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Website compatibility issues
Advanced integration
Linking to the business
Development
Links
Website compatibility issues
This site is best viewed using a PC with Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4, 5 or 6, or Netscape versions 4 or 6. We also support the Apple Mac with Netscape 4.5. We are continually working to expand the compatibility further and hope to cover a wider range of browsers including Apple Mac with Internet Explorer and a variety of platforms running the Opera browser. If you have any problems we recommend that you upgrade to the latest version of one of these browsers, and we have links to help you do this at the bottom of this page.
If you would like to check the version of your browser and see how safe it is then press this button...
Direct Line will accept no responsibility or liability in respect of material on any website that is not under its control.
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Advanced integration with central systems and call centres
The interactive parts of the website allow customers to gain huge advantages from the internet:
- Fully interactive personal quotes, with the minimum possible number of questions needed for accurate results
- Interactively experiment with changing options, e.g. the excess or types of cover, and instantly see the effect on the premium
- Buy insurance policies online, by credit/debit card
- Available 24 hours a day, every day of the year
- Save a quote and come back later to buy on the internet, without typing the details in again
- Save a quote, and then telephone the call centre who can call up the Internet quote, answer any special questions, and allow you to buy on the phone
- See the policy summary and policy booklet online
- Amend car insurance details online
- Register a car insurance claim and track its progress
- Register a home insurance claim with automated approval process
- All personal details and other data transmitted securely across the Internet
- Personal details and credit/debit card number held securely on our central computer, not on the webserver
- Internet system is backed up by a full service call centre in case of any problems
How does it all work?
1. Our webserver uses Java Server Pages (JSP) to generate Dynamic HTML (DHTML) forms that are sent to a customer's browser.
2. A customer completes an HTML form using an Internet browser.
3. Javascript is used to validate the form and reports errors immediately, allowing them to be corrected.
4. When the completed form arrives our webserver creates an XML document which sends a message containing the data to our central system.
5. The central system is an HDS Skyline running IBM OS/390 with CICS and DB/2, and protected by RACF security. This system, one of the most powerful commercial computers in the world, supports the whole Direct Line Group and has about 5000 simultaneous users during the day. CICS/COBOL transactions are activated by the incoming messages.
6. This highly secure central system carries out the complex rating calculations and stores details of quotes and policies issued. Results are generated in less than 0.3 seconds and returned in a message to the webserver.
7. The webserver sends the results back across the Internet to the browser, which displays them to the customer.
8. When the customer saves a quote or buys a policy, the details are stored on the central system in a DB/2 database. Details of policies sold are also sent to the main Direct Line systems using IBM MQ/Series, and documents are printed and sent out in the same way as if the purchase was made on the telephone.
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Linking to the business
The Direct Line website uses a seamless combination of HTML pages and Lotus Domino web publishing to generate and manage those parts of the site which require frequent maintenance.
Using Lotus Domino, whole sections of the website such as press releases are converted into HTML from databases within the Direct Line corporate network. This gives web publishing ability to relevant staff throughout the organisation, without the need for HTML or web editing skills.
Lotus Domino databases are also used for automatically capturing brochure requests and feedback entered by visitors to the site. Using this system, the relevant operational and marketing staff can quickly respond to customer enquiries.
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Development
The Direct Line website is developed and maintained by Direct Line Group Services Limited.
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Links
For more information about Direct Line, please contact our PR Department.
Phone: 0845 878 5816.
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Direct Line will accept no responsibility or liability in respect of material on any website that is not under its control.
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