Financial Services

OOPS! CARD PROVIDERS ARE STILL LEAVING CUSTOMERS IN THE DARK
Over two-thirds of credit card holders do not know their order of payments

New research* from Nationwide Building Society reveals that credit card customers still do not know the order in which their payments are allocated to their account. Over two-thirds (69%) of those
questioned do not know the correct order in which their repayments are processed. Incorrect answers given were:
* The longest outstanding debt is paid off first (18%)
* Items with the highest interest are paid off first (12%)
* They get to choose which items are paid off first (9%)
* The most recent items are paid off first (4%)
* And many simply don't know (26%)
* (Whilst 2% wouldn't know as they only ever pay off the entire balance)

Worryingly, only around a quarter (29%) of those questioned know how their repayments are allocated to their credit card account - that items with the lowest interest are paid off first - known as an
adverse order of payments. Nationwide is the only card provider to operate a positive order of payments which means the most expensive debt is paid off first unlike its competitors who choose to leave
items with high interest, such as cash advances, to continue to accrue interest and be cleared last.

Two-thirds (66%) of credit card holders think it is important to find a credit card provider that allocates their repayments to the most expensive debt first. However, as the recent uSwitch survey of
credit cards** revealed, on average people stay with their credit card provider for six years - even if the proposition is poor - highlighting that providers are taking advantage of their customers'
apathy. Unfortunately, apathy about order of payments alone costs consumers £500 million each year.

Nationwide recently welcomed the announcement by the Department of Trade and Industry that, from 1 October 2008, all credit card providers will have to draw attention to the order of payments they
use. However, because this practice is not well understood by consumers, and is adverse to their best interests, Nationwide calls on the industry to make changes now and treat their credit card
customers fairly by adopting a positive approach to their order of payments.

Jeremy Wood, divisional director at Nationwide, says: "Nationwide has long-campaigned for a positive order of payments for all credit card customers. Many credit card providers use low introductory
rates to lure people into opening an account. These offers can look very appealing, but when you scratch beneath the surface you discover that credit card holders often don't receive the full benefit
of these low rates. Most providers apply repayments to the cheapest debt first making it more expensive for you and more profitable for them.

"Something needs to change as it's unacceptable that over two-thirds (69%) of credit card holders do not know how their payments are allocated. We urge the OFT, when they respond to Which's super
complaint about the calculation of credit card interest, due at the end of this month, to address the issue of order of payments."

Nationwide Building Society

Nationwide Building Society is for the first time allowing its 6.6 million members to vote in its AGM online at www.nationwide.co.uk in addition to being able to vote by post or at any branch.

The launch of the online facility is one of a range of initiatives designed to encourage as many members as possible to use their vote and any member who votes online will also be automatically
entered into a free prize draw to win a pair of football tickets to an England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales home international.

For the second consecutive year, Nationwide plans to donate 10p for every vote cast in its AGM to disabled athletes via Disability Sport Events (DSE). The Society is targeting a minimum of 1 million
members to use their vote, which would generate £100,000 for DSE, a huge boost for the UK's disabled sports people.

This news is brought in association with MLM Finanical - Shropshire Mortgages

Genealogist

Genealogist website www.meet-the-family.co.uk have launched new online services and products.

www.meet-the-family.net covers Ancestor Research, Ancestry information, family history genealogy, family history genealogy.

Specialist genealogy researchers meet-the-family is a family run business with a friendly and helpful way of helping you trace and fing your history.

If you want to trace your history and need the best genealogist they are well worth a call and have a must visit website!

Trailers

A new website was launched today. The website is http://www.wire-trailers.co.uk and it has a full range of trailers for all the needs you could think of.

http://www.wire-trailers.co.uk has a full range of trailers that can be viewed, they also say if you have any questions give them a call and they will be more than happy to help

http://www.wire-trailers.co.uk is based in shropshire and specialises in trailers.

Mortgages Shropshire

MLM Financial are pleased to announce the launch of thier newly updated website covering mortgages and financial services products.

MLM specialise in the supply of mortgages shropshire but also offer remortgages, first time buyer mortgages, buy to let mortgages, intrest only mortgages and more.

Furthger information can be found on their new mortgage website www.mlmfinancial.co.uk.

Light Reactive Welding Helmet

A recent study has shown that it is very important to use Light Reactive Welding Helmet while welding and because of this we decided to have a look on the Internet and see what light reactive welding helmets are available and where from.

After calling a few companies I stumbled across R-Tech Welding who were very helpful and informative, they informed me about their range of light reactive welding helmets and pointed out I could view all the models online with specification and pictures.

I now know a lot more than I did about light reactive welding helmets all thanks to r-tech welding.

Brother

Brother's Insynergi resellers will receive £100 cash back when they buy any two machines from its TCO ’99 range of products in a single order from August to September only. The company is also offering free toners to users worth between £41.99 and £60.00 each on the same range during this period to encourage further demand. General manager Paul Callow says the promotion has been designed to bring greater value to businesses by improving productivity. "Long-term cost of ownership has become a critical issue for many businesses, this is why these products have been designed with separate toner and drum cartridges that remove the need to throw away a perfectly good drum unit every time the toner runs out. Our Insynergi resellers will be confident that they are offering truly cost effective products supported by a strong cash incentive for their customers.

Printers

Dell Computer is to start taking orders for its first range of printers and supplies today, with the launch of one inkjet and three laser models that include a multifunctional unit that prints, scans, copies and faxes. These are the first in a range of inkjet and laser printers to be rolled out in North America this year, following its agreement with Lexmark to produce Dell branded printers and supplies. The company will use its direct selling model to supply printers and ink supplies direct to the consumer online. It will encourage customers to order supplies through an online replenishment system. The printer will warn the user when supplies are low and prompt them to order more online with cartridges shipped by Dell without a handling fee. According to a Reuters report, the new models will be priced from $139 to $839, with ink cartridges starting at $29.95 and toner cartridges from $75. It quoted Dell as saying the printers and cartridges are competitively priced compared to other printers makers but do not offer a substantial discount.

Ink Sales Up

Staples Inc announced yesterday a 48% increase in earnings for the second quarter ending 3 August due to strong sales of toner, ink cartridges, pens and other office supplies. Sales of core office products were up 7%, while sales of technology related products were weak. Revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% to $2.43 billion from $2.31 billion, while net income increased to $59.6 million from $40.4 million a year ago. Sales at its North American retail stores were up 2% to $1.46 billion from a year earlier, but income was down 14% to $46 million. The company reported a loss of $6 million on sales of $190 million in its European operations, with sales up 16% due in part due to strong performance from the UK, the Netherlands and Portugal. The company said forecast profits for the current quarter were not as optimistic, causing stock to fall nearly 7%.

Fax

Mastercorp Group, a Latin-American fax film and ribbon manufacturer, is to attend Escolar Paper Brasil 2005, an exhibition attended by up to 30,000 people. It is the biggest Latin America Show of school, stationery supplies, services and technology and takes palce at Anhembi Exhibition Center, in São Paulo from 29 August 29 to 1 September. Multifax is a leader in its segment in many world fax markets and currently trades in more than 30 countries.

Ink

Staples is making its process for Ink eProcurement system integration available online, allowing corporate customers using Ink systems such as Ariba and Commerce One to integrate office supply Ink procurement in what it describes as ‘industry-leading time’. In less than 30 days, customers will be able to collaborate online with Staples to rapidly integrate StaplesLink.com - its Ink business-to-business ecommerce solution - with their own eProcurement system. The company says that the online ink integration process, conducted via the web at http://Staples.B2B.com, is expected to reduce Ink eProcurement system integration costs for office supplies by 10%-15%, cut traditional implementation times by more than 30%, and increase productivity of customer and Staples implementation teams. The online process is scheduled to launch in April.

bluetooth headset

Brother UK has signed a deal with Dixons Airport Stores to sell its Bluetooth mobile printer, MPrint. The pocket-sized printer is designed for use on the move with PDAs and lap top computers. It is the first Brother product to be listed in the electrical retailer’s 18 tax-free airport outlets. UK’s retail channel manager, Sean O’Brien, says: "Having the Bluetooth facility for MPrint has made a big difference this year, with the ever-growing interest in and take-up of Bluetooth-enabled products.

Projectors

TDS, a manufacturer and distributor of interactive whiteboard solutions and projectors, has appointed Paul Kaylor to the position of internal account manager. He joins TDS with five years experience in AV sales market including two years at Imago Micro Ltd. He worked in internal sales at TDS three years ago and returns to the company with a further wealth of knowledge and experience. The company says in his new role he will be responsible for generating new business and broadening TDS’s reseller base in the South of England. He says: "This is a really exciting time to be joining TDS. The company is growing at a rapid pace and there are great opportunities for presentation and training solutions, including interactive whiteboards and projection equipment, across vertical markets. Already TDS and its network of approved resellers has experienced major growth in this area." Set up in 1973 TDS manufactures and distributes interactive whiteboards and is also a distributor of Sanyo LCD projectors, Sharp LCD / DLP projectors and Sharp LCD TV’s along with Samsung visualisers.

Nationwide Building Society Mortgages

Nationwide Building Society today announced the end of the increased reservation fee discount for existing borrowers. The loyalty discount, which is available to existing mortgage borrowers compared
to new borrowers taking out a new product, was increased to £200 in February as part of a limited offer. The loyalty discount will return to £100 at end of business on Thursday 3 May 2007.

Matthew Carter, divisional director for mortgages at Nationwide, said: "Nationwide is committed to rewarding loyalty. Many existing Nationwide borrowers were able to take advantage of the increased
loyalty discount and many more will still benefit from a discount of £100 on their reservation fee."

Nationwide offers a competitive mortgage range to suit the needs of all its borrowers, whether buying a first home, a new home, or switching deal. Full details can be found at