Friday, 26 June 2009
Equestrian Insurance
Find Equestrian Insurance via the stable express equestrian directory. With some of the leading horse insurers in the UK you can shop around till you find an equestrian insurance policy that suits your needs & requirements
Categories:
Equestrian Insurance,
Equine Insurance,
Horse Insurance,
Insurance
Personal Finance
Ocean Money is the lending arm of Ocean Finance & Mortgages offering personal finance in the form of secured loans & remortgages
Remortgages
Compare major remortgage lenders deals and get no obligation help and advice from a qualified mortgage adviser
Remortgaging may help you save money by finding a lower rate mortgage deal or could help you raise finance for almost any purpose.
If you have existing credit card debts, unsecured loans or store cards you could consolidat these into a debt consolidation remortgage
Re-mortgages
Remortgaging may help you save money by finding a lower rate mortgage deal or could help you raise finance for almost any purpose.
If you have existing credit card debts, unsecured loans or store cards you could consolidat these into a debt consolidation remortgage
Re-mortgages
Secured Home Owner Loans
Ocean Finance secured loans for UK homeowners with a mortgage. Ocean aims to unravel the complications of personal finance and to find solutions that fit individual needs and lifestyles. We combine long established values and financial strength with a refreshingly modern approach to secured loans.
A secured loan might be an option for you if you'd like to make your home feel like new again with those long awaited home improvements.
A secured loan might be an option for you if you'd like to make your home feel like new again with those long awaited home improvements.
AIG subsidiary swoops for Ocean Finance
AIG subsidiary American General Finance Corporation has bought Ocean Finance and Mortgages for an undisclosed sum.
The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, was confirmed on Friday afternoon and adds to the insurer's increasing influence in the UK. It follows months of speculation regarding Ocean's future.
Law firm Norton Rose has been advising on the deal and its partner James Bateson says: “This deal will be highly significant for America General Finance, representing its first move outside its home market of North America.
“This deal will give America General Finance the opportunity to bring its financial strength and experience in consumer financing and other credit-related products to the UK.”
The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, was confirmed on Friday afternoon and adds to the insurer's increasing influence in the UK. It follows months of speculation regarding Ocean's future.
Law firm Norton Rose has been advising on the deal and its partner James Bateson says: “This deal will be highly significant for America General Finance, representing its first move outside its home market of North America.
“This deal will give America General Finance the opportunity to bring its financial strength and experience in consumer financing and other credit-related products to the UK.”
Case Study | Ocean Finance Display Media
Using online display media to deliver high volumes of incremental sales
Drive profitable sales via the display channel to Ocean’s secured loan and mortgage products. This was a channel that Ocean had previously struggled to make work for their business, despite several attempts with other digital agencies.
Saving Money
Ask:- Saving Money
Money Saving Expert: Consumer Revenge - Credit Cards, Shopping, Bank
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis, the Consumer Journalist of the Year 2009, is an ultra-specialised writer, TV & radio presenter and bestselling author.www.moneysavingexpert.com/
Forum's
Bank charges
Cheap Gas & Electricity
Budgeting
Credit card
Credit Cards and Loans Reclaim Thousands
Are my savings safe?
Frugal Living in the UK - money saving ideas, thrifty tips and Lots of tips to save money around the home, cheap to make recipes, days out, shopping tips, finance, little freebies and more. ... Whether you want to reduce your debts, save for a ... Shopping for it,180k - 26 sec @ 56k www.frugal.org.uk/ ·
Martin Lewis' Blog... thoughts, tales, and musings from the
Hi, welcome to my Blog, while the site’s articles have all the key MoneySaving info; this is my space to muse on a wider collection of topics; life, money, ... Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.525k - 75 sec @ 56k blog.moneysavingexpert.com/ blog.moneysavingexpert.com/ ·
Money Saving Advice From The Thrifty Scot
Welcome to The Thrifty Scot financial help site. ... Take a look at our money tips section and start saving money today!245k - 35 sec @ 56k www.thriftyscot.co.uk/ · Buy.Co.Uk - Credit Cards, Broadband, Insurance. A Great Deal,
Apply More deals ... Virgin Money Credit Card Mastercard ... Check your credit report...104k - 15 sec @ 56k www.buy.co.uk/ · Saving - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In common usage, saving generally means putting money aside, for example, by putting money in the bank or investing in a pension plan. In a broader sense, saving is typically used to refer to economiz...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving Money saving and money making
Red House Television are looking for masters and mistresses of thrift, who are experts in saving money or getting the best deal.www.peazyshop.co.uk/ ·
Save Money & Personal Finance Advice
A personal finance website that teaches you how to invest, save money and pay down debt. Exclusive saving money tips, personal finance articles, forums, money saving newsletters, and much more.148k - 21 sec @ 56k www.savingadvice.com/ www.savingadvice.com/ ·
MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
Cut bills without cutting back ... 'Martin Lewis' and 'Money Saving Expert' are registered trademarks belonging to Martin Lewis.609k - 87 sec @ 56k forums.moneysavingexpert.com/ forums.moneysavingexpert.com/ · The Dollar Stretcher
7 ways to save on legal advice ; You don't have to skip legal advice to conserve money. ... Why not sign up for our free money-saving email alerts? ... Saving you time and money since 1996...278k - 40 sec @ 56k www.stretcher.com/ ·
Money Saving Expert: Consumer Revenge - Credit Cards, Shopping, Bank
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis, the Consumer Journalist of the Year 2009, is an ultra-specialised writer, TV & radio presenter and bestselling author.www.moneysavingexpert.com/
Forum's
Bank charges
Cheap Gas & Electricity
Budgeting
Credit card
Credit Cards and Loans Reclaim Thousands
Are my savings safe?
Frugal Living in the UK - money saving ideas, thrifty tips and Lots of tips to save money around the home, cheap to make recipes, days out, shopping tips, finance, little freebies and more. ... Whether you want to reduce your debts, save for a ... Shopping for it,180k - 26 sec @ 56k www.frugal.org.uk/ ·
Martin Lewis' Blog... thoughts, tales, and musings from the
Hi, welcome to my Blog, while the site’s articles have all the key MoneySaving info; this is my space to muse on a wider collection of topics; life, money, ... Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.525k - 75 sec @ 56k blog.moneysavingexpert.com/ blog.moneysavingexpert.com/ ·
Money Saving Advice From The Thrifty Scot
Welcome to The Thrifty Scot financial help site. ... Take a look at our money tips section and start saving money today!245k - 35 sec @ 56k www.thriftyscot.co.uk/ · Buy.Co.Uk - Credit Cards, Broadband, Insurance. A Great Deal,
Apply More deals ... Virgin Money Credit Card Mastercard ... Check your credit report...104k - 15 sec @ 56k www.buy.co.uk/ · Saving - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In common usage, saving generally means putting money aside, for example, by putting money in the bank or investing in a pension plan. In a broader sense, saving is typically used to refer to economiz...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving Money saving and money making
Red House Television are looking for masters and mistresses of thrift, who are experts in saving money or getting the best deal.www.peazyshop.co.uk/ ·
Save Money & Personal Finance Advice
A personal finance website that teaches you how to invest, save money and pay down debt. Exclusive saving money tips, personal finance articles, forums, money saving newsletters, and much more.148k - 21 sec @ 56k www.savingadvice.com/ www.savingadvice.com/ ·
MoneySavingExpert.com Forums
Cut bills without cutting back ... 'Martin Lewis' and 'Money Saving Expert' are registered trademarks belonging to Martin Lewis.609k - 87 sec @ 56k forums.moneysavingexpert.com/ forums.moneysavingexpert.com/ · The Dollar Stretcher
7 ways to save on legal advice ; You don't have to skip legal advice to conserve money. ... Why not sign up for our free money-saving email alerts? ... Saving you time and money since 1996...278k - 40 sec @ 56k www.stretcher.com/ ·
Google Any Purpose Loans
Google - Any Purpose Home Loans
Ocean Finance Any Purpose Secured Home Loans, Mortgages ...Ocean Finance offers secured home loans, personal loans, mortgages & remortgages. Rates for people from all walks of life from cheap loans as well as loans ...www.oceanfinance.co.uk/
Ocean Finance; Any Purpose Home Loans, Mortgages and Remortgages.Home loans from Ocean Finance could help you raise money on your home for any purpose, home improvements, new Car or debt Consolidation.www.oceanfinance.co.uk/Loans/homeloans.asp More results from www.oceanfinance.co.uk »
Any Purpose Loans From Norton FinanceApply for an Any Purpose Loan today. ... Quick decision loans for any purpose; Secured Loans, Homeowner Loans, UK Loans, Bad Credit Loans, Home Loans ...www.nortonfinance.co.uk/
Instant Personal Loans Instant Tenant loan having bad creditAny Purpose Loans, Home, immediate loans bad credit ... Our any purpose loans vary from consumer loans such as home loan, student loan to a commercial loan ...www.anypurposeloanuk.co.uk/
Secured Loans, Personal Loans, Remortgages, Insurance & Credit ...Raise £3000 to £100000 for almost any purpose. Homer Owner Loans Online Application Loans Secured on your home. Any purpose home owner loans ...www.wisebuy.co.uk/
Easy Secured Loans Bridging Loans Car Loans Loans for Any ... · Financial planningClick here for easy online loan application. You can get a loan for any purpose, including a home loan, car loan, secured, loan, consolidation loan, ...www.personalloansmadeeasy.co.uk/
JFS Nationwide HomeLoans, any purpose secured loans for home owners4 Mar 2009 ... JFS Nationwide Homeloans is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is entered on the FSA register under ref. ...www.jfsnationwide.co.uk/
Homeowner Loans UK Debt Consolidation Loans Secured Loans UKAny Purpose Loans. We provide loans for any purpose, home improvements, dream holiday, new car, university fees or to consolidate your debts into one easy ...www.championfinance.com/
Countrywide Financial Home Loans Equity Loan Mortgages ... · Real EstateThis equity could be used for any purpose such as making home improvements or consolidating debt. Call today for a free consultation from a home loan expert ...my.countrywide.com/
Secured Loans Homeowner Loans, Compare any purpose Loans from ... · BusinessSecured Loans We Search over 400 UK loan plans including cheap secured loans, homeowner loans and any purpose loans. Loans from £5000 to £100000.www.shakespearefinance.co.uk/
Ocean Finance Any Purpose Secured Home Loans, Mortgages ...Ocean Finance offers secured home loans, personal loans, mortgages & remortgages. Rates for people from all walks of life from cheap loans as well as loans ...www.oceanfinance.co.uk/
Ocean Finance; Any Purpose Home Loans, Mortgages and Remortgages.Home loans from Ocean Finance could help you raise money on your home for any purpose, home improvements, new Car or debt Consolidation.www.oceanfinance.co.uk/Loans/homeloans.asp More results from www.oceanfinance.co.uk »
Any Purpose Loans From Norton FinanceApply for an Any Purpose Loan today. ... Quick decision loans for any purpose; Secured Loans, Homeowner Loans, UK Loans, Bad Credit Loans, Home Loans ...www.nortonfinance.co.uk/
Instant Personal Loans Instant Tenant loan having bad creditAny Purpose Loans, Home, immediate loans bad credit ... Our any purpose loans vary from consumer loans such as home loan, student loan to a commercial loan ...www.anypurposeloanuk.co.uk/
Secured Loans, Personal Loans, Remortgages, Insurance & Credit ...Raise £3000 to £100000 for almost any purpose. Homer Owner Loans Online Application Loans Secured on your home. Any purpose home owner loans ...www.wisebuy.co.uk/
Easy Secured Loans Bridging Loans Car Loans Loans for Any ... · Financial planningClick here for easy online loan application. You can get a loan for any purpose, including a home loan, car loan, secured, loan, consolidation loan, ...www.personalloansmadeeasy.co.uk/
JFS Nationwide HomeLoans, any purpose secured loans for home owners4 Mar 2009 ... JFS Nationwide Homeloans is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is entered on the FSA register under ref. ...www.jfsnationwide.co.uk/
Homeowner Loans UK Debt Consolidation Loans Secured Loans UKAny Purpose Loans. We provide loans for any purpose, home improvements, dream holiday, new car, university fees or to consolidate your debts into one easy ...www.championfinance.com/
Countrywide Financial Home Loans Equity Loan Mortgages ... · Real EstateThis equity could be used for any purpose such as making home improvements or consolidating debt. Call today for a free consultation from a home loan expert ...my.countrywide.com/
Secured Loans Homeowner Loans, Compare any purpose Loans from ... · BusinessSecured Loans We Search over 400 UK loan plans including cheap secured loans, homeowner loans and any purpose loans. Loans from £5000 to £100000.www.shakespearefinance.co.uk/
Categories:
Any Purpose Loans,
Home Loans,
Secured Loans
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Low Cost Cheap Loans
There are hundreds of UK lenders out there who say they can offer you low cost loans. However, things aren't always as they appear. Some companies can charge you a fee for arranging a loan. Others can charge you a fee if you repay the loan off early. The real cost of a loan is a combination of the interest rate, how that rate is calculated and any fees. We work very hard to reduce all of these and bring you a choice of the lowest rate loans available.
Categories:
Finding a loan,
Low cost loans,
Searching For A Loan,
Secured Loans
Monday, 18 May 2009
Any Purpose Loans
An any purpose loan is the name given to loans taken out where the money is not tired to the any specific use for the money. Any Purpose loans can be used for debt consolidation, buying a new car, taking a holiday even plastic surgery.
Many loans will have be depondent on you buying something such as retail finance agreements, car loans etc.
If you have existing debt these may have to be paid of before you take out an any purpose loan
Many loans will have be depondent on you buying something such as retail finance agreements, car loans etc.
If you have existing debt these may have to be paid of before you take out an any purpose loan
Money Saving Expert: Consumer Revenge - Credit Cards, Shopping
Martin Lewis's free site saves you money. Beat the system on credit cards, shopping, special offers, mortgages, council tax, interest rate payments, ...
Friday, 8 May 2009
Nationwide takes over Dunfermline
The Nationwide is to buy the Dunfermline Building Society's branches, good loans and deposits, it has been confirmed.
The Treasury will take on about £1.5bn of commercial property lending and acquired mortgage debt under the deal.
The agreement with the Nationwide was struck less than 48 hours after the UK Government announced that the building society was to be put on the market.
www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/mar/31/dunfermline-takeover-nationwide
The Treasury will take on about £1.5bn of commercial property lending and acquired mortgage debt under the deal.
The agreement with the Nationwide was struck less than 48 hours after the UK Government announced that the building society was to be put on the market.
www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/mar/31/dunfermline-takeover-nationwide
Nationwide slashes loan rates
Average loan rates have rocketed over the last two years, but Nationwide has bucked the trend, offering a new low rate of 7.9%.
Nationwide (www.nationwide.co.uk) has reduced its typical interest rate from 8.2% to 7.9% on loans of £7,500 to £14,999. This headline rate is lower than all high street banks.
While borrowers could have expected to pay 7.4% in May 2007, now the average rate stands at 9.2%. Average interest rates on £5,000 loans have fared even worse, rocketing 44% from 8.6% to 12.4% in the same period.
Online Loans Finance Brokers
It is advised those looking for the best rates to shop around and compare loan rates from several different providers – if possible finding out what rate would likely be offered given their circumstances.
Nationwide takes over Dunfermline
Nationwide (www.nationwide.co.uk) has reduced its typical interest rate from 8.2% to 7.9% on loans of £7,500 to £14,999. This headline rate is lower than all high street banks.
While borrowers could have expected to pay 7.4% in May 2007, now the average rate stands at 9.2%. Average interest rates on £5,000 loans have fared even worse, rocketing 44% from 8.6% to 12.4% in the same period.
Online Loans Finance Brokers
It is advised those looking for the best rates to shop around and compare loan rates from several different providers – if possible finding out what rate would likely be offered given their circumstances.
Nationwide takes over Dunfermline
Categories:
Finding a loan,
Nationwide Building Society,
Unsecured Loans
Thursday, 7 May 2009
The Future of Financial Regulation – The Options
AFB’s parent association, AIFA has today published its report “The Future of Financial Regulation "… (full article)
Categories:
Association of Finance Brokers,
Finance Regulation,
Secured Loans
Value of unsecured loans taken out falls by 45%
The latest figures from the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) have shown that over the last year the value of unsecured loans being taken out has almost halved.
During February, Finance and Leasing Association members wrote £316 million worth of unsecured loans, which is 45% less than the figure for the same month of last year.
A sharp decrease was also recorded in secured loans in February. Members lent £57 million throughout the month, which is 83% less than last year. Credit card lending fell by 11% to £2.49 billion as well.
Overall, Finance and Leasing Association members lent a total of £3.89 billion in the second month of this year, down by 22% since 2008.
The decline in secured and unsecured lending has been attributed to low consumer confidence and rising unemployment, with Britons reluctant to take on more debt.
Head of research and chief economist at the Finance and Leasing Association, Geraldine Kilkelly, said: “Our figures show that Finance and Leasing Association members have written £660 million worth of new unsecured loan business in the first two months of 2009, compared with £1.1 billion in the same period last year.”
Finance and Leasing Association
UK industry body for the asset finance, consumer finance and motor finance sectors. www.fla.org.uk/
During February, Finance and Leasing Association members wrote £316 million worth of unsecured loans, which is 45% less than the figure for the same month of last year.
A sharp decrease was also recorded in secured loans in February. Members lent £57 million throughout the month, which is 83% less than last year. Credit card lending fell by 11% to £2.49 billion as well.
Overall, Finance and Leasing Association members lent a total of £3.89 billion in the second month of this year, down by 22% since 2008.
The decline in secured and unsecured lending has been attributed to low consumer confidence and rising unemployment, with Britons reluctant to take on more debt.
Head of research and chief economist at the Finance and Leasing Association, Geraldine Kilkelly, said: “Our figures show that Finance and Leasing Association members have written £660 million worth of new unsecured loan business in the first two months of 2009, compared with £1.1 billion in the same period last year.”
Finance and Leasing Association
UK industry body for the asset finance, consumer finance and motor finance sectors. www.fla.org.uk/
Categories:
Finance,
Finance and Leasing Association,
Personal Loans,
Secured Loans,
Unsecured Loans
Friday, 1 May 2009
Finding a cheap loan
Do you need to borrow money? Martin Lewis reveals how you can get the cheapest possible loans
Before taking out a loan always examine whether you really need to borrow.
Do a budget to establish whether you can afford the repayments, both now and in the future, and question whether it is really worth being in hock to a bank? Remember, once you borrow the money, even if you change your mind, it'll cost you just to repay it.
Is a loan the right way for you to borrow?
Loans aren't always the cheapest way to borrow. Actually if you've a good credit score the cheapest credit cards undercut the cheapest loans. Yet this only applies in certain circumstances.
If you are borrowing for a new car, kitchen or household repairs it's tough to use a credit card and the loan repayments are probably the best way.
Yet if your aim is to try and make existing credit card debts cheaper, then shoving them on a loan is a usually more expensive than using the cheapest credit card 'balance transfer' deals.
Also if you're just looking for some short term term cash for a variety of expenditures, here cheap credit card 'purchases' deals will beat loans.
Full details of the top cards and how to do this are in Martin's full 'best balance transfers' or 'cheap short term loans' articles.
Getting the a cheap loan
When you're getting a loan it's easy to think "I'll just get the one with the lowest interest rate".
Unfortunately it doesn't work like that, as lenders tend to make more of their money selling you insurance policies with the loan that the loan itself, but the cost of the insurance isn't in the interest rate.
You may not even be aware you're getting the insurance policy, but it could cost you thousands of pounds more over the life of the loan.
The first thing to do is decide whether you need this Payment Protection Insurance, which covers your repayments for accident, sickness or unemployment.
If you don't, simply go for the loan with the lowest APR, but ensure you don't get the insurance – it isn't compulsory.
If you do feel you want insurance, then go for the cheapest uninsured and get the insurance through a standalone provider; this will be a fraction of the price of getting the lender's own insurance.
For full details of the best buy loans of all varieties, cheapest loan insurers and how to choose read Martin's full Cheap Loans articles.
Is it possible to cut the cost of existing loans?
Sadly, switching to a cheaper interest rate doesn't automatically cut your costs.
Switching loans is a complex business, as paying off an old loan involves penalties.
Yet if you can get a new loan with a significantly lower interest rate than you're currently paying you may be able to save.
For full details on how to do the calculations, read Martin's full short term interest free loans article
Before taking out a loan always examine whether you really need to borrow.
Do a budget to establish whether you can afford the repayments, both now and in the future, and question whether it is really worth being in hock to a bank? Remember, once you borrow the money, even if you change your mind, it'll cost you just to repay it.
Is a loan the right way for you to borrow?
Loans aren't always the cheapest way to borrow. Actually if you've a good credit score the cheapest credit cards undercut the cheapest loans. Yet this only applies in certain circumstances.
If you are borrowing for a new car, kitchen or household repairs it's tough to use a credit card and the loan repayments are probably the best way.
Yet if your aim is to try and make existing credit card debts cheaper, then shoving them on a loan is a usually more expensive than using the cheapest credit card 'balance transfer' deals.
Also if you're just looking for some short term term cash for a variety of expenditures, here cheap credit card 'purchases' deals will beat loans.
Full details of the top cards and how to do this are in Martin's full 'best balance transfers' or 'cheap short term loans' articles.
Getting the a cheap loan
When you're getting a loan it's easy to think "I'll just get the one with the lowest interest rate".
Unfortunately it doesn't work like that, as lenders tend to make more of their money selling you insurance policies with the loan that the loan itself, but the cost of the insurance isn't in the interest rate.
You may not even be aware you're getting the insurance policy, but it could cost you thousands of pounds more over the life of the loan.
The first thing to do is decide whether you need this Payment Protection Insurance, which covers your repayments for accident, sickness or unemployment.
If you don't, simply go for the loan with the lowest APR, but ensure you don't get the insurance – it isn't compulsory.
If you do feel you want insurance, then go for the cheapest uninsured and get the insurance through a standalone provider; this will be a fraction of the price of getting the lender's own insurance.
For full details of the best buy loans of all varieties, cheapest loan insurers and how to choose read Martin's full Cheap Loans articles.
Is it possible to cut the cost of existing loans?
Sadly, switching to a cheaper interest rate doesn't automatically cut your costs.
Switching loans is a complex business, as paying off an old loan involves penalties.
Yet if you can get a new loan with a significantly lower interest rate than you're currently paying you may be able to save.
For full details on how to do the calculations, read Martin's full short term interest free loans article
Friday, 24 April 2009
Modest Martin Lewis - A Reader Rants
According to internet research company Hitwise, moneysavingexpert Martin Lewis has become our most magnetic celebrity. More wanted than Britney Spears and more bankable than his namesake Leona, Lewis was the most searched for personality during the last quarter of 2008.
Lewis modestly blogs that his success is down to the recession and not relentless self promotion. How does he do it? It helps that his site is extremely well optimised for search and uses subject headings that match what people are searching for. Inbound links from the gold star BBC and dozens of platinum newspapers help promote his website in organic search results.
He retains celebrity PR Murray Harkin and his wall to wall media appearances pay off because he has an online strategy that capitalises on his PR. This is something many companies fall down on. When he promotes a particular product in the media, he might use paid search in conjunction as he did recently when recommending a current account from Alliance & Leicester. Alongside promoting it as the best bank account on radio and TV, Lewis ran a paid search campaign on keywords ‘Alliance Leicester cashback’ and monetised click throughs by signing up with A&L’s affiliate programme.
How much he has made from the credit crunch remains a mystery and his recent decision to hide his earnings by changing his company’s status from limited to unlimited is a controversial one. As a consumer champion, he has been dedicated to exposing other companies’ profits. According to Companies House, he is sole director of the unlimited company that owns his website. For those waiting for his 2007-08 accounts, my guess is he will not file these even though his company was limited for the majority of that period. Companies House is unlikely to see sufficient public interest by taking him to court to force him to publish. In the abscence of fact, Lewis gives plenty of figures from which to work out how much he might be earning. His weekly email for example goes to over 3 million subscribers and generally has between 5 and 10 affiliate links. If each affiliate link earns a conservative ?10.00 and he achieves a lowly 2% conversion rate, his email could earn him over ?15 million annually. In 2005, he told the the Guardian newspaper his website was worth ?30 - ?40 million when it had 1 million monthly visitors. Today it has over 8 million visitors a month.
Where he might have trouble is not with Companies House but with the OFT. The only source of income he has from his website is from affiliate links which are generally referred to as advertisements. His media appearances depend on him being independent of commercial influence and he maintains despite earning as an affiliate, his website is free of ads. Under the OFT’s Consumer Protection Regulations, of the 31 commercial practices that are banned outright, number 11 is ‘using editorial content in the media to promote a product where a trader has paid for the promotion without making that clear in the content or by images or sounds clearly identifiable by the consumer (advertorial).’
Lewis modestly blogs that his success is down to the recession and not relentless self promotion. How does he do it? It helps that his site is extremely well optimised for search and uses subject headings that match what people are searching for. Inbound links from the gold star BBC and dozens of platinum newspapers help promote his website in organic search results.
He retains celebrity PR Murray Harkin and his wall to wall media appearances pay off because he has an online strategy that capitalises on his PR. This is something many companies fall down on. When he promotes a particular product in the media, he might use paid search in conjunction as he did recently when recommending a current account from Alliance & Leicester. Alongside promoting it as the best bank account on radio and TV, Lewis ran a paid search campaign on keywords ‘Alliance Leicester cashback’ and monetised click throughs by signing up with A&L’s affiliate programme.
How much he has made from the credit crunch remains a mystery and his recent decision to hide his earnings by changing his company’s status from limited to unlimited is a controversial one. As a consumer champion, he has been dedicated to exposing other companies’ profits. According to Companies House, he is sole director of the unlimited company that owns his website. For those waiting for his 2007-08 accounts, my guess is he will not file these even though his company was limited for the majority of that period. Companies House is unlikely to see sufficient public interest by taking him to court to force him to publish. In the abscence of fact, Lewis gives plenty of figures from which to work out how much he might be earning. His weekly email for example goes to over 3 million subscribers and generally has between 5 and 10 affiliate links. If each affiliate link earns a conservative ?10.00 and he achieves a lowly 2% conversion rate, his email could earn him over ?15 million annually. In 2005, he told the the Guardian newspaper his website was worth ?30 - ?40 million when it had 1 million monthly visitors. Today it has over 8 million visitors a month.
Where he might have trouble is not with Companies House but with the OFT. The only source of income he has from his website is from affiliate links which are generally referred to as advertisements. His media appearances depend on him being independent of commercial influence and he maintains despite earning as an affiliate, his website is free of ads. Under the OFT’s Consumer Protection Regulations, of the 31 commercial practices that are banned outright, number 11 is ‘using editorial content in the media to promote a product where a trader has paid for the promotion without making that clear in the content or by images or sounds clearly identifiable by the consumer (advertorial).’
Martin Lewis - Money Saving Expert or Money Grabbing Show-Off?
Is Martin Lewis the “Money Saving Expert” a significant proportion of the public believe him to be, or is he simple a “Money Grabbing Show-Off” many other suspect he is? Whichever side of the fence your fall on, you can’t help but notice the animated Martin Lewis on your TV screen or in your newspaper speaking out about one issue or another to do with saving money.
So how much should the public trust Martin Lewis’ guidance? This is a particularly difficult question to answer. On the one hand, Martin Lewis provides the public with a - barely - digestable format to consume information about financial products. This is not generally done well by “stiff in suits” so perhaps that’s a necessary evil we must contend with. But on the other hand, is he really qualified to provide the sort of advice he has been putting out there, are his intentions purely honourable and should he be regulated or answerable in some way?
A quick search on Wikipedia highlights some of the controversy surrounding Martin Lewis and his Money Saving “Expert” advice…
“One of the services provided by Lewis’s MoneySavingExpert.com website, supported by weekly emails, was a savings “best buy” recommendation. This service led to Lewis highlighting the attractive rates offered by Icelandic banks, several of which subsequently failed during the second half of 2008 with savers’ funds frozen pending compensation from either the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme or its Icelandic equivalent… …Lewis was attacked by a number of his own website users for “recommending” Icelandic banks.”
From personal experience, I know that his employees are definitely not knowledgeable enough or qualified to be writing the content they put out there or talking about financial products in the way they do. Far too often, the key element of the product - the one vital bit of information you’d think the customer needs to know to make a qualified decision - is not put across in favour of something else which will actually make them money …an affiliate link or advert.
Which brings me nicely onto a couple of interesting highlights of Martin Lewis’ personal life - a part-time stand up comic who lives in the North Kensington area of London. So Martin Lewis “the show-off” has always been within him and maybe that plays a big part in his various crusades and campaigns. And Martin Lewis “the North Kensington resident” just goes to show that it’s not all about the customer.
Ladies and gentlemen of the UK finance industry …what are your thoughts? Martin Lewis the Money Saving Expert or Martin Lewis the Money Grabbing Show-Off?
So how much should the public trust Martin Lewis’ guidance? This is a particularly difficult question to answer. On the one hand, Martin Lewis provides the public with a - barely - digestable format to consume information about financial products. This is not generally done well by “stiff in suits” so perhaps that’s a necessary evil we must contend with. But on the other hand, is he really qualified to provide the sort of advice he has been putting out there, are his intentions purely honourable and should he be regulated or answerable in some way?
A quick search on Wikipedia highlights some of the controversy surrounding Martin Lewis and his Money Saving “Expert” advice…
“One of the services provided by Lewis’s MoneySavingExpert.com website, supported by weekly emails, was a savings “best buy” recommendation. This service led to Lewis highlighting the attractive rates offered by Icelandic banks, several of which subsequently failed during the second half of 2008 with savers’ funds frozen pending compensation from either the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme or its Icelandic equivalent… …Lewis was attacked by a number of his own website users for “recommending” Icelandic banks.”
From personal experience, I know that his employees are definitely not knowledgeable enough or qualified to be writing the content they put out there or talking about financial products in the way they do. Far too often, the key element of the product - the one vital bit of information you’d think the customer needs to know to make a qualified decision - is not put across in favour of something else which will actually make them money …an affiliate link or advert.
Which brings me nicely onto a couple of interesting highlights of Martin Lewis’ personal life - a part-time stand up comic who lives in the North Kensington area of London. So Martin Lewis “the show-off” has always been within him and maybe that plays a big part in his various crusades and campaigns. And Martin Lewis “the North Kensington resident” just goes to show that it’s not all about the customer.
Ladies and gentlemen of the UK finance industry …what are your thoughts? Martin Lewis the Money Saving Expert or Martin Lewis the Money Grabbing Show-Off?
Categories:
Martin Lewis,
Money Expert,
Money Saving Tips
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