moneynet in the press

The Sun – 28th March 2006

£301,023 – QUIT CIGS AND THAT IS WHAT YOU COULD SAVE OVER NEXT 20 YEARS

Moneynet.co.uk – the UK’s longest established online personal finance research and data analysts – highlights the true extent of the financial cost of smoking.

Chief executive Richard Brown said: “Many are tempted to lie about their smoking habits when applying for life assurance but this is a false economy. Should you become ill or die from a smoking-related condition, your insurance almost certainly won’t pay out."

PR Newswire via Yahoo – 28th March 2006

ZOPA RAISES $15 MILLION IN FUNDING TO LAUNCH IN CALIFORNIA

Zopa is the world’s first online, person-to-person lending and borrowing exchange at www.Zopa.com launched in March 2005, Zopa has 55,000 members and intends to expand into California this year through a California-based subsidiary dedicated to serving in-state lenders and borrowers. Zopa is headquartered in London an listed in four of the UK’s leading best buy tables, including Moneysupermarket, Moneynet, MoneyExpert and uSwitch.

Daily Star – 21st March 2006

RATE TARTS TRUMPED ON CARDS

Personal finance data firm Moneynet.co.uk reckons the card issuer has increased its fees to squeeze those who regularly transfer balances. And it believes other firms may soon follow suit.

Richard Brown, of Moneynet.co.uk said “Over the past few years, borrowers have taken advantage of the 0% balance transfers but there is a worrying trend in recent times for card firms to impose substantial charges."

Money Marketing – 16th March 2006

IFAP EYES UP POTENTIAL NEW CLIENTS FOR ADVISERS

The Eye Team, as they are known, will begin to appear on the money sections of AOL UK, Yahoo.co.uk, Guardian Unlimited, Telegraph.co.uk and Times Online, as well as Moneynet.

Mortgage Strategy – 13th March 2006

LEADGENERATION

Moneynet.co.uk is one of the leading UK personal finance websites and has been providing leads to IFAs, financial advisers, mortgage specialists and brokers for more than seven years. We offer a number of benefits including a competitive pricing structure – no upfront fees, no exit fees and no deposit is required. Prices are transparent with no bidding for priority access. Life assurance leads with a sum assured of up to £149,999 are £35, while life assurance sums of £150,000 and above are £45. Prime mortgages of any size are £35, adverse mortgages of any size are £45 and secured loans up to £29,999 are £90. Secured loans of £30,000 and above are £135. Moneynet is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

The Independent – 4th March 2006

MBNA RAISES TRANSFER FEES

Richard Brown, chief executive of Moneynet.co.uk, the personal finance website, warned that other companies could now follow MBNA’s lead.

“MBNA’s move means significant penalties for those wanting to transfer larger sums,” he said. “In recent years, borrowers have taken advantage of zero-interest balance transfer facilities, but there has been a worrying trend in recent times for card firms to impose substantial charges on this popular service”.

Press & Journal (Aberdeen) – 3rd March 2006

CREDIT CARD FIRM TO RAISE BALANCE TRANSFER FEES

Richard Brown, chief executive of financial website Moneynet, warned that other firms were likely to follow suit.

MBNA confirmed that its charges were increasing for certain customers but declined to give further details.

Brides – 1st March 2006

CHEAPER COVER

According to the AA, the average car insurance costs £765 a year, but with some judicious shopping around you could get identical cover for £462. Likewise, home buildings and contents policies. Trawl the internet until you find a better deal, or go to Moneynet.co.uk to compare like with like.

Financial Marketing – 1st March 2006

CREDIT CARD CONSUMERS GIVEN MIXED MESSAGES

Further regulation of credit card marketing was required to end the rising confusion felt by consumers over interest rates and interest free periods, according to Moneynet chief executive Richard Brown.

Brown said most credit card providers focused on promoting the advantages of their cards while the disadvantages were usually “buried in the small print”, giving consumers an incomplete picture of the product and creating confusion.

A particular cause of bemusement was the wide variation between providers in interest rates and the length of interest free time allowable on cards, which Brown claimed resulted in consumers receiving “mixed messages”.