Shopper panic buying due to weather

The past week has seen the weather in the UK take a nasty turn, and what started off as a cold snap is now being described as a big freeze, with roads and pavements across the UK covered in snow and ice, and conditions becoming increasingly dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers across the country. Read more

Tags: hot food, supermarket, Grit, cat, Wal-Mart, Asda

What will happen to charity cash invested in Icelandic banks?

Following the collapse of Icelandic banks a number of charities that had money invested in these banks because of the high rates of interest being offered have come forward with concerns that they may have lost millions of pounds. The UK government has given a 100% guarantee on UK consumer savings in these banks after the Icelandic government failed to do so, but there was no indication given with regards to whether this guarantee would be given to charities and authorities with money in the banks. Read more

Tags: cat, banking crisis, banks, voluntary organisations, KSF, iceland banks, Politics, charity

Nearly 2m pet insurance claims made by consumers

Up to 1.8 million pet insurance claims are made per year by owners according to research from Sainsbury’s Bank.

A further 18,000 claims are made for reasons including when a pet is lost or stolen.

Sainsbury’s warns that as many as 75 per cent of cats and dogs are not insured and as a result estimates that 5.5 million treatments are paid for by owners.

Claire Moyles, pet insurance manager at Sainsbury’s said: “The pet insurance industry not only deals with a huge volume of cat and dog claims every year, it deals with a staggering breadth of ailments and problems.”

She added that insurance can be more useful than expected as events when you need to claim could be “more common than you wish to consider”.

The estimated cost of owning a cat and a dog is £7,200 and £9,000 respectively while vet fees make up 19 per cent of the annual spend on dogs and 21 per cent for cats.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s Bank has also reported that the UK has seen an upsurge in the number of property damage claims in the wake of the recent bad weather.

Tags: annual spend, cent, sainsburys, result, Nectar loyalty card, cat, United Kingdom, insurance claims

Pet insurance could save you a fortune

According to a major UK pet insurance company having some form of pet insurance in place could help some pet owners to save a fortune on the cost of caring for their beloved pets over the course of their lifetime.

Britain is known to be a nation of animal lovers, and most pet owners want the best for their pets, particularly when it comes to their health. However, those with no form of insurance cover in place could face crippling costs or a heartbreaking decision if their pet is injured or falls ill and required surgery or expensive treatment.

According to the UK pet insurance specialists Petplan, a dog, with a typical lifespan of twelve years, could cost around £14,750 over its lifetime, and a cat, with a typical lifespan of sixteen years, could cost around £14,230. The insurance company goes on to state that the rising cost of veterinary consultations and treatments is why many decide to take out pet insurance cover, and for many this acts as a real life saver – literally in some cases – when their pets need surgery or treatments following accidents, injuries, and illness.

Figures indicate that there are many more claims made on pet insurance each year in the UK compared to other types of insurance cover. Around 34% of pet insurance policyholders make a claim each year compared with around 9% of other types of insurance policyholders. However, it is important for pet owners to ensure that the cover that they take out is comprehensive and will provide them with the necessary protection for their pet.

Premiums can vary based upon the type of pet, its health and medical history, and its age, so consumers are urged to shop around and check the cost of cover as well as the level of protection provided.

Tom Smith
27th September 2007

Related links:

• Insurance : Do You Care More About Your Pet Than Yourself?
• How Do Insurance Companies Work Out Premiums?

Tags: claim, cover, cost, pet, Insurance, vet, petplan, surgery, cat