Why you need to shop around for car insurance

It has always been important for drivers to ensure that they shopped around for their car insurance. With so many insurance companies saturating the market competition in the vehicle insurance industry has always been very stiff, and for consumes this has meant that there are some very affordable deals available from insurance firms that are looking to provide the best deals in order to gain increased custom. Read more

Tags: car, car insurance, level, car insurance quotes, cheap car insurance, result, company, compare car insurance

Many older people getting a raw deal with insurance

According to a recent report many older people in Britain are getting a raw deal with it comes to their insurance cover, with many insurers that target older age groups failing to give these consumers a fair deal. Read more

Tags: fair deal, British Insurance Brokers Association, car insurance, older clients, senior car insurance, company, report, Vehicle insurance

Burglars’ activity rife during recession

On the back of the recent huge robbery at a London Jewellery store, where £40 million worth of loot was taken, industry officials are now warning consumers to be on their guard. Read more

Tags: theft, burglary, hassle, company, GBP, Insurance, August

Slowdown in rate of firms going bust

A recently released report has shown that the rate of firms that are going bust in the UK has been slowing down. Read more

Tags: credit, uk, level, british companies, company, company liquidations, cash, crisis

OFT Slates Loan Company

The UK watchdog, the Office of Fair Trading, has recently slated a well known loans company that specialises in lending to those that have damaged credit and are unable to find traditional finance from regular High Street banks. Read more

Tags: company, circles, office of fair trading, fact, oft, yes loans

Credit card rates will have to come down

In a recent report a leading consumer watchdog groups has said that credit card interest rates in the UK are going to have to come down. Read more

Tags: company, choice, year, interest rates, increase credit card rate, higher rates, Credit Cards, credit card rate

Some cardholders could spend more than a lifetime paying their credit card debt

Concerns have been expressed recently that some credit card holders who are customers of the credit card giant Barclaycard could end up spending more than their lifetime trying to repay their credit card balance, after the credit card company announced that it was planning to reduce the minimum level of repayment that it was asking from its customers each month. Read more

Tags: industry, bill, GBP, month, company, best interests, credit card debt

Don’t pay through the nose to claim back your bank charges

Experts have been urging bank customers to think carefully before allowing charge reclaim companies to deal with reclaiming bank and credit card charges, stating that often the customer ends up paying a huge chunk of the amount reclaimed in fees to the company. Experts state that some customers are being charged hundreds of pounds but all the company does is fill out some forms that the customer could very easily do themselves. Read more

Tags: agency, reclaim bank charge, sums of money, bank charges, online

Clever consumers check their credit reports, says Experian

With attractive loan deals becoming increasingly difficult to come by, Experian has offered consumers advice on how to make sure that their applications stand the best chance of being accepted.

According to James Jones, the consumer education manager at Experian, people should take a look at their credit reports before making a loan application to ensure that all the information on them is correct.

“Lenders are using credit histories not only to decide whether to say yes or no to people but also to decide what rates to charge.

“So, clever consumers are checking their credit reports,” Mr Jones concluded.

Research from CreditExpert.co.uk has revealed that many people do not feel confident that they will be successful when making a loan application.

The company’s study found that 23 per cent of those polled believe they will be refused a loan of £1,000 and 42 per cent think they would not be able to secure a loan of £10,000.

Tags: loan, Credit bureau, equifax, TransUnion, information, CreditExpert, company

Debt consolidation ‘an option’ for those in debt

People who are looking for a way to deal with their debt may want to consider debt consolidation, Experian has said.

James Jones, consumer education manager at the company, advised people who are struggling with their finances to seek advice from a free advice agency, citizen’s advice bureaus or the national debt line.

“Debt consolidation is one of a range of options,” Mr Jones commented.

“I would encourage people to always speak to their lenders if they are struggling to make payments,” he added, saying that they can help people find solutions to their debt problems.

According to research from CreditExpert.co.uk, 20 per cent of people plan their finances every six months or less.

Commenting on this, Mr Jones recommended that people get into the habit of doing this every month or every three months.

The research also found that one in ten of people are completely clueless about their level of debt.

Tags: experian, citizen's advice bureaus, consumer education manager, consolidation, company, level, three months

DIY holidays are ‘a false economy’

Holidaymakers wishing to save money by purchasing their flights, accommodation and car hire themselves may find that they are not covered by travel insurance, the Association of Independent Tour Operators (Aito) has said.

Booking the different parts of a trip separately could be “a false economy”, since people may be putting themselves at financial risk in the event of something going wrong, according to the organisation.

As many as 20 million consumers on ‘do-it-yourself’ holidays could be risking their money this summer and could even be stranded abroad if a company goes out of business, the Civil Aviation Authority reported.

Consumers are advised to book with one operator because if something goes wrong, such as a plane being cancelled, this could also affect car hire and accommodation arrangements.

A spokesperson for the Aito commented: “Always book with a tour operator because you’re spending quite a considerable amount of money and rather than saving one or two hundred pounds, why risk it if something goes wrong.”

Tags: Civil Aviation Authority, Human behavior, independent, Association, company, accommodation arrangements, car hire, operator

Weight and smoking can influence life insurance premium

People’s weight and smoking are two factors which can have a major influence over their life insurance premiums, according to insurance information advisor Life Direct.

Insurance companies tend not to consider a customer’s level of fitness by performing stamina or fitness tests, but rather they look at their height and weight and whether or not they smoke when determining the cost of life insurance.

The company will calculate a person’s body mass index, which Life Direct advises to keep below 30.

Kieran Platt, director of Life Direct, also says people should avoid smoking as this may also increase their premiums.

However, Cancer Research UK recently reported that around 12 million people aged over 16 in the UK are smokers, representing 24 per cent of the total population.

Mr Platt says: “Weight and smoking are the two major factors where you can have a great influence over your life insurance premium.”

Tags: company, Tobacco smoking, Tobacco, director of Life Direct, uk, major influence, smoking

BRC: Credit crunch leading to “cash comeback”

More people are using cash to pay for their purchases amid growing consumer concerns about how much money they are spending, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has claimed.

The global credit crunch is causing consumers to be more cautious with their money, says BRC spokesperson Richard Dodd.

New figures from the organisation show that cash is now used for 60 per cent of all transactions, an increase of 54 per cent from 2007.

Cash now represents 34 per cent of all money spent in the retail sector, compared with 32 per cent a year ago.

Recent research from uSwitch shows that on average, credit card holders owe £1,812.

With ten per cent of all cardholders paying the minimum on their cards, the company estimates 3.5 million people will spend close to the next 30 years clearing their credit cards.

“People’s enthusiasm for using cards is slipping. That’s because people are not only reluctant to borrow, they are also reluctant to use cards,” concluded Mr Dodd.

Tags: spokesperson, Recent research, crunch, organisation, spokesperson richard dodd.new, Richard Dodd, Business Finance

Applications for credit reports rise as customers are refused loans

Twice as many customers are applying for credit reports as six months ago in an effort to understand why they are being refused credit on loans, credit cards and mortgages, according to Experian, the UK’s biggest credit scoring company.

Consumers are becoming increasingly “proactive” in their approach to their finances as they try to maintain a good credit history.

James Taylor from Experian told Fairinvestment.co.uk that “up to 20 per cent of people now check their credit report before applying for credit”, with the majority making use of the internet to do so.

UK consumers’ personal debt now stands at £1.4 trillion, yet many people are ignoring the credit crisis and continuing to acquire more debt as they spend more than they can afford, according to research by CreditExpert.co.uk.

With lenders restricting their criteria, consumers are advised to regularly check their credit reports to help them stay on top of their finances.

Tags: company, uk, Credit score, experian, internet

Credit crunch shouldn’t affect responsible credit card users, claims expert

Credit card users who have not had difficulty in managing their finances in the past can continue using their cards despite the current economic downturn

Financial information provider Moneyfacts said that so long as people have a sensible approach to their finances, they could continue to take out personal loans, however the company also warned that transferring debts to new credit cards is becoming more difficult to do as lenders tighten their criteria.

Samantha Owens, head of personal finance at Moneyfacts, commented: “We haven’t seen the rates rising on credit cards like we have across other products just because the margins on them are so big already,” but the company calculated that they nevertheless went up by 0.2 per cent over the past year.

A Nationwide report released this month found that consumer confidence was at its lowest level since records began and a survey by YouGov revealed that six per cent of people have taken time off work as a result of worrying about their debts.

Ms Owens advises consumers to consider various options for managing their finances, including taking out a structured personal loan.

Tags: company, finance, worrying, YouGov, responsible credit card, business, difficulty

Stag and hen parties should remember travel insurance this weekend

Those embarking on a stag and hen party this weekend need to remember to book travel insurance, one financial expert has warned.

Fairinvestment.co.uk says many brides and grooms-to-be celebrate this weekend due to the Bank Holidays – but revellers travelling abroad need to remember their insurance as the chances of illness and accidents are high.

According to the company, new statistics from Egg reveal that one in five travellers will lose valuable items and without travel insurance these items will not be replaced.

James Caldwell, director of Fairinvestment.co.uk, said that travelling anywhere without insurance “is a risky business”, never mind on a hen or stag do.

“I strongly advise the best man or bridesmaid in charge to make insurance a priority,” he continued.

According to the company, it could cost up to £3,000 to be returned to the UK in an emergency from any of the most popular stag and hen destinations such as, Spain, the Netherlands or France.

Meanwhile, further research from Sainsbury’s Bank said that up to one in ten of Easter holiday makers are expected to travel without insurance.

Tags: Insurance, hen, further research, travel, new statistics, company

Not all children ‘would be interested in taking financial advice’

Children would benefit from more financial education in order to make the most of their Child Trust Funds (CTF), but they might not “necessarily be interested in taking that kind of advice”, claims a financial expert.

Ark Financial Planning said that although there are children who have been made aware of the ‘value’ of money, there are more who are concerned about what they can do with it rather what it can do for them.

Phil Perry, a spokesperson for the company said that issues arise when attempts are made to label money in funds for educational costs when not everyone wants to go to university.

“I certainly think the government need to have a little bit more idea on what they expect that money to be used for,” he added.

CTF are saving accounts for children and those born after September 1st 2002 who receive a £250 voucher to start their account.

According to reports in the Daily Telegraph, those children born within a year of the September 1st 2002 can expect windfalls worth a total of £2.4 billion when they reach 18 years of age.

Tags: company, advice, expert, child trust funds, value

Parents should invest in fund for their children

Parents should consider their child’s future by investing their money into a deposit-based Child Trust Fund (CTF) claim financial experts.

Fair Investment Company suggested the savings option as an alternative to buying presents and gifts as figures from MoneyExpert predicts that relatives have given children in the UK £2.4 billion this Christmas.

James Caldwell, Fair Investment director, said: “Deposit-based Child Trust Funds could be a good way of investing money that might otherwise be frittered away.”

“Your children are likely to thank you when they hit 18 and find they have a substantial nest-egg waiting for them,” he adds.

According to the body, all children born on or after September 30th, 2002, and in receipt of child benefit are eligible for a CTF and £1,200 can be paid into the account tax-free each year.

The Fair Investment Company has recommended that consumers should ensure their home contents are covered by insurance after figures from MoneyExpert revealed that £384 is the average spend on presents at Christmas.

Tags: claim, deposit-based child trust, GBP, James Caldwell, company, CTF, Gift, home

Using life insurance to pay inheritance tax is too expensive

Attempting to use life insurance to cover inheritance tax (IHT) bills is risky and expensive, according to financial experts.

Calculis said that the type of IHT the company offers is all about preserving an estate while, with life insurance, a premium is paid to take advantage of benefits.

Alex Pegley, director for Calculis, said: “If you can, through the use of trusts and specific types of investments actually reduce the inheritance tax bill, why use life insurance?

He added: “I don’t like life insurance for inheritance tax planning; it’s just pouring money down the drain.”

Mr Pegley also stated that the “nature of life insurance contracts” is that as one gets older and closer to needing to claim on them, the premiums go up.

Inheritance tax is paid on death at 40 per cent on all individual estates worth more than £300,000.

On 9 October 2007 the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling raised the tax-free threshold to £600,000 for spouses and civil partners.

Tags: law, Social Issues, Insurance, IHT, 9 october, Alex Pegley, finance, company

Insurance company to receive training from Samaritans

The leading insurance company Legal and General is to receive training from the Samaritans according to recent reports.

Samaritans is a group that is trained to deal with sensitive situations in a sympathetic and understanding way, and it is known that insurance company staff members often have to deal with such sensitive situations yet do not receive the actual training to do this properly. It is thought that training from the Samaritans could enable Legal and General employees to adopt a far more understanding attitude.

According to officials from the insurance company many of the people that make contact with regards to making a claim are in a situation that requires sensitive handling. Both consumers claiming for themselves and those claiming with regards to another party can be in extremely sensitive situations, such as those ringing the insurance company after a loved one has passed away.

The Samaritans will be aiming to teach Legal and General employees how to handle sensitive situations such as the ones faced by insurance companies everyday, yet remain professional and friendly throughout. Many of those contacting insurance companies are going through a very tough time, and it is thought that the sensitive handling and manner of the employees at the insurance company could help to ease the situation somewhat.

An insurance official stated that those contacting insurance companies to make a claim often had enough on their plates without having to be dealt with by people that were neither sympathetic nor understanding. He said that this training can help employees to be more sensitive and understating whilst still dealing with the claim in a speedy and efficient manner.

Tom Smith
29th October 2007

Tags: sympathy, employees, Insurance, company, good, samartatins

Credit card companies ‘exploit customers’

Many credit card providers are using the order of repayment to make extra money out of the customer, new research has found.

When users are paying off debt in small repayments, card companies are directing the money to paying off the cheapest debt first meaning that they can continue to collect money on debts with high interest rates, according to MoneyExpert.com.

The website claims over three quarters of credit card companies employ this tactic which can significantly “sting” a customer who is generally unaware of the order of payments rules.

It found that 76 per cent of credit cards clear cash withdrawals debts last, and with average interest rates at 23.96 per cent on them, it can prove unnecessarily expensive for customers.

Chief executive of the company, Sean Gardner, advised: “As with all credit card deals you need to check that the card you’re using is suited to your requirements.

“If you do want to use your card for cash withdrawals or purchases there are some cards that’ll help you pay those off first to help you avoid prolonging the interest incurred. But those are few and far between.”

Further information about finding the right credit card provider can be found on market comparison sites such as nationsfinance.co.uk.

Tags: business, Moneyexpert, debts, credit card providers, comparison, company, Credit Cards, credit

High number of claims over lost luggage

Insurance companies in the UK have reported that the level of claims coming in over lost luggage has soared over the first half of this year, increasing by a huge amount compared to the same period last year.

One leading travel insurer reported that between January and June there were nearly three thousand claims made over lost luggage to the company, which reflected an increase of 85% on the same period in 2006. The average claim was for over £200 according to the insurance company.

The travel insurance company also reported that there was a 22% rise in the number of bags lost across Europe in the same period, despite the level of passengers travelling only rising by 1.4%. The figures have been compiled by the Association of European Airlines. However, some budget airlines such as EasyJet were not included when these figures were put together, and therefore the actually number and level of lost luggage could be even higher.

A spokesman for the insurance company stated: “We have seen an enormous rise in claims for lost luggage. With the summer holiday season now in full swing, we can unfortunately expect more families’ holidays to be ruined by lost baggage.”

Another leading insurance company, Norwich Union, reported a rise of 40% in claims over lost luggage in the first half of this year. The figures from the Association of European Airlines also showed that in 2006 British Airways lost more luggage than any other European airline following a variety of problems that resulted in luggage problems. The reports also highlight the importance of having adequate travel insurance in place when going on holiday or even travelling on business, as loss of all of your luggage can prove very costly.

Tom Smith
28th September 2007

Tags: company, premium, lost, airline, claims, increase, travel, luggage

The importance of honesty for insurance customers

Many consumers in the UK take out life insurance policies each year, and taking out this type of policy usually involves providing the insurance company with a variety of details about your health and lifestyle.

The cost of this type of insurance cover can vary depending on the company that you go through, as well as on the details that you provide to the insurance company with regards to your health and lifestyle. It is thought that a certain percentage of shoppers may miss out or change vital information in a bid to get cheaper premiums, but experts warn that this could end up being a waste of money as the information that they provide – or fail to provide – could invalidate their cover in the event that a claim needs to be made.

One independent financial adviser has warned that consumers must ensure that they provide up to date information that is accurate and honest when they are applying for life insurance to ensure that their premiums are not wasted altogether.

This includes providing accurate information on their lifestyle, such as their smoking and drinking habits and also any dangerous pastimes or hobbies that they may have. He added that if a claim is made and the insurance company discovers that important information was withheld, or that the applicant was not truthful, then the company is not obliged to make a payout despite receipt of insurance premiums.

He said: “All life insurance policies are underwritten at outset. So if you don’t partake in, say, climbing or mountaineering when you apply for your policy, but then subsequently you do, then that’s fine, nothing wrong with that. But whatever the situation is when you apply for your policy, you must be totally honest, otherwise you may invalidate your claim. The insurance company won’t pay your claim if they found out you lied to them when you filled the form in. People have got to be totally honest when they fill their applications in.”

Tom Smith
28th August 2007

Tags: travel, honesty, accident, Insurance, car, cover

People should avoid “pitfalls” when writing a will, says provider

Everyone should not only write a will, but must write it out carefully and properly, according to Willcraft Services.

The online will-making company also said that hiring professionals to do the job could be worth the customer’s while in the long run.

Colin Chapman, managing director at Willcraft, said that “I would say anyone over the age of 18 should make a will to ensure that everything goes where they want it to go. But, being more realistic, the first trigger point is either a child or a property purchase.”

He added that many clients “should really get professionals in to do the job properly because there are so many pitfalls” in the will-making process.

Those who had written a will years previously might well be in need of updating it, Mr Chapman said: “Circumstances have changed and certainly asset values have changed”, he said.

Recent research from Barclays Wealth shows that around two in three Britons have not written a will.

The statistic – 63 per cent of those polled – matches exactly a similar survey conducted the previous year, showing that the importance of writing a will has yet to be fully realised by the British public.

Tags: provider, company, purchase, research, public, run, Willcraft

Are insurance company customers happy?

Insurance companies have been under fire for various reasons over recent months, and many have expressed dissatisfaction with their insurance provider.

However, it is increasingly difficult to determine just how unhappy customer actually are with their insurance providers because many providers now refuse to provide information on their customer satisfaction levels, making it difficult to determine how effective their services are.

According to recent reports around fifty percent of the leading insurance companies in the UK will not provide information relating to how satisfied or dissatisfied their customers are.

However, these companies had already agreed to provide the results as part of a survey that was being carried out by Association of British Insurers. The nationwide survey was designed to evaluate customer satisfaction levels within the insurance industry.

Amongst the insurance companies that have refused to provide these details so that their customer satisfaction levels can be compared to rival insurance companies are Norwich Union, Standard Life, and Friends Provident.

The customer satisfaction survey was designed to try and improve services within the insurance sector. Around 85 percent of insurance companies in the UK signed up to the survey, but despite their agreement many have not provided the necessary details relating to customer satisfaction levels.

A Friends Provident spokesperson stated: ‘We do not believe it is helpful to look at the highlevel results in any sort of league table form as we recognise that there are many reasons why results can vary.’

A spokesman for Zurich Insurance stated: ‘The results are intended to help companies understand their progress against commitments they have made. They are not intended as an accurate measure of benchmarking.’

An official from consumer group Which? said: ‘We think results for each company should be published in a standardised way with individual firms’ scores disclosed.’

Tom Smith
3rd July 2007

Tags: results, service, happy, cost, home

Home insurance customers ‘pay more when loyal’

Loyal customers to home insurance companies are being penalised as firms battle out to cheapen prices rather then to extend services, according to a new report.

Defaqto, a data collection company, has found that rather than retaining established customers through extending cover or offering new and improved services to customers, firms would rather lower prices to attract new business.

This means that newer customers pay far less than loyal customers through various cash back deals, which have risen in frequency by 60 per cent in the last 12 months.

“It hardly seems in keeping with the Financial Services Authority’s rules for Treating Customers Fairly that two customers with exactly the same risks should pay markedly differing amounts for their policies,” said Brian Brown from Defaqto.

“It would appear that increasing loyalty never goes unpunished and rewards are only available for the disloyal.”

He recommends that consumers double-check their home insurance deals to see that any new purchases are still covered and that they still have a competitively-priced deal.

Tags: Business and Economy, customer, home insurance, Insurance, data collection company, Financial Services Authority, company, competitively-priced deal

Do’s and Don’ts of Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is bought by many types of people in different industries. Because travel insurance has more rules and regulations than home or car insurance policies, there are many facts that need to be considered before purchasing travel insurance. Read more

Tags: medical coverage, single trip policy, role, Insurance, travel ins, medical care, office, company

Common Car Insurance Questions

Like any specialist area in financial services there can be a wealth of information which simply goes over the head of the typical customer. For car insurance this can be from terminology used such as ‘no claims bonus’ or the why’s and where-fore’s of procedure (example: ‘How exactly do I make a claim?’). To help as best we can and clear the head of online users seeking car insurance we have answers to the typical question that are posed. Read more

Tags: car insurance questions, liability insurance, company, Types of insurance, premiums, driving accidents, drive on, typical question

HSBC tops ethical bank poll

HSBC has been named as the bank with the best ethical reputation, according to a report published by Covalence.

It is the second annual report of its kind compiled by the Geneva-based consultancy and ranked hundreds of firms on a number of key issues.

Companies from ten sectors were included in the study which was put together by studying positive and negative news-flow surrounding a firm over five years.

HSBC was a clear winner in the banks sector, with highlights such as choosing to go carbon neutral in January 2006 and being named overall winner in the 2006 FT Sustainable Banking Awards helping its case.

The award tops a fantastic year for the organisation and has been well received by company insiders.

“The Covalence report is an important barometer of how multinationals are perceived in the ethical field and HSBC is delighted to have been recognised in this way,” said Francis Sullivan, HSBC’s advisor on the environment.

Other winners include Toyota, which topped the automobile sector, and BP, which was awarded in the oil and gas division.

Alcoa also scored highly ahead of Starbucks, which ranked third overall, with the most ethical company across all sectors being named as Unilever.

Tags: carbon, Ethical, Sullivan, important barometer, geneva

Only quarter of Brits have adequate insurance cover against loss of income

A recent study carried out has shown the low level of insurance protection cover amongst Brits against loss of income in comparison to the reliance of British households on more than one income. According to the study almost fifty percent of households in the UK rely on more than one income in order to cover living costs, spending, and expenses. However, only a quarter of Brits seems to have adequate insurance cover to protect against the loss of their income.

The data comes from the Scottish Widows Protection Report. The information from the report showed the low level of protection amongst Brits when it comes to insuring themselves against loss of income due to situations such as illness or death. The report also showed that the majority of Brits had less than two months salary in savings to cover them in the event that they ended up losing an essential income.

According to the report: “These findings show that if a breadwinner becomes long-term ill – or dies – the average household in the UK does not even have their essential expenditure covered – let alone enough money for those little luxuries.” The report also indicated that even those with over thirty thousand pounds in savings shouldn’t get too complacent about how they would manage in the event of a loss of income: “Many people aspire to do more than just ‘survive’ a crisis – they wish to maintain their current lifestyle.”

A spokesperson from Scottish Widows stated: “The majority of the population is walking a financial high wire without a safety net. Nobody knows what is around the corner, but we have to accept that all too often illness does strike and accidents do happen. If people don’t start to take responsibility for their own financial futures then they could be left in a position where they can’t even cover the essential expenditure in their lives.”

Tags: payment, expenditure, company, employed, Insurance

Life insurance costs can rocket if you are overweight or a smoker

Although it has long since been known that life and health insurance companies charge higher premiums to consumers that are considered a higher risk, such as those that are very overweight or those that smoke, recent data has shown just what a dramatic difference smoking and excess weight can have when it comes to increases in insurance premiums, with many insurance companies charging over fifty percent more on policies to smokers and the very overweight than on policies to non-smokers and those not overweight.

The data suggests that insurance companies are really cracking down when it comes to what they consider are high risk customers, protecting themselves against increased risk of financial losses through charging a lot more on the cost of the premiums. These insurance companies look at high risk factors such as obesity and smoking when working out a policy, and those that come under the category of obese or smokers are seen to be a higher risk because they are more likely to make a claim according to insurance companies.

A life insurance manager at Sainsbury’s stated: “Health risks associated with smoking can have a big effect on life cover costs. It is vital for those that have kicked the habit to review their policies.” However, a number of pro-smoking organizations have raised concerns about the way that insurers automatically charge more to smokers than non-smokers, stating that the risk of a smoker under forty dying is no higher than that of a non-smoker.

A recent comparison study was carried out and this showed that on average smokers were charged around fifty six percent more on these insurance policies than non-smokers. The study was carried out through sending applications from two men of the same age to a number of the UK’s top insurance companies, and seeing what the price difference was based on one being a smoker and the other a non-smoker.

Tags: cover, life, accident, company, emergency, cost, premium, health