Alex Hasty

Director of Growth at Comparethemarket

Consumer expert on insurance and finance

Alex is passionate about helping people make great financial decisions. He regularly comments in the media, particularly on:

Ways people can save money
Market insights and key trends in insurance
Consumer behaviour

Alex's background in the industry

“I’ve worked in financial services for over 10 years. I worked in a leading role at Amazon, concentrating on digital payments, and then in a commercial focused role at Comparethemarket. I'm now Director of Growth at Comparethemarket.”

Alex's experience

Comparethemarket

At Comparethemarket, Alex has had roles as Commercial Associate Director, Director of Trading and Director of Growth. He’s currently responsible for the development and execution of Comparethemarket’s longer-term strategic options, ensuring the right breadth of products and services that meet customer needs.

He’s also Comparethemarket’s spokesperson for a variety of insurance products, as well as consumer finance.

Amazon

At Amazon, Alex was a Vertical Lead and worked across a number of customer-facing services including retail and payments. Specifically, he helped to enable financially under-served customers to shop on Amazon and was responsible for developing stock and features required by businesses procuring goods.

Mastercard

Alex was responsible for the UK portfolio of business prepaid card clients, developing solutions that improved efficiency, cost and visibility for corporate transactions.

Alex's goal as Director at Comparethemarket

“People use our services to save money, meaning our business interests are intrinsically linked to driving good customer outcomes. I want to help make it as easy as possible for households to find the right product, at a great price, every time they come and compare.”

Alex Hasty commenting on...

The different levels of comprehensive cover

"As a result of people trying to save money during the cost-of-living crisis, many car insurers now offer different levels of comprehensive cover. For example, ‘essential’ policies may not offer windscreen cover, personal belongings cover, or car key cover.

We understand that the price of ‘essential’ policies may be attractive right now, but it’s also important to understand that this type of policy may offer you less protection. What might seem a cheaper option could end up costing you more in the long run, if you need to claim. Ultimately, it’s up to the driver to weigh up the cost versus the level of cover based on their needs. It’s worth checking with your provider if you need any information about what cover you may need.”

The benefits of switching ahead of renewal

“Household budgets are being squeezed from rising living costs, and, with home insurance premiums on the rise, it’s vital that households look for savings wherever possible. With the difference in cost between the average and cheapest home insurance premium increasing, this means homeowners could make greater savings when switching ahead of renewal. Shopping around online remains one of the best ways to cut the cost of insurance and households could save significantly if they switch to the cheapest motor and home insurance providers.”

Consolidating your debt with one loan

"Borrowing is a normal part of life for millions in the UK – many of us need to borrow at some point to fund a major purchase, whether it be a new car or a new kitchen. Some of us will also choose to use a new loan to pay off several existing ones, bringing the debt into one place and making it easier to manage. It makes sense to shop around to find a great-value loan, and the crucial thing is to never borrow more than you can afford to pay back."

Alex Hasty in the press...

I’m an insurance expert – here are the four ways you might be wasting your money

thesun.co.uk

“Drivers could be missing out on significant savings by not switching their insurance policy at the optimum time. Many people leave it until the last minute to take out or renew a policy, but our research shows the cost of car insurance can be £306 cheaper on average by switching 20 days before the end of your policy compared to the day it automatically renews."

How to save money on energy bills

express.co.uk

“Energy costs have soared in recent months and households are feeling the pinch. Many families are worried about whether they can heat their homes this winter, as well as afford other bills.

Finding ways to cut back is difficult, especially as we head into the colder months. Even the appliances that don’t use much energy can still add a fair amount to your costs if they’re always left on or on standby."

How to choose the right credit card

goodhousekeeping.com

"It’s concerning that people are increasingly reliant on their credit cards or borrowed money, given rising interest rates, especially for spending on things such as the supermarket shop.

Having access to credit can help to provide a useful buffer for times where you might need it, can be a great way to help manage finances and may also provide extra protection on purchases under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. However, it’s important to remember you may have to pay additional interest on your borrowing if you do not pay off the full amount, or miss repayments."