Today we thought we’d do something a bit different and offer our views on a new gadget, rather than the world of finance and loans. It occurred to us that we have some of the finest minds in technology working for Wonga, so when one of the team started a passionate oratory on the new Blackberry Storm, we thought, heh, why not let him proffer his expert views to a wider audience! So please welcome our first guest blogger - take it away Trev!

After much anticipation, I finally got my hands on a shiny new BB Storm…

1. On first glance it was sleek and sexy
2. Setup is easy
3. The device is slow and the interface is not as slick as I was expecting
4. The tactile screen does offer a nice feel and improves on the Apple iPhone’s touch screen, but the speed and response moving between menu items is slow and sometimes cumbersome
5. The screen quality is, in my opinion, better than the iPhone and the demo movie trailer shows the bright high definition colours well
6. Sound is also very good
7. There is NO wi-fi on the Storm!!! Which is a real shame as it means browsing the web in 3G mode when available. It’s painfully slow. In fact there’s no point in using the web at these speeds
8. The built-in browser doesn’t support most websites that have any complicated java scripts, flash etc… So it’s not really good for much surfing
9. The Storm is very heavy, not something you want to carry around in your pocket. But then most crackberry users will have it in their hands all day long, so it may not matter
10. I think you will also see many broken screens, as the device is not easily used with one hand and many may find the floor by accident
11. The battery life seems OK if you just use it for email. I didn’t play with it for more than a few hours though, so I can’t say how long it will last for
12. Why oh why did BB change the charger interface? Old Blackberry chargers don’t work on the Storm, so this means borrowing power from colleagues in the office with older models will not work!

Given a choice between the Storm and the iPhone, I would have to go with the iPhone. Even though the Storm’s keyboard interface is faster and more intuitive. The iPhone has a better browser interface and many more applications. It’s also lighter, sleeker and more sexy to behold. The iPhone is fast and responsive whereas the Storm feels sluggish.

Having used the Blackberry Curve for over a year now I think they should stick to what they know best and that’s email on a simple device that can be navigated with one hand. Upgrading to the Bold would be a better choice for business users. Given my current situation and the ability to upgrade for free to the new Storm or iPhone, I have decided against any upgrades and will be more than happy to keep using my existing BB Curve.

The world is going Wonga crazy. Last month we told you about the good ship Wonga Wonga, a fine Australian steamer from the 1800s with which we’re proud to share our name. And continuing the Aussie theme, we’ve also learnt about the Wonga Wetlands project. The Wonga Wetlands provide fantastic habitat for wildfowl and other animals down under. The organisation also works to preserve vital wetlands around the globe. 

But the Wonga family doesn’t end there… We’ve also gone all Bill Oddie and discovered the Wonga Wonga pigeon! It inhabits, yep you’ve guessed it, Eastern Australia. We’re sure you’ll agree it’s a mighty fine bird! They are apparently quite rare, so once you’ve heard the shrill coo and finally added the Wonga Wonga pigeon to your twitcher’s book, you might want to celebrate with a trip to Wonga beach!

On a less sunny note, there’s also the infamous Wonga Coup - a group of mercenaries (including a hapless Mark Thatcher) accused of plotting to overthrow an African dictator in 2004.  

What’s next? Perhaps we’ll have a rash of babies named Wonga or discover more long lost relatives in Oz. Be sure to tell us if you know of another Wonga namesake we’re missing. And remember there’s only one Wonga.com! We’re here to help with short-term cash flow problems and can deposit up to £200 in your account within minutes. If you could do with a fast cash advance, click here to apply now.

Only a Wonga cash advance is a truly fast loan. ‘Well you would say that’ we hear you cry! But it pays to understand the difference between Wonga and other pretenders to the fast loan throne.

Wonga is not the only website claiming to offer people fast loans at the moment, but sometimes claims can be deceptive. We like to keep abreast of what’s going on outside of Wonga Towers and we like to know what kind of competition we’re up against. So we regularly try out some of the other websites for ourselves and it’s amazing how often boasts about ’same day loans’, ‘loans within an hour’ and ‘instant loans’ turn out to be pie in the sky!

Indeed, there have been occasions when our testers have been waiting for several days for a loan they applied for online - about as much use as a chocolate tea pot if they had genuinely been in need of emergency cash for an unforeseen expense.

So next time you want to tackle an urgent cash flow problem with a fast, short-term loan, trust Wonga to deliver. We’ve talked about some of the other reasons we’re different on this blog before, but speed is undoubtably our main strength if you need urgent funds. We’re the Usain Bolt of the consumer credit world and we’re here to help you in a flash for those ‘Wonga moments‘ when time is everything. If your application is approved we’ll deposit the cash within an hour (usually minutes), no matter who you bank with, what time it is, or what day it is. Now that’s a fast loan! As for the others, don’t always believe the hype!

Some great money tips from The Times to beat the (very nearly official) recession here. Sections include how to boost your income and ten ways to manage your debt. Worth a read.

There are many reasons why a Wonga loan is different to a traditional loan, but perhaps the most fundamental point is that we make money when customers repay their cash advance. ‘So what?’ you might think, ‘Surely that’s normal.’ But in the world of unsecured personal loans and credit cards there’s a cast iron rule that usually goes unspoken… They generally make money by keeping customers in debt for as long as possible!

In an industry where new customers are won on low headline interest rates, cash is often made by other means. These tactics include long repayment periods, fixed terms and penalty charges.  

Even in these uncertain times of soaring inflation, nationalised banks and restricted lending, many rules of traditional credit still apply. Indeed, while there has been unimaginable turmoil in banking, true innovation in the way services are offered to consumers remains a rare thing. The credit industry is such an ancient one that in times of trouble it’s common for lenders to become even more cautious and rigid.

The best advice is to make sure you fully understand the terms of any form of credit agreement before taking the plunge. Always read the small print and, in the case of personal loans, check for early repayment clauses. Otherwise you could find yourself handcuffed to your debt for longer than necessary.

Or you could visit Wonga.com instead! At Wonga we have no desire to keep you in debt and the entire service is geared towards helping you manage your cash flow with short-term credit - on the odd occasion when unexpected expenses strike. You can choose exactly how much cash you need and exactly how long you want it for. That means you’re in control and you settle the debt quickly. 

Our commitment to responsible lending also means you won’t find any hidden charges even if you decide to repay your loan early. We will actually welcome it!

Wonga is proving to be a great name. Not only is it a slang term for cash - which is what we provide - but people seem to like it and it’s easy to remember. Wonga is a word you just have to say out loud and it’s kind of satisfying the way it rolls round the mouth like vintage Bordeaux.  

And now we’ve got another reason to celebrate our name, after a Time Team style discovery relating to an Australian (British made) steam ship from the 1800s. We stumbled across this description of the mighty vessel, an extract of which is below…

The Wonga Wonga. This fine steam-ship, which started on her first colonial trip on the 3rd instant, is the sister ship of the City of Sydney. She was built is the Clyde under the supervision of the Secretary of the Company, Mr Patterson, and is in every respect equal, and in some respects superior, to the City of Sydney. The particulars of her build, tonnage and engines have on several occasions been mentioned in this journal, and we feel it necessary now only to repeat that her engines were built by Thompson and Co, of Glasgow. They are direct-acting and of 180-horse power, nominally, but will work up to 300-horse power.

She has great capacity for carrying purposes. Her chief cabin is substantially and beautifully fitted up, and the sleeping berths are commodious and well ventilated. The cabin for second-class passengers is superior, and is equal to the usual fittings of a first-class sailing ship. For third-class passengers the accommodation is clean and comfortable. The Wonga Wonga went down the harbour and about five mile outside the heads on Monday. Some of the directors and shareholders were present, and were highly delighted with her performances.

Sounds like the Wonga Wonga truly was a “first-class” ship, just like our super-fast cash advance service! Mind you, we’re thankfully not reliant on steam power.

We have a winner of our Wonga Moments competition! There were some great stories about why people had used the service and it was a tricky job to select the most unusual or heart warming one.

From stag weekends to last minute wedding emergencies and dream birthday presents to poems about unexpected bills, the judges were debating for hours. Well, at least an hour!

But Lucie in Hove is the winner of the Sony Video Walkman. Her emotional recounting of the birth of some kittens had us weeeping into our man-size tissues. All together now, aaaaaaarrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhh.

It seems a medical difficulty during the birth required emergency help from a vet. And that’s never cheap. Wonga saved the day by providing the short-term cash to cover the costs and it all ended happily with five healthy kittens.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter and better luck next time.

Don’t forget our ‘Wonga Moments’ competition is ending this week. This is your last chance to win a cool Sony Video Walkman, worth over £100, simply by telling us how Wonga has helped you in the past. We’ve already had some great stories, but you’ve got to be in it to win it!

It’s easy to enter - you can either leave a comment, or drop us a brief email to competitions@wonga.com. More details are available in the previous post below. We’ll decide which is the most unusual, warmest or amusing Wonga Moment very soon…

A recent article in the Times exposed a flood of complaints from angry Barclaycard customers, who claim the monster bank may have been using dodgy tactics to extract fees from them.

They say they have been hit by late payment charges after their normal repayment date was shifted without warning…

 

Not since British Gas introduced its woefully inadequate boiler breakdown cover or TalkTalk underestimated demand for its “free” broadband have we received so many letters on a single subject. The sheer scale of the correspondence suggests an orchestrated attempt by Barclaycard to confuse borrowers into missing their payment dates so that it can levy extra interest and charges. Worse still, to judge by the letters we have received, the lender appears to be targeting borrowers who usually clear their balances in full each month.

Barclaycard’s inadequate explanation is that it gives all customers a minimum of 20 days to pay from the date that a bill is generated, but that this payment window can be as many as 32 days. It says that the date can change because of weekends, Bank Holidays and, crucially, “operational expediency” - a vague notion that can only mean “whenever we wish to boost profits”. This is simply not good enough.

It sounds like another example of the banks being about as clear as mud when it comes to the cost of their services. Wonga will never change your repayment date, but you are always welcome to bring it forward! We won’t charge you a fee if you decide you want to repay a cash advance early and save interest.

Fancy winning a cool Sony Video Walkman, featuring 4GB of memory, a 2.4″ LCD screen and built-in Bluetooth wireless headphones? Then tell us about your Wonga Moment…

All kinds of people use Wonga.com, for lots of different reasons. We’ve come to refer to those unforeseen situations where only a super-fast Wonga loan can save the day as ‘Wonga Moments’. We’d love to hear some of your more unusual, warm or inspiring stories about why you came to us and how the service helped you.

And the most interesting, unusual, amusing or heart warming Wonga Moment will win this lovely prize!

We’re only interested in genuine stories - perhaps you forgot an important birthday, the car broke down at a crucial time or you fixed a major DIY crisis for example? Tell us about your experience by sending an email to competitions@wonga.com. Include your name, phone number and a brief description of your Wonga Moment.

We’ll pick our favourite at the end of this month and notify the winner by email or phone. Your submission will remain confidential - unless it’s so good that we seek your approval to share it! Best of luck.