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104 years old Vicky named Staywarm's oldest
customer...
That
is, unless people in Liverpool know better?
VICKY North has been rewarded as Powergen Staywarm's oldest customer at the grand old age of 104.
However, Powergen Staywarm, the fixed price electricity and gas service exclusively for the over-60s, is still searching the UK to find and reward any customers who prove to be older.
Local Staywarm advisor, Lynn Ruston comments:- "We were delighted to present Vicky with the crystal decanter set for being our oldest customer.that we know of so far. We are urging people in and around Liverpool to contact us if they know any different as we will happily reward any customer who is older."
Vicky said:- "It's great to be rewarded just for being 104. I've been a Staywarm customer for a few years now and I recommend the service to everyone for the peace of mind that it brings."
Powergen Staywarm is the fixed price energy service available exclusively for the over-60s. Qualifying customers pay a regular fixed price based on the number of people who live in their home and the number of bedrooms they have.
The service guarantees that, as long as customers remain with Staywarm, the price they pay will be fixed for a year from when they sign up. Staywarm advisors also refer all customers who are eligible to the Warm Front scheme which provides grants of up to £2,500 for insulation and heating measures.
For further details on Staywarm please call 0800 1 694 694 or visit www.staywarm.co.uk
CAR INSURANCE IN LIVERPOOL ARE THE UK'S MOST EXPENSIVE
THE UK's most comprehensive car insurance site has discovered that drivers in Liverpool are currently paying 58% more for their car insurance than the typical UK driver.
Accidents, theft and damage to cars have contributed to make Liverpool the UK's most expensive city for car insurance, with average premiums currently £334.58 higher than the national average of £581.90.
Despite claims from individual insurers that increasing claims are forcing prices up growing competition among insurers has led to a £8.31 drop in the average price of car insurance. Comparison with the figures for 12 months ago reveals that on average insurance premiums have actually decreased. As a result, drivers shopping around and switching insurer currently stand to make savings on their car insurance, which is welcome news over the expensive Christmas period.
Based on over 27,000 separate insurance quotes, comparing prices from every major insurer in the UK, Confused.com has discovered that the average price of car insurance in Liverpool fell from £924.79 to £916.48, a decrease of 0.9% on the same period of last year.
Commenting on the latest Insurance Price Index figures, Kate Armstrong, Managing Director of Confused.com said:-
"Because Confused.com handles over 100,000 quotes for car insurance per month and conducts detailed quarterly research, we're able to calculate the average cost of insurance, and accurately track trends.
By monitoring the average price over the last 12 months, comparing performance, family and economy cars on a like for like basis across 34 of the UK's largest towns and cities, we have found that, surprisingly, prices across the country have fallen.
We believe this is due to increased competition in the marketplace. This is good news for the consumer, underlining the importance of shopping around for the best quote."
At the other end of the scale, Dundee remained the UK's cheapest city for car insurance with average premiums at £443.32, a massive 24% below the national average. Aberdeen, Norwich and Swindon ranked as the next cheapest locations for insurance with average premiums of £445.23, £457.04 and £457.57 respectively.
Warrington Borough Council Refuse Colection Services.
ALL householders are advised that there will be no refuse collection service on Saturday 25 December 2004 and Saturday 1 January 2005
Shown below are the revised days for collection for the Christmas period:-
(Normal Day to Revised Day)
Friday 24 December 2004, Monday 27 December 2004
to Wednesday 29 December 2004, Tuesday 28 December 2004 to Thursday 30 December 2004,
Wednesday 29 December 2004 to Friday 31 December 2004, Thursday 30 December 2004
to Tuesday 4 January 2005, Friday 31 December 2004 to Wednesday 5 January 2005,
Monday 3 January 2005 to Thursday 6 January 2005, Tuesday 4 January 2005
to Friday 7 January 2005, Wednesday 5 January 2005 to Saturday 8 January 2005,
Thursday 6 January 2005 to Monday 10 January 2005, Friday 7 January 2005
to Friday 14 January 2005, Monday 10 January 2005 to Tuesday 11 January 2005,
Tuesday 11 January 2005 to Wednesday 12 January 2005, Wednesday 12 January 2005
to Thursday 13 January 2005 and Thursday 13 January 2005 to Saturday 15 January 2005
Cheshire Police advise you to think carefully about disposing of your rubbish. Don't advertise to thieves what you got for Christmas!
All Residents could help reduce waste volume by ripping up all boxes before placing them in the refuse bin. For excess refuse the Recycling and Household Waste Centres are open over the holiday periods from 8am to 4pm every day except Christmas Day.
For further information please telephone (01925) 442527 or
Click
Here.
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RESEARCH SUGGESTS BUSINESSES COULD BE WINNING THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
THE latest findings from the AXA Business Crime Index suggest that the recent dramatic increase in crime against businesses could have peaked. During the third quarter of this year the frequency of crimes against businesses fell by 15.8% compared to the second quarter of 2004. This resulted in a 7.4% fall in insurance claims settlements. Despite this, it is not all good news, as the average crime related business claim settlement increased by 10%, from £3,384 to £3,722.
The index reveals that the most expensive criminal business insurance claim is arson, but only accounting for 3% of all crime related business insurance claims, but with some instances costing businesses hundreds of thousands of pounds. Theft remains the most prevalent crime against business and now accounts for over two-thirds of business related claims.
Type of Claim % of all Crime Related Claims Settled
(Q3 2004) % of all Crime Related Claims Settled (Q2 2004)
Arson 3.62% 3.03%
Forcible/Violent Entry/Exit 0.15% 0.21%
Goods in Transit 0.12% 0.06%
Malicious Damage 28.33% 30.34%
Money/Hold Up 0.12% 0.08%
Money (non-forcible) 0.27% 0.33%
Theft 67.38% 65.95%
Neil Mercier, property insurance manager at AXA, said:-
"It's encouraging to see that the level of crime against businesses could be falling. A key reason for this is that many businesses are increasingly aware of the threat of crime and taking steps to protect themselves. But it is essential that this awareness continues, especially over the coming festive period. Every business should ensure that its property is secure before closing over Christmas and New Year. Criminals won't be taking the time off!"
Professor Martin Gill, Perpetuity Research & Consultancy International, Leicester University said:- "The latest AXA Business Crime Index findings are encouraging news for businesses but they must remain vigilant. At Christmas for example, some premises can be left unattended increasing the chances of falling victim to criminal activity."
The AXA Business Crime Index reveals that local businesses in Nottingham face the greatest threat from criminal activity with over a quarter of all claims settled in Q3 resulting from criminal activity. Nottingham is followed by Leeds (22.9%), Birmingham (22.0%) and Derby (21.5%). Middlesbrough (12.9%), Newcastle (13.2%) and
Liverpool (14.0%) had the lowest percentage of crime related business insurance claims
settled over this period.
City % Claims resulting from crime Q3 2004 %
Change Q2 2004 to Q3 2004
Nottingham 26.88% 7.5%
Leeds 22.89% 9.9%
Birmingham 21.99% -18.8%
Derby 21.51% -4.8%
Bath 21.43% -13.4%
Norwich 20.71% 30.2%
London 20.46% 3.5%
Bradford 20.00% -33.1%
Bristol 19.83% 25.2%
Edinburgh 19.34% 1.6%
Glasgow 19.02% 20.3%
Cardiff 18.65% -19.8%
Leicester 17.80% -12.0%
Manchester 15.84% -25.8
Ipswich 15.08% -4.6
Liverpool 13.96% -6.1
Newcastle 13.24% -17.5
Middlesbrough 12.90% -41.3
The secret of keeping New Year's resolutions revealed
ALMOST 75% of people say they are more likely to stick to a resolution that benefits others, according to a MORI poll commissioned on the eve of the Year of the Volunteer 2005. New research shows that although only 20% of people manage to keep their resolutions, there may be ways to dramatically improve their chance of success.
TV psychological expert, Dr Sandra Scott, who believes that volunteering can help people improve their lifestyle, said:-
"Helping others can be a very powerful motivator. Linking your goal to volunteering can help you stick to it and more importantly achieve it."
In the survey of over 1000 British adults 72% said they would be more likely to keep a resolution that has a positive effect on others while 67% feel they have a better chance of keeping a resolution if it involves doing things with other people. 66% also said they would rather make resolutions throughout the year.
Dr Sandra Scott (Big Brother, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here) said:-
"The vast majority of us fail to stick to our resolutions. This is often because they are inappropriate to our real needs, are unachievable or we lack sufficient motivation. An alternative would be to turn to something that comes with a much better guarantee of improving our lives.
By being a volunteer and improving the lives of other people we get positive feedback and this motivates us to continue. Increasing your activity levels via active volunteering - a community garden project or helping at a riding centre for disabled children -could be a positive and far more rewarding alternative to just going to the gym."
The research found that 3 in 10 people intend to make a New Year's resolution in 2005. Of those people planning resolutions this year:-
51% want to get fitter and lose weight
· 43% want to spend more time with the people they love
· 42% want to get less stressed
· 40% want to improve their career/ education
· 37% want to take up a new hobby/ learn something new
· 30% wanted to help others or get involved in voluntary/ charitable work
· 27% want to stop smoking
· 12% want to drink less alcohol
Recent research shows Volunteering could help you achieve many popular resolutions and it can have a positive effect on people's health, cutting down on smoking and even improving sex lives and particularly in beating obesity and stress. Volunteering together at a city farm or hospice can help you have more time with your family, it can also give you confidence or skills for a new career - for example, marketing for a local theatre or supporting children with their reading.
GMTV's Dr Hilary Jones said:- "We are finding out more and more that volunteering is actually good for your health. Other research shows that giving time helps to beat stress and it's clear that keeping physically and mentally active can often improve your state of mind. The research indicates volunteering might help achieve this, especially if it's done on a regular basis."
As part of the Year of the Volunteer 2005, celebrities are making it their New Year's resolution to give time. Celebrities pledging to volunteer include singer Mylene Klass, model Nell McAndrew, personal finance guru Alvin Hall, R&B group Big Brovaz, Davina McCall, and novelist/actor/comedian Alexei Sayle, who already volunteers at a nature park.
Nicola, 28, from South London decided to volunteer at the beginning of 2004:-
"I made it my New Year's resolution to volunteer to gain the experience I needed for a new job. Being a volunteer at 'The Squad' which provides fun social activities for young people with learning disabilities, helped me change direction from working at a picture library to a new role at an educational charity called TreeHouse. I love my new career but I've also carried on volunteering, as The Squad has become part of my life now. I love 'The Squad' and its members and I've made friends with the other volunteers."
This year, don't stop doing something you enjoy, start doing something you'll love. Make a change - try volunteering instead. Go to www.stopstart.org.uk or call 0845 456 1668 to find out about opportunities near you.
The Year of the Volunteer is funded by the Home Office and will be delivered by two consortiums led by Volunteering England and Community Service Volunteers.
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