Men spend more on credit cards over summer

The summer months are a busy time for male credit card holders, with men expected to spend over £200 more than women.

Holidays and travel expenses are the main reasons men are set to outplastic their female counterparts, according to a new survey by Morgan Stanley credit cards.

Summertime will see the gap between male and female card use almost double from 19 per cent to 37 per cent the credit card firm reveals today.

While British males put an average of £269 each on their cards by taking their loved ones away, women are set to spend over £100 less. Female spending in the next three months will instead be focused on clothes, beauty products and on essentials bought from supermarkets.

"Men are the ones spending on this year's summer holiday. Women, on the other hand, continue to use their credit card for everyday expenditure gaining rewards for buying grocery items and clothes,? commented Patrick Muir, marketing director, Morgan Stanley Consumer Banking.

"These results show that across the board, people are comfortable using their credit cards for both everyday and luxury purchases, often making the most of cash back schemes and being rewarded for the things they buy anyway."

Overall, summertime will see our plastic more busy, with national predicted spend increasing by almost five per cent over the next three months.

However, in tune with the image of a more conservative Britain, while spending is up over the summer the nation intends to spend 12 per cent less in summer 2005 than it did last year.

Men are set to splash a total £961 on their credit cards in the next three months, while women will spend a more restrained £700 each, Morgan Stanley reveals.

Its4Me Car Insurance

Its4Me Car Insurance

Its4me Car Insurance is an Internet-only insurance broker that promises to offer extremely competitive quotes from the usual panel of insurance firms. Imports are prohibited but everything else is fair game; quotes range from average to the exceptionally cheap.

• No claims discount protection


• Legal cover

Its4me Car Insurance is yet another broker that promises to find the best price from the inevitable "panel of leading insurers". Limitations are reasonably few: you can't insure an import or a minibus, but everything else is fair enough. The quotation form is reasonably well designed and doesn't take too long to complete, and there's an "e-chat" button that promises to put you in touch with a human being for help - although the form is simple enough that we can't imagine you would need this feature. Prices can be particularly good with some of our quotes coming in at a few quid less than other sites.

Summary

Its4me is one of very few solely Internet based UK insurance companies; complete a short quotation form online and receive a quote that you can buy online using your credit or debit card for immediate cover. You can even print off your insurance certificate in most cases. If you are reluctant to give card details via the Internet you can complete the payment stage by telephone.

There is an extensive help section and if you are unable to find the answer to your question you can take advantage of their E-chat facility where you can talk to an advisor via email. Click below to get a quote now.

Get a quote

Internet banking confidence increases

Britons are growing ever more confident in their use of internet banking sites, Lloyds TSB finds.

New figures show that eight internet users in ten now say they are confident using online banking services.

"When we first launched our online service, many people thought that it was something only for the hi-tech generation but we now have over 1.8 million regular users and we've seen a 60 per cent increase in the number of transactions undertaken by customers online," Matthew Timms, internet and ATM director Lloyds TSB.

Men are more confident about using internet banking sites than women, with 84 per cent of British males saying they are either very confident or fairly confident about using online services.

While women display less confidence, more than three out of four (76 per cent) are still confident.

Predictably, over 55s are the group that is least confident about internet banking, but across the board confidence is rising fast.

One person in five says their confidence in the safety of online banking has improved significantly over the last few years while almost half (48 per cent) say their confidence has improved slightly.

Trust in managing finances online has grown as more people learn the importance of keeping passwords and personal information safe, Lloyds TSB reports.

"Even though people might be worried about things like phishing scams, it's great that so many internet users feel safe and secure banking online and we're keen to keep it this way," said Mr Timms.

Lloyds TSB has produced a website for those with concerns or questions about the security of internet banking. Its Security Learning Centre gives information and tips about various e-mail scams and ways of protecting computers from hackers.

Smile Current Account

The Smile Current Account

A lot of banks bang on about being different, but chest puffing apart, few actually live up to the claim. But at smile, they really can say it with conviction.

For starters, they've got a resident astrologer, Astro Anne (who had a feeling you'd be reading this now). And apparently she has already made her predictions of how the stars will affect you and your money this month.

So if you want to see if you should splash out on that fantastic top you've had your beady eye on, or throw caution to the wind and head off to New York for a weekend of shopping and partying, then check out her horoscope page. And if she's urging a bit of caution, there's no need to panic. Smile have loads of ways to make hard-earned cash stretch further.

Fuss-free options

Take their rather splendid current account for instance. It pays 3.04% AER on every single penny you have, which is around 30 times more interest than the high street banks. They also give you an automatic £500 overdraft too, at a generously low rate of just 9.9% EAR and free from tiresome arrangement fees.

Then there's their Visa card. Their standard rate is just 9.9% p.a. for current account holders, and 10.5% p.a. for everyone else, and they pay 0.5% cashback on all your purchases. Plus they've promised never to charge an annual fee. Can't be bad.

All this aside, the really refreshing thing about smile is that when you get an email from smile or talk to them on the phone, you are treated in a pleasant everyday fashion, there's none of the usual 'starchiness' associated with the banking industry.

You can access your account 24/7 either online or over the phone - their friendly staff are always available to help deal with any of your issues - relationship problems apart!

The ethical choice

But the icing on the cake is that they don't behave like a bank at all. They pride themselves on their ethical investment policy, which simply means they will not invest in organisations involved in anything from arms trading to genetic modification, or anyone who has less-than-perfect records on human or animal rights. So you're safe in the knowledge that your money isn't playing dirty.

Smile ensure that they do everything they can as an organisation to be as ecologically friendly as possible. The building they work in, for example, is even run on poo. To be more scientific, it's actually run on methane, a by-product of digested sewage, kindly 'donated' by the people of Bournemouth. But as proud as they are of this green credential, few members of staff are keen to know exactly how it works.

Summary

• 3.3% AER, that's over 30 times more interest than some other banks pay


• £500 fee-free overdraft, at only 9.9% EAR


• Special rates on our credit card, savings account and cash mini ISA


• All the convenience of banking online but with 24 hour support via e-mail or the telephone


• They have a strict Ethical Policy, which means your money will never be invested in unethical organisations


• They'll switch your old current account for you - hassle free. It usually takes just 14 days.

Their current account is loaded with benefits, including 3.3% AER interest on every penny in your current account, a guaranteed overdraft of £500 with no fee and a fee free overdraft at a rate of 9.9% EAR. If you're switching bank accounts, they'll even set up your direct debits and standing orders, so your account's up and running ASAP.

HSBC Current Account

The HSBC Current Account

With the HSBC Current Account you get free everyday banking - your Bank Account is free of charges in the UK for cheques, cash withdrawals from the HSBC/LINK network, Direct Debits, standing orders, automated bill payments and monthly statements.

You also get fee free 24/7 Internet Banking (subject to planned maintenance). Bank how you want to when you want to - you can check your balance, look at your statements or even pay your bills any time you like ? even in the middle of the night.

You get fee free arrangement of overdrafts up to £5,000 (subject to status) ? typical 14.8% EAR variable, free HSBC Bank international debit card (subject to status) and Price Promise Insurance ? Whenever you use your HSBC Bank international debit card to purchase branded goods on the UK high street, if you find the identical item for at least £10 less within 60 days, you could claim back the difference.

Moving to HSBC

It's no hassle to move to HSBC Bank - you'll experience a seamless transfer of your standing orders and Direct Debits. You'll receive your debit card and cheque book within five working days and your PIN (Personal Identification Number) within seven working days from the day they open your account. They'll get it right or they'll pay you £10 for each error.

Summary

HSBC - short for Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - is amongst the most popular UK high street banks. When you open a standard bank account you will get a Switch/Maestro card that you can use as a cashcard and debit card around the UK and abroad, a cheque book, internet and telephone banking and an overdraft facility. HSBC promise that it will be easy and simple to change your account over to them, and to reinforce this they promise to pay ten pounds for every promise they fail to fulfil. If you are at school, a student, a graduate, an international student or a new jobseeker then HSBC has a specially tailored option to suit you, simply click through to see how their rates and features compare.

The website is attractive and neat with clear sections so that you can see exactly what HSBC has to offer at a glance. If you are concerned about switching accounts then you can discuss it with a banking advisor live online in a chat window. You can also read up on the Premier option which is a 'first class' service that you can opt for if you want special personal attention and your own HSBC Premier Relationship Manager to support you over the telephone 24 hours a day.

Capital One Easy Access Account

The Capital One Easy Access Account

The Easy Access savings account from Capital One features a competitive interest rate of 4.75% AER on investments of £2,000 to £1m. (AER includes a bonus of 0.3% for the first year, reverting to 4.75% thereafter).

Your interest payments are made either monthly or annually, depending on which you prefer and are tracked to the Bank of England base rate until at least the 31st March 2007, ensuring you a competitive rate of interest on your savings.

Who can open a Capital One account?

Any private individual who is a UK resident and aged 18 years or over can open a Capital One Savings Account - you do not need to be an existing Capital One customer. These accounts are not intended for use by businesses, clubs, charities and other organisations.

Can I open a joint account?

Yes, up to 4 individuals can be linked to a single savings account. Each of the joint account holders is able to transact on the account, without requiring authorisation from all account holders.

How do I open an account?

To open an account, simply complete the account opening form and follow the steps outlined in the form. Click here to apply for an account.

Summary

• 4.75% AER including first year bonus of 0.3%


• Invest between £2,000 and £1m


• Unlimited, no-penalty access to your money with no notice period


• Interest paid monthly or annually


• Interest rate to track the Bank of England Base Rate until 31st March 2007

The Easy Access savings account from Capital One features a competitive interest rate of 4.75% AER on investments of £2,000 to £1m. (AER includes a bonus of 0.3% for the first year, reverting to 4.75% thereafter)

The rate is guaranteed to track the Bank of England Base Rate until at least 31st March 2007, and you can choose monthly or annual interest payments.

Unlike some high interest savings accounts, the Easy Access account has absolutely no access restrictions - you're free to access some or all of your funds at any time with no notice period or penalty.

Apply now

Retirement at 65 'sacred'

UK residents view retirement at or before 65 as sacred, and do not believe they will live longer than their parents or have to work longer, a new report reveals.


Mistrust of the pensions industry, and the government, is driving the belief - with the people studied by the influential ippr think tank trusting the personal experiences of their friends and family more than studies by government or companies.

"There is a consensus among pension experts that increased life expectancy will make it necessary for us to work longer. Our research shows that the public are not convinced and distrust the evidence from employers, the financial services industry and government, basing their expectations on the experiences of friends and family," said Peter Robinson, ippr senior economist.

But while the public does not believe reports that people in the UK will have to start retiring later or having a poorer retirement, ippr calculates that the age people receive their state pension will have to rise to 67 to make the current system sustainable.

"Raising the state pension age is vital if the UK pensions system is to remain sustainable and cope with the pressure of an ageing population. One way to build a consensus on increasing the state pension age is to link it with an increase in the basic state pension," Mr Robinson added.

The head of the government's pensions commission said earlier this month that the average UK retirement age would "undoubtedly" rise in the wake of the current pensions crisis.

"If there are more pensioners relative to workers, something's got to give," Adair Turner said.

Mr Turner was commissioned by the government to examine ways of handling the UK's growing pensions gap - estimated at £37 billion a year. His report is due out by the end of November.

"If you look at the ratio of people aged over 65 to those aged 20-65, that ratio will something like double by 2040 and when that happens there are only a small number of things we can do about it," Mr Turner commented.

"Those are that we increase the average age of retirement - that will undoubtedly happen, it's beginning to happen already - or we have to have higher taxes to pay for pensions for a larger number of pensioners, or people have to save more themselves in addition to what the state does for them."

The TUC, among others, are heavily opposed to the idea of raising the age at which people receive their state pensions. The trade unions group has concerns that this will see many people 'work until they drop' - especially those on limited incomes - and never receive retirement income.

The ippr today recommends a suite of changes to the pension system to minimise the impact of the current 'crisis'.

Its recommendations include:

• Raising the basic state pension to just above the relative poverty line and ensuring it retains its value in relation to earnings in the future.


• Phasing out both the pension credit and state second pension since, with an enhanced non means-tested basic pension, they would be redundant.


• Raising the state pension age to 67 by 2030 to give a clear signal to the current workforce that we will need to work longer and to ensure the overall settlement is affordable over the long run.


• Simplifying the tax treatment of savings so that pensions are the most tax-favoured form of saving.

Parents put faith in cash accounts

When given the option, the majority of parents are choosing to invest their child trust fund vouchers in cash accounts.

In June, 70 per cent of the accounts taken out were for cash rather than stakeholder funds, the Building Societies Association (BSA) reveals today.

Under the child trust fund scheme parents of children born after September 1st 2002 have been sent a voucher worth at least £250 to invest on their child's behalf.

They can choose where to invest the voucher, and whether they want a stakeholder account that invests in shares and other assets or a cash account that builds up interest like a standard savings account.

Once opened the account builds up interest tax-free, and family and friends can contribute up to £1,200 extra a year. The money can be withdrawn from the account from the child's 18th birthday onwards.

In June 2005, more than 50,000 child trust funds were opened by the eight providers offering both cash and stakeholder accounts, the BSA reports.

However, recent surveys revealed that there are more than a million vouchers that have yet to be invested, with one voucher in four possibly lost.

If the voucher is not invested in the first 12 months after its issue, the government invests the voucher on the child's behalf in a stakeholder account.

"It is still early days, but the BSA's second set of figures show that when given the choice, most parents are choosing cash child trust funds for their children," said Brian Morris, head of savings policy at the Building Societies Association.

"Anecdotal evidence suggests that many parents have still not decided where to put their child's voucher. We believe that parents should have the choice between cash and equity investments and building societies are helping to give them that choice."

With this bank account, I thee wed

Millions of Britons are letting their bank balance rule their heart - as the cost of splitting up soars.

Following a doubling of property prices in five years, and with personal debt skyrocketing through the £1 trillion barrier last summer, many people simply cannot afford to leave their partner.

More than one woman in three says they could not afford their mortgage repayments if they split from their partner, new research from Skipton Building Society reveals.

And this financial interdependency leads to an unhappy life, with one person in eleven saying they would be more likely to leave their better half if money was not an issue.

The majority of Britons point squarely to the booming property market as a cause for this increase in money-over-love couples.

Three quarters of the population believe having large amounts of equity in a property is keeping couples together as it becomes difficult to buy out a partner, and two people in three blame extortionate property prices directly for the rise in unhappily cohabiting couples.

"There's no doubting two incomes are better than one and by sharing the cost of living, couples can have a nicer lifestyle - but at what cost to their relationship?" said Jennifer Holloway, head of media relations at Skipton Building Society.

Skipton's research finds that women are faring worse than men, with more than twice as many saying they could not afford mortgage payments on their own and 16 times as many saying they would have to rely on their ex for financial support.

"While we're seeing a growing trend for those choosing the high life over their love life, for those who decide to make the break, it's important they get their finances in order to make the most of what money they have," Ms Holloway commented.

"Even better is for couples moving in together to consider completing a living together agreement, such as the one recently launched by advicenow.org.uk, which sets out their financial position before getting too far down the line."

Liverpool Victoria Personal Loan

Liverpool Victoria Personal Loan

Liverpool Victoria is the UK's largest friendly society and manages almost £7 billion for its members and customers. Being a mutual society means that Liverpool Victoria has no shareholders and is owned entirely by its members.

Liverpool Victoria offers a range of products and services including Liverpool Victoria credit cards, savings, investments, life assurance, home and motor insurance.

Features of the Liverpool Victoria Personal Loan

The Liverpool Victoria loan includes an optional three-month repayment holiday. Repayments are fixed for the life of the loan, and you can choose the length of time you need to pay it back. Always remember that the longer you take to repay a loan, the more expensive the total amount payable will be.

Things to consider about the Liverpool Victoria Personal Loan

The main drawback is that the lowest rate available only applies if you borrow a larger amount. Loans for small amounts will attract a higher interest rate. This is true of many personal loan suppliers.

Summary

Whether it's a new computer, a new or second-hand car, home improvements or a special holiday, a Liverpool Victoria Personal Loan gives you the flexibility to decide what you want to purchase when you want. Whatever the reason a Liverpool Victoria Personal Loan is very quick and easy to arrange.

The rate you receive when you apply formally will depend upon your circumstances and the amount you would like to borrow.

Liverpool Victoria secured loans offer lower interest rates than unsecured loans because there is less risk to a finance company. Choose a secured loan from Liverpool Victoria because the savings in interest over the term of the loan can be quite considerable.

Apply now

Cahoot Credit Card

The Cahoot Credit Card

You may remember the advertisements for Cahoot credit card on TV featuring people searching for the mythical Cahoot, well the Cahoot credit card is far from mythical, it offers a long term standard low rate. There are no introductory offers, nothing to cloud your mind and to confuse you, just one long term low standard apr of 12%. The Cahoot brand is actually the online branch of Abbey, so you can be rest assured that you are in the hands of one of the most respected UK banks.

The Cahoot credit card won many awards when it was first launched as it was the first credit card that offered plain and simple terms with additional benefits that should keep cardholders content. These benefits range from cash back offers to shopping discounts, all of which can change from month to month so it is better to check their web site for the latest offers.

The more you review the Cahoot Credit Card the more you begin to find yourself getting very excited about this card and starting to feel the urge to apply now.

Summary

• The standard rates vary from 10% to 15% apr (12% typical APR variable) depending on your circumstances


• Regular cash back offers click here (changes regularly, check out cahoot web site)


• Win £1000 discounted from your credit card balance in the monthly prize draw


• Manage your account online


• Winner of Money£acts 'Best Credit Card (Standard Rate)'


• Free purchase protection


• Up to six weeks interest free credit


• Flexible repayment options to choose from which could lower your apr further


• The latest technology to safeguard your details


• Greater security with CHIP and PIN

Cahoot has attempted to drive some fresh ideas into banking. As part of the Abbey National group they are an Internet only bank with no high street presence. Their innovative approach and low costs mean they can offer exceptionally low rates across all their products.

The Cahoot credit card has one of the lowest standard rates available in the UK. It doesn't offer any special introductory rates or offers only on balance transfers or purchases, they simply offer just 12% typical APR on purchases and balance transfers whenever you use it. When compared to some of the other credit cards on the market that offer up to 18% APR you could make a huge saving. cashback offers are also made on selected purchases. A choice of card design, online applications & account management and free purchase protection mean this card is a very exciting proposition.

Apply now

MBNA Business Card

The MBNA Business Card

MBNA are a US company with a fantastic reputation as the worlds largest independent issuer of credit cards. Their arrival in the UK signalled the start of the massive competition in the UK credit card market and brought about the low interest rate credit cards we have today.

When you have your own business, it's a great idea to have a credit card designed specifically for business. Why? It puts you more in control of your business spending. The MBNA Platinum Plus MasterCard for Business affords any size business owner with some great benefits. With free cards for as many employees as you want, each with it's own individual credit limit, the possibility of tax benefits on interest, along with free employee misuse insurance, and quarterly statements, it simply makes good business sense.

MBNA offer two credit card options, one for sole traders and one for medium and large businesses.

The sole trader option is ideal for seperating out your personal and business expenditure and comes with up to 57 days interest free and no annual fee.

The medium to large business card is ideal if you want to give employees credit cards whilst maintaining control of spending. You can give each employee an individual credit limit and you get free air miles with BMI for every pound you spend. Ideal for those overseas flights.

Summary

The MBNA business credit card is ideal for both sole traders and medium to large sized business. For sole traders the ability to separate your personal and business expenditure is invaluable. The MBNA business credit card gives you an alternative option in having a positive cash flow. For medium to large sized business the MBNA business credit card is a great option to be able to give the credit card to key employees and at the same time keep control of their spending. Apply today and receive a fantastic introductory rate of just 4.9% APR on all balance transfers and purchases for the first 6 months.

• Up to 57 days interest free


• No annual fee


• Credit Card and cheque book will show your business name.


• Itemized monthly statements for easy admin.


• Convenient way to pay suppliers


• FREE Purchase Protection Insurance


• Flexible payment options

Apply now

Alliance & Leicester Premier Plus Current Account

The Alliance & Leicester Premier Plus Current Account

The Premier Plus account was voted Best Current Account 2005 by Moneywise Magazine and offers 50 times more interest than some other banks offer- 5.00% AER (fixed until 30/09/06)1 on balances up to £2,500. Interested? Then read on.

5% AER, that's amazing but what else do I get?

If you are 21 or over, can pay in at least £1,000 per month and use Internet Banking regularly you will also benefit from:

• No hassle account switcher service to make it easier to move from your existing bank. - Setting up a new bank account is usually a turgid affair but the Premier Plus account makes it easy and straightforward.


• 0% overdraft for 12 months from account opening, 7.9% EAR typical (variable) thereafter - A superb overdraft facility should your finances be temporarily stretched.


• FREE annual worldwide travel insurance currently worth up to £80 (upper age limit 65 applies)


• 0.10% AER (variable) on balances over £2,500

The more you review the Alliance & Leicester Premier Plus account the more you begin to find yourself getting very excited about this offer and starting to feel the urge to apply now.

Summary

If you are 21 or over and can pay in at least £1,000 per month, the Premier Plus account could be for you! Alliance & Leicester are offering a market leading interest rate of 5.00 % AER and the lowest overdraft rate on the high street - 0% EAR ? PLUS £25 Cashback when you buy online!

Apply now

RSPCA Platinum Card

The RSPCA Platinum Card

The RSPCA is a respected charity dedicated to helping animals in need. The acronym RSPCA actually stands for Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. A truly worthwhile cause, and a credit card offer that will help that worthy cause without you even knowing about it.

You will receive a credit card that is as good as any other offer on the UK market, with an introductory 0% balance transfer offer that will last for 5 months, a choice of different card designs, up to 56 days interest free grace period, free internet delivery insurance and free purchase protection. The purchase protection will insure you against loss or theft of any goods that you have bought using the RSPCA credit card.

However, the main point about this card is not the introductory balance transfer option but the rewards scheme. No you do not receive the rewards but the RSPCA do. When you are first accepted and use the credit card the RSPCA will automatically receive a £15 donation with not much effort from you. Then every time that you use the credit card the RSPCA will receive even more contributions, approximately 25p for every £100 spent. Is there an easier way to give to a good cause? With a choice of 3 credit card designs including the cute dog and cute cat pictures you will have a feel good credit card for your use!

Summary

• 3 different card types available


• 0% APR on balance transfers for 5 months


• 14.9% typical APR variable


• RSPCA will receive a donation of £15 just for taking out this card


• RSPCA will receive 25p for every £100 you spend


• Credit limit up to £20000


• Free travel accident insurance up to £250,000


• No annual fee


• Free purchase protection


• Free internet delivery insurance


• Up to 8 weeks interest free credit on purchases


• Online decision within 60 seconds

The RSPCA credit card is issued by Beneficial bank in conjunction with the RSPCA. As the UK's most famous animal charity the RSPCA credit card allows you to have all the benefits of a a very competitive credit card and the peace of mind that when you take out the card and every time you use it the RSPCA benefits.

The card features are very competitive for a card of this type - 0% on balance transfers fixed for 5 months from account opening so you can take advantage of a great balance transfer rate if you have an existing credit card by switching to the RSPCA credit card. The standard rate of 14.9% is also highly competitive.

The real difference with this card is how it helps the RSPCA carry on their good work. Just for taking out the card the RSPCA receives £15 from the card issuer Beneficial, and every time you spend on the card the RSPCA receives 25p out of every £100. And if you continue to use the card the RSPCA receives a further £1 on each anniversary of the card issue. This is a great way to help a great cause simply by using what most of do everyday - a credit card. The application form is a very simple and you even get a decision on your application in 60 seconds. What better credit card than one which offers great rates and allows you to help sick and injured animals through the RSPCA.

Marbles Credit Card

The Marbles Credit Card

Marbles were one of the first credit card offers to appear online and their credit card is still as popular today. The Marbles credit card is underwritten by HFC bank and still has one of the best offers in the UK.

If you have a balance on your current credit card you could utilize the Marbles' introductory 0% balance transfer option to start saving instantly, or there is the 0.5% cash back on everything that you spend, saving you money again.The offers do not end there, with regular discounts at selected partners, which are updated regularly, you will regularly save money on various items. Also, we must mention another very important point about the Marbles credit card which is the low apr that it offers, if you don't clear your balance every month then typical apr is only 11.9% variable, among the lowest apr's for a credit card with so many benefits.

There are additional benefits of the credit card which most notably would be free internet fraud guarantee and also free internet delivery insurance. This means that you can shop online or offline with complete confidence.

Summary

• 0% balance transfers for 6 months


• 0.5% cash back


• 11.9% typical APR variable


• Discounts available at Fitness First and I want one of those


• Also discounts for music downloads and also film hire.


• These offers are updated and changed regularly


• Marbles periodically run competitions and promotions


• Internet delivery insurance - Free


• Internet fraud guarantee - Free


• Choice of 'marble' colours to choose from

Marbles credit card is an online credit card that allows you to apply online and run your account online although they do still send paper statements every month through the post. You can choose from 4 funky card designs which are guaranteed to get you noticed when you use them at your local shops. Marbles is provided by HFC bank one of the largest credit card issuers in the UK. They have a 24 hour customer service line that allows you to make changes to your account any time of day or night. This added service is particularly good compared with other online only credit cards. They offer an excellent rate of 0% for 6 months on balance transfers which should save you money compared to what you pay on your current balance. The standard rate is typically 11.9% APR (variable). One of the main selling points of marbles is the safe shopping promise - they guarantee that if you are defrauded online marbles will refund the difference - no quibbles. Marbles credit card also gives you internet delivery insurance so if something you buy online goes missing in the post you get your money back. You also get 0.5% cashback on everything you spend with the marbles card.

Apply now

Make £38,000 on A-Day

New figures from Scottish Life show how a canny investor can add £38,000 to their net worth when investment rules change next year.

From April 6th next year ("A-Day") the rules surrounding self investment pension plans change, and if this is properly exploited savers can use their property to turn a loan of £34,000 into a pension pot of over £72,000, the pensions firm has calculated - a profit of £38,000.

This is because from A-Day onwards people can pay 100 per cent of their earnings into their pension plan and get tax relief. They can also unlock the tax-free cash from their pension fund without being required to buy an annuity, the pension firm points out.

Currently large numbers of UK residents hold much of their wealth in their home, but with some planning people can use the value of their home to increase their pension fund as well.

The system works like this:

A higher-rate tax payer releases £75,000 from the value of their property - for example through re-mortgaging - and pays this into their pension.

The government then provides basic-rate tax relief on the money paid into the pensions fund - taking the amount contributed up to £96,153.85.

An extra £17,307 can be claimed back via a tax self-assessment form - as the difference between higher rate tax relief and basic rate tax relief.

If the investor is over 50 they can then immediately take 25 per cent out of their pension tax-free (£24,038.46) and use the money to reduce their mortgage.

Overall this means their mortgage has increased by £33,654.54 and their pension fund has grown from nothing to £72,115.39.

"There's been a lot written recently about residential property being the new and exciting asset class to invest in your pension after A-Day," said Andy Taylor, Scottish Life's individual pensions marketing manager.

"In reality this is old news - individuals have been using their residential property to provide for their retirement for some time. But if you look at some of the changes being introduced to pension plans, and the fact that many people are already releasing equity from their homes to fund retirement, then I think we have a very interesting opportunity indeed."

Green technologies fuelling stock market investments

As climate change becomes an ever bigger political issue, stocks in companies producing alternative energy are tempting investors.

And Andy Crossley, fund manager at Invesco Perpetual's UK smaller companies fund, has given a rundown of where he sees the best opportunities for growth.

He pointed to firms including D1 Oils, which is establishing plantations of Jatropha Curcas trees - which can be used to produce a sustainable, low cost biodiesel and other valuable by-products.

"Increasing concerns over global warming and the decline of traditional mineral fuel supplies are driving the growth of biofuels as substitutes for petrol and diesel," Mr Crossley explained.

"Biodiesel is a biodegradable, environmentally friendly fuel, which can be used in existing diesel engines without modification, or can be blended with petroleum diesel in varying quantities."

He pointed out that his fund also has exposure to companies involved with the collection and trading of carbon credits.

Emissions trading is a process where firms unable to cut carbon dioxide emissions due to the nature of their business - for example an airline or concrete manufacturer - can buy 'carbon credits' from companies that are beating their targets.

"Point Carbon, a company which provides independent analysis of the carbon emissions market, forecasts that the global market for carbon credits is likely to reach ?34 billion by 2010," Mr Crossley noted.

"The price of carbon emissions is certainly very strong at the moment, so the companies involved with the trading of the carbon credits are performing well. We have invested in Agcert, for example, which collects carbon credits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the operation of methane capturing systems on huge livestock farms in South America. These credits are then sold to companies unable to meet their carbon emission targets."

Along with trading of carbon and a move to biofuels, there is also considerable interest in renewable energy. This is when electricity is generated, not by limited resources like oil, coal, or uranium, but by naturally occurring unlimited sources including solar energy, wind power, and tidal stations.

Invesco's Mr Crossley noted: "Many companies utilise existing technologies to harness natural energy sources, and many more are developing new technologies to extract this energy more efficiently. Ocean Power Technology, for example is a company in which we have invested, that implements wave power technologies using an ocean-going buoy to capture and convert wave energy."

One technology in particular that is drawing attention is the fuel cell.

While this technology is not new, it is seen as the long-term replacement for the internal combustion engine in cars and planes - with General Motors, Ford, and Honda all working on it. A fuel cell takes on a hydrogen-rich fuel, and converts it to electricity - with the only emission is water.

The technology can also be made small enough to power laptops and even mobile phones - potentially replacing batteries.

"We have invested in several companies involved with the development and manufacture of fuel cells," said Mr Crossley.

He particularly highlighted Voller Energy - which manufactures portable fuel cell systems for use as battery chargers and mobile generators.

"Climate change is clearly a significant international issue, and its impact on the global economy will be considerable. Coupled with the decline of traditional fossil fuels, we see renewable energy as being an area of vast potential in the next few years," Mr Crossley concluded.

Picture Secured Loans

About Picture Loans

These are just some of the ways Picture Finance can help you with a choice of loan amounts and repayment terms from 6.9% to 9.9% APR variable.

• If you're a homeowner, you could borrow any amount between £5,000 and £100,000 from Picture Finance.


• You can repay the loan over any period from 5 to 25 years


• Picture Finance rates start at just 6.9% to 9.9% APR variable


• And the Picture Finance typical rate is just 7.7% APR variable


• You can borrow up to 125% of your home's value, less your outstanding mortgage balance


• There are no arrangement fees

Each Picture Loans customer is allocated a loan consultant - your single point of contact throughout the loan term. So you'll know exactly who you're dealing with every time you contact us, and they'll understand your situation and requirements without the need for endless questions.

Speak to them and you'll find your Picture Loan Consultant is friendly, professional, and based here in the UK. They'll treat you as an individual, listening to your needs and arranging the loan that's exactly right for you. There's no hassle and no fuss. Just great service and intelligent, affordable solutions.

The more you review the Picture Loan the more you begin to find yourself getting very excited about this loan and starting to feel the urge to apply now.

To apply for your Picture loan or find out more information simply visit the Picture loan website below:

Picture Loans

Norwich Union Health Insurance

Norwich Union are one of the UK's leading insurance providers and their online service is the equal of their tradition post-and-phone dealings. If you're worried about whether the NHS would be able to take care of you, your family or even your company members should any of the above fall ill or need surgery, you may wish to consider Norwich Union's private health insurance. In exchange for your monthly premium payments, you'll have access to treatment in over 200 private hospitals around the UK, and you can also benefit from NU's 24 hour GP helpline and their Personal Health Manager service, through which you can have your symptoms assessed, and even get advice on how to live more healthily.

Do you want these things from your health insurance?

• Access to fast, high quality healthcare treatment


• Specialist advice at private hospital facilities


• Treatment at a time and location convenient to you


• To avoid having to go through the hassle of NHS waiting lists


• A personal online and phone based health manager service from a leading UK medical insurance company

Then you are looking for private health insurance from Norwich Union, a leading UK medical insurance company.

They cover the cost of eligible in-patient treatment and day-patient treatment plus many of the other costs that can arise from a stay in hospital, all of which will be carried out at high quality private facilities, most with
en-suite private rooms, with no set visiting times and your own television.

What are the benefits of individual private health insurance from Norwich Union?

• A hospital network of private hospitals including BUPA, Nuffield, BMI hospitals and NHS private wings, ensuring there will be a hospital close to you.


• You can make as many claims as you need and your premium will not increase as a result.


• You can use our 24 hour GP Helpline to get medical advice whenever you need it.


• Personal Health Manager for symptom assessment, health planner and medical encyclopaedia to help you stay healthy.


• Support when you really need it with a team dedicated to help with any cancer claims, supported by Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Summary of the Norwich Union Health Insurance service

Norwich Union's site provides full details of their insurance policies, including summary pages outlining benefits and areas of cover, as well as downloadable policy documents for those who like to scour the small print before signing up. It's quick and easy to get an online quote, and if you like what they can offer you can go on to buy private health insurance straight away through the site. There's also a selection of Adobe documents offering guides to private medical insurance, applying for cover and chronic illnesses. Simply visit the Norwich Union website below for your quote.

Norwich Union

AA Personal Loan

The AA

Today, the AA is in many ways the same motoring organisation that motorists have trusted since 1905. Their millions of members make them by far the largest motoring organisation with some 3,300 highly trained patrols.

The principle difference these days is that they now provide services not only to get you safely from A to B, but also to help organise your finances and even buy a new or second-hand car. The AA really can offer you everything you need.

The AA and The AA Motoring Trust also provide expert knowledge and advice on transport issues that are respected by AA members, the public, safety experts and the Government.

Features of the AA Personal Loan

When looking for a personal loan you'd be forgiven for looking at rates first and benefits second.

Several benefits of the AA Fixed Personal loan include a break on repayments and a rapid turnaround: after being accepted you could be receiving your cheque within 24 hours.

Summary

• Typical APR - 5.9% Fixed


• Loan amount - £3,000-25,000


• Loan term - 12-84 months


• Loan fee - £0.00


• Early redemption charge - Yes


• Payment protection insurance - Yes

The more you review the AA Personal Loan the more you begin to find yourself getting very excited about this loan and starting to feel the urge to apply now.

With an AA Loan you can get a decision in minutes & receive a cheque within a couple of days.

The AA Loan service allows to borrow up to £25,000 with a repayment term from 1 to 7 years. In addition you can benefit from a 3 month repayment holiday and have the option to take out AA loan protection to safeguard payments against sickness or redundancy.

Get an AA quote today or compare leading UK loans below:

AA Loan - get online quote


Compare personal loans

Zopa Borrowing Exchange

What is Zopa Borrowing Exchange?

Zopa is the world's first borrowing exchange. What they do is very simple: they put people who want to lend in touch with creditworthy individuals who want to borrow - and because there is no middleman, both people get a great deal.

Zopa was created by a core of the team that created Egg - including Richard Duvall (CEO, formerly the Co-creator of Egg) and James Alexander (CFO, formerly, Strategy Director at Egg).

Zopa is backed by Benchmark Capital ? the people who backed eBay - and Wellington Partners, so have some real calibre behind them.

Are Zopa a new company?

Yes, Zopa was formed in April 2005. Despite their relative youth they've already achieved outstanding results:

• More than 24,000 registered members


• £3 million of offers on the exchange


• No missed repayments, no defaults, no fraud


• No issues with regulators


• Zopa mentioned in Parliament as a leading innovative FS proposition that meets the government's financial inclusion agenda


• Partnerships with Paypal, Yahoo!, Interactive Investor


• Requests received to launch Zopa from 18 different countries (including US, Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, Brazil, China, India, Australia)

How much can I borrow?
The minimum loan is £2,000, and the maximum you can borrow will be your individual credit limit (maximum £15,000). Zopa makes its money by charging borrowers a 1% fee.

How are repayments calculated?

Your total amount repayable is the total amount you've borrowed. It includes the loan amount, Zopa's fee, and the total interest you would pay if you repaid the loan over the agreed term. You make monthly repayments. However, you can pay off the outstanding amount on your loan at any time without penalty.

Are Zopa better value than other lenders?

Zopa says borrowers "should expect to get rates as good as or better than the best rates available on the high street". This week, interest rates were running at between 5% and 9%, depending on your credit rating and the term of the loan.

However, Alliance & Leicester, Direct Line and Churchill are offering unsecured personal loan rates as low as 5.9% APR, according to data provider Moneyfacts. "It's hard to see who really benefits from using this service," says Richard Mason at price comparison website moneysupermarket.com

Can I choose who I borrow from - and will I know who they are?

No, you can't choose. Your loan will be made up of money from several different people. You'll be able to see the names of your lenders but you won't get any of their contact details such as addresses.

I might be interested in lending money. What's in it for me?

Zopa says lenders should make a 6%-7% return per year if they relend all the money repaid to them (an average "bad debt" rate of 4% is already taken into account), which it says is 1%-2% higher than the current best savings account rate. However, a quick look at Moneyfacts (go to moneyfacts.co.uk) shows there is no shortage of savings accounts paying more than 5%, with some regular savings accounts paying as much as 7%. Some may feel Zopa isn't offering a good enough return to make it worthwhile, bearing in mind the risks.

What's the procedure?

You can lend up to £25,000 (there's no fee to pay). You pick a market, depending on the level of risk you're happy to take. You choose the length of time you want to lend their money for and set the interest rate you're happy to accept.

Give me an example.

If you lent £1,000 for one year at 6% (and assume everyone pays back), your total interest would be £31.92, not £60. That's because your borrowers do not borrow the full £1,000 for one year, so do not pay interest on the entire amount for that period. After six months you would have received back more than £500, but then you can relend the money and earn interest again.

Is it safe?

Zopa insists it is very safe - it is regulated by the Office of Fair Trading and the Financial Services Authority - and boasts high levels of online security and fraud protection, but concedes that as a new company, it has "a chance of failure".

Zopa members aren't covered by the official banking industry safety net scheme which provides compensation of up to £31,700 (100% of the first £2,000 and 90% of the next £33,000) if a financial institution fails.

Janice Allen at the National Consumer Council says that while it sounds attractive, it's unknown territory. "It's a leap in the dark for everybody, whether you're a lender or a borrower. And there is no track record for people to look at."

So it's not really like a bank at all?

In some respects Zopa isn't very different from the banks. Like them, it will earn commission by selling borrowers its (optional) payment protection insurance, which covers customers who are unable to keep up payments on their loans if they are made redundant or fall sick. If a borrower misses a repayment and doesn't contact Zopa first, it may hit them with a £20 fee. And if an individual fails to pay back their loan, Zopa will "get tough" and use exactly the same recovery processes that the banks use. If it doesn't recover the money, it will call in a debt collection agency.

How can I find out more about Zopa?

To find out more simply visit the Zopa website below:

Zopa Borrowing Exchange

Bank of England holds interest rates

The Bank of England held firm amid the growing clamour for a cut in interest rates this month.

A suite of negative economic data has emerged since the Bank's interest-rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met in June, and many commentators believed that this could lead to an interest cut today.

Interest rates have now been steady at their three-and-a-half year high of 4.75 per cent for 12 months.

Following the decision to hold rates today, the analysts now believe they are set to fall next month.

"The decision to leave interest rates unchanged today is likely to have been a close run thing, and we expect a 0.25 per cent cut to occur in August," said Howard Archer, chief UK economist at consultancy firm Global Insight.

He added that he expects a further cut in rates to 4.25 per cent to follow in November, as continuing below-trend growth sets in.

Last month there were distinct signs that the Bank was moving towards a rate cut.

The minutes of June's MPC meeting showed that three members of the nine-strong committee changed their opinion towards a rate cut.

It had been 23 months since a member of the MPC voted for a cut in rates, but both Charles Bean and Marian Bell (who has since left the committee and been replaced by ex-Goldman Sachs economist David Walton) did so in the June 9 meeting. Additionally deputy governor Andrew Large shifted his position from calling for a rates rise to voting with the majority for a freeze.

Mr Large had voted for an increase in interest rates for the last three months.

And during the meeting members of the MPC were calling for prompt action to halt the slowdown in consumer spending.

"While there were arguments in favour of waiting for more information before taking action, that risked the slowdown in consumption becoming more entrenched. A small reduction in rates now might obviate the need for a larger reduction in interest rates at a later date," the minutes stated.

These comments, combined with recent negative data, led people concluded that interest rates are set to fall in the near future - with the majority of analysts now predicting a quarter-point cut in August.

Reacting to the Bank of England's decision to leave interest rates on hold, CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty said: "Many businesses will be disappointed that the MPC decided not to cut interest rates immediately.

"While the economic situation is not desperate, it is clear that manufacturing is teetering on the verge of recession, the retail sector is under considerable pressure and the housing market is stagnant.

"As there seems little risk of inflation, a cut in interest rates would be welcome, sooner rather than later."

Alliance & Leicester Business Banking

About Alliance & Leicester

The Alliance & Leicester Group can trace its origins back to 1852 and the formation of the Leicester Permanent Benefit Society.

Two key events in the history of the Group were the merger between the Alliance Building Society and Leicester Building Society in 1985 to form the Alliance & Leicester and the purchase of Girobank from the Post Office in 1990.

The Alliance & Leicester Business Banking Service

There are four main types of business bank accounts offered by Alliance & Leicster:

• Free Business Current Account - The big banks may claim to offer you free banking but if you look closer you'll notice that they limit the number of transactions you can make each month for free. With the A&L Free Business Current Account you don't need to worry, as all standard non-cash transactions are free and unlimited. More details here...


• Business Builder Account - The Business Builder Account was awarded the best business bank award in 2004 by Startups.co.uk and aims to help those businesses in the early stages of trading. There's no minimum balance requirement or monthly transaction charges. You don't even need to open, transfer or maintain a personal account with us to qualify. More details here...


• Instant Reserve Account - Like most businesses, you probably have some money put aside that is not essential to the day-to-day running of the company, but may be required immediately if the need arises. So why not make it work harder for you?
  
  With this Instant Reserve Deposit Account, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that your money will be available to you without giving notice, but also benefit from higher returns that are typical of longer-term deposits. You don't even need to have a current account with us. More details here...


• 30 Day Notice Account - With the Business 30-Day Notice Account from Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, you really can make your money work as hard as you do. You can withdraw your funds with just 30 days notice. If you make a withdrawal without giving notice, you simply lose 30 days interest on the amount you withdraw. With a minimum balance of £10,000 and no complicated rate tiers, you'll earn the same rate of interest, irrespective of balance. This is currently 4.60% AER (variable). More details here...

Summary

Alliance & Leicester Bank aims to offer an alternative way for businesses with charging structures that are fair, competitive and transparent. Despite the high praise for Alliance & Leicester, studies have shown that small firms generally feel let down by their bank, with many unhappy with the high fees and confusing terms and conditions applied to accounts.

The government forced all banks to pay interest on business accounts last year, but most small companies still believe they do not get the best deal from their accounts so we recommend you shop around to get the best deal for your business.

For more information visit the Alliance & Leicester website

Make £12,000 by switching bank

Residents of the UK could save £400 a year - adding up to £12,000 over a working life - by switching bank account, Which? has found.

The consumer body found that more than one person in three is annoyed with their bank, but in the last two years just five per cent of people have changed account.

Expensive overdrafts, loans, and credit cards - coupled with poor rates of interest on savings, current account balances, and ISAs - mean people who stay loyal to their bank are missing out on huge potential savings.

"More than one in three people are annoyed with their bank, which is hardly surprising when you consider some of the charges they dish out and the worthless products they try to sell," said Which? editor Malcolm Coles.

Along with expensive products, Which? also attacked the major high street banks for offering "unnecessary products" as well as charging for services that cost very little.

Hefty charges for unauthorised overdrafts and charges for using bank cards abroad were singled out as areas where banks made big money from customers. However, customers can avoid these charges by shopping around. Nationwide, for example, does not charge for use of cards abroad and the interest rate on an unauthorised overdraft for Alliance & Leicester Premier current account is just 7.9 per cent.

Payment protection insurance was given as the prime example of an unnecessary product, according to Which?

The consumer watchdog said this product was expensive, gives limited cover and, for many people, is worthless.

But despite the heavy savings that can be made by shopping around for products, rather than just going to a high street bank, four out of five people bank with one of the biggest five banks. But for savvy consumers there is a far wider choice - with more than 100 current accounts available to UK residents.

And switching accounts has never been easier - with banks required to hand over details of all standing orders and direct debits to the new bank, and transferring an overdraft as simple as a credit card balance transfer.

This means for customers wanting to switch to a better deal, filling in a single form is often enough.

"The banking industry made more than £35 billion last year," said Which?, with Mr Coles adding: "We think more people should switch banks. It isn't difficult - 90 per cent of people who have switched say that they found the process straightforward."

Family Investments

Who are Family Investments?

Family Investments is a mutual organisation with almost 30 years' experience in providing investments for families. In fact, they currently look after around £1.5 billion of family money for over 500,000 people in the UK and have a long track record in offering savings policies for children. Ideal recipitents of your Child Trust Fund.

What's a Child Trust Fund?

The Child Trust Fund gives the savings of every child born on or after 1st September 2002 a financial boost to the tune of at least £250. This figure can rise to £500 if your family is awarded the full Child Tax Credit. The initial £250 payment will take the form of a voucher, automatically sent to qualifying families during the first few months of 2005. And after that new parents should receive their vouchers once they start receiving Child Benefit.

When you receive your voucher, you must then invest it in a Child Trust Fund account. There are different types of account available and you may decide to choose one that meets all the government's stakeholder criteria. If so, you don't have to look any further than the Child Trust Fund account from Family Investments.

The good news is that anyone can make extra payments to the account, whether regular or one-offs up to a combined total of £1,200 each year. And returns are free of personal income tax and capital gains tax. Click here for more information.

Will my child get one?

If you can answer yes to all the following questions, then your child should receive a Child Trust Fund voucher and be entitled to open an account.

• Was your child born on or after 1st September 2002?


• Is your child a UK resident?


• Do you get Child Benefit for your child?

If it's yes all the way, then don't delay. Take the crucial first step and apply today.

Apply now

Barclaycard Business

Who are Barclaycard Business?

Barclaycard Business was established by Barclays Bank PLC in 1969 as a business unit specialising in developing and providing card-based financial services to corporate clients. Since then Barclaycard Business has grown to become VISA's largest European commercial card issuer.

Barclaycard Business services businesses of all sizes, from multinational companies and Government departments, through to small businesses and mid-sized companies.

It has achieved UK market leadership in the SME sector and has over 140,000 corporate customers.

The Barclaycard Business Credit Card

The Barclaycard Business credit card is available to three categories of business:

Small Business Credit Card

The Barclaycard Small Business Card Account has been designed for owners, partners and managers of businesses. You can take out a card just for yourself or provide Business Cards for your partners, managers or staff as well.

Every Business Card issued on your account comes with a range of card features and benefits including specially negotiated discounts and services.

Mid-Sized Companies

The Barclaycard Business Corporate Card Account is the right choice for your business if you are considering providing Corporate Cards to:

• Senior / middle managers


• sales representatives


• engineers


• consultants

Free your staff from concerns over carrying cash, obtaining foreign currency, and using personal credit cards for business expenditure. Your business benefits too, as your Corporate Card Account reduces the need for petty cash and company cheques, simplifies your administrative procedures whilst also saving your business time and money.

Large Organisations

The Barclaycard Large Organisation Account has a range of options to best suit your requirements, flexible payment solutions and detailed management information. There are three main types of account available:

• Barclaycard Business Corporate Card Account - Particularly suited to managers, sales reps, consultants, engineers and any staff who are on the move or authorised to make business purchases and payments.


• Barclaycard Business Purchasing Card Account - Most suited to purchasing departments for increasing the effectiveness of low value, high volume procurement processes, and for other staff in the organisation authorised to make payments for general consumables.


• Barclaycard Business Lodge Account - The Lodge Account has been created for larger organisations, with a significant amount of travel expenditure, particularly on air travel.

Benefits in Brief

• Online Security Protection


• Cardholder Misuse Insurance


• Extended Warranty


• Purchase Protection


• Personal Travel Accident Cover


• Travel Services


• Discounts on Hotel Accommodation


• Discounts of up to £100 on Dell Computer Equipment


• Welcome payment and lower rates from Powergen for each energy supply switched


• Up to 15% discount from Ryman office supplies


• Up to 26% discount on AA breakdown cover


• More secure than carrying cash


• Cheaper than issuing cheques or making bank transfers


• Separate personal and business expenses, reducing the time spent on the reconciliation and accounting of expense claims


• Consolidate payments, easing administration and paperwork


• Enable you to take advantage of Internet, phone and mail order purchases

As every word you read travels from this review to your brain, you start to understand just how much this card can help your business.

Applying for a Barclaycard Business Card

Applying for a Barclaycard Business card is a straight forward process. Simply visit the Barclardcard Business website below and get the ball rolling.

Barclaycard Business

Swinton Home Insurance

Who are Swinton?

Swinton have been trading since the 1960's and have enjoyed a fruitful existence. In the 90's Swinton was part of the Royal & Sun Alliance Group but was purchased by French insurer La Mutuelle Du Mans Assurance (MMA) in May 2001. They still trade independantly in the UK along with their sister company MMA UK. In May 2002 Swinton bought Colonnade Insurance Brokers and became Swinton Colonnade. This merger made Swinton Colonnade the biggers insurance broker on the high street, with brances covering 90% of the UK.

Swinton Home Insurance

Swinton, who have been dealing in insurance for half a century, offer UK insurance shoppers a range of products: either combined building and contents insurance, or each of these options singly. In this way Swinton caters for a range of customers, as lodgers who are living in a privately owned house insured by a landlord can opt for contents insurance, whereas landlords themselves can opt for building insurance. Private homeowners with no lodgers will want to opt for the combined option - visit the site for exact details of current charges, cover and premiums.

You can get a home insurance UK quote on the Swinton website or you can call the company up on a free phone number 0800 024 1004 for further details. Should you prefer talking about your finances face to face you can find out where your nearest branch is by typing in your postcode and arrange an appointment with an insurance advisor. The Swinton home insurance UK site also features a useful page about customer commitment which outlines some of Swinton's priorities when it comes to customer service. All in all a confidence inspiring and easy to use site - click on one of the links to go straight there and see for yourself.

Summary

Swinton can protect your investments with quality contents and buildings insurance, at a low cost to you. With tailored policies to suit your requirements - Apply online & benefit from:

• New for old cover on replacement items.


• Free accidental damage cover available.


• Cover for students living away from home.


• Increased sum insured during the months of December and for weddings.


• Free Emergency Help line 24 hours a day.


• Up to 35% no claims bonus discount.

Get an instant quote for buildings and/or content insurance. With a wide panel of Insurers, they consistently check the market to ensure you get the best deal. Their wide range of policies can offer up to 35% no claims bonus discount and new for old cover on replacement items. Visit the Swinton website below for a quote.

Swinton Home Insurance

Swinton Car Insurance

Who are Swinton?

Swinton have been trading since the 1960's and have enjoyed a fruitful existence. In the 90's Swinton was part of the Royal & Sun Alliance Group but was purchased by French insurer La Mutuelle Du Mans Assurance (MMA) in May 2001. They still trade independantly in the UK along with their sister company MMA UK. In May 2002 Swinton bought Colonnade Insurance Brokers and became Swinton Colonnade. This merger made Swinton Colonnade the biggers insurance broker on the high street, with brances covering 90% of the UK.

Swinton Car Insurance

Swinton Car Insurance offers low-cost car insurance from a panel of 20 different firms, but it's not available to riskier drivers: if you're driving an import, live in Northern Ireland or have a modified car, then the site won't give you a quote (although you're urged to call them instead).

The Swinton Car Insurance site has been given a major overhaul since our last visit, and premiums have improved too: quotes that were in the region of £800 have fallen to much more reasonable levels ? at least in the case of our city driver, who was quoted £320.83 for his car insurance. However, our 4x4 owner would pay a rather scary £762.66 for insurance from Swinton Car Insurance, which is considerably higher than the average £500 premium from the Internet-only brigade.

Swinton Car Insurance is the biggest broker on the high street, and its buying power means that when its prices are low, they're very low.

Summary

The Swinton site is very easy to use and the quote system only takes a matter of minutes to fill in. There is plenty of insurance related information to browse through and if you have not passed your test yet there is a very helpful 'mock theory test' which you can take a look at. Apart from car insurance you can also get a quote for breakdown cover, search for a new car and discover more about car credit.

To get a quote on your car insurance now simply visit the Swinton website below:

Swinton Car Insurance