Category Archives: Security

Experian Reports Rich Getting Poorer

Experian has reported a massive 100% increase in the level of borrowing amongst high income families in their 30s and 40s over the past three years, with many citing the rising cost of living as the main cause.

Over a third (33%) of high income families are now reliant on overdrafts of over£1,000 to keep the family finances ticking over between pay-days, compared to just 15% in 2008. This is according to the results of a three-year survey commissioned by Experian, the global information services company and the largest credit reference agency in the UK.

The report reveals a high proportion of these families (52%) are regularly borrowing money against their overdrafts resulting in expensive repayments because of the high rates of interest charged on overdrafts compared to other credit products.

47% of UK adults have applied for additional credit in the past two years, with some borrowing from sources which charge relatively high interest rates, potentially adding to their financial pressures and risking missed repayments and a chequered credit history.

Despite this, nearly two-thirds of high income families are actually optimistic about their financial future, with 61% believing their financial situation will improve in the next 12 months, despite dipping in to their savings and relying on their overdrafts to make ends meet.

When many are borrowing to make ends meet, Experian highlights that many people are missing out on the best rates because they’re unaware of the benefits of managing theircredit report with a service such as Credit Expert.

Brits are getting better at accessing and managing their personal information that lenders see which is inevitably resulting in them securing better borrowing rates.

Making the right decisions where borrowing is concerned is vital, and getting a goodcredit rating is one of the ways you can give yourself the best chance of finding the deals you want.

Peter Turner, Managing Director at Experian Interactive said: “UK families often rely on their overdraft to get by, but that is not always the best option. Many of us choose to borrow, but it’s where you borrow from that makes all the difference. The current financial climate is tougher than ever and seeing your credit report could help families manage their credit better, as well as helping them plan for their financial futures.”

Credit Expert from Experian shows customers what a lender sees in their name. Every time someone applies for credit or a loan, that request is recorded. Multiple requests on borrower’s credit history can look as if you are over-extending yourself or a fraud is being committed. For those looking for a good credit deal or mortgage, Credit Expert allows them to check their report instantly online to ensure that it accurately reflects their position, and then as often as they want after that. Credit Expert members can also match their credit report to credit offers they are more likely to be accepted for using Experian’s Lower My Bills service.

Via EPR Network
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Will the Catholic Church & the U.S. Courts Embrace Advanced Cell Technologies?

Advanced Cell Technology with laboratory facilities in Marlborough Massachusetts has pioneered a solution to the ethical, moral & legal debate raging in regards to protection of a human embryo. ACT has developed the “single-blastomere” technique. Patent Number 7,893,315 a non-destructive alternative for deriving human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines.

This achievement in Regenerative medicine is a ground breaking feat for both Catholic and U.S. law.
• The 1995 encyclical The Gospel of Life, of which Pope John Paul II wrote: “Human embryos obtained in vitro are human beings and are subjects with rights; their dignity and right to life must be respected from the first moment of their existence. It is immoral to produce human embryos destined to be exploited as disposable ‘biological material'” (1,5 )
• The Dickey Amendment (also known as the Dickey-Wicker Amendment) is the name of an appropriation bill rider attached to a bill passed by United States Congress in 1995, and signed by former President Bill Clinton, which prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using appropriated funds for the creation of human embryos for research purposes or for research in which human embryos are destroyed.

The single-blastomere technology uses a one-cell biopsy approach similar to pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which is widely used in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process and does not interfere with the embryo’s developmental potential. The stem cells generated using this approach are healthy, completely normal, and differentiate into all the cell types of the human The safety record for one-cell biopsy as part of PGD now has a 15-year track record, and is carried out routinely as part of IVF processes around the world. ACT’s technique of protecting the human embryo from harm can be expounded to the smallest blood transfusion in the world. As does a human being give millions of blood cells in a pint of blood so does ACT’s “single blastomere” process take but “one cell” from a 2 day old embryo. As the blood removed from a human donor “regenerate” the removed pint of blood so does the human embryo “regenerate” the one cell. Both of these procedures leave the human body & two day old embryo healthy. Both procedures are similar in that they both provide life saving material to those whom need them most to due to disease and other aliments of a medical nature.

Advanced Cell Technology has been granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a Phase I/II multicenter clinical trial using retinal cells derived from human embryonic stem cells for both Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD), one of the most common forms of juvenile macular degeneration in the world and Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) the most common form of macular degeneration in the world affecting an estimated 150 million people. ACT is using RPE cells developed from the patented (SCB) technique for this trial. The trial will take place at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute in California. Because of the biological nature of the human eye the trial will be able to provide a 100% irrefutable proof that the (hESC) derived RPE cells used attached to the Bruch’s membrane. Before and after state of the art imaging will take place.

Via EPR Network
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Advanced Cell Technology (OTC:ACTC) vs. Geron Corp. (NASDAQ:GERN)

Regenerative medicine is a highly complicated and vastly misunderstood science. Investor Stem Cell is dedicated to bringing investors and stakeholders together in thoughtful discussion to educate and publicize the incredible advancements unfolding in the regenerative medicine sector. A quantum leap in health care is upon the world. Will you profit from this emerging sector & help bring cures to millions? Find out now what the street thinks at www.investorstemcell.com.

Side by side comparison of Advanced Cell Technology & Geron Corporation:

Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN), Approved by the FDA to use human embryonic stem cell (hESC) treatments to treat spinal cord injuries. The research Goliath is a well-funded machine employing the top minds in the world working on everything from mid-stage oncology trials to promising (hESC) drugs for spinal cord injuries, heart disease & cancer.

Snap shot of Goliath: Geron Corpoartion-(NASDAQ:GERN)-
• Seven oncology Phase 2 trials currently underway, and has several big Pharma joint venture agreements in oncology animal and human trials
• Five hESC areas of investigation underway. GRNOPC1 is the lead candidate. Geron destroys the human embryo through its (hESC) R&D, of which the company uses the blastocyst embryo formation at day five after fertilization from IVF clinics
• Cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities: $221,274.000.00
• Total operating expenses in 2010: $114,730,000.00
• 175 employees; over 100 hold PhD or MD degrees
• Geron Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Menlo Park, California
• Trades on the NASDAQ providing liquidity & large institutional investors
• Corporate financial statements:http://www.geron.com/investors/reports/GeronAnnualReport2010.pdf

Advanced Cell Technology not too long ago was the predominant leader in the field of regenerative medicine. It fell from that distinction in part due to executive management hubris and ultimately the credit crisis in mid-2008. ACT was able to resurrect itself from near bankruptcy in June 2008 and now has the distinction of holding two out of the three FDA approved (hESC) trials. ACT is led by a competent executive management team and employs several of the most predominant regenerative researcher(s) in the world.

Snap shot of David: Advanced Cell Technology-(OTC:ACTC)-
• Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Program is their lead program-(HESC) trials for both SMD/AMD are expected to start in week(s) Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA ) will conduct the 2 (hESC) trials for Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD) and Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
• Filed a European Clinical Trial Application for Phase 1/2 study using (hESC) to treat macular degeneration
• Issued a broad patent for hESC-derived RPE cells in China
• Seeking funding & joint venture partner for Myoblast program for the treatment of cardiovascular disease Phase 2 approved by the FDA
• Joint ventured with Korean medical giant CHA to form “Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International” (SCRMI). This partnership expected to file an investigational new drug application (IND) with the FDA in Q-4 of this year. CHA biotech is waiting for final approval from the Korea Food and Drug Administration for (hESC) trial for AMD
• Issued patent on its “single-blastomere” technique. Patent Number 7,893,315 broadly covers ACT’s proprietary single-blastomere technology that provides a non-destructive alternative for deriving hESC lines. This “Embryo-Safe” one-cell biopsy approach similar to pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which is widely used in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process and does not interfere with the embryo’s developmental potential
• 22 full-time employees, six hold PhD or MD degrees-Formed in 1994, HQ in Menlo Park, California with laboratory facilities in Marlborough, MA
• Total operating expenses in 2010: $22,044,701
• Cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities: $34,889,409
• Trades on the OTC:BB ACTC is a Sarbanes–Oxley Act SEC reporter
• Corporate financial statements: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/...

Via EPR Network
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Trade-in offered to all exposed RSA’s SecureID Customers

Each SecureID customer can switch their SecureID devices to IDentiWall while using their SecureID’s past investments as credit against the IDentiWall license fee.

Such trade-in is guaranteed to be financially compelling and technically superior.

The innovative trade-in plan makes sure that switching customers enjoy:

  • Better, newest security technology that protects its users against all latest attacks even if their computer is contaminated with malwares or even if their ID is exposed.
  • Wider security coverage, which includes not only two-factor authentication, but also combines transaction verification, anti-phishing, anti-farming, as well as breach attempt notification.
  • All platform coverage including Desktops, Tablets, Smartphone
  • VPN and SSL-VPN user authentication
  • E-Banking, m-Banking, e-Health, e-Government web application protection with special ‘application agnostic’ mode by which, not even one line of code needs to be changed.
  • Polite implementation including co-existence with SecureID for the transition period and built-in implementation risk elimination measures.
  • No physical devices to be distributed and yet out-of-the-box support for such token devices and smart-cards does exist.
  • Lowest TCO. This trade-in plan was designed to ensure cost savings for the whole duration of the IDentiWall usage.
  • Cloud or on-site implementation options are supported.

SecureID users, who learned about RSA’s failure to secure its own network, wonder if they can continue keeping their eggs in RSA’s basket, or as one user put it, “working with questioned security provider, is similar to consciously getting an HIV-tainted blood infusion”.

Via EPR Network
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Experian QAS Achieves Latest Oracle CRM On Demand Validated Integration

Experian QAS, a leading contact data management software and services provider has achieved Oracle Validated Integration with QAS for Oracle CRM On Demand 1.0 and Oracle CRM On Demand. Customers will benefit from Experian QAS’s data quality tools with the Oracle CRM On Demand solution, providing increased accuracy of customer intelligence, improved communications, and more informed decision-making.

Experian QAS’s existing Platinum partnership, through the Oracle PartnerNetwork programme, provides customers with added confidence that Experian QAS is one of the main and trusted contact data providers to Oracle and its customers. Experian QAS software and services can help improve address data quality, increase productivity, reduce waste and improve return on investment by ensuring accuracy and completeness of data.

Nik Haidar, Product and Marketing Director at Experian QAS commented: “This latest acknowledgment from Oracle is testament to our ability to deliver market-leading data management capabilities. Experian QAS for Oracle CRM On Demand software enables Oracle customers to benefit from accurate and enriched contact data to help increase campaign effectiveness, operational efficiency and business intelligence, and ultimately, generate more value from their Oracle CRM activities.”

Kevin O’Brien, Senior Director, ISV and SaaS Strategy, Oracle, commented: “Oracle Validated Integration applies a rigorous technical review and test process. Achieving Oracle Validated Integration through the Oracle PartnerNetwork gives customers confidence that the integrations between Experian QAS for Oracle CRM On Demand 1.0 and Oracle CRM On Demand have been validated and the products work together as designed. This can help reduce risk, improve system implementation cycles, and provide for smoother upgrades and simpler maintenance.”

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Experian Launches ProtectMyID

ProtectMyID offers a comprehensive online service to allow consumers to keep track of where their personal information is being used to secure credit. The launch of the service follows research by Experian that shows identity fraud is on the increase and is more widespread than ever. Experian revealed that the number of identity fraud victims who sought help from the company last year leapt by nearly 20% compared to the year before.

ProtectMyID provides credit report monitoring with text or email alerts if any credit is applied for in the user’s name. Details of the activity and advice on what to do is then posted to the user’s personal and secure online account. As part of the service users also have access to a dedicated Experian caseworker who can offer individual advice to help resolve the suspected ID theft or other fraudulent activity. Other benefits of the service include free fraud insurance to cover the cost of resolution up to £75,000 (provided by ARC, underwritten by AXA) and the option for CIFAS Protective Registration.

The Experian research revealed that in 2009, people were taking longer to discover that they have become a victim of fraud, indicating that fraudsters are getting better at covering their tracks; the average time taken is now 416 days, up 17 days compared to 2008. Year on year, reported fraud rose most sharply in early summer, rising by 57% in May and by 74% in June – the highest number ever reported to Experian in any single month. The average financial loss per victim was £1,100 in 2009 and the most extreme loss reported to Experian was for almost £59,000.

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ProtectmyId.co.uk Reveals British Public Lending A Hand To Online Fraudsters

New research by ProtectmyID.co.uk has revealed just how relaxed the Great British public are when it comes to protecting themselves in the digital world. In the face of one of the fastest growing crimes in the world, the research has shown that millions of online users are readily making the information required to steal their identities available to digital fraudsters.

The online study commissioned to mark the launch of the new ProtectmyID.co.uk fraud protection service by Experian, revealed that three of the most regularly used passwords (town of birth (24%), date of birth (18%) and name of past schools (18%)**) also feature in a top ten of personal details which the public include on social networking and dating sites. By making these personal details so accessible online, people are making themselves easy targets for digital criminals who are ready to maximise this information for fraudulent activities such as ID theft.

The new study looked at how willing the public are to display personal details online compared with the information they are prepared to give out to people/companies contacting them by phone. The figures are vastly different, with minimal numbers of people admitting to give out such personal information directly to strangers (Town of Birth (7%), Name of past schools (1%), mother’s maiden name (6%)**).

In addition, the research revealed that over half the population (51%)** use the same online password for some or most of their online accounts, with 52%** admitting to never changing their online passwords, or only changing their passwords when they believe their online account may have been compromised or have been prompted to do so.

Speaking about the research results, Pete Turner, Managing Director of Experian Interactive, said: “The results of our research show that the message of identity fraud is still not being heard. The Internet is accessible to almost everyone and as the number of users grow, so do those using it for criminal purposes. Users need to be aware of what information they are giving out online and who might be accessing it. People are clearly aware of the dangers of giving away personal details to strangers calling them up on the phone, so why are they giving this information away to a huge audience online?”

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International Figures Show UK Lagging When It Comes To Child Mortality Rate, Prompting Concern From Life Insurance Comparison Site Quoteboffin.co.uk

New research has shown that the UK has the highest child mortality rate in Western Europe. With a rate of 5.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, the UK is falling behind other rich countries when it comes to cutting the number of child mortalities.

International Figures Show UK Lagging When It Comes To Child Mortality Rate, Prompting Concern From Life Insurance Comparison Site Quoteboffin.co.uk

International figures have revealed that child death in the UK, along with the USA, New Zealand and South Korea, has not reduced the number of child deaths as quickly as expected.

The figures, from a team at the University of Washington in Seattle, have prompted life insurance comparison site Quoteboffin.co.uk to speak out about its concerns. A spokesperson for the company explained:

“It is extremely concerning to see that the UK is lagging behind its counterparts. As one of the most developed countries in the world, it seems shocking to think that we are not able to quickly and significantly cut the number of child mortalities.

“To receive this information at a time when the NHS is at the focus of attention makes us hope that ensuring everyone gets the care they need is at the top of the agenda for ministers.”

The UK’s mortality rate saw the country fall from 10th in the global chart to the 33rd and the research also found that the decline in deaths in the under fives is reducing more quickly in poorer countries, according to The Lancet.

However, the BBC reports that the global child mortality rate has dropped from 11·9 million deaths in 1990 to an estimated 7·7 million deaths in 2010 in children under five. While the UK has continued to reduce mortality rates, by three quarters since 1970, a large number of other European countries have overtaken it.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health highlighted the fact that infant mortality is at the lowest rate ever in the UK, but there are still calls for the country to have a close look at neonatal and child care.

Life insurance comparison site Quoteboffin.co.uk is among those calling for increased efforts in the coming years. It said: “While the number of deaths does continue to fall, we believe is it not falling fast enough and would like to see assurances that money will continue to go towards research and medical care for threats to the health of infants.

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AmCorp Management Links With New Utility Auditor

AmCorp, announces that it has entered into a new agreement with one of the nation’s most successful utility auditing firms. The agreement established Michael and Paul Kerkorian as their head utility auditing division for AmCorp Analytics, Inc.

AmCorp Management Links With New Utility Auditor

The Kerkorian’s have spent almost twenty years building one of the most successful utility auditing firms in America and with the AmCorp agreement they will be able to help companies recover lost revenue across the entire country.

AmCorp helps small and midsize companies recover lost revenue through providing risk free analysis of their expenses. They provide audit and analysis services for workers’ compensation, utility audits, telecom audits and cost segregation services. Darren Oliver, the President of AmCorp stated that many times the billing errors are by accident, however sometimes the billing errors and miss-billing practices are from providers attempting to scam the end user. Our job is to identify the money and recover it regardless on why it happened.

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Payday Loans Specialist Demonstrate Continued Success in the Battle Against Identity Fraud

Payday Loan Company, Payday Express continue to help thin the number of identity fraudsters operating online with successful fraud prevention and prosecution.

Payday Loans Specialist Demonstrate Continued Success in the Battle Against Identity Fraud

Payday Express, one of the UK’s leading Payday Loans specialists maintains continued success in the war against online identity theft and fraud thanks to their steps taken to help prevent and prosecute cases which may have led to wrongful loan payouts.

Payday Express is a provider of online cash advance loans. Customers can apply for a payday loan on their website and then receive an instant approval decision during the online application. While fraudsters may be attracted to online processes where they don’t have to provide falsified documentation to apply for a loan, Payday Express have mitigated this risk by utilising a number of identity verification and fraud prevention checks both on and off-line. These successfully prevent many criminals from being accepted for credit with misrepresented application details.

Fraud Liaison Officer, Hannah Waters said “We at Payday Express take fraud very seriously and understand how important it is for consumers to feel safe when applying for credit”.

“We investigate every case of suspected fraud, whether funds have been transferred or not”, Hannah went on to say with regards to how suspicious activity is handled at Payday Express.

This investigation process ultimately leads to reporting cases of known and suspected fraud to the Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to help bring scam artists to justice.

In a recent case in March 2010 Payday Express once again successfully charged a fraudster to court, in this case with five offences of fraud by false representation.

Hannah advised, “we liaise with a number of authorities on a regular basis to assist with investigations where the information we provide could be the missing piece of the puzzle to track the fraudster down. In the instances where the fraudsters are caught we will prosecute”.

With such detailed and thorough checks made for each application and such a serious approach to fraud prosecution Payday Express is proud to do its part in the fight against online identity fraud.

To apply for fast payday loans or learn any more about Payday Express’ services visit their website at: http://www.paydayexpress.co.uk/.

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Quoteboffin.co.uk – Calls For Binge Drinkers To Think About The Bigger Picture As NHS Staff Call In Police Protection

Money saving website – www.quoteboffin.co.uk – is asking weekend party goers to consider the repercussions of excessive drinking after it emerged that the NHS spends tens of thousands of pounds a year on police protection for A&E staff.

Police officers are being drafted in up and down the country in a bid to protect the welfare of doctors and nurses treating patients on Friday and Saturday nights.

Branded a ‘war zone’ in a BBC report, the culture of drinking to excess has seen a sharp rise in the number of NHS workers being threatened verbally and physically by drunken patients in A&E wards.

A spokesperson for Quoteboffin.co.uk urged weekend revellers to show greater respect for the NHS by considering the repercussions of their binge drinking:

“No one deserves to work in an environment where physical and verbal abuse is a reality. NHS staff in particular are there to help but their jobs are made increasingly difficult when faced with aggressive situations.

“Party goers need to remember that alcohol is not an excuse for violence towards anyone; let alone someone who is trying to treat patients who are in potentially critical situations.”

Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary and Western General in particular boasts the most advanced violence and aggression policy in Scotland; the two hospitals currently spend £60,000 a year on police support, CCTV and direct lines to police stations.

Other hospitals in areas like Bristol have felt the need to introduce a police presence throughout the rest of the week in a bid to tackle drunken antisocial behaviour.

Health workers are calling on the government and police to impose stricter penalties on people who attack or threaten medical staff.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk went on to highlight the financial pressures of binge drinking on the NHS and beyond:

“Binge drinking and alcoholism is a costly business with taxpayers collectively forking out over £1.5 bn annually while the short and long term consequences of heavy drinking can substantially push up an individual’s health or life insurance premium.

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Consumers Need To Exercise Better Online Privacy In A Bid To Protect Insurance Premiums

Policy holders could face price hikes on their insurance premiums or even have claims rejected as the rise and rise of social networking sees more people advertise their whereabouts and holiday plans on the internet.

Insurance provider Legal & General recently highlighted the need for consumers to think twice before broadcasting their vacation plans as thieves could easily scour social networking sites for potential targets and empty homes.

The continued expansion of Google’s Street View program also means burglars have increasingly thorough access to technology that could help them locate vulnerable properties.

QuoteBoffin echoed the call for consumers to exercise better online privacy:

“Social networking sites such as Facebook are a great way to let friends know what you’re up to but people have to remember that some pages can easily accessed by strangers.

“This means absolutely anybody could find out when and for how long you’re property will be vacant which is very dangerous.”

Policy holders are reminded not to give out personal information online, especially updates regarding their plans to leave the country or their home for long periods of time.

Twitter users were recently put in the spotlight after the website www.pleaserobme.com provided real-time updates of empty homes belonging to people using Foursquare to update their exact location.

The creators of pleaserobme.com were slammed for creating a tool for burglars despite claiming they were highlighting people’s willingness to broadcast sensitive information such as postcodes.

Although insurance providers have yet to absorb the risk from social networking into policy premiums, it is up to consumers to protect their possessions by implementing common sense.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk said: “The insurance industry is definitely concerned about the impact social networking could have on our possessions as well as our personal safety.

“Although insurance is there as a safety net during worst case scenario moments, consumers can do their bit to protect their premiums by refraining from broadcasting sensitive information in public forums that could then lead to a claim being made.”

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Finance Director Appointed by Tracesmart

Rhiannon Wilcox FCCA has joined the board of directors at Tracesmart, one of the UK’s leading consumer data specialists. Previously the company accountant, Wilcox will strengthen the board at a time when the organisation is experiencing rapid growth and transition due to sustained high demand for its data cleansing, anti-money laundering and debtor tracing services.

A graduate of Loughborough University, Wilcox trained with RSM Bentley Jennison followed by spells with Citigroup in Sydney and KTS Owens Thomas in Cardiff. Having established her own successful business operating within a diverse range of industries and commerce in South Wales, Tracesmart became one of her principal clients. As a recognised and respected figure within the company, the transition to board member has been seamless.

Wilcox remarked, “I am delighted to have joined the board at Tracesmart as we embark on a new financial year and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that will arise as the company diversifies and grows. These are exciting times for the business, management and staff.”

The scope of online data driven services provided by the company’s B2B arm, Tracesmart Corporate, offers an invaluable source of consumer information to a vast and varied range of companies, from SMEs to FTSE 100 corporations. Delivering a powerful data cleansing and mortality screening service, an online provision to perform identity checks and an authoritative facility to trace people, Tracesmart’s client portfolio boasts a wide variety of industries including the pension, collection, media and financial sectors.

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Apex Signs up to Tracesmart’s Online Debtor Tracing Facility

Tracesmart Corporate has been appointed by Apex Credit Management to provide their proprietary data cleansing and online tracing services. The intuitive web based tracing system offers a single source solution, which permits the rapid and confident tracing of gone aways and absconded debtors. The facility will provide Apex with the means to conduct their tracing activities, both efficiently and ethically.

Apex Credit Management is a rapidly growing credit management provider. Headquartered in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the business is focused exclusively upon providing debt management services to the financial services sector; notably early arrears outsourcing, debt collection, debt purchase and tracing services. The company was established in 2000 as a specialist UK based consumer debt collection agency.

Apex recently created a new division, Apex Discovery Solutions, which provides dedicated tracing solutions to the financial services sector. Based in West Malling, Kent, the new enterprise boasts a large team of tracers to fulfil the recent uptake in demand from this sector. Head of Trace is Jamie McGrath, who with over twenty years of experience in the debt recovery and debt purchase sectors has extensive knowledge of tracing and compliance. Commenting on the company’s new partnership with Tracesmart, McGrath remarked, “Forging an alliance with Tracesmart enables us to broaden our data cleansing and tracing services across our client base, which will assist us in our goal of becoming a data led, ethical and compliant trace provider.”

Tracesmart is one of the UK’s leading data specialists, providing debtor tracing and consumer data services to a vast number of the country’s credit management companies. In addition to people tracing, the company also offer identity checks and anti-money laundering services to a varying and growing legion of businesses and industries.

Commenting on the new partnership, Chris Rothwell, Tracesmart’s Sales Director remarked, “We are delighted that Jamie and his recently established Apex division have chosen Tracesmart for their tracing and data solutions. Our debtor tracing facility is industry leading; we are confident we can provide increased productivity and efficiencies to any credit management organisation. We look forward to providing a first-rate and cost-effective service to our new partner, Apex.”

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Experian Teams with Citi to Provide SEPA Data Conversion Service

Experian, the global information services company, is partnering with Citi to provide an automated International Bank Account Number (IBAN) and Bank Identifier Code (BIC) conversion and validation service for SEPA-compliant cross-border payments. While Experian’s Data Conversion Service will be delivered across all 31 countries in the SEPA region, the partnership also extends to Citi customers initiating payments to and from the SEPA area from anywhere in the world.

Use of SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) and SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) schemes requires corporates to submit a valid BIC IBAN for all EU cross-border Credit Transfers and, from November 2009, for all direct debit payments. Additionally, several European countries have adopted the IBAN as part of their own domestic payment standard. In order to enable Citi’s customers to take advantage of the SCT and SDD schemes, the IBAN and BIC Conversion service will ensure customer databases are as accurate and complete as possible.

Experian will check, validate and convert existing domestic BBANs (Basic Bank Account Numbers) to the required IBAN and BIC standard in bulk, enabling customers to avoid rejection or failed payments, thereby reducing transaction costs and improving straight through processing of payment instructions. In addition, the bank’s customers will be able to identify invalid records that require further or correct information to be obtained or verified, including invalid account numbers and closed bank branches.

Ruth Wandhöfer, EMEA Head of Payment Strategy & Market Policy Global Transaction Services at Citi, commented: “Submitting invalid data when making a payment can be costly for corporates and their customers. However, by teaming up with Experian to ensure bank account details are converted into the right format, we will enable our customers to reduce the cost of correcting rejected payment information. In addition, the service enables us and our customer base to be ready for the introduction of SEPA Direct Debits in November 2009.”

Jonathan Williams, Director of Product Development and Strategy at Experian Payments, added: “Experian’s conversion service is already used by many of the world’s leading organisations to check their data, convert their data and then keep their data clean. By partnering with Citi, Experian is enabling a growing number of the world’s biggest businesses to make SEPA payments, while at the same time helping the bank to improve its operational efficiency.”

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Identity Checks Supplier Continues To Expand

Leading suppliers of identity checks and anti-money laundering services, Tracesmart, are to expand their workforce which will help manage the increasing demand for their services. The expansion will specifically involve the administration, sales and IT teams.

Identity Checks Supplier Continues To Expand

Tracesmart is currently active in a number of industries however the key B2B markets in which it operates include pensions and debt collection. Both these sectors use the company’s data cleansing and consumer location services to trace people in order to re-establish contact. The pensions industry further utilises Tracesmart’s Existence suite of services which can be used to identify scheme members who have relocated or are deceased, this helps pension schemes better manage their member payments, and protect themselves and their members against fraud.

Demand for Tracesmart Corporate services has already prompted the company to recruit seven new members of staff over recent months. They now plan to recruit a further eight to strengthen their numbers and continue their expansion within their core and new commercial arenas. Tracesmart’s employee levels will soon total sixty, and the company headquarters still has capacity for further growth as their Business Support Manager, Rebecca Westlake, commented,

“We recently completed the refurbishment of our newly expanded Cardiff head office. In line with our expansion plans, the improvements have allowed us to develop and deploy individual teams efficiently and effectively to optimise our work environment.”

With close ties to both his front line staff and the company’s major clients, Tracesmart’s Managing Director, Mike Trezise, is fully aware of how and when the company will continue to expand. Commenting on his company’s development Trezise stated,

“We continue to reap the rewards of our ongoing marketing and sales campaigns within our core sectors. Demand has further led us to increase our staff to meet current and new client needs. We will continue to ensure our clients receive the best possible service and I’m confident that we’ll experience sustained growth in 2010.”

About Tracesmart:
Established in 1999, Tracesmart Ltd is a leading provider of consumer intelligence services. It specialises in the provision of data cleansing, consumer tracing and identity verification.

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Recession Raises Fear Of Identity Theft

New research from Lloyds TSB has revealed 76% of adults are currently worried about identity theft and 39% feel more at risk now than they did six months ago, with the recession playing a major contributing factor. The research was conducted September 2009 by ICM for Lloyds TSB amongst 1,000 UK adults aged 18+ years.

Over half (52%) of those concerned about ID theft believe that the recession has increased the risk as rising unemployment drives more people towards criminal activity and ID theft. Coupled with this, is the fear expressed by 57% of people that social networking sites have made it easier to steal personal details – a 10% increase on those with the same worries last year.

The study shows that as many as 38% of Brits have experienced ID fraud, with almost half of those (18%) having been victims personally. However, 57% of those surveyed admit that they have not done enough to protect themselves and 25% don’t know how.

According to CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, it takes an estimated 48 man hours to repair the damage resulting from fraud, and the cost to victims is frequently as high as £8,000. Typically, it takes an average of 539 days for someone to discover that they’ve been a victim of ID theft and it is on the increase; latest CIFAS figures show that it increased by 15% in 2008.

To combat this growing trend, Lloyds TSB has launched its ID Aware prevention and advisory service to help protect customers and bring them peace of mind.

Lloyds TSB’s ID Aware product allows customers to stay on top of their credit status and safeguard their identity, providing credit monitoring services and an early warning system to alert the customer to any activity involving their account. In addition, customers benefit from access to their credit status and payment history in one easy-to-understand document showing all credit cards, mortgages and loans. Credit alerts to warn the customer in the event that someone has been checking their credit status or doing anything fraudulent that affects their credit score. And if the worst should happen, expert help is on-hand. ID Aware provides 24 hour access to an advisor who will take control and set everything back on track.

Jatin Patel, spokesperson for Lloyds TSB commented: “As technology improves, it gets easier and easier for criminals to steal our identities and during tough economic times the temptation becomes greater. Protecting ourselves by shredding documents and protecting passwords is a good start, but having someone else keep an eye on your ID offers extra peace of mind.”

Lloyds TSB is also offering help and guidance through the National Identity Fraud Prevention Week (NIFP) which Lloyds TSB has supported from its birth in 2005. The Group will be putting up posters and providing leaflets in branches detailing ways to spot potential fraud. The bank is also giving information on how customers can protect themselves by safeguarding documents and making it as difficult as possible for criminals to access personal information.

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