Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Mortgage specialist, Cartel Group, chooses Amcat

Cartel fulfils objective of providing superlative financial services for households throughout the UK

Oklahoma City, US / Manchester, UK, 29th August 2006 - Amcat, a global leader in customer care and interaction technology is fulfilling mortgage intermediary, Cartel Group Holdings PLC’s vision to develop a complete and all-encompassing financial solution for the customer - not just attracting new customers but retaining them throughout their life. Amcat will provide the comprehensive inbound, outbound and blended customer interaction system to support this goal.

Ian McCormick, Head of International Communications and Associate Director at Cartel, commented, “Our mission since we formed in 1997 has been to offer customers long-term solutions that encourage them to stay with us. We don’t just look at interest rates, but we look at the bigger picture of how much they'll pay over the whole lifetime of the mortgage. The way in which we communicate with customers forms a big part of this philosophy. We needed a communication platform that would allow our customers access to the best advice possible, allowing them to speak to consultants across the organisation, regardless of their location.”

Amcat will provide its Contact Centre Suite technology as a managed service, so that Cartel can share the system’s capabilities across multiple sites, therefore saving on capital costs and human resources. Not only can Cartel avoid the duplication of management staff at different sites, but it is also considering extending the system to home-based workers.

A key element of the new system is its integration with Cartel’s bespoke CRM system called ‘Connect’, designed by Expo IT. The integration with the Amcat customer contact system extends the concept of customer care, so that Cartel representatives interacting with customers will be provided with crucial data to support each dialogue. They will be better able to understand the link between customers at the same household and discuss other products of interest. Cartel has already expanded into banking, loan, life and general insurance markets with plans to expand its product range even further to provide a one-stop shop for existing customers.

Ian McCormick commented, “The first stage of the project is to deliver an inbound, outbound and blended customer contact platform. The system contains all the features we require including on-line scripting, call recording and powerful database capabilities, as standard. Amcat technology also helps us to adhere to the latest compliance regulations in a highly automated manner. The 2nd phase is to link the Amcat system directly to our bespoke CRM solution.”

Initially the Amcat solution will be in operation at Cartel’s dedicated contact centre in Salford Quays and will expand to other locations in the future.

Cartel was listed as one of Britain's fastest-growing private companies, as per Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100, and has continued to follow a rapid expansion programme.

Amcat’s sister company, UK Digital will be responsible for providing all the telecoms lines. Ian McCormick commented, “By using the same company for both, we expect a much smoother and more cost-effective service, with any telecommunications issues being resolved much faster than if we had a separate supplier.”

-ends-

Editor’s Notes:

About Amcat:

Amcat™ is a leading provider of contact centre solutions that helps employees delight customers. With Amcat’s IP-based contact centre platform, organisations can guarantee that each customer contact is an intelligent, productive contact, increasing employee morale and customer satisfaction. The Amcat customer contact platform ensures that companies align their entire organisation around customer care, providing better service at lower cost. As a result, companies profit from better customer acquisition and retention metrics, and ultimately, more revenue and profit. Today, Amcat is helping over 2,000 companies delight their customers while improving efficiency, increasing productivity and enhancing professionalism. That’s Amcat. Creating prosperous companies through better customer service.

For more info visit www.amcat.co.uk or call 0161 772 7100.

About Cartel

·One of the UK’s leading and authorised mortgage intermediary companies

-Friends Provident joint venture partner
-Mortgage consultants nationwide
-Panel-based

·Growth Profile

-Sunday Times Fast Track 100, Britain’s fastest growing private companies
-Increased recruitment of Consultants throughout 2006
-Significant increase in mortgage transactions during 2006

·Technology and Systems

-Bespoke mortgage processing platform
-Unique point of sale hardware

·Recognition and Awards

-Mortgage Strategy 2005 - Short listed for the Best Regional Broker Award
-AMI - Carl Wright, member of the AMI advisory group
-AMI - John Rattigan, member of the AMI compliance forum
-IFS - Andrea Brammer, member of the Degree and Diploma Session Review Group
-Marketing Week Conference January 2005 - Speaker: Carl Wright, Chief Executive Officer
-Sunday Times Fast Track 100 - Britain’s fastest-growing private companies
-BBC Breakfast News - Mortgage Day interview: John Rattigan, Compliance Director, Cartel
-Mortgage Strategy 2003 - Inaugural awards nominated Best Broker outside M25

For further info about Cartel, contact; Kimberley Street, Direct Dial: 0161 836 4228 kimberley.street@cartelgroupholdings.plc.uk

Issued on behalf of Cartel Group Holdings plc

For further info about Amcat please contact: Jane Moores, TTA Communications LTD.
Tel: 00 44 (0) 845 658 0120. e-mail: jmoores@ttauk.com

###