Everyone at Wonga is as pleased as punch to be in the running for Best Customer Service in the financial category of this year’s National Customer Service Awards. We’ve always done our best to treat our customers as VIPs, so making the short list is very gratifying for the team.

The lovely people organising this respected award scheme said: 

This year saw a staggering number of superheroes enter into the National Customer Service Awards, and after a rigorous entry and short listing process the finalists have now been announced.

Well done to our friendly customer care people. Oh how we’d love to add this massive gong to the Wonga wall of fame in December!

If you love Wonga’s flexible cash advance service and have a Facebook account, you could win a prize that will put a smile on your face more than once. Simply become a fan before the end of September 2009 and we could become your biggest fan for the rest of the year. 

The Sunday Times exposed the crazy overdraft charges still being extracted by UK banks this weekend. In a stinging article, the Thunderer showed just how disproportionate some banks’ fees are, with RBS singled out as having the harshest penalties for careless or desperate customers.

In one RBS case study, the charges for going only £30 over your overdraft limit for just three days add up to an eye watering £118! The Which? report referenced by the Times also showed:

Alliance & Leicester in second place in its overdraft charges league, with a total penalty of £90. Lloyds, part of the taxpayer-funded Lloyds Banking Group, will fine customers £42, while Barclays charges £22.

Compare this to a similar cash advance from Wonga… A short term loan of £30 taken over three days would be a much more palatable £6.40 in fees and interest. 

What’s more, you’ll know the full cost up front and won’t have to dig around in small print to work it out for yourself. Apply online and you’ll receive an instant decision, with the money transferred to approved applicants in under an hour.

So next time you’re close to your overdraft limit and considering breaking the rules, don’t pay through the nose for a small amount of cash - it’s just not worth it. Consider a short term cash advance from Wonga and save yourself the worry and the money.

There’s only one of you, yet it’s relatively easy for a criminal to create a clone! At Wonga we take great care to protect your information securely when you apply for a short term loan, but you might be surprised by how few personal facts fraudsters need in order to commit ID theft and other fraud crimes.

And the most likely source of this basic info is YOU. They can even apply for a credit card with just your name, full address and date of birth. So take great care of your personal information and follow our simple tips…

• If anyone asks you for your personal details, ask yourself why they might need them and don’t be afraid to question or refuse
• Don’t write down passwords or PINs or, if it’s literally the only way you can remember them, be sure to keep them separate and very well hidden
• Invest in a decent shredder and make sure any letters or bills which aren’t being filed are totally destroyed before going in the bin
• Make sure your home laptop or PC is protected by a firewall and anti-virus software. There are plenty of free options so there’s no excuse for not protecting yourself online
• Never trust emails asking for personal details, even if they look like they’re from a service provider you use – if you’re really in doubt and think you might be ignoring something important, you can always phone

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in Wonga’s birthday celebrations last month by telling their friends about our online loan service. Well over a thousand customers used our simple referral form and went into the hat to win one of our cash prizes.

The lucky winner was Victoria Haxton, who told us the champagne was on ice by the time the wonga hit her bank account (and that was fast as usual). Of her surprise call, she said “Wow!!!”

She then continued in an email: “I never win things and have to admit I have often thought that prize draws are a con… But not anymore and I’m still pinching myself.

“I was so surpised to get the call today, just as I was wading through paperwork with the car tax due and other nasties. What fantastic timing! Thanks Wonga, you’re a superb company who have realised that sometimes you only need to borrow a small amount of cash and often just for a few days.”

Victoria’s delight was shared by our runners-up, Elaine Jones and Amanda Mackinnon. Thank you again to everyone who took part and better luck next time. Don’t forget you can easily tell your friends about Wonga’s award-winning service every month!