Confused.com Reveals Charity Credit Cards are not so Giving

By Confused.com, PRNE
Wednesday, November 10, 2010

CARDIFF, Wales, November 11, 2010 - New findings from Confused.com reveal that charity credit cards may not
be as 'giving' as customers think. After analysing the rewards given on 45 of
the UK's top charity credit cards Confused.com found that those wishing to be
charitable could provide greater support by ditching their charity card and
replacing it with a cash-back reward card instead, potentially earning up to
three times as much 'cash' which can then be donated to a charity of the
cardholder's choice.

Charitable giving in 2009 was 11% lower than 2008 according to the
Charities Aid Foundation, no doubt a result of the tougher economic climate.
With 45 charity credit cards (www.confused.com/credit-cards) currently
available, accounting for 18% of the cards on the market, many providers are
offering philanthropists the chance to do their bit without dipping into
their own pockets. However the 'rewards' earned for charities via these
bespoke cards are significantly lower than standard reward or cash-back
cards.

For example, someone spending GBP1,000 a month on the Greenpeace Platinum
card from Co-operative Bank would earn a donation of GBP47.50 over a year. In
comparison spending the same amount over a year on an American Express
Platinum Cashback card would result in GBP204 cashback, which could then be
donated to the charity of the customer's choice, meaning an extra GBP156.50
for the good cause.

Chris Griffiths, head of Credit Cards, at Confused.com, said: "Charity
credit cards offer the chance to give to a good cause simply by using a
designated card ahead of our other plastic when we're shopping. While they
undoubtedly have honourable intentions, customers may in fact be able to make
a bigger contribution by using a traditional cashback card and donating their
rewards to the chosen charity themselves.

"Given that so many providers have corporate social responsibility
programmes and extol their own 'green' virtues it would be nice to see them
apply the same standards to their charity cards as they do to their best
reward cards. Until then it may be better for canny customers to opt for a
cashback card and make their own donation."

About Confused.com

Confused.com is one of the UK's biggest and most popular price comparison
(www.confused.com/) services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one
million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products
over the last couple of years to include car insurance (
www.confused.com/), home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance,
van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as
financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages
(www.confused.com/mortgages) and life insurance (
www.confused.com/life-insurance).

Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides
a free, objective and unbiased comparison service. By using cutting-edge
technology, it has developed a series of intelligent web-based solutions that
evaluate a number of risk factors to help customers with their
decision-making, subsequently finding deals on a wide-range of insurance
products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com's service is
based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and
industry regulators.

Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the
London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the
FSA.

    PR contact:
    Kelly Davies
    Friary House
    Greyfriars Road
    Cardiff
    CF103AE
    +44(0)2920-434398

PR contact: Kelly Davies, Friary House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, CF103AE, +44(0)2920-434398

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