IPSWICH-based Call Connection, the UK's largest insurance call exchange, has announced a major agreement with electrical retail group DSG international to support its expansion in the financial services market.

IPSWICH-based Call Connection, the UK's largest insurance call exchange, has announced a major agreement with electrical retail group DSG international to support its expansion in the financial services market.

Call Connection is to build and manage a system which will allow consumers visiting DSGi's online business Dixons.co.uk to compare prices across a range of products and providers, beginning with motor and home insurance.

The new Dixons.co.uk service aims to be a major new player in the price comparison marketplace and will be accessible from both the Internet and telephone channels. Basic development work is completed and the site will be live before the end of 2007.

“The combination of our strong brand and in excess of 25 million site visits every year mean that moving into financial services is a logical next step for Dixons.co.uk,” said Jonathan Hewett, group financial services director at DSGi, which also includes the Currys and PC World brands.

“We chose to work with Call Connection as it combines advanced technology with a strong focus on delivering excellent customer service by both the web and phone channels.”

Graeme Kalbraier, managing director of Call Connection, which is based in Saxon House, Cromwell Square, in Ipswich town centre, said: “Our proposition is significantly different from the rest of the market, meaning that Dixons.co.uk customers will have the choice about whether they want to use the net or get a personal service by calling one of our agents.

“No one else offers customers this choice. Dixons.co.uk has a reputation for good value and service and that's exactly what we are going to provide in the financial services products market. We are delighted to have reached an agreement with such a prestigious group.”

Call Connection is one of the fastest growing companies in the insurance sector, operating with major UK insurers to provide them with profitable call handling solutions.

All calls are answered by a live agent, who will ask a few key questions and then transfer the caller through to the most suitable provider, as well as providing priority phone numbers of other suitable companies interested in quoting for the business.

Its 230-seat call centre has a total workforce of around 400 and handles more than 50,000 calls per week.