Stay within drink drive limit when on holiday

Every year many Brits head off on their holidays, with a large number of singles, couples, and groups heading to lively destination where they plan to drink themselves into oblivion.

However, anyone that is planning a drink fuelled holiday should bear in mind that even if they have travel insurance cover they may have their claim invalidated in the event that they suffer an injury as a result of being intoxicated.

Most insurance companies that offer travel insurance already have this stipulation in place, where if the accident is found to be the result of intoxication the claim could well be invalidated. American Express insurance is taking it one step further, and has stated that they will conduct an ‘acid test’ in cases where claimants have been injured on a drink fuelled holiday.

These regulations do not mean that holidaymakers cannot drink at all, but in order for the claim to be valid injured parties must prove that they are within the drink drive limits that apply in that particular destination, even if they are not actually driving. Officials from American Express Insurance services have warned that holidaymakers need to ensure that they look after themselves and do not drink to excess when they go away, otherwise it could end up costing them dearly.

Having travel insurance in place when you travel abroad is vital, as the cost of treatment and emergencies can prove extremely costly. However, if you take out insurance and then drink to excess you could risk having to shell out thousands of pounds anyway as the result of being injured whilst under the influence.

Tom Smith
21st September 2007

Do you have European breakdown cover?

Most motorists in Britain are well aware of what their insurance policy covers in the UK depending on the level of cover that they have, but according to recent research an alarming level have no idea that they may not be covered for driving in other European destinations.

A large number of Brits take their cars along to various European destinations each year, but only a percentage of these have actually got adequate cover that will protect them in the event of breakdowns and accidents whilst driving abroad.

The recent research was carried out by Marks and Spencer Money. The results indicated that only twenty percent of drivers were insured against breakdowns last summer when taking their vehicle to Europe, and only a third of drivers taking their vehicles to Europe were covered in the events of an accident or the theft of their vehicle. This means that the majority of people that take their vehicles to European destinations each year actually have no cover in the event of accidents, theft, or breakdowns.

According to research only ten percent of fully comprehensive motor vehicle insurance policies automatically include European cover; however, many motorists simply assume that if they have fully comprehensive cover on their car then they must be insured for driving in other European destinations – this is not the case. Drivers that intend to take their cars to Europe are warned to check with their insurer first, and to make sure that they add on the additional cover if it does not already exist.

Experts state that it does not tend to be very expensive to add this cover. One spokesperson from insuresupermarket.com stated: ‘It’s worth considering as thieves often target cars with foreign number plates. There’s also a greater risk of having an accident when you’re driving in unfamiliar places on the wrong side of the road.’

Tom Smith
4th June 2007

Travel Insurance – Keep Your Holiday Protected!

Holidays aren’t exactly cheap these days. Gone are the years when you could pitch up at the English seaside and spend a couple of weeks with the kids paddling in a storm tossed grey sea at Scarborough or Blackpool. These days of sunshine abroad and quality children’s entertainments come at a price. Today, there’s no better reason to insure your holiday. Read more

Banking Facilities Made Available For Migrant Community

With a vast number of new workers entering the UK on an annual basis, financial institutions have recently realized the need to offer banking facilities to those that have no national insurance number, no guarantee of employments, and no credit history within the UK. In the past migrant workers have found it very difficult to set up any sort of banking facility, leaving them in a difficult situation if they get work and need to have their salaried paid in.

With over four hundred thousand workers coming into the UK over the past twenty four months, a number of banks have now started offering facilities, such as HSBC bank, which now offers the passport bank account. This is a bank account that can be opened in advance for workers coming over to the UK, and gives workers moving to the UK valuable basic banking facilities. Account holders will have somewhere to have their salaries paid in, can use telephone and Internet banking, can set up standing orders and direct debits, and can enjoy the benefits of a current account with an International Maestro debt card.

However, HSBC has now hit out at an alternative solution that is being introduced by Mastercard. The credit card giant has introduced a pre-paid card onto which employers can pay the employee’s salary. The card holder can then use the card through the use of chip and pin technology, and it can be reloaded at one of thousands of post offices throughout the UK.

Both HSBC and the Halifax have stated that although the card might seem like a good idea for those desperate to obtain facilities and have found it difficult to open a bank account, there are hidden charges that can really add up and make using the card a very expensive alternative to a basic bank account.