confusing task, you want to be able to find a policy that covers your pet for everything it needs but a policy that is also cost effective, that's where Confused.com's new webpage can help.

"With an easy and effective website and a number of pet insurers on its panels you can get the exact cover that you need for your pet. Also with policies starting as little as £3.13 why now compare now and get the cover your pet deserves."

To make it easy for customers to compare prices, Confused.com have put together a best buy table for pet insurance, allowing pet owners to see at a glance companies that provide the best deal for certain criteria. Users will be able to filter out cover for Accident only, Time limited, Maximum benefit and Lifetime cover types, and be presented with the best monthly price for their Dog or Cat.

Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Confused.com reveals the cars topping the speeding charts

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:46:44 GMT

Confused.com has revealed which cars are most likely to be driven by those who have committed driving offences.

Based on the car insurance experts' own data, Confused.com identified the Land Rover Discovery HSE V6 TD and the Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE TD6 as the cars that are most likely to have been involved in exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road.

Meanwhile, the drivers who've been caught on their phone or hand-held device, when their eyes should have been on the road, are more likely to be driving a Ford Galaxy Zetec, a BMW XSI Sport or a Volkswagen Polo e 60.

Most likely to have been caught driving without insurance are the drivers of the Vauxhall Astra Edition 16V Coupe. Meanwhile, Audi A3 drivers (S3 FSI t Quattro) are the top traffic light jumpers.

Government estimates put the number of British people driving without insurance at 1.4m, and have identified this as one factor in the rising costs of car insurance.

One car in particular topped the charts with 26% of Land Rover Discovery HSE V6 TD owners having exceeded the statutory speed limit on a public road. BMW 320 DM Sport and the Mini Cooper TD also featured with 20% and 19% of owners respectively being found to have broken the speed limit.

Using a mobile device is still a problem on Britain’s roads, despite fines and points being issued if caught, with Ford Galaxy Zetec TDi drivers being the main culprits at 1.94% closely followed by the BMW XS I Sport with 1.77% of drivers being caught.

With regards to other driving offences, Confused.com found that drivers of the Vauxhall Zafira Design DTi were most likely to drive their vehicle with defective tyres, while Citroen Saxo VTR drivers were most likely to drive or attempt to drive whilst over the current alcohol limit.

Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com says: "The rules of the road are designed to help shape our driving habits and to maximise road safety. Our research has nevertheless shown that driving legally is clearly a challenge to a significant proportion of drivers.

"Keeping on the right side of the law will obviously help to not only minimise the cost of your insurance but also help keep you on the road and keep the roads safe."

-Ends-

About Confused.com:
Confused.com was the UK's first price comparison site for car insurance. Confused.com is one of the UK's biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, life insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance.

Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service finding users great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com’s service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators. Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Provident Personal Credit 'Good Neighbour' programme reaches milestone

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:20:15 GMT

Provident Personal Credit's 'Good Neighbour' programme reached a milestone at the end of 2011, with the company having provided support to over 500 organisations over the past three years, highlighting their commitment to corporate responsibility.

In addition, 'Good Neighbour' has supported over 30 three year projects, with more than 20,000 people benefitting from project and volunteering support.

Peter Crook, CEO at Provident Financial, said: "When asked, as I often am, about how we manage our Corporate Responsibility programme, I say it's part of our DNA. It's a fundamental part of our business strategy and plays a key role in our long-term success."

Established in 2009, Good Neighbour is Provident Financial’s flagship community programme. It helps fulfil Provident's ambition to be the UK's leading community-based lender by creating opportunities for people to work side by side with its community partners. 'Good Neighbour' has three component strands:

- Supporting local projects: working in partnership with local community organisations, the 'Good Neighbour' programme delivers projects which are tailored to meet the needs of local residents. Most projects run over a three-year period, with opportunities available to deliver smaller, one-off projects too.
- Employee volunteering: 'Good Neighbour' supports employees participating in company-led volunteering projects, including one-to-one mentoring projects, the Provident Reading Scheme and team challenges.
- Employee matched giving: Provident wants to help its employees to support the causes they care about the most. Employees taking part in fundraising activities or volunteering in their local communities can apply for matched giving and volunteering grants to make their contribution go even further. Over 1,750 employees have been involved so far and community partners have reported more people are now accessing their services.

Each community partner is selected carefully to ensure that every project is delivered to a high standard and provides real benefits for the community. Provident wants to work with a wide range of organisations, including youth clubs, community groups and schools, so that it can reach people of all ages, from toddlers to pensioners, and address their specific needs.

About Provident Personal Credit:
Provident Personal Credit is a market leading financial services company operating in the non-standard loans market. It specialises in offering cash loans of small amounts, typically from £50 - £500 over terms from 14 weeks up to 106 weeks. Its short term loans are unsecured and all of the costs are included up front which means that customers will never be charged for a missed or late payment. When assessing loan applications, Provident Personal Credit look at the applicants ability to repay now rather than their payment history.

This means that people could still be accepted for a loan even if they think they may have bad credit. Repayments are collected by agents who visit their customers' homes on a weekly basis. The company has a good reputation with 95% of their customers saying that they are satisfied with their service.

What's more, it is a great alternative to payday loans with small and manageable weekly repayments.

Provident Personal Credit Ltd is a part of the Provident Financial Group. It is licensed by the Office of Fair Trading.

FreeAgent Alerts tool puts accountants on the front foot

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:36:22 GMT

FreeAgent, the online accounting pioneer, has launched a new Alerts tool enabling accountants to automatically track their clients' finances and highlight in real-time areas of opportunity or concern.

FreeAgent Alerts allows accountants to set-up customised alerts to monitor their clients' account activity for transactions and entries that may warrant closer examination. By using Alerts, accountants will also be able to take a more proactive approach in helping their clients keep on top of their finances, and ensure that potential issues are spotted and acted on sooner rather than later.

The new feature is available exclusively through the accountant's existing dashboard, which presents an at-a-glance view of all of their clients on the FreeAgent platform and a portal to drill into the specifics of any one of their accounts.

Because FreeAgent offers accounting software online specifically and has been seamlessly integrated into the IRIS accounts production solution, it also provides better accessibility for users and a significant reduction in time spent on manual or paper based processes.

FreeAgent believes that Alerts is a major breakthrough in cloud accounting and a first for the industry. Ed Molyneux, CEO and co-founder of FreeAgent, explained: "Alerts will enable accountants to immediately focus on advising and providing insight to their clients, rather than having to spend a lot of time doing more manual monitoring. It puts them on the front foot and helps them to be more proactive in advising their clients."

FreeAgent collaborated with a number of accountants and accounting firms on the development of Alerts including Freelance World, which provides a full range small business accounting software across the UK.

Alasdair McGill, Managing Director of Freelance World, said: "Online accountancy has revolutionised the way accountants work with their clients and FreeAgent's latest Alerts tool goes even further to help us keep on top of our clients' accounts. Alerts will give us the ability to monitor our clients' accounts on a daily basis, giving them peace of mind that we're watching the numbers. I’d like to congratulate FreeAgent on how far they’ve come over the last year to give us a great all-round product that will help us to do a better job for our clients."

FreeAgent is available to accountancy practices throughout the UK via the company's close partnership with IRIS Software where FreeAgent powers the IRIS OpenBooks solution, a key component of the OpenApps suite. With the company's clear insight and knowledge of the accountancy marketplace, IRIS was involved throughout the planning and development process of Alerts.

Commenting on the latest initiative, Phill Robinson, CEO of IRIS Accountancy Services said: "Both IRIS and FreeAgent share the drive to constantly innovate and improve our offering to our customers. Alerts is one more reason for accountancy professionals everywhere to evaluate the benefits a shift to online accounting software could bring to their own firms and their clients."

- Ends -

About FreeAgent:
Edinburgh-based independent FreeAgent has pioneered online accounting since the launch of its service in 2007. It has rapidly grown a loyal community of freelancers and small businesses, who pay either monthly or annually for access to its software offering many easy to use features, including an invoice template.

In a survey, 99.5% of FreeAgent users said they would recommend the software to others, and the service won the prize for Best Newcomer at the 2009 SIFT Media Software Satisfaction Awards. In 2010 it won the SIFT SME Accounting and Finance Software Satisfaction Award, beating all of its desktop and web-based competitors to take the title. The company also offers a free accountancy software trial to those who may be interested in the company's products. More information can be found at www.freeagent.com.

Confused.com partners with medical insurance comparison website ActiveQuote

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:39:33 GMT

Confused.com is pleased to announce the launch of its latest partnership with private medical insurance comparison website ActiveQuote which will power the Confused.com private medical insurance service.

Confused.com recognises that consumers want the best experience when comparing products online. The new partnership with ActiveQuote will strengthen customer’s choice on private health insurance for both themselves and their families.

Private medical insurance has always been seen as a complicated issue; however Confused.com wanted to make this experience for customers as simple as possible, as well as providing them with the best benefits.

Price is not the most important factor with private medical insurance. Low cost policies often exclude important benefits. ActiveQuote's unique online comparison tool allows customers to refine their search with immediate updates to the price instantly shown on the comparison page. Consumers can specify exactly what they want in a policy and the site will remove unsuitable quotes. Every variable can be tailored online, including excess, choosing a different hospital list or adding an option such as dental cover.

Richard Theo, Managing Director of ActiveQuote commented: "We are really excited about the launch of our private medical insurance comparison on Confused.com which is the one of the best known insurance comparison brands in the UK. It is a real endorsement of the quality of user experience and customer service that we have strived to achieve here at ActiveQuote."

Matthew Lloyd, Head of life insurance at Confused.com continues: "We are delighted at the appointment of ActiveQuote as our new partner. For specialist products such as private medical insurance, consumers are looking for an excellent online comparison coupled with excellent off-line advice and we believe that ActiveQuote have proven their leadership in both of these areas."

About Confused.com:
Confused.com was the UK's first price comparison site for car insurance. Confused.com is one of the UK’s biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, car insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance.

Specialist comparisons can be made on products such as over 60 life insurance and classic car insurance.

Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service. Confused.com’s service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators.

Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Confused.com and Nectar unveil Swap day in London with Keith Chegwin

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:47:15 GMT

Confused.com is celebrating its Nectar Points promotion by bringing back the spirit of nostalgic TV show 'Swap Shop' to central London for one day only.

New research carried out by Confused.com, amongst 2,000 people in the UK, shows that saving money is one of the biggest motivators for swappers, with 31% of people saying that they preferred to swap to save money, whilst 36% admitted to swapping 'to get something I actually wanted rather than something I would never use'.

With 17% getting more satisfaction from swapping than shopping and 48% of people having already swapped an unwanted possession online, it’s clear that swapping is on the up.

Confused.com 'Swap Store', which will take place at London's Victoria Station from 1-3pm on January 25th, is part of the give-away which sees 1,000 Nectar points given to every customer who buys a car insurance policy through Confused.com between now and the end of March 2012.

Swap Shop presenter, Keith Chegwin, will be compering the swap, said: "It's great to see that swapping is back in fashion, and I'm really looking forward to running Confused.com's Swap Store. Saving money is one benefit of swapping things you no longer need and it can be really entertaining too."

Mike Hoban, Chief Marketing Officer at car insurance comparison expert Confused.com added: "The popularity of swapping unwanted gifts has encouraged us to have some fun this January by arranging our very own 'Swap Store'. Those old enough to remember the children’s TV show 'Multi-coloured Swap Shop' will not be disappointed."

About Confused.com:
Confused.com was the UK's first price comparison site for car insurance. Confused.com is one of the UK’s biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and life insurance.

Specialist comparison also includes business car insurance, temporary car cover and students car insurance.

Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service. Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

About Nectar:
Nectar, the United Kingdom's leading coalition loyalty programme, is owned by Aimia, a global leader in loyalty management. Over 18.5 million collectors earn Nectar points when shopping for groceries, doing DIY, booking a holiday, paying household bills, buying petrol and even getting their car serviced. Collectors also earn Nectar points when they shop exclusively online via Nectar eShops at over 500 leading retailers online. Since Nectar’s launch in 2002, over £1.5 billion of rewards have been redeemed by its collectors. Rewards include money off shopping, travel and general merchandise.

Confused.com reveals regional Britain hit by insurance price rises higher than inflation

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:04:15 GMT

Confused.com has revealed that car insurance prices have risen at a higher rate than inflation in many regions over the last twelve months. The cost of comprehensive cover rose by 4.9% over all in 2011, with third party, fire and theft (TPFT) premiums increasing in cost by 10.2% year-on-year.

The Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index is based on more than 4 million quotes. The new report, which looks at car insurance price changes throughout 2011, reveals:

- Comprehensive premiums have risen by an average of £39 and TPFT premiums by £107 in the last 12 months.
Bradford, Oldham and Manchester have experienced the highest increase overall (17.1% in Bradford), although encouragingly some prices have come down, most notably in Falkirk in Scotland.
- The average cost of a comprehensive policy at the end of 2011 stands at £844, with the average TPFT policy costing £1162.
- Prices vary significantly with age: 17-20 year olds were paying a whopping average of £2,590 at year end, while those aged 66 and over typically pay a more modest £451 per year.

The last quarter of 2011 showed a gentle increase compared with the hikes experienced in previous quarters; there was less than 0.05% change in the average premium for the last quarter of 2011. The average cost of a comprehensive policy rose marginally from £843 to £844 in quarter four.

Drivers of some vehicles in insurance groups 3, 8, 9 and 10 have suffered a rise of more than 7%. The premiums for 4-door estates have increased by more than 13% in 12 months. To find out your car insurance group visit Confused.com.

Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance for Confused.com commented: "This time last year drivers were paying an eye watering £804 average premium for comprehensive cover which has continued to rise to a massive £844 over the past 12 months.

"In 2012 we can expect to see new factors affecting car insurance prices such as the introduction of the EU legislation on gender due at the end of this year meaning that insurance cannot be priced according to gender. We will also see new technologies affecting car insurance prices such as black box technology which allows insurers to offer discounts to drivers who can prove that they are careful behind the wheel."

More than 4 million quotes are used in the construction of each quarter's insurance price index, making it the most comprehensive insurance index in the UK. Unless otherwise stated all prices referred to are for comprehensive cover.

-ENDS-

About the Index:
The index is compiled using anonymous data from all enquiries submitted on Confused.com. In line with the draft Office of Fair Trading (OFT) commitments on the use of competitor price data, the prices used for calculating the index are based on an average of the best five quotes received on Confused.com.

About Confused.com:
Confused.com was the UK's first price comparison site for car insurance. Confused.com is one of the UK's biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance. Specialist car cover also includes budget car insurance and temporary car insurance.

Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service.

Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Prudential reveals expected retirement incomes hit five year low

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:01:26 GMT

Prudential has revealed that people retiring in 2012 expect to live on an average annual income of £15,500 - over £1,000 a year less (6 per cent) than those who retired in 2011. The figures come from Prudential's unique Class of 2012 research which provides insights into the financial expectations of Britons planning to retire in the next 12 months.

The results of Prudential's annual survey, first carried out in 2008, show that expected annual retirement incomes have dropped by more than 16 per cent in the last five years. The Class of 2008 retirees looked forward to a total annual income, including private, company and State pensions, of approximately £18,600 - £3,100 a year more than those planning to retire this year.

In a sign of the on-going financial challenges facing those due to retire in 2012, one in five will get by on an expected annual income of less than £10,000. Meanwhile, around the country there is a regional disparity of more than £5,000 in expected retirement income. Londoners have the highest average expected incomes of £17,900, while those in Yorkshire and Humberside have the lowest at £12,800.

Fewer than two in five (37 per cent) of the Class of 2012 say that they have saved enough to secure a comfortable retirement.

Men are more optimistic about their retirement than women, with 45 per cent of men confident they will be financially comfortable compared with 31 per cent of women. However, nearly one in five (18 per cent) of those planning to retire in 2012 have no idea of the level of income they will need in order to live comfortably.

Vince Smith-Hughes, Prudential's retirement income expert, said: "The current economic climate has created the perfect storm for people in the run up to retirement. The impact of the credit crunch, banking crisis, recession, and concerns over the Eurozone, has been reflected in the fact that expected retirement income levels have hit a five-year-low.”

"It is concerning that expected retirement incomes are going down, while pensioner expenditure is going up. However, there are some practical steps that workers and imminent retirees can take to ensure a more comfortable retirement. For those who are still working, it has never been a more important time to save into a pension. The longer that savings are invested in a retirement pot, the greater the opportunity they will have to grow.”

"However, even those due to retire this year could make their retirement funds generate better incomes. Consulting a professional financial adviser can help savers to make more informed pension saving and retirement income decisions."

-ENDS-

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 services including retirement planning, life assurance, and advice on pensions.

Confused.com reveals that Life Insurance is more than a form of future protection

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:19:38 GMT

Confused.com has revealed that life insurers are offering an increasing range of extras to policyholders, in a bid to boost take-up of the product.

One of the most unusual benefits of life insurance being offered by Legal & General is 'smooth move', a 24 hour rescue service to help with unexpected hitches on house moving day and up to three months afterwards for domestic energy repairs.

LV= life insurance policy offers a free online personal advice service on lifestyle, health and fitness as well as a free online health check and risk assessment as its added benefit.

There are many different life insurance policies which Confused.com offer. Those who already have life insurance should double check their policy to find out what they may be entitled to, say experts at Confused.com, as there may be extras the customer was not aware of.

With an average life premium at 74p a day, life insurance policyholders can benefit now, as well as in the future from having this financial protection.

Matt Lloyd, Life Insurance expert at Confused.com said: "While the extras should not distract the customer from choosing the right policy for them, it is worth making use of any benefits your provider offers; after all you are paying for it. Life insurance providers are offering a range of benefits to customers such as counselling and health assessments.

"Also don’t forget to think of how your lifestyle and age can affect the amount you pay on your life insurance premium. To find the right life insurance policy make sure you shop around and actually find out the extras that they offer, as having life Insurance could save you money."

To see added benefits offered by life insurers, Confused.com have put together some information which can be found online.

About Confused.com:
Confused.com is one of the UK's biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance.

Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service. By using cutting-edge technology, it has developed a series of intelligent web-based solutions that evaluate a number of risk factors to help customers with their decision-making, subsequently finding them great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com’s service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators.

Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Admiral reveals car crime creating a nervy nation

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:44:38 GMT

Britain’s motorists are living in fear of having their car stolen or broken into according to a new poll, even though car crime numbers have fallen over the years.

Car insurance specialist Admiral commissioned YouGov to survey 2,500 drivers as part of the annual Admiral Survey of British Motorists, and found almost three quarters (74%) worry about their car being stolen or broken into. Drivers in the East Midlands, and Yorkshire are most concerned with 80% in those regions worrying about their car being stolen or broken into, whilst motorists in Scotland have the most relaxed stance with 63% worrying about it.

However, it appears this anxiety about car crime is unfounded as Admiral's own claims statistics show that the number of cars being stolen or broken into has dropped dramatically over the past decade. In fact, in 2011 0.16% of motorists insured by Admiral had their car stolen compared to 0.54% in 2001. Car break ins show a similar pattern, as ten years ago 0.61% of motorists insured by Admiral had their car broken into compared to 0.16% in 2011.

Dave Halliday, Admiral managing director, said: "Our statistics show that car crime has been falling for several years now, so maybe worrying about it is undue. This anxiety could be linked to a general sense of unease about the state of the country and the economy in particular; our cars are after all, one of the most valuable things we own."

Dave continued: "Modern cars have excellent security features with manufacturers making them more and more difficult to steal, which must have some impact on the number stolen or broken into. However, motorists should always make sure their car isn't an easy target for thieves by parking it in a well-lit area, not leaving items on show, and making sure their keys are kept in a safe and secure place should someone gain access to their home."

Even though car crime is decreasing, Admiral thought it would be interesting to see which types of vehicle are the most likely to be targeted by criminals*. It looked at statistics from the last year and found the Nissan Sunny, BMW X6 and Audi RS6 were the three cars most likely to be stolen. The Nissan Figaro is the car most likely to be broken into followed by the Citroen C8 and BMW 730.

Notes to Editors:
*Based on Admiral Group claims 2010/2011, only includes makes and models where Admiral has at least 500 instances to prevent figures skewing.

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

About Admiral:
Admiral, (a trading name of EUI Ltd) launched in 1993, and is part of Admiral Group plc. It was set up to target those motorists who traditionally pay higher than average premiums, including those under-35, living in cities or driving hot hatches. It now offers its unique Admiral MultiCar policy for households with two or more cars.

Admiral writes its motor insurance business to a consortium of insurers, these being Admiral Insurance Company Ltd, Admiral Insurance (Gibraltar) Limited and Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) plc.

The Admiral Group employs over 4,500 people in the UK and has more than 2.8 million customers in the UK.

Saxo Bank releases 10 Outrageous Predictions for 2012

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:10:20 GMT

Saxo Bank has today released its annual Outrageous Predictions. Among the unlikely events predicted by the Bank are that Australia will go into recession, Basel III and regulation will force 50 bank nationalisations in Europe and Apple shares will plummet 50 percent from their 2011 high.

In its Outrageous Predictions, Saxo Bank focuses on events that are unlikely to happen, but at the same time are far more likely than the market appreciates. The predictions are not meant as forecasts, but it is important for investors to consider events with under-recognised probabilities. Should any of them come to pass, they would have a significant impact on the markets.

Saxo Bank's Outrageous Predictions for 2012:
1. The stock of Apple Inc plummets 50 per cent from 2011 high

Going into 2012 Apple will find itself faced with multiple competitors such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft/Nokia, and Samsung across its most innovative products, the iPhone and iPad. Apple will be unable to maintain its market share of 55 per cent (three times as much as Android) and 66 per cent on the iOS and iPad.

2. EU declares extended bank holiday during 2012

The December EU Treaty changes prove insufficient to solve EU funding needs, particularly those in Italy, and the EU debt crisis returns with a vengeance by mid-year. In response, the stock market finally caves in and drops 25 per cent in short order, prompting EU politicians to call an extended bank holiday, closing all European exchanges and banks for a week or more.

3. A yet unannounced candidate takes the White House

In 1992, Texas billionaire Ross Perot managed to take advantage of a recessionary economy and popular disgust with US politics and reap 18.9 per cent of the popular vote. Three years of Obama has brought too little change and only additional widespread disillusionment with the entire US political system, and conditions for a third party candidate have never been riper. Someone with a strong programme for real change throws his or her hat in the ring early in 2012 and snatches the presidency in November in one of the most pivotal elections in US history, taking 38 per cent of the popular vote.

4. Australia goes into recession

The effects of the slowing up-and-coming Asian giant ripple through Asia Pacific push other countries into recession. If there ever was a country dependent on the well-being of China it is Australia with its heavy dependence on mining and natural resources. And as China's demand for these goods weakens, Australia is pushed into a recession, which is then exacerbated as the housing sector finally experiences its long overdue crash – a half decade after the rest of the developed world.

5. Basel III and regulation force 50 bank nationalisations in Europe

As 2012 begins, pressure will mount on the European banking system as new capital requirements and regulatory pressure force banks to deleverage in a great hurry. This creates a fire sale on financial assets as there are few takers in the market. A total freeze of the European interbank market forces nervous savers to make bank-runs, as depositors distrust deposit guarantees from insolvent sovereigns. More than 50 banks end up on government balance sheets and several known commercial bank brands cease to exist.

6. Sweden and Norway replace Switzerland as safe havens

As we saw with Switzerland, becoming a safe haven in a world of devaluing central banks presents a number of risks to a country’s economy. The capital markets of both countries are far smaller than Switzerland, but the Swiss are aggressively devaluing their currency and money managers are looking for new safe havens for capital. Flows into the two countries' government bonds on safe haven appeal becomes popular enough to drive 10-year rates there to more than 100 basis points below the classic safe haven German Bunds.

7. Swiss National Bank wins and catapults EURCHF to 1.50

Switzerland's persistency in fighting the appreciation of its currency will continue to pay off in 2012. With Swiss fundamentals - particularly export related - continuing to suffer mightily in 2012 from past CHF strength, the SNB and government bear down further to prevent more collateral damage and introduce extensions to existing programmes and even negative interest rates to trigger sufficient capital flight from the traditional safe haven of Switzerland to engineer a move in EURCHF as high as 1.50 during the year.

8. USDCNY rises 10 per cent to 7.00

As marginal returns from building million-inhabitant ghost towns diminish and exporters struggle with razor-thin margins due to the advancing CNY China gets to the brink of a "recession", meaning 5-6 per cent GDP growth. Chinese policymakers come to the rescue of exporters by allowing the CNY to decline against a US Dollar - buoyed by its safe-haven status amid slowing global growth and an on-going Eurozone sovereign debt crisis - and send the pair up to 7.00 for a 10 per cent increase.

9. Baltic Dry Index rises 100 per cent

Lower oil prices in 2012 could lead to an increase in the Baltic Dry Index as operating expenses go down. Brazil and Australia are expected to expand iron ore supply, further leading to lower prices and therefore higher import demand from China to satisfy its insatiable industrial production. In combination with monetary easing this leads to a massive spike in iron ore demand.

10. Wheat prices to double in 2012

The price of CBOT wheat will double during 2012 after having been the worst performing crop in 2011. With 7 billion people on the earth and money printing machines at full throttle, bad weather across the world will unfortunately return and make it a tricky year for agricultural products. Wheat especially will rally strongly as speculative investors, who had built up one of the biggest short positions on record, will help drive the price back towards the record high last seen in 2008.

Steen Jakobsen, Chief Economist at Saxo Bank, commented: "Our Outrageous Predictions have been prepared in the spirit of encouraging investors to think outside the box and prepare for world-altering events. Thinking outside the box is rarely a comfortable exercise, but neither is dealing with an unpleasant surprise for which one has failed to prepare in any meaningful way.

"Should some of the predictions come to pass, it would make 2012 a year of tremendous change. We would like nothing more than to be proven wrong on negative views, but only if they are replaced with something better than the current central bank and government-manipulated paradigm."

To see more please visit the Outrageous Predictions page Saxo Bank's website.

About Saxo Bank
Saxo Bank is a leading online trading and investment specialist. A fully licensed and regulated European bank, Saxo Bank enables private investors and institutional clients to trade FX, CFD, ETFs, Stocks, Futures, Options and other derivatives via three specialised and fully integrated trading platforms; the browser-based SaxoWebTrader, the downloadable SaxoTrader and the SaxoMobileTrader application available in over 20 languages. Saxo Bank also offers professional portfolio and fund management through Saxo Asset Management who accommodates high-net worth private clients and institutional investors and provides banking services and advice to retail clients through Saxo Privatbank. The Saxo Bank Group is headquartered in Copenhagen with offices throughout Europe, Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Australia.

Provident continues to maintain a presence in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:01:13 GMT

Provident is continuing to carve out a reputation as one of the world's most responsible financial companies by once again being included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes.

The DJSI World tracks the performance of the top 10% of the 2500 largest companies in the Dow Jones Global Total Stock Market Index that lead the field in terms of sustainability, with the DJSI Europe monitoring the sustainability performance of the top 20% of the 600 largest European companies.

For the seventh successive year, Provident has been selected for inclusion in both the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index (DJSI Europe).

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes were launched in 1999 as the first global sustainability benchmarks. The Indexes are based on an internationally recognised leading Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) methodology which means that they include only companies that fulfil certain sustainability criteria which is better than the majority of their peers.

Provident's overall score in the 2011 Indexes was 63% (2010: 59%) - 23% points higher than the average overall score of the other companies in the financial services sector - with 'best in class' scores for environmental monitoring and reporting, and scores of over 80% in respect of a range of other CR issues, including anti-crime policy/measures, stakeholder engagement and social reporting.

Rob Lawson, Corporate Responsibility manager at Provident Financial said: "We are delighted to continue to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and remain committed to disclosing information on our corporate responsibility (CR) performance to our stakeholders."

Rob Lawson concluded: "Our continued inclusion in the Indexes is no mean feat, and is testament to the progress we've made over the past seven years in embedding our CR programme throughout our business. It also endorses our approach to CR management and shows that we compare favourably to other global companies."

About Provident Personal Credit:
Provident Personal Credit is a market leading financial services company operating in the non standard loans market. It specialises in offering cash loans of small amounts, typically from £50 - £500 over terms from 14 weeks up to 106 weeks. It's short term loans are unsecured and all of the costs are included up front which means that customers will never be charged for a missed or late payment. When assessing loan applications, Provident Personal Credit look at the applicants ability to repay now rather than at their payment history. This means that people could still be accepted for a personal loan even with a bad credit history or if they have missed payments in the past. Repayments are collected by Agents who visit their customers’ homes on a weekly basis. The company has a good reputation with 95% of their customers saying that they are satisfied with their service.

What’s more, it is a great alternative to payday loans with small and manageable weekly repayments.

Provident Personal Credit is a subsidiary of Provident Financial Group. They are licensed by the office of fair trading.

Standard Life teams up with Legacy Asset Systems to support asset migration to Standard Life Wrap

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:31:55 GMT

Standard Life, a market leading platform provider, has teamed up with Legacy Asset Systems to support advisers migrating assets to the Standard Life Wrap. With the agreement, preferential terms will be offered to Standard Life Wrap firms signing up to the services offered by Legacy Asset Systems. Legacy Asset Systems offer two services: the Discovery Report, a 'smart search' of existing client data, and the Asset Migration Service, a combination of systems and services to successfully complete an asset migration project.

The benefits of the Legacy Asset Systems offering are:
- A cost effective approach and opportunity for adviser firms to create an additional profit centre
- Develops a fully compliant and automated end to end audit trail
- Reduces capacity constraints and frees resource to focus on added value services
- Delivers a robust and scalable process, systems and controls
- Supports a consolidation approach by enabling review of whole portfolio and individual products
- Develops an income stream on assets which have been generating little or no income

Chris Divito, Head of Platform Distribution at Standard Life, said: "Advisers have been telling us that analysing and migrating clients legacy assets is a real challenge, particularly from a compliance and capacity point of view. So we have teamed up with Legacy Asset Systems to provide a solution. They have provided a cost effective solution which not only 'makes it happen', but also reduces costs and generates income for the business."

Kevin Jow, Director at Russell Ulyatt has recently used Legacy Asset Systems to help migrate client business to the Standard Life Wrap. He said: "We were keen to start tackling the next segment of our client bank and we're focused on completing the collation and analysis of client information as cost effectively as possible. Legacy Asset Systems provided the ideal solution in that they took on all of the manual effort of contacting providers, provided accurate cost comparisons and a complete audit trail. In addition to that, the Discovery Report enabled us to take a very detailed view of our client bank and identified some great opportunities. We’ve been able to significantly increase our speed of client transfer and subsequent income streams.

"Using Legacy Asset Systems has freed up so much of our time, speeded up the whole process and just let me get on with the day job - spending more time with my clients."

Ends

Notes to Editors
The Standard Life wrap launched in May 2006. As at 30 September 2011 it had 961 IFA firms on the platform, with assets under administration of £10.6bn.

About Standard Life:
Established in 1825, Standard Life is a leading provider of long term savings and investments to around 6 million customers worldwide. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Standard Life has around 9,000 employees across the UK, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Austria, India, USA, Hong Kong and mainland China.

The Standard Life group includes savings and investments businesses, which operate across its UK, Canadian and European markets; corporate pensions and benefits businesses in the UK and Canada; Standard Life Investments, a global investment manager, which manages assets of almost £150bn globally; and its Chinese and Indian Joint Venture businesses. At the end of September 2011 the Group had total assets under administration of over £191bn.

Standard Life plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has approximately 1.5 million individual shareholders in over 50 countries around the world.

Confused.com reveals most popular car choices for different star signs

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:33:59 GMT

Confused.com has unveiled the most popular car choices for the twelve signs of the Zodiac.

Aquarians, known for their eccentric streak, are 30% more likely to drive a Peugeot 106 than any other star sign. A Rover 620 is likely to be their second choice, according to Confused.com research.

Pisces, who are often regarded as alluring individuals, are most likely to be seen in a sporty little number. Research shows that drivers of a Mazda 2 Sport are 31% more likely to be Pisceans, who celebrate their birthday from 20th February to 20th March.

Always in search of adventure, the car of choice for an Aries is a Daewoo Kalos or an Alfa Romeo. Taureans widely regarded as cool, calm and collected individuals, which is reflected in the most popular choice of car the Mazda 2 Tamura.

Geminis, described as curious, thirsty for knowledge and mischievous, are most likely to be seen in a Hyundai 130 Comfort than other star sign. Motorists carrying the Cancer star sign are most likely to drive a Vauxhall to complement their caring and sensitive side.

Regarded as charismatic and fortunate, it is no surprise that Leos are more likely to drive a Land Rover than other star signs. The British classic complements their traits perfectly.

Virgo drivers, described as confident, successful and creative, are more likely to drive a Lexus and Scorpions, who are known to be wise, are 40% more likely thanother star signs to drive a Fiat 500, an economical car.

Vauxhall Corsa is the most popular car choice of the thoughtful and happy-go-lucky Librans. Sagittarians are 30% more likely than average to drive a Subaru Optimistic than other star signs.

Capricorns, are most likely to drive a Volkswagen Beetle, the popular car makes a statement, which contradicts their seemingly quiet nature.

Yasmin Boland of www.moonology.com said of the findings: "It's very interesting to see the research here - there's no doubt that astrology is a good predictor of so many personality traits, including which car you're likely to drive,to how many speeding tickets you are likely to get.

"Fire signs (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) are the speedy people. Water signs (Cancer and Scorpio) are the ones who want safety and comfort. Air signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) are the ones who get the parking tickets because they get so caught up in what they're doing they forget the time, and Earth signs (Taureans, Virgos and Capricorns) signs which portray a cool persona and easy going people, which they personality is reflected in their choice of car."

Gareth Kloet, Head of car insurance at Confused.com, added: "A person's choice of car has always been a topic of discussion and many people make judgments about the car people choose to drive.

"It's interesting to know that the star sign you are born under can be a trigger to your choices. However, on a serious note, whatever car you choose, road safety is essential. We urge motorists to ensure they are covered adequately with their car insurance and to shop around for the best price."

Confused.com find Brits are a nation of DIY lovers but pay the price in home insurance claims

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:25:52 GMT

Confused.com has revealed that fifty-three per cent of homeowners are doing their own home improvements due to an increase in living costs. However, many of these projects are ending in disaster, with 11 per cent of those who 'have a go' then claiming on their home insurance.

A recent study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies warned that households are looking at a 3.8 per cent fall in earningswith data for the first 11 months of 2010-11, marking the largest fall in disposable income since 1981. As a consequence of this strain on income, homeowners in the UK are turning their hand to DIY.

Aside from money issues, the Confused.com survey also showed that thirty-nine per cent of Brits claim to have undertaken home improvement work after watching DIY programs; their favourite being Grand Designs (22 per cent).

Homeowners in Scotland and the West Midlands are most likely to do their own home improvements, with 23 per cent claiming to do DIY, compared with the North East where only 11 per cent do DIY.

Fifty per cent of homeowners in Northern Ireland also claimed to have done a successful job, compared with 26 per cent of homeowners in Wales who said their inspirational home improvements looked dreadful and out of this 26% of Welsh homeowners, if money were no object, then 67 per cent would pay someone to do their DIY.

Of all those UK homeowners surveyed, 31 per cent of these budding Kevin McClouds admitted to having DIY mishaps, and of these 31% homeowners, most disasters were taking place in households in Scotland (12 per cent) and Wales (12 per cent) resulting in home insurance claims.

Despite tackling DIY to save money, 6 per cent of Scottish homeowners have paid over £1,000 in the past 24 months rectifying their DIY disasters. A further15 per cent of Scottish homeowners have paid £200 or more in the same period, whereas those living in Northern Ireland paid out over £350 in the last two years to fix botched DIY. In Wales, 13 per cent said they have paid out £300 fixing bad DIY jobs in the last two years.

Mark Gabriel, Confused.com Home Insurance spokesman, said: "With the economy so fragile, people's finances are under more pressure and things aren't getting any easier particularly with the rise in petrol prices and food prices. Therefore people have turned to ways of saving money and have been inspired by home improvement programs.

"However it is important to remember that television often makes tasks look easier than they are. In fact, some home insurance policies stipulate that only professionally accredited tradesmen should carry out certain work, so it is worth checking that you are not inadvertently rendering your insurance invalid by failing to read the small print.

"It is important to look at your home insurance policy to check that you are fully covered, should things go wrong, and to check their policy details carefully. It is also necessary to take extra safety precautions, as DIY disasters can cause accidents."

For more information on home insurance, flat insurance and staying safe while DIYing, visit Confused.com.

Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Northern Rock honoured for its community service

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:20:11 GMT

Northern Rock has announced that it was commended in the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards for its dedication to community service. The honours were given just six months after Northern Rock was heralded among the most responsible businesses in the UK.

After receiving Business in the Community's (BITC) national Big Tick for its work to tackle financial exclusion, the readers of Mortgage Finance Gazette have now commended the bank in its annual awards.

The magazine's readers nominated the lender in recognition of its work in the voluntary sector, and the judges, including journalists from the national press, industry experts, and the editors of 'What Mortgage' and 'Mortgage Finance Gazette,' were particularly impressed by the bank's staff involvement in the community as well as other fundraising and voluntary activities.

Representatives from Northern Rock collected the commendation in the 'Community Services Award' for large lenders at an event in the capital last night. The December edition of Mortgage Finance Gazette, a publication about mortgages and the mortgage industry, features coverage of the event.

Northern Rock's Customer and Commercial Director Andy Tate said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive a further commendation for our work in the community, and it is wonderful that our dedication to embedding this as part of our organisational culture is being recognised.

"Awards like this are further endorsement of the valuable role Northern Rock and its colleagues play in supporting its local communities, particularly those facing financial difficulty."

Judge Joanne Atkin, Editor of Mortgage Finance Gazette said that she and her colleagues had had had a difficult job and that those who had been highly commended were truly deserving. She added: "Community is at the core of Northern Rock's business strategy which is framed and communicated through four Cs - colleague, customer, company and community.

"Community within Northern Rock is about giving of both time and money. The Samaritans is Northern Rock's corporate charity of the year but it also works with a number of good causes: Women's Aid, a fight against domestic violence; The Cyrenians, which operates refuges for the homeless around the UK; Shelter, Crisis, The People's Kitchen and a partnership which enables a small community-based bank to relieve the financial hardship of individuals and families resulting from poor money management, unmanageable levels of high interest debt and no savings."

ENDS

About Northern Rock:
Northern Rock plc. is a bank, authorised by the FSA as a deposit taker and mortgage lender from 1 January 2010. It offers savings accounts including an ISA, to customers in the UK and Ireland. It also offers mortgage products and a mortgage calculator to UK borrowers. New products are offered through both direct channels - including a national branch network - and mortgage intermediaries.

Northern Rock continues to operate within the compensatory measures agreed with the EC as part of the State Aid approval announced in October 2009.

In June 2011, Northern Rock was awarded a national Big Tick Award in Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence, in the category of Building Stronger Communities.

Northern Rock video investigates money worries

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:00:53 GMT

Northern Rock's latest video has put consumers in the spotlight as they reveal that by far their biggest money worry is paying the mortgage each month.

The bank took to the streets to find out what concerns people most about their finances, and the overwhelming majority of consumers confirmed their mortgage payment was their biggest financial worry.

As recent research undertaken by Northern Rock showed, many UK mortgage borrowers coming to the end of their fixed rate deal could be better off if they took a mortgage with Northern Rock. The bank is confident it can help reduce this concern for customers, and put them back in control of their finances.

Lloyd Cochrane, Head of Lending Products at Northern Rock said: "Fixed rate pricing across the market is at an all-time low and we continue to offer some very attractive deals, as well as our Freedom to Fix option, a Tracker which gives customers the opportunity to fix if interest rates should start to rise.

"We believe we can help many of these consumers to reduce their anxiety over their monthly mortgage payment by helping them find a Northern Rock mortgage that works for them. Whether you'd like the security of knowing what your payment will be for the next two years or you’re looking for more flexibility, we’re sure we have an option to suit you."

More information on Northern Rock's current range of mortgages can be found at its award-winning mortgages website, located at www.northernrock.co.uk/mortgages/putting-you-in-control/.

The site also includes a range of interactive tools, such as a jargon buster, budget planner and mortgage calculator, to help take the complexity out of selecting the right mortgage.

- ENDS -

About Northern Rock:
Northern Rock plc is a bank, authorised by the FSA as a deposit taker and mortgage lender from 1 January 2010. It offers savings accounts, including an ISA, to customers in the UK and Ireland and mortgage products to UK borrowers. New products are offered through both direct channels - including a national branch network - and mortgage intermediaries.

Northern Rock continues to operate within the compensatory measures agreed with the EC as part of the State Aid approval announced in October 2009.

About the BITC Awards:
In June 2011, Northern Rock was awarded a national Big Tick Award in Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence, in the category of Building Stronger Communities.

The BITC Awards identify and celebrate companies having a positive impact on the community, environment, marketplace and workplace. The Big Tick winners demonstrate significant impact and high quality management of their responsible business practices and can show a positive impact both on society and on the business. Now in their 14th year, they are the UK’s leading awards for responsible business practice. Business in the Community stands for responsible business. More information can be found at www.bitc.org.uk.

The Jaguar Land Rover Building Stronger Communities Award recognises companies that are investing in the communities in which they operate and those in greatest need, achieving sustainable impact on key social issues in these areas.

Elephant.co.uk reveals motorists quickly forget the Highway Code

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:29:43 GMT

Elephant.co.uk, an online car insurance provider and member of the Admiral Group, has announced new research which reveals how quickly people forget the Highway Code after having to memorise it for their driving test.

Since the theory test element of the driving test was introduced in 1996, memorising the Highway Code has been essential for anyone wanting to lose their L plates. However, new research suggests the rules of the Highway Code don't stay with motorists once they pass, with half of those surveyed saying they hardly remember any of it and only a third saying they have bothered to refer to it since they've passed their test.

Elephant.co.uk surveyed 3,000 motorists on the Highway Code to see just how important they think it is to being a good driver and how much they remember. They also decided to test them on some typical Highway Code questions to find out exactly how much motorists do remember, with mixed results.

Seventy per cent admitted they only learned the Highway Code to pass their driving test, and half said they remember none of the Code or just the odd bit of it now. This could explain why nearly half those questioned don't think they would pass the driving theory test if they had to sit it today.

When taking a simple test, the 3,000 people surveyed they got the right answer 55 per cent of the time, but some questions proved easier than others. Thankfully 88 per cent knew the speed limit on motorways is still 70mph, but only one in five knew that drivers should not use their horn between 11.30pm and 7.00am. Other questions which proved difficult were to name the correct stopping distance at 30mph, only 39 per cent knew it was 23 metres. Finally, only 30 per cent knew that red cat's eyes mark the left hand side of a road.

In response to the research, elephant.co.uk managing director and car insurance expert Brian Martin said: "The results of our mini test suggest the Highway Code is something most motorists only read in order to pass their driving theory test. The results were hit and miss, and it is concerning how few drivers remember some fairly basic rules of the road."

Regionally, motorists in the West Midlands were the least confident they would pass their theory test today (63 per cent) compared with those in the South West who were the most confident (80 per cent). This self confidence from motorists in the South West could be justified, as they answered the test questions correctly more times than those in any other region. Most regions scored very similar results for questions on the Highway Code, around 55 per cent. However those in the South West scored best with 58 per cent. The worst scoring region was the East Midlands, with 51 per cent.

However, with few motorists remembering much of the Highway Code today, elephant.co.uk's research did find that a large majority (68 per cent) think it is important to know it in order to be a good driver. A large section of those questioned (46 per cent) also think motorists should be retested on the Highway Code on a regular basis.

-ends-

About elephant.co.uk:
Elephant.co.uk was launched in August 2000 and has over 485,000 customers. Elephant.co.uk is a trading name of EUI Limited and is part of the Admiral Group plc.

Elephant.co.uk specialises in providing car insurance on the Internet. Elephant.co.uk targets 17-35 year-olds living in cities, who traditionally pay higher premiums for car insurance. Elephant.co.uk has committed to support the Tusk charity throughout 2011.

Elephant.co.uk writes its motor insurance business to a consortium of insurers, these being: Admiral Insurance Company Ltd, Admiral Insurance (Gibraltar) Limited and Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK) plc.

Confused.com reveals that keeping diabetes a secret could invalidate life insurance

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:39:48 GMT

New research by Confused.com has revealed that 26 per cent of people only have a vague idea what diabetes is, and worryingly 22 per cent of diabetes sufferers are not comfortable telling people about their condition, potentially putting their health at risk.

Keeping diabetes a secret not only makes diabetics more vulnerable but also means their life insurance could be invalidated.

This Confused.com research is supported by a survey conducted by Diabetes UK which shows that one in three people with diabetes have been keeping their condition a secret.

In light of this, Confused.com is warning against the dangers of keeping a medical condition secret and reminding people that their life insurance could be invalidated if they are not upfront about any condition they have been diagnosed with.

Diabetes is on the increase in the UK with one person diagnosed every three minutes. In fact 31% of people know someone with diabetes and there is an estimated half a million more people in the UK who are likely tohave diabetes but have not been diagnosed.

Diabetes is a more common condition than most people believe with an estimated 4 million people being diagnosed with this condition in 2025.

Matt Lloyd, Head of Life Insurance at Confused.com said: "Having a condition such as diabetes does not always mean you cannot get life insurance quotes. Particularly, if a person with diabetes is controlling their condition as directed by their doctor it is possible that they may be able to get a policy put in place. It is also worth going back to the insurer if you have made a positive change to your lifestyle since you were originally quoted for insurance because you may be entitled to a cheaper policy if you are healthier now than when you took out the policy."

About Confused.com:
Confused.com is one of the UK’s biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance quotes. Specialist life insurance cover comparison includes over 50s life insurance and term life insurance.

Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.

Top Articles Tagged with finance

Diamond reveals eagerness to accessorise putting some drivers at risk

Confused.com guides pet owners through the minefield of pet insurance

Confused.com reveals the cars topping the speeding charts

Provident Personal Credit 'Good Neighbour' programme reaches milestone

FreeAgent Alerts tool puts accountants on the front foot

Confused.com partners with medical insurance comparison website ActiveQuote

Confused.com and Nectar unveil Swap day in London with Keith Chegwin

Confused.com reveals regional Britain hit by insurance price rises higher than inflation

Prudential reveals expected retirement incomes hit five year low

Confused.com reveals that Life Insurance is more than a form of future protection

Admiral reveals car crime creating a nervy nation

Saxo Bank releases 10 Outrageous Predictions for 2012

Provident continues to maintain a presence in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes

Standard Life teams up with Legacy Asset Systems to support asset migration to Standard Life Wrap

Confused.com reveals most popular car choices for different star signs

Confused.com find Brits are a nation of DIY lovers but pay the price in home insurance claims

Northern Rock honoured for its community service

Northern Rock video investigates money worries

Elephant.co.uk reveals motorists quickly forget the Highway Code

Confused.com reveals that keeping diabetes a secret could invalidate life insurance