Last Chance for Glastonbury Tickets, Free Sky+ and more
When we set up TheRateTart.com the aim was not just to help you save money on financial products. We also wanted to make suggestions for fun things to spend the savings on at the best prices possible. To that end we have decided to experiment with a regular newsletter summarising all the offers we have come across that are worth knowing about.
At the moment it is just an experiment. We hope you find it useful. If not and you do not want to receive it again just let us know. If you do find it useful please feel free to spread the word by telling friends and family.
Glastonbury
For anyone who missed out on the last round of Glastonbury tickets this weekend, there could still be hope! The Guardian are offering 50 pairs of free tickets in this Saturday's edition. You don't have to have been registered with Glastonbury, just buy a copy of the Guardian on Saturday for your chance to win.
Breakdown Cover
Both the RAC and AA are running special offers on their breakdown cover products at the moment.
The AA are offering £20 of Marks & Spencer vouchers when you sign up for a package from at least £39. The RAC are offering 3 months' free membership.
You can go direct to the RAC and AA sites for either of these offers, but it will help the site and help us keep producing this newsletter if you follow these links instead:
http://www.theratetart.com/Breakdown-Cover/AA
http://www.theratetart.com/Breakdown-Cover/RAC
Telecommunications
If you are thinking about getting SKY in the near future it may be worth talking to friends who already have the service first. The company is sending out vouchers to existing customers which will allow them to get a free SKY+ box and free standard installation if they order before 17th June. This could save you up to £149.
Even if you can't get hold of one of these voucher, SKY are offering free installation until June 30th.
Vodafone are offering 50% of line rental (before VAT) for 6 months on customers taking out an 18 month contract.
Travel
If you are planning your summer holidays and also looking at switching current account, you may want to check out the HSBC Bank Account Plus. The current account offers fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad plus free worldwide family travel insurance worth up to £180. If you open your account before 10th June you will also get 50% of the £12.95 monthly fee for the first 6 months.
If you enjoy short breaks but are worried about the effect on the environment, you may want to check out flybe.com . The company is having a big push at the moment on becoming more environmentally conscious and claim to gave invested $2bn in one of the world's most environmentally sensitive fleets.
Other stuff
If you're looking for some interior design tips and live in or around London you may want to check out the Grand Designs Live exhibition from June 8th - 10th at the ExCeL centre. Tickets normally cost £18, but you can get them half price by quoting the promotional code 'TNLOFFER' when you book. Tickets are available either at www.granddesignslive.com or by calling 0870 380 0355.
Also from The Times a 2 for 1 offer at Pizza Express. The paper is publishing vouchers this week allowing you to buy one main course and get a second free any day except Friday and Saturday until July 1st.
And Finally...
The latest adverts for Direct Line insurance attacks comparison sites as middlemen who do not add any value to customers. The advert tries to convince customers that sites such as TheRateTart are the modern day equivalent of brokers and that using them results in increased prices for consumers.
You won't be surprised to hear we disagree with this analysis. There are 2 main reasons why;
What are your views on this? Write to us at editor@theratetart.com or post your opinion in our forum.
When we set up TheRateTart.com the aim was not just to help you save money on financial products. We also wanted to make suggestions for fun things to spend the savings on at the best prices possible. To that end we have decided to experiment with a regular newsletter summarising all the offers we have come across that are worth knowing about.
At the moment it is just an experiment. We hope you find it useful. If not and you do not want to receive it again just let us know. If you do find it useful please feel free to spread the word by telling friends and family.
Glastonbury
For anyone who missed out on the last round of Glastonbury tickets this weekend, there could still be hope! The Guardian are offering 50 pairs of free tickets in this Saturday's edition. You don't have to have been registered with Glastonbury, just buy a copy of the Guardian on Saturday for your chance to win.
Breakdown Cover
Both the RAC and AA are running special offers on their breakdown cover products at the moment.
The AA are offering £20 of Marks & Spencer vouchers when you sign up for a package from at least £39. The RAC are offering 3 months' free membership.
You can go direct to the RAC and AA sites for either of these offers, but it will help the site and help us keep producing this newsletter if you follow these links instead:
http://www.theratetart.com/Breakdown-Cover/AA
http://www.theratetart.com/Breakdown-Cover/RAC
Telecommunications
If you are thinking about getting SKY in the near future it may be worth talking to friends who already have the service first. The company is sending out vouchers to existing customers which will allow them to get a free SKY+ box and free standard installation if they order before 17th June. This could save you up to £149.
Even if you can't get hold of one of these voucher, SKY are offering free installation until June 30th.
Vodafone are offering 50% of line rental (before VAT) for 6 months on customers taking out an 18 month contract.
Travel
If you are planning your summer holidays and also looking at switching current account, you may want to check out the HSBC Bank Account Plus. The current account offers fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad plus free worldwide family travel insurance worth up to £180. If you open your account before 10th June you will also get 50% of the £12.95 monthly fee for the first 6 months.
If you enjoy short breaks but are worried about the effect on the environment, you may want to check out flybe.com . The company is having a big push at the moment on becoming more environmentally conscious and claim to gave invested $2bn in one of the world's most environmentally sensitive fleets.
Other stuff
If you're looking for some interior design tips and live in or around London you may want to check out the Grand Designs Live exhibition from June 8th - 10th at the ExCeL centre. Tickets normally cost £18, but you can get them half price by quoting the promotional code 'TNLOFFER' when you book. Tickets are available either at www.granddesignslive.com or by calling 0870 380 0355.
Also from The Times a 2 for 1 offer at Pizza Express. The paper is publishing vouchers this week allowing you to buy one main course and get a second free any day except Friday and Saturday until July 1st.
And Finally...
The latest adverts for Direct Line insurance attacks comparison sites as middlemen who do not add any value to customers. The advert tries to convince customers that sites such as TheRateTart are the modern day equivalent of brokers and that using them results in increased prices for consumers.
You won't be surprised to hear we disagree with this analysis. There are 2 main reasons why;
- If you just go direct to one company how do you know that you are getting the best deal? The value of comparison sites is that they save customers time and effort by researching the market, bringing all the information together in one place, keeping it up to date and making it available 24x8x365 from the comfort of home.
- The majority of online comparison sites are small business with very low overheads - usually 2-3 person operations operating out of a small office somewhere cheap. The brokerage companies that Direct Line refer to tended to be large businesses with high overheads. Whilst comparison sites receive a referral fee for sales generated the amounts in question are nothing like what it would take to cover a brokers overheads. Frankly we are a bit surprised at Direct Line. As much as offering a direct service, one of the main reasons they were able to cut costs was by pioneering call centres and the internet as channels for doing business. Now they appear to be unhappy that others are doing the same
What are your views on this? Write to us at editor@theratetart.com or post your opinion in our forum.
