Latest News
21/7/08
If your looking to SAVE MONEY on our energy costs, then read on...
Energy Partnerships and MSA join forces to help reduce your energy costs no obligation, free quotations,
see web site link below.
Deciding who to choose as an energy supplier is becoming very complicated for business users.
Unlike the domestic market, business energy is relatively unregulated. Tariffs vary hugely due to
various factors including:
- The supplier
- The size of your business and hence consumption
- The area the business is located in
- The type of meter you use
- Your usage ‘profile’ or KVa demand
- The current wholesale gas or electricity price
- Your current contract length
- Your standing charge
- Your credit score and payment history
There are many factors to consider when choosing a new electricity and gas supplier and price shouldn’t
always be the lead factor.
Business electricity and gas suppliers are offering small to medium enterprise customers a bad deal, by
hiding behind the contract small print. Price is the driving factor when negotiating a new business
electricity or gas deal but don’t fall into the commodity trap, as suppliers may catch you out.
Business electricity and gas suppliers in the UK are hiding behind the supply agreement small print
to the detriment of their customers. Supply contracts for business electricity and gas customers are
heavily weighted in favour of the supplier as many of the contract terms are mystical and the small print
is very ambiguous and will undoubtedly confuse. Hidden in the small print is, information about the cancellation
clauses, price variability conditions, advanced termination timescales and how long the contract lasts for.
These clauses are crucially important when a customer takes out a contract or switches electricity or gas provider.
One of the most important questions the customer needs to ask before they agree to the business energy contract is
how long the price is fixed for and what type of contract is being offered?
Most business electricity and gas supply contracts for small and medium sized business customers in the UK are
“evergreen”, which means that the contract will continually recreate unless the customer serves conclusion a
specified number of days before the fixed excellence term renewal date. This price term is a very important factor,
as some suppliers now require up to 120-days notice. Some give customers a 14 day ‘window’ 30, 60 or 90 days before
the contract is due to end. They won’t accept notice before this and if you miss the window it’s too late.
What should happen is that the current electricity or gas supplier should write to the customer a certain period of
time before the current price deal expires and offer them a new deal for a future contract term. This sounds
reasonable but the business energy recommencement notice, in many instances, is disguised to look like junk mail
so that the client does not act on the information and just files it or throws it away, only realising that their
current electricity or gas costs have significantly increased when they receive their next bill.
Not only do suppliers rely on small businesses being too busy to remember when a contract is due to end, they also
take advantage of the fact that most will not have a benchmark price for comparison. If you only renew a contract
every 12, 24 or 36 months, how do you know that the renewal price being offered is reasonable?
Most (if not all) renewal or ‘roll over’ prices are higher than would have been offered if the business had
terminated the original contract and renegotiated a new tariff.
Don’t let the pitfalls put you off signing a business energy contract however. Significant savings can be made
by signing the right contract at the right time and managing it. The alternative is to be charged high standard
rates which, in recent years, vary every couple of months.
Energy Partnerships offer free advice and contract negotiations to MSA members. Please contact us through the MSA
for more information. click here for more details.
Call or Email us for more details - Click Here
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13/7/08
Oval Insurance Broking: Bringubg benefits to Multi-Service Association
Most business organisations are keen to secure added value service offerings to their members and often
work in partnership with companies that can offer expertise or services that are of benefit.
Oval Insurance Broking's SME commercial insurance division (Oval SME) has been working with the
Multi-Service Association (MSA), drawing on its understanding of the needs of small-to medium-sized
businesses, to offer bespoke insurance packages to their members, which can cover a broad range of
eventualities at highly competitive rates.
Oval SME provide insurance solutions for many thousands of small business across the UK and therefore
have an in-depth understanding of the insurance and risk issues facing small businesses today.
Allianz Commercial plc (Allianz), are Oval's insurer of choice for the SME market. Anita Watson
Divisional Director for Oval SME explains why Allianz were chosen, “They have demonstrated a true
commitment to client service and are passionate about providing continuous product and service improvements.
Their commercial values closely match our own.”
The benefits of this partnership include:
- Extensive experience
Allianz have extensive experience in the operation of SME business models and have shown great flexibility and
understanding towards Oval SME client requirements.
- Oval and Allianz Teams
There are dedicated Oval SME and Allianz teams established to specifically cater for SME clients.
- Commitment to technology
Working closely together Oval SME and Allianz are committed to provide clients with a product that meets their
requirements and to improve service efficiency. This includes utilising a number of distribution channels and the
development of web based products.
- Dedicated Claims Service
Allianz have dedicated claims teams based in Birmingham and Milton Keynes.
- Client Service
Oval SME and Allianz are committed to providing excellent levels of client service. To assist this process monthly
service meetings are held.
- Rating Reviews
Rating reviews are carried out on a regular basis.
- AA Rated Insurer
In July 2007, Allianz were given a Standard and Poor’s Rating of AA
Oval Retailer is a unique insurance policy which is focused towards independently owned retail units.
It provides market leading cover for many policy sections including contents, business interruption on
own premises, book debts, money on premises, £2million cover for Public Liability, Loss of Earnings up to
£600,000 and Employers Liability up to £10 million as standard.
As a policyholder you will have access to Allianz Legal Online a free website that provides advice on
Legislation, Health & Safety issues and Employment matters as well as giving access to over 100 legal
documents that your business needs to support your employees and comply with legislation and make the
running of your business a little easier.
Oval SME has an appetite for fulfilling the needs of their customers. By working closely with Allianz
and MSA they are able to provide customers with a product that meets their requirements, in an efficient
and compliant way.
For more information or if you would like to receive a quotation please call Bhavin Patani on
0116 264 4659 quoting MSA/SOMSR or email
bhavin.patani@oval2.theovalgroup.com
Call or Email us for more details - Click Here
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6/7/08
PDQ Offer
The MSA is proud to announce that we can now offer MSA Members preferential rates on PDQ Terminals through our
partnership with Bank of Scotland Merchant Services
Secure > Flexible > Speedy
Reliable card payment processing with added-value benefits and services for all our members
Call or Email us for more details - Click Here
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We have an NEW FANTASTIC PDQ Terminal Deal with Bank of Scotland & a new Money Saving Deal to reduce the cost of your landline phone bill. Call or Email us for more details -
Click Here
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We have been very busy here at the MSA updating our new website which you will see that we have launch. This launch on 1st April 2008. We have added new members areas
for both MSA Members and Cutting Edge Members as well as a fully searchable database for members of the public to find members and the services they offer. If you have
any problems accessing the members area, please contact us at either info@msauk.biz or webadmin@msauk.biz
Training
Brand new extensive training modules are now available to cover your every need discounted prices for members.
Business development will be required within each training module to require the actual service offering, pricing, including pricing strategy and marketing objectives.
Product and supplier recommendations will be also required within each module. Any questions, please contact us at info@msauk.biz or
training@msauk.biz
Statutory Regulations
Under statutory regulations you will see an extensive range of information to help you manage health and safety, COSHH and HR within the COSHH information there is now
available a range of Material Safety Data Sheets. Any questions, please contact us at info@msauk.biz or healthandsaftey@msauk.biz
or employment@msauk.biz
Advertising
You can now start to book advertising space at very competitive prices for more details and a rate card contact; info@msauk.biz or
call 01400 281298
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Help Cutting Edge raise £20,000 for Children In Need during National Shoe Repair Week. The Shoe Repair Industry is getting on its bike & cycling for recycling by riding two
pairs of shoes from Aberdeen to Portsmouth in a round Britain challenge from Friday 5th September to Tuesdays the 9th September 2008. The shoes will be Soled, Heeled & Polished
along the way so to find out more, or sign up to the news letter to get all the latest news as the event approaches visit
www.shoerecycling.co.uk