Industry News - April, 2008

Nationwide's latest house price index figures suggest the lowest rung of the housing ladder has been "broken", according to John Charcoal.

The lender's figures suggested that house prices had fallen for a sixth consecutive month and average house prices are one per cent cheaper than the same time last year.

A lack of affordable housing for first-time buyers is having a knock-on effect for second-time movers that want to take the next step.

However, Katie Tuck... more...

The number of independent financial adviser (IFA) enquiries has risen during the credit crunch, according to IFA Promotions.

Rather than saving their money, consumers are turning to financial services marketing to seek advice on how best to cope with their financial difficulties.

According to chief executive of IFA Promotions, David Elms, there are more people looking for financial advice than in the past.

He explained: "We're currently running at around 10,000 re... more...

New advertising technology Phorm could help professional services marketing strategies to reach their intended audience, according to Web-User magazine.

Phorm is a new type of advertising technology that would monitor the browsing habits of internet users and target them with relevant professional services marketing and advertising campaigns.

However, the proposals have come under fire from the Foundation of Information Policy Research (FIPR) which has claimed the company's met... more...

The rules concerning financial services marketing and sales could be set to shift once again, it has been revealed.

Proposals announced in the Interim Report of the Financial Services Authority's Retail Distribution Review (RDR) outline three routes to financial product purchases.

Legitimate financial services marketing will now apply to the sale of products through a financial adviser, buying through a recognised sales outlet or seeking help from a new Money Guidance Service.<... more...

One of the country's largest insurance firms Aviva has announced it is going to drop its familiar Norwich Union insurance marketing branding.

But the move is far from an insurance marketing faux pas.

Research by the firm indicates that around 60 per cent of its business is generated outside the UK and it is dropping its famed brand to improve its identity in international markets.

Chief executive of Aviva, Andrew Moss, explained: "By investing in a single name, w... more...

Changes to the legal aid system in Scotland could see an increase in the number of people responding to legal marketing and pursuing legal action.

According to the Scottish Executive, many individuals are deterred from making legal claims because of costs.

But new plans outlined in a consultation paper could see the introduction of a means tested criminal assistance system and more power for the Scottish Legal Aid Board (Slab) to grant funds for civil cases.

Deputy jus... more...

The majority of businesses in the UK have been unaffected by the credit crunch, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

While all eyes have been focused on the financial services marketing turmoil suffered in the capital's square mile, 57 per cent of businesses outside of London still have access to funds, the BCC survey revealed.

Speaking at the BCC annual Business Convention in Liverpool, director general David Frost notes that the UK economy is not suffering the... more...

More than half of homeowners admit to basic lapses in property security that leave them open to burglary, a survey by Zurich has revealed.

Nearly one in five of the 1,000 homeowners questioned claimed that they have left keys in the locks, while more than a tenth have left their windows open.

More than one quarter (28 per cent) of homeowners were also able to break into their own property in less than five minutes.

Probation officer Bob Turney comments that many burgla... more...