The DebtBuster Corporation Announced as Finalist for Small Business of the Year

LAS VEGAS - August 19, 2009 - The DebtBuster Corporation (DebtBusters), the nations most trusted debt settlement firm, announced today that it has been recognized as one of three finalists in the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year competition. Small Business of the Year, awarded as part of the LVCC Annual Biz-E's honors a for-profit venture with 50 or fewer employees, demonstrates commitment to community stewardship and is active in the business community of Southern Nevada. The final event, and announcement of the winner will take place at The Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV the afternoon of September 17th, 2009.

David Fishman, the owner of The DebtBuster Corporation, gladly accepts the recognition as a finalist on behalf of his employees. "This is a great honor", said Mr. Fishman who is also known as Dr. Debt, "we really couldn't have done this without our great staff and our dedication to excellent customer service. Our goal is to assist everyone that needs help with credit card debt, regardless of whether or not they become our client". Mr. Fishman went on to say that people who need debt relief, don't generally ask for it until it's too late. "Bankruptcy alternatives are available for most people", said Mr. Fishman, "if you know where to look".

DebtBusters also received a letter from The Honorable Lorraine Hunt-Bono, one of the Nevada Commissioners, offering them congratulations on the achievement. "As a positive influence in our business community", remarked Commissioner Hunt-Bono in her letter, "you are to be commended for your accomplishments".

For more information about the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce 2009 BIZ E Awards, visit http://www.lvchamber.com/biz-e

About The DebtBuster Corporation
Formed in 1998 as subsidiary of the 20 year old commercial debt settlement firm, Arbitronix INC, The DebtBuster Corporation was created to assist consumers by negotiating their unsecured debt directly with creditors, often saving consumers thousands of dollars in the process. Accredited by the Better Business Bureau in 2002, DebtBusters is one of the few debt settlement firms in the country which has achieved an A+ BBB rating. Their dedication to customer service is unparalleled and their motto, "No Obligations. Only Answers.", shows their willingness to help anyone who calls the Dr. Debt national helpline at 1-800-464-DEBT, regardless of whether or not the caller becomes a DebtBusters Client.

For more information about DebtBusters and its services, visit www.debtbusters.com

Contact Details: Scott Chatley | VP, Marketing
702-259-2700 ext 404 | Email: scott.chatley@debtbusters.com
www.debtbusters.com

chronicfatiguesyndromehelp.info promotes new methods in helping CFS

With the proliferation of health websites promoting many different methods for helping sufferer’s chronicfatiguesyndromehelp.info tries to approach this differently by looking at the problem from a patient’s perspective with different ideas that are going around as to what are the most effective methods to manage the illness.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is affecting more and more people each year and the cause of the illnesses are associated with high stress levels for prolonged periods.

Browsing the net looking for information on CFS and ME you will find a new website that has proved helpful. I have gained some valuable knowledge on the condition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome looking at this site called ‘’Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Help’’ and many who have this condition have been able to implement some of the ideas that it promotes.

A spokes person from Chronicfatiguesyndromehelp says that “As CFS is on the increase there is an increasing need for awareness of the illness and information for sufferers”.

Chronicfatiguesyndromehelp.info can help ones to manage their condition and maybe prevent it from worsening. Sufferers of CFS and ME would be wise to go on to the site and have a look.

Nationwide Has Hit The Headlines With News That It Can Offer Homebuyers A Mortgage Of As High As 125% Of The Property Value

This initially sounds like a return to the lending practices of the “pre-crunch years” and the now infamous Northern Rock Together mortgage. Whilst the Together 125% deal actually served some borrowers pretty well it has become synonymous with the carefree credit conditions of 2007.

However when you look closely at the Nationwide proposition it is a world away from replicating the Northern Rock product. It is designed to help existing borrowers that need to move home but now find themselves in negative equity, as their property value has fallen to the extent that it is less than the outstanding mortgage.

Nationwide allows all existing customers moving home to borrow as much as 95% of the property value albeit at higher interest rates. In this scenario the borrower still needs to put in at least a 5% deposit but they can also borrow an amount to cover the negative equity, although this is charged at an even higher rate.

The reality is that this initiative will only have any relevance to a small niche of borrowers that really need to move, perhaps to relocate for a new job or to accommodate an expanding family. However it will at least provide an option to those that have a genuine need to move.

Borrowers looking to find out how much their current property is worth can use London & Country Mortgages house price calculator. They can then calculate their loan to value ratio (LTV) by dividing the current balance of their mortgage by the current value of their home. If this is over 100% they will have negative equity.
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Notes to editors:
London and Country Mortgages Ltd is the country’s leading whole of market no-fee mortgage broker and submitted over £4bn of mortgages to over 70 lenders in 2008. For more information visit our website London & Country Mortgages

L&C is a Climate Neutral company and for the last seven years has invested in climate friendly projects and tree-planting to help offset its emissions and those of its customers.

L&C has won numerous awards including:

Best Mortgage IFA/Adviser of the Year – Money Marketing, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008
Best Technology Adviser – Money Marketing 2007
Best Mortgage Broker outside London – Mortgage Strategy, 2004 and 2005
Best National Broker – Mortgage Introducer 2005, 2006 and 2007
Best Overall Broker – Mortgage Introducer 2005
Overall broker of the year – Pink Home Loans, 2006 and 2007
Top 100 company in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 for 2004 and 2005
Business of the Year – The Bath Business Awards 2005
Growth Strategy of the Year – National Business Awards (Wales and West) 2008
Business Leader (Broker) – British Mortgage Awards - 2008
Online Mortgage IFA of the Year – Financial Adviser - 2008

Barclaycard Launches Waterslide iPhone Game

Barclaycard has launched a free iPhone game to coincide with its acclaimed Waterslide advertising campaign. The game, called Waterslide Extreme, is a first for the financial services industry and reinforces Barclaycard's commitment to embracing new ways of connecting with current and potential customers.

The Waterslide Extreme game, developed by fishlabs and Dare for Barclaycard, has nine levels with the objective to steer a character down an increasingly difficult waterslide in the quickest time whilst collecting points and avoiding objects along the way. Visitors to an Apple Store or ITunes can download the application for free from mid July.

Paul Troy, Head of Advertising and Sponsorship at Barclaycard, said: "The launch of the iPhone 'Waterslide Extreme' game is a first in financial services. The Waterslide ad has engaged millions online and this game gives consumers the opportunity to go on the Waterslide themselves."

CEO & Co-Founder Michael Schade, from fishlabs said: "We expect the game to be a great success from the feedback we received from the customer testing. It is great to work with a client such as Barclaycard that wants to do something different and fun and we are delighted with what we have produced."

The concept for the mobile game is taken from Barclaycard's latest advertising campaign that demonstrates the ease of contactless payment.

Barclaycard continue their innovation drive by being one of the first brands to use Sky's new green button technology, providing consumers with behind the scenes footage of how the TV ad was made. An animated introductory spot to the 40" Waterslide advert has also been created in partnership with Sky to invite viewers to engage via their green button.

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Notes to editors:

About Barclaycard
Barclaycard, part of Barclays Global and Retail Commercial Banking division, is a leading global payment business which helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and accept payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit when needed.

The company is one of the pioneers of new forms of credit card payments and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment schemes for today and cutting edge forms of payment for the future. It also issues credit and charge cards to corporate customers and the UK Government. Barclaycard partners with a wide range of organisations across the globe to offer their customers or members payment options and credit.

In addition to the UK, Barclaycard operates in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle and Far East.

www.barclaycard.co.uk

Prudential Reveals Equity Mix Remains Top Choice For Pension Investments

Prudential has reported that more than one in three people retiring within the next 10 years say they would prefer their pension to be invested partly in the stock market and the remainder in other types of investments, according to new research*.

The nationwide study shows that consumer confidence in the stock market continues despite recent market and economic upheavals.

Prudential asked 1002 men aged 55 to 64 and women aged 50 to 59 who have a pension how they would want their pension fund invested if they could choose:

- 35% said partly in the stock market and the remainder in other investments (40% men, 29% women)
- 29% said only in cash or very low-risk investments (29% men, 30% women)
- 22% said they did not know (18% men, 28% women)

Since the FTSE 100 index of leading shares hit a five-year low of 3530 in the week of 2nd March this year, it has climbed back up. Currently the FTSE is at 4615 w/c 27 July 2009, compared to 4413 w/c 26 July 2008 so is 202 points higher than this time five years ago.**

Andy Brown, Prudential's director of investment funds, said: "Despite immense volatility in the stock market over the past year or so, there is still evidence of consumer confidence in equities to deliver a promising return for pension investments over the long-term.

"What is certain as well is that many people have been spooked by the recent economic maelstrom and, unsurprisingly, would prefer their pension to be in cash or lower risk investments as they near retirement.

"We've seen a marked increase in the numbers of people looking for a home for their money which they can trust, knowing that it has a solid capital base and a long-standing history which will stand it in good stead for the future.

"I think investors can feel confident in stock market opportunities if they are given a decent choice in how they access real assets such as the equity market. Investors can really capitalise on the markets if they can access funds across a number of asset classes and sectors from a range of different investment managers allowing diversification across assets and manager styles."

Notes to Editors:
The information contained in Prudential UK's press releases is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions. Full consumer product information can be found online at www.pru.co.uk.

Notes to editors
* Survey conducted by Research Plus among 1,002 UK males aged 55-64 and UK females aged 50-59 between 23 and 30 April 2009 using an online methodology
** Source: Yahoo finance FTSE 100 charts - correct as at date of issue: 27th July 2009

About Prudential:
"Prudential" is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, which is registered in England and Wales. This name is also used by other companies within the Prudential Group, which between them provide a range of financial products including life assurance, savings and investment products, such as a bond investment and pensions, including advice on company pensions.

Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Registered number 15454. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

www.pru.co.uk

M&S Travel Money Reports Families Are Tipping Too Much On Holiday

M&S Travel Money has released new research which shows that British families could save up to £135* in holiday spending money just by investing a few minutes reading up on the tipping etiquette for the country they are visiting.

The survey by M&S Travel Money found that almost 40% of British holidaymakers don't familiarise themselves with expected gratuities and customs before they travel and as a result will regularly hand out unnecessary amounts of cash in tips which can add up to as much as 30% of their total holiday spending funds.

The research found that:
- One in six Brits believe it is customary to tip in Japan - a country where tipping is actually deemed highly insulting
- 39% of British women admit they don't know where tipping rules do and don't apply vs 28% men
- 55+ is the age group least informed about tipping expectations and as a results are the most likely to find themselves out of pocket
- 1 in 10 Britons finds themselves 'caught short' with less spending money than anticipated due to an oversight regarding tips

James Yerkess, M&S Travel Money Manager and author of the brand's newly launched online Tip Advisor Guide, said: "Whilst the eyes of cash conscious holidaymakers are eagerly scouring for the best holiday deals, this new research exposes a significant and forgotten holiday cost factor.

"Most British families don't consider the additional cost of customary tipping in countries like the USA, Egypt and some parts of Europe. They will also often pay over the odds by not knowing expected tip requirements - and if it's required at all. For example, over 40% of Brits think it is customary to leave a tip in Italy. Many therefore could have tipped unnecessarily in Italian restaurants as tips are not expected in this country for standard service."

The research also reveals that during these recessionary times, one in ten Brits will be staying 'tight tipped' this summer admitting they are less likely to tip due to the recession.

For those Brits travelling this summer and looking to keep a careful eye on their cash flow, M&S Travel Money has launched a free online Tip Advisor Guide which details global tipping etiquette, clearly highlighting who and when to tip and listing regional expectations and tip recommendations to help avoid unnecessary expenditure.

James Yerkess added: "It will prove a valuable cash saving travel tool for roaming Brits this summer - at no cost whatsoever."

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Notes to editiors:
*30% based on research by Holidayrentals.co.uk (May 09).

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc carried out on behalf of M&S Travel Money. Total sample size was 2017 adults. Online fieldwork undertaken 27th-29th May 2009. Figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

About M&S Money:
M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc. The company is now a top ten credit card provider and the second largest travel money retailer in the UK. M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including travel insurance, home insurance, car insurance, loans, savings and investment products.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 9,500 offices in 86 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$2,527 billion at 31 December 2008, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as 'the world's local bank'.

M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

money.marksandspencer.com

Lloyds TSB Insurance reports rogue traders on the rise

Lloyds TSB Insurance has revealed that more than 4.6 million 'botch' home jobs have been reported in the past 12 months, as a growing army of unqualified traders target unsuspecting homeowners.

New research from Lloyds Home Insurance reveals that one in 10 Brits has been forced to correct sub standard work in the last 12 month - a 16 per cent increase on last year - costing an average of £460 to put right.

The rash of 'rogue' trading is being fuelled by a tougher economic climate, as unqualified workers seek out 'cash in hand' maintenance work and homeowners look for the lowest possible price.

With nearly a third (32 per cent) of victims admitting that they made no checks at all on workers’ qualifications, the insurer is urging homeowners to confirm traders' full credentials and avoid the false economy of unqualified labour.

The research shows that Britons view the initial quote they get as the full amount they will eventually pay, without considering any additional costs should the job need correcting. Unhappy customers were forced to pay an average of £1,250 to amend botched conservatories, £840 to correct building work and £640 on roofing.

Those aged 45 - 54 are the worst affected, paying an average of £900 to correct the botch jobs done to their property, with West Midlands residents most affected (20 per cent), followed by those in the East of England (12 per cent).

Commenting on the research, Lloyds TSB Insurance Managing Director, Phil Loney said: "Rogue traders are on the increase and costing unsuspecting homeowners thousands. To help the public feel more confident about employing traders, we’ve produced a comprehensive guide to 'rooting out the rogues' which is available on the Lloyds TSB Insurance website."

Notes to Editors:
Research was commissioned by Lloyds TSB Insurance plc and conducted by YouGov in April 2009.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total online survey sample size was 2,404 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken in April 2009. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+)

About Lloyds TSB:
Lloyds TSB offers customers a wide range of current accounts, savings accounts, travel and homeowners insurance, home contents insurance, personal loans and credit cards, investment and cash ISA accounts designed to meet different customers' needs.

Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes.

Lloyds TSB Bank plc Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN.
Registered in England and Wales no. 2065.

www.lloydstsb.com