More Innovations for Etihad Airways

Award winning airline Etihad Airways is set to continue leading the way with innovative new ways for customers to enjoy their flights with the launch of their new  in flight magazine, Boutique. The magazine features the lates fashion trends, as well as gift ideas and an interview with Elie Saab, world renowned couture designer.

Etihad Airways is the first – and currently the only – airline in the world to offer his fragrance, Le Parfum, onboard its flight, a statement from the company said.
Fragrances, beauty products, jewellery, gadgets, toys for children and Etihad Airways-branded merchandise, including aircraft models and Manchester City Football Club gear, are available for purchase.
The magazine offers local-made and highly-popular products, many of which are produced exclusively for Etihad Airways under the “Made in UAE” label, the statement said.
Additionally, the airline has created a new watch supplement, called Timepieces, to highlight its selection of watches for men and women.
Products are offered at competitive prices and Etihad guest members will earn miles for every purchase made onboard, it said.
Lee Shave, Etihad Airways’ vice president, guest experience, said: “We wanted to create a magazine that would have the visual appeal to intrigue our guests to pick it up and rich content to keep them reading.”
“Also important in our design process was the feedback of our guests. For example, watches sell exceptionally well, particularly on our routes throughout the GCC, so by creating a supplement dedicated entirely to this product category, we have delivered something that more directly suits the particular needs and interests of Etihad Airways’ guests,” he said.

 The first issue also offers guests the chance to win two pearl business return tickets to Malé with four nights luxury accommodation when they spend Dh500 or more onboard. The Maldives is one of Etihads newest routes on their ever expanding list of destinations, which also includes the Seychelles.

This isn't the only innovation Etihad is making to its in flight services. It has recently also signed a ten year deal with Panasonic for entertainment and communications (IFEC) services including mobile phones, in collaboration with AeroMobile. The Panosonic Global Communication Suite also includes in-flight broadband connectivity, mobile phone service and live television content across their wide bodied aircraft.

Treating Customers Fairly

Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) is a phrase that appears regularly in communications from the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the financial watchdog of the United Kingdom. TCF means much more than being nice to customers, as we shall explore in this article.

In addition to its detailed rulebook, the FSA specifies several high-level principles, including: “A firm must pay due regard to the interests of its customers and treat them fairly”.

TCF applies to banks, financial advisers and product providers, and firms are expected to monitor their procedures on a regular basis to ensure they continue to treat customers fairly. Firms are also expected to keep evidence that they are meeting their TCF obligations.

The FSA has specified six TCF outcomes:

1: Consumers can be confident that they are dealing with firms where the fair treatment of customers is central to the corporate culture

•     Firms should have measures in place for monitoring levels of customer satisfaction, and should keep records of measures taken to try and improve customer satisfaction.
•     Risks and product features should be clearly explained to customers, using everyday language and not financial jargon.
•     Customers can be surveyed to ascertain levels of satisfaction with the service.

2: Products and services marketed and sold in the retail market are designed to meet the needs of identified consumer groups and are targeted accordingly.

•     Products should be designed so that their terms and conditions are favourable to customers.
•     Advisers should take care to ensure a product is suitable for a customer before it is recommended.

3: Consumers are provided with clear information and are kept appropriately informed before, during and after the point of sale.

•     Firms should communicate with the customer via documentation that is free from jargon. The post-sale letter should clearly explain what has been recommended, why it meets the needs of the customer, what the main product features are and what the principal risks are.
•     Customers should be kept reguarly informed of the performance of investment products.

4 : Where consumers receive advice, the advice is suitable and takes account of their circumstances.

•     Firms should ensure advisers are appropriately qualified and that they undertake regular training.
•     Firms should undertake comprehensive monitoring of the advice given by their advisers to ensure recommendations are suitable.
•     Firms should ensure that the confidential customer information they gather in order to make a recommendation is correct, complete and up-to-date.

5: Consumers are provided with products that perform as firms have led them to expect and the associated service is of an acceptable standard and as they have been led to expect.

•     Firms should fully research new products and seek customer feedback.
•     Customers should be kept regularly updated on product performance

6: Consumers do not face unreasonable post-sale barriers imposed by firms to change product, switch provider, submit a claim or make a complaint

•     Firms should have target timescales for dealing with requests to switch product or make a claim.
•     Guidance should be offered to customers making complex claims.
•     Arrangements should be in place to ensure that staff absences do not affect customer service levels.
•     Complaints should be accepted in the form they are received, i.e. customers complaining by telephone should not be asked to put the matter in writing before it can be considered.
•     Complaints should be investigated as fully and fairly as possible, with the customer kept fully informed during this process. Firms should make a fair assessment of the evidence and offer appropriate redress when they are at fault.

Activities such as consumer credit and deposit banking, while not regulated by the FSA, fall under the jurisdiction of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS is an independent body that customers can ask to adjudicate on complaints made to financial services firms should they disagree with the firm’s assessment.
The FOS usually makes decisions not on whether the firm has followed the rules, but on whether it believes the firm has treated the customer fairly. So the entire financial sector, including firms not regulated by the FSA, must have TCF embedded into their practices.

Motorcycle Drifting & Power Slides

If you like 2 wheel slides, then you'll love this collection:
 

Appeal for Foster Carers a Success

The Lancashire Evening Post's appeal togenerate 1,000 enquiriesfrom people interested in becoming foster carers has been a success. So far, Lancashire County Council's fostering team has received 948 emails and phone call enquiries since the campaign was launched on October 3rd. About 1 in 10 initial enquiries result in people becoming foster parents.

County Coun Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools said: “I am delighted to hear we’ve had so many phone calls and visits to our website in the past month and I’m sure the excellent coverage we’ve had in the Lancashire Evening Post has boosted that number. Please keep us in mind because the need doesn’t go!
“We always need more foster carers, but it may be that people who visit our website need time to think about whether fostering is for them.”
Gill Green, the manager in charge of recruiting foster carers for Lancashire, said: “We have been thrilled with the response to the campaign and hope many of the initial enquiries result in more people becoming foster carers.”

 Of course, it is not only Lancashire that is in need of new foster carers, there is a shortage everywhere so if you are interested, whether it be fostering in Dublin, Manchester, of Edinburgh, don't be afraid of getting in touch through the relevant channels.

Legal Services Offered by Solicitors

Solicitors offer a number of legal and professional services. In our guide we explain a number of the more important of these offered by solicitors.
 
Solicitors receive numerous years of training and it is good to know that all of these years don’t go to waste and they offer a wide range of legal services to customers. So, what are the various ones offered?
Solicitors offer services to two different categories – business and personal. These vary in the way they are gone about hugely, though there is still some cross over.

Personal services offered by solicitors include wills, probate, personal injury services, criminal law services, medical negligence cases and a number of others. In this article we will look a each of these services offered by solicitors and explain what each is.

Wills
Solicitors have the knowledge and the ability to draw up a will for you in case of your death. This will sets out exactly what you require after your debt, where you want your assets to be divided and also a number of other wishes that you may wish fulfilled. A solicitor will create a watertight will for your needs and ensure that all sides and needs are looked out for. http://www.sense.org.uk/support/legacy_gifts/sense_guide_to_a_will

Probate
This is part of the whole area of wills and is about who is tasked with being able to administer the wishes of a will. Solicitors can be given probate of such a thing if you so desire when writing a will. This will mean they administer the will as you wished it to be done to the necessary parties. Giving a solicitor probate can really help with will administration, especially if they wrote the will as there will be no dispute over what you meant.

Personal Injury
If you are injured by a factor outside of your control and it is not your fault then a solicitor will find out with who the problem lies and will then make a personal injury claim to that effect. They will hope to get you the compensation you deserve for the injury you suffered through legal means.

Criminal Law Services
If you are involved in a court case as either a defendant or part of the prosecution you will more than likely want to use a solicitor to represent you in court. Criminal law services supplied by solicitors are varied, with many specialising in certain areas of criminal law. Choosing a solicitor who specialises in an area will increase your chances of success in the case.

Medical Negligence
In cases where you have suffered as a result of medical negligence in the hands of a doctor or some other health practitioner a solicitor may represent you if you wish to bring legal proceedings. Such an action may be necessary to get you what you deserve to right any wrongs done. 

Professional Negligence
Just as with the medical area, any professional person who has failed due to negligence to fulfil their duty to your detriment can be brought to court for compensation. A solicitor will represent and advise you on such a case.

These are just a number of the services offered by solicitors. They will also cover the area of business as well as other personal areas such as selling a house among their various legal services.

Surprise Wedding Proposal on a London Train

Ulster Bank Staff Raise Money for Hospicecare

An Ulster Bank branch has shown that its not just current accounts they provide for the community. The Larne Times reports their latest fund raising efforts for the local Hospice.

A donation of £100 provided through the Ulster Bank Local Community Fund was added to £54.26 raised in a coffee morning held in the branch with home baked buns and biscuits provided by Ulster Bank staff. The community fund was established to assist local communities and charities in need of funds.

Lorna Foster, Larne branch manager, said: “Ulster Bank has a long history of helping in our local communities and Northern Ireland Hospice is such a worthwhile cause.

“The banking hall was busy during our coffee morning and the customers really appreciated a cuppa and a home baked bun or biscuit.

“The whole team has rallied together and we have been honoured to help where we can.”