Cut back on your vehicle insurance costs

It was recently reported that the cost of car insurance in the UK has soared recently, with industry groups claiming that there has been a 14 percent rise in vehicle insurance related cost in the second quarter of this year. These increases are something that most drivers can ill afford, particularly considering the financial strains that most people are under due to the difficult financial climate, the after-effects of the recession, and the high price of essentials such as petrol and food.

Of course, having insurance cover in place is a legal requirement for drivers, and no driver should be on the road without having some form of cover in place. However, it is important to remember that there are different levels of insurance cover to choose from, and you may find that the vehicle that you have does not require the more comprehensive and costly cover.

If you have an older car that is not worth much in terms of monetary value there is little point opting for the fully comprehensive cover, as this will work out more expensive and you will get very little back for your car in the event that it is written off in an accident because of its low value. On the other hand if you have a newer, higher value vehicle it is best to opt for comprehensive cover as otherwise you would be shelling out a fortune in the event that you had an accident that was your fault.

It is also important to remember that the excess levels that you choose will affect the cost of your cover. This is the amount that you have to pay from your own pocket in the event of a claim, and insurance firms tend to offer a number of choices. If you go for the lower excess then you will not pay as much yourself in the event of a claim, but with the higher excess you can take a risk and cut the cost of the cover.

Comparing deals is vital in order to reduce the cost of your vehicle insurance, and this is something that can be quickly and easily done these days using the various comparison websites available online. You will be surprised at how much you can save simply by comparing deals. In some cases you can even reduce your insurance costs by phoning your insurance company and stating that you are considering going elsewhere. The competition amongst insurers is stiff, and many will negotiate a discount in order to keep your custom.

Many Welsh travellers fail to take out travel insurance

Research has recently been released by the Foreign Office, with the data suggesting that Welsh people are more likely to be hospitalised when they go abroad than others people in the UK. However, despite this many fail to take out travel insurance cover, potentially causing themselves a great deal of financial harm.

The figures showed that nearly one third of Welsh people had found themselves in some sort of trouble whilst abroad, and this included being arrested, being involved in road accidents, or ending up in hospital. However, around 16 percent of Welsh travellers do not take out any travel insurance cover when they head abroad.

With the summer holiday season just around the corner the Foreign Office is now appealing to consumers to use their common sense and arrange adequate travel insurance cover if they are heading abroad so that they are protected against mishaps such as those outlined above.

The research also found that Welsh travellers spent an average of nearly £12 on magazines, snacks, and drinks whilst at the airport, which is twice the cost of basic single trip travel insurance cover. Welsh travellers were also found to spend the least time arranging travel insurance cover, with the average time being spent doing this standing at twenty one minutes.

Jeremy Brown, the Foreign Office Minister, said: “This report shines a light on the number of Britons who get into difficulty abroad each year. The worrying fact is that so many of these situations are preventable. Helping out Britons in trouble abroad is part of our job, but we can’t get you out of jail or pay your hospital bills. A bit of preparation before you go, such as arranging travel insurance and checking our website, will ensure you get the most out of your trip without bad memories and big bills.”

Vehicle insurance related costs soar

It has been revealed in a recent report that costs relating to insuring cars and other vehicles have soared in the UK over recent months, resulting in many drivers who may already be struggling financially due to the cost of living and petrol prices finding it even more difficult to keep their vehicles on the road.

According to the report the costs associated with insuring a car or vehicle in the UK have increased by more than 14 percent in the second quarter of this year. The figures have come from the EMB Car Insurance Price Index and the online insurance comparison site Confused.

The rise in costs associated with insuring a car are much higher than the increases that were seen in the final quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year. In the last three months of 2009 costs relating to insuring a car increased by 4.3 percent, and in the first three months of this year the costs relating to insuring a car increased by 6.3 percent.

The massive increase in costs of over 14 percent seen in the second quarter of this year has resulted in around £74 being added to the average cost of car insurance for drivers. This reflects a total increase of 31 percent according to figures, and brings the average annual cost of car insurance to £599.

Some areas saw costs relating to car insurance rise more than others, and amongst those to be hardest hit were inner London and Manchester. Insurance officials have also said that this is not the end of the bad news for drivers, as many believe that the cost of vehicle insurance could continue to increase, which would mean even higher premiums for many cash strapped drivers.

Cyclists should ensure their bikes

Most of us would never dream of driving or even owning a car without insurance cover due to the risk of accidents, damage, or theft. However, many people who have bicycles fail to get their bikes insured, and this can prove to be a problem in the event that the bike is stolen.

A survey was carried out recently by M& S Money, and according to the results over twenty five percent of cyclists have had at least one bike stolen in the past two years, reflecting the high risk of theft for cyclists. The figures show that over three quarters of adults in the UK have a bike in the home, whether it belongs to them personally or to a member of the family.

The research indicated that the average value of these bikes was around £240. According to officials this makes these bikes a prime target for thieves, and with more and more people getting health conscious and more aware of the environment the number of people that own and use bikes could increase steadily over time.

Officials are now urging consumers to ensure that their bikes are insured so that they do not suffer financially in the event that their bikes are stolen. In many cases this can be done under a home insurance policy, and some policies also cover bikes as standard as long as they are within a certain value.

However, cyclists also need to ensure that they have cover that protects them if their bike is damaged or stolen whilst outside the home, and whilst this may come at an additional cost it will be well worth it in the event that something does happen to the bike.

Andrew Ferguson from M&S said: ‘Cycling can certainly be a popular activity, particularly as the evenings are lighter and the weather is warmer. It is important that if people have a bicycle already, or are considering making a new purchase, they make sure it is covered adequately by their home insurance policy.’

Keeping insurance costs down

For most people having insurance cover in place is a way to provide a financial safeguard against a plethora of possibilities, from the chances of having a car accident to the chances of being burgled or falling ill. There are many different types of insurance policy available these days, with cover to protect against a wide range of events and possibilities, and having this cover in place can provide consumers with real peace of mind.

 The cost of cover can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the type of cover being taken out, the level of cover, and any past claims made, amongst other things. However, the insurance market has become incredibly competitive with a wide range of companies vying for the business of consumers, and this has resulted in some very competitive deals being made available for consumers.

 In this day and age, with many people still reeling from the recession and the global credit crisis, it is vital to try and keep costs down, and therefore it is important to ensure that you get the best deal on your insurance cover no matter what type of policy you are looking for. There are plenty of deals available these days offering all sorts of incentives from cut price protection to several months of free cover.

 Some people have decided to cut back by cancelling their insurance policies altogether, but this can work out to be very costly in the long run if something goes wrong. An alternative is to try and reduce the level of cover to one that you can comfortably afford, although you should make sure that you do not under-insure yourself otherwise you may still face financial difficulties if something goes wrong.

 Another important thing to consider is the importance of comparing policies from a wide range of providers, as there can be a big difference in price and you could find that you are paying far less with one company for the same level of cover than with another. There are various price comparison sites now available that will allow you to compare different insurance policies and companies with ease and speed, and you can really save time by using these. However, do bear in mind that not all insurance firms operate through these price comparison sites, so it may be worth checking on individual insurance firms’ sites to try and get the best deal.

Norwich residents urged to ensure home insurance up to date

Residents in the Norwich area of the UK are being urged by officials to make sure that their home insurance is up to date and adequate. The warning comes after several break-ins in the area, which took place at the end of May and the beginning of June.

Whilst most people are well aware of the importance of having home insurance in place many forget to get their policies renewed or fail to ensure that the policy is amended to provide adequate coverage. This can cause big problems in the event of a break in, as the homeowner may find that he or she is unable to make a claim because of lack of coverage.

Residents in the area are being warned to check both their buildings and contents insurance to make sure that it is all up to date and provides adequate coverage. Officials are now stressing the importance of having home insurance policies in place for residents in Norwich, particularly given the spate of break ins that has been seen over recent weeks.

Police are still appealing for information with regards to the break ins, and in the meantime are warning residents in the area to be on their guard and do as much to protect themselves and their homes as they can.

Consumers that are looking for affordable home insurance coverage are able to choose from a range of options these days, and it is therefore possible to get a low cost policy that provides adequate protection. Police have confirmed that a number of high value gadgets and cash were taken in the recent break-ins, so consumers could save themselves a fortune in the cost of having to buy replacement simply by ensuring that they have insurance cover in place.

England fans need to sort out travel cover

A huge number of lucky England football fans will be looking forward to jetting off to South Africa over the coming weeks to enjoy the excitement of the World Cup, which kicks off in June. Many will already have sorted out their hotels, travel money, flights, and even itineraries.

However, many excited England fans may have forgotten about one very important element of their travel arrangements in the form of their travel insurance cover. With the possibility of things going wrong even before the trip has started, as well as the risk of something happening whilst they are away, World Cup ticket holders are being advised to ensure that they get their travel insurance sorted out sooner rather than later.

High Street retail giant Marks & Spencer, which also deals with financial products including insurance, has said that travellers heading off to South Africa for the football should ensure that they prioritise on getting travel insurance cover if they do not have any in place already.

Officials from M&S said that some travellers may find that they have to make a claim on their cover before they have even travelled, and with people having paid out huge sums of money for their trip to see the football those that do not have cover in place could end up losing out big time.

One insurance industry official said: “People get really excited about trips like this, and they spend aged getting their flights and hotels sorted out. However, many overlook the fact that they need travel insurance cover or tend to leave it till the last minute, and this can cause a real problem if a claim has to be made prior to travel.”

Women fail to cover themselves for critical illness or death

For many people having critical illness insurance cover and life insurance cover is vital so that they can be certain that their loved ones are protected in the event that the worst should happen. Critical illness insurance and life cover provides peace of mind and stability for those that have the cover as well as for their loved ones, and there are many different policies available from a range of providers these days.

However, according to a recent report women in the UK do not seem to be as concerned about covering themselves with critical illness and life cover as they perhaps should be, and this has caused concern amongst some industry officials. A study that was recently carried out by leading life insurance firm Axa Life showed that many women in the UK had no life or critical illness cover in place.

According to the results of the study more than 30 percent of women did not think that they needed life insurance or critical illness cover. The figures showed that only one third of women actually had any life insurance cover in place, and when it came to critical illness cover only 20 percent of women had any cover in place.

Furthermore the results indicated that of those women that did take out life insurance cover and critical illness cover many were underinsuring themselves, which could prove to be problematic for them or their loved ones in the event of critical illness or death.

An official from Axa Life said that women had become more independent over recent years in many ways, including financially, and that they needed to be more aware of possible health problems and take steps to protect themselves financially against unexpected health problems that could seriously affect them and their families.

PPI mis-selling results in compensation of millions for consumers

Consumers in the UK have won back millions of pounds from banks and insurance companies as a result of being mis-sold insurance or becoming victims of administrative errors. According to figures the total amount won back by consumers who were mis-sold insurance or experienced errors in the last six months of last year was £284 million.

The reports show that the majority of these cases related to consumers that had been sold payment protection insurance, also known as PPI. This was a type of insurance sold alongside credit such as loans and credit cards, but came under fire several years ago after investigations found that it was being widely mis-sold by many providers of financial products and services.

The Financial Services Authority, the UK’s financial regulator, made these figures public recently, and also revealed that banks had received over 1.1 million complaints relating to unauthorised overdraft charges. Banks are now dealing with a huge backlog of these complaints following the removal of a ban on addressing the complaints, which were frozen as the bank charge case went through the High Court and then the Supreme Court.

Banks and insurance firms were said to have received 2.7 million complaints between July and December of last year, which compared to 1.6 million in the six months previous. The figures also showed that of these 45 percent were upheld in favour of the consumer.

The Financial Services Authority has, in the meantime, said that it will be coming down hard on banks that are found to be failing to deal with customer complaints effectively, and has warned that there are some banks that are trying to force customers to buy financial products that they do not want or need to shore up their own finances.

Car insurance premiums experience unexpected fall

It has been reported by a motoring industry group that car insurance premiums have experienced an unexpected fall, although this is said to be a short term reduction, with prices expected to increase again. The data was released by the motoring group the AA, which claims that in the first three months of this year car insurance premiums fell by 3.2 percent.

The fall in car insurance premiums was said to be a very unexpected one, particularly given that over the course of last year car insurance prices increased by 18.7 percent in total, resulting in further financial misery for the many drivers who were already experiencing problems due to other motoring costs. The fall means that the average cost of full comprehensive insurance is now £968.

However, whilst the temporary respite may come as good news to driver, particularly given the soaring price of petrol and diesel at the pumps, the lower prices are not expected to last. The report claims that over the rest of this year drivers are set to be hit with rising insurance premiums once again, and this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

It is thought that insurance companies at the more expensive end of the market have been reining in their prices, and this is what has caused the temporary drop in premiums seen during the first quarter of this year. However, the rest of the year will see insurance premiums increase once again, causing more financial problems for motorists.

Those that feel that they are paying over the odds for their cover are advised to shop around and compare prices in order to get a better deal. It is also worth contacting the current insurance company as the firm may be prepared to do a better deal if they think that the customer is going to move elsewhere.

Holidaymakers slate insurance firms over volcanic disruption

Thousands of UK holidaymakers and business travellers have had their plans disrupted following the volcanic ash cloud that has swept across from Iceland, affecting both the UK and neighbouring European destinations. For the first time British air space was effectively closed down due to the risk of damage to plane engines.

However, this left many people stranded in airports and unable to travel, and for many a major concern was being able to get their money back. Whilst airlines have been offering refunds to those that cannot travel because of the natural disaster, there is no compensation available for those that booked DIY holidays in terms of accommodation costs and car hire.

DIY holidaymakers could now end up getting a very raw deal, as although they will get their flight money back they could stand to lose a fortune in accommodation and car hire costs, as well as other related costs such as any excursions that they may have pre-booked.

Many are now turning on their insurance firms, accusing them of hiding behind the defence that the volcano eruption was an ‘act of God’ in order to avoid having to pay compensation to those that have been unable to travel. It is thought that personal losses from the disaster could amount to £20 million, and this is something that insurers will naturally want to avoid paying if they can.

One holidaymaker who was stranded at the airport because of the volcanic disruption said that her insurance company had already said that they would not be paying for her financial losses.

The customer said: ‘We rang our insurance company and they said it was an “act of God”, so they won’t cover us – we’re stuffed.’

Packages bank accounts could be mis-sold

Over recent years many people in the UK have upgraded their current accounts with their banks, and have signed up to a packages bank account. Read more

Elderly not always getting best deal on insurance cover

Many older consumers in the UK opt for insurance services that cater specifically for the elderly, and in most cases they believe that they are getting a great deal on their cover. Read more

What to consider when you take out home insurance

Every year many people renew or take out new home insurance policies to protect their belongings against theft and damage, but a recent report has highlighted how many of these people overlook necessities when taking out home insurance cover and forget to take into consideration basic needs that could end up costing them big time in terms of their finances. Read more

Elderly women suffer most with car insurance costs

According to a recent report the demographic group that suffers most when it comes to the cost of car insurance is elderly women. Data from the insurance industry, which was recently released, has shown that from an insurance point of view elderly women are considered more dangerous behind the wheel than young men, and the higher risk is reflected in the cost of premiums charged to older female drivers. Read more

Stick to your New Year’s resolution to save money on your insurance costs

At the start of every year millions of people make New Year’s resolutions, which at the time they fully intend to stick to. Of course, as most of us know these resolutions simply melt away into nothing within a few weeks for many of us but there are the determine few that are able to stick out their resolutions. Read more

Green insurance on offer from M&S

High Street giant Mars & Spencer has branched out into a number of different areas over the years, including financial services and insurance. It has been reported recently that those thinking of taking out cover with M&S insurance services will be able to do their bit for the environment as the retail giant is now offering green insurance cover. Read more

Skiers need to remember their travel insurance

Industry experts are warning skiing enthusiasts not to skimp on their travel insurance of they are planning to head to the slopes over the coming months. Figures were compiled by the Ski Club of Great Britain recently, and officials from the group claim that more than one million people from Britain will be heading to the slopes in the months to come. However, the group also claims that worryingly nearly 50 percent of these people will fail to take out ski travel insurance. Read more

Bill for losses from floods could be more than £100 million

It has been estimated that the bill for the losses that were suffered in the recent and devastating floods in Cumbria could come to more than £100 million, according to a recent report. Hundred and homes and businesses were affected after flood defences failed to provide protection when rivers burst their banks in Cumbria, Dumfries, and Southern Scotland, causing devastating levels of damage and huge losses. Read more

Understanding the Truth About Insurance

Insurance is very complicated and many people do not understand their policies, partly because of the terminology and partly because of some of the myths surrounding insurance policies. Read more

Consumers warned over belongings in care homes

Consumers have been warned to be careful about belongings that are in care homes, as they may not be automatically insured against theft, loss, and damage. Read more

Is wedding insurance cover a good idea?

As a nation we Brits love to feel secure and safe with total peace of mind that we have done all we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones from a range of eventualities. This is why the insurance industry has become so huge, with Brits taking out all sorts of insurance policies to cover all sorts of circumstances. From travel insurance and home insurance to insurance for our pets, cars, mobile phones, health, and even our lives, insurance is something that gives us a sense of security – and often helps us to avoid the huge financial losses that we may otherwise have faced without it. Read more

Is wedding insurance cover a good idea?

As a nation we Brits love to feel secure and safe with total peace of mind that we have done all we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones from a range of eventualities. This is why the insurance industry has become so huge, with Brits taking out all sorts of insurance policies to cover all sorts of circumstances. From travel insurance and home insurance to insurance for our pets, cars, mobile phones, health, and even our lives, insurance is something that gives us a sense of security – and often helps us to avoid the huge financial losses that we may otherwise have faced without it. Read more

Massive fine for insurance broker over cancelled policies

A well known insurance company has been accused of treating customers unfairly, and as a result has been fined £735,000 by the Financial Services Authority, the UK’s financial regulatory body. The insurance firm, Hastings Insurance Services Ltd, was found to have cancelled the policies of customers after finding that the cover had been sold to the customers too cheaply due to a computer error. Read more

Unions angry over insurance job cuts

Officials from unions have been angered by a decision by insurance giant Aviva to cut eighteen hundred jobs around the country. Just two years ago the company moved part of its operation to India, and ended up cutting around four thousand people from the workforce. This latest announcement has further angered union officials. Officials from Aviva say that the move is designed to improve service and cut costs, but this has not impressed unions. Read more

Insurance firms could face huge losses

According to a recent report the insurance industry could be facing huge losses as a result of the global credit crunch, with tighter household finances forcing many consumers to either downgrade or cancel their insurance cover in order to make ends meet each month. A survey was carried out by officials at Deloitte, and showed that around one if every four consumers were planning to either cut or cancel insurance cover in order to save money at what has become a very financially turbulent time. Read more

Getting a great deal on insurance

In the UK there are many different types of insurance cover available, and this is designed to provide us with protection and peace of mind against a myriad of possible situations and eventualities. You can get insurance to cover everything from your car and your home to your pets and your life, and there are many different companies offering insurance deals to suit a wide range of needs and circumstances. Read more

Do you need additional insurance for your Christmas gifts?

With consumers across the UK clamouring to the shops to get their Christmas shopping sorted out, retailers are raking in the money despite the apparent slowdown in the economy and in consumer confidence.

Many retailers are also looking at ways to increase profits at the busiest time of the year, peddling everything from high interest rate store cards to costly insurance policies. Most people are aware of the dangers of store cards, which charge a fortune in interest if the balance is not repaid in full each month. But what about insurance cover on the gifts that you buy?

Most people will be familiar with the patter that sales employees give when purchasing certain items such as electrical gadgets. This is where the employee tries to persuade you to take out additional cover to get the item replaced if it breaks down or gets damaged within the first three years. However, this cover can be expensive, often coming to a third of the price of the actual item, and many retailers try and push this cover on items as cheap as a fiver, which could be easily replaced by the consumer in the event that anything happened.

However, experts are warning that even with more expensive items consumers should think carefully before shelling out on cover, as in many cases this cover may be unnecessary. Industry experts state that consumers already enjoy a high level of protection without having to take out additional cover, with the manufacturer’s warranty, credit card purchase guarantees under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, and the Sale of Goods Act.

Those that do wish to benefit from additional protection on the gifts and items that they purchase over the Christmas period may fare better by looking into specialist stand alone policies that provide cover for several items rather than a specific item. In addition, consumers should remember that many of the items may be covered under their home insurance policy.

Tom Smith
10th December 2007

Payment Protection Insurance Cover

Anyone that takes out finance likes to have the peace of mind that they are protected against situations that could render them unable to make repayments, and payment protection insurance cover is an effective way to do this. Read more

Do tenants need home insurance?

Home insurance is a vital form of protective cover for homeowners, as it provides valuable protection against the financial losses related to damage to the home, or damage, theft, or loss of belongings. Read more

Competition Commission still investigating PPI

The controversy over payment protection insurance has been going on for some time now, and regulators have been investigating the problems surrounding the sale of PPI after it was found that many consumers were being mis-sold this insurance, and that in some cases the cost of PPI was higher than the interest costs on a loan.

The Competition Commission has stated that its investigation into PPI is still ongoing as no conclusions have yet been reached.

The Competition Commission has stated that the issues that are being considered are complex and therefore more time and consideration is required. The Competition Commission plans to publish its provisional findings in May of next year. The chairman of the inquiry stated that the Competition Commission had already reviewed a substantial amount of evidence, but added that there were areas that needed to be looked into further.

The chairman stated: “We are far from making up our minds. But we are focussing on the amount of competition for PPI that distributors face at the retail level.”

He added that the Competition Commission was aiming to complete the inquiry as soon as possible but had to take into consideration areas that needed to be looked at further. He said: “…we are also conscious that the issues we are deciding upon are by no means simple and it is vital that we carry out our work thoroughly, ensuring that all parties receive a fair hearing.”

A number of issues relating to PPI are being looked into by the Competition Commission. This form of cover is designed to protect against falling behind on repayments on loans, credit cards, and other forms of finance.

Alan Wright
13th November 2007

Switching and saving is easier than ever

There are many different ways to try and save money on your monthly outgoings these days. You can go through your income and expenditure, and try and cut back on luxuries and money spent on social events. You can also go through and cancel any unused subscriptions, such as gym or magazine subscriptions that you don’t really make use of. Read more

Huge difference in car insurance premiums based on jobs

A recent survey has shown that there is a huge difference in the amount of money drivers have to pay for their car insurance based on their job – even in cases where their jobs do not involve driving in many cases.

As part of the research thirteen insurance companies were used and quotes compared for 465 different professions. The results of the research showed that there was a difference of around £850 between the premiums paid by those in the highest bracket professions and the amount paid by those in the lowest bracket professions.

At the top of the league tables and paying the highest in terms of insurance premiums are footballers, who are charged an average of £1348 a year for fully comprehensive car insurance. Other professions in the top ten included comedians, who were charged the second highest premiums, stuntmen, circus employees, cab drivers, fortune tellers, builders, and national press journalists. Other professions made up the top fifteen highest paying policyholders, including bin men, driving instructors, mechanics, telephone salesmen, and bizarrely beekeepers.

Amongst those paying the lowest premiums on their car insurance cover were secretaries, who enjoyed the lowest premiums of all the professions included in the research, police officers, paramedics, doctors, lawyers, bank managers, teachers, firemen, and computer consultants. One insurance professional stated: “Insurers assess risk in many different ways — one of which is profession.”

However, she added that it was still important for people to compare quotes despite their profession, as many insurance companies also base premiums on their own claims experience of different professions.

The research was carried out by insurance price comparison website confused.com, and in order to get the different quotes the company used the character of a man aged 32, living in the London area, driving a Ford Mondeo, and enjoying maximum no claims bonus.

Tom Smith
5th November 2007

FSA to publish new PPI guidelines

The UK’s financial regulator, the Financial Services Authority, is to publish new guidelines in relation to Payment Protection Insurance on its website next year.

Payment Protection Insurance, or PPI, has been at the centre of controversy over the past year, with many claims that this type of insurance was being forced onto borrowers, mis-sold, and in some cases added onto finance deals without the consumers even knowing about it. Banks and lenders make a lot of profit on the sale of PPI, but in many cases customers end up with expensive policies that they cannot even benefit from.

Payment Protection Insurance is designed to help those taking out finance, such as credit cards, loans, and other forms of credit. The idea behind the cover is that consumers will be covered for a specified period in the event that they are unable to work and therefore make repayments due to redundancy, illness, or accidents. However, research was carried out by various agencies, and the industry came under severe criticism for the inappropriate sale of policies amongst other things.

Many people have ended up purchasing PPI that is not suited to their needs as a result of this mis-selling, and the FSA aims to steer customers towards suitable plans based on their needs via the website. Customers will be asked a number of questions on the site, and will then be able to view a choice of suitable policies so that they do not end up purchasing inappropriate PPI.

In addition to helping consumers to find the right PPI policies for their needs, the FSA has also promised that it will be taking far more stringent action and imposing far higher fines on companies that are found to be mis-selling Payment Protection Insurance in the future.

Tom Smith
4th November 2007

Make sure your kids’ belongings are insured

Parents in the UK are being urged to ensure that their children’s belongings are insured after research showed that kids today carry around an array of expensive gadgets and items when going to school or college.

This includes mobile phones, MP3 players, iPods, handheld games consoles, digital cameras, and even expensive jewellery in some cases. Industry experts state that the cost of replacing the items should they be lost, stolen, or damaged could be very high, and therefore parents should make sure that there is adequate insurance in place.

In addition to a range of expensive gadgets and jewellery, many kids also carry costly sports equipment or musical instruments to school or college, and again the cost of replacement in the event of loss, damage, or theft can be very high.

Parents are urged to ensure that the insurance cover in place covers all of these items, so that there is no financial loss in the event of a loss, theft, or damage to the items.

According to a recent survey around three in five school and college kids carry a mobile phone, and around one in five carry a handheld games console. As an increasing number of mobile gadgets comes on to the market, kids today are going to school laden with an array of expensive items making them targets for thieves. The average student now carries around £250 worth of items according to reports.

Insurance experts advise parents to contact their insurance companies and ensure that the goods carried around by their children are covered under personal possessions.

Parents may want to shop around to compare the cost of this cover, as it can vary from one provider to another. Parents should also make sure that they disclose all expensive items that their child carries to ensure that the cover provided is adequate.

Tom Smith
3rd November 2007

Consumers can enjoy new home insurance deal from bank

One of the nation’s leading building societies, the Nationwide, has recently launched a new home insurance package that offers a number of benefits to consumers.

Home insurance is a popular and important form of insurance cover, and is designed to protect consumers from the financial losses associated with their home and their belongings. Many people claim on their home insurance each year for anything from flood damage and accidental damage to theft or loss.

According to recent reports the Nationwide is offering a special deal where consumers can enjoy substantial savings when they sign up for home and contents insurance cover as a bundle package. Although these insurance types are available as separate products most insurance companies offer s discount to consumers taking both as a bundle, which enables the consumer to enjoy increased convenience and lower premiums.

Officials from the Nationwide have stated that consumers that opt for this new home insurance cover will be able to enjoy improved customer services and well as better cover. The cover can include unlimited cover on buildings cover and cover for items in the garden.

Consumers are advised to familiarise themselves with what the policy covers before they sign up, as this will enable them to check that the cover is suited to their needs before they make a commitment.

Nationwide is so confident about this insurance product that it if offering up to £100 refund on the difference of better cover can be found for the same premium elsewhere.

The cover offered by the building society will also cover students in the family that are living in student accommodations. Customers that pay by monthly instalments will not incur fees for the privilege of paying on a monthly basis.

Tom Smith
3rd November 2007

Consumers can enjoy new home insurance deal from bank

One of the nation’s leading building societies, the Nationwide, has recently launched a new home insurance package that offers a number of benefits to consumers.

Home insurance is a popular and important form of insurance cover, and is designed to protect consumers from the financial losses associated with their home and their belongings. Many people claim on their home insurance each year for anything from flood damage and accidental damage to theft or loss.

According to recent reports the Nationwide is offering a special deal where consumers can enjoy substantial savings when they sign up for home and contents insurance cover as a bundle package. Although these insurance types are available as separate products most insurance companies offer s discount to consumers taking both as a bundle, which enables the consumer to enjoy increased convenience and lower premiums.

Officials from the Nationwide have stated that consumers that opt for this new insurance cover will be able to enjoy improved customer services and well as better cover. The cover can include unlimited cover on buildings cover and cover for items in the garden. Consumers are advised to familiarise themselves with what the policy covers before they sign up, as this will enable them to check that the cover is suited to their needs before they make a commitment.

Nationwide is so confident about this insurance product that it if offering up to £100 refund on the difference of better cover can be found for the same premium elsewhere. The cover offered by the building society will also cover students in the family that are living in student accommodations. Customers that pay by monthly instalments will not incur fees for the privilege of paying on a monthly basis.

Tom Smith
31st October 2007

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

Consumer fail to shop around for car insurance

According to a recent survey carried out by Sainsbury’s, many consumers in the UK are failing to take the time to shop around for their car insurance, and in many cases end up paying considerably more than they have to for their vehicle insurance by going with the first quote that the get.

Sainsbury’s officials state that the cost of insuring a vehicle has been rising over the years, but an alarming number of consumers still won’t take the time to compare premiums in order to cut back on the cost of car insurance.

According to the research carried out by Sainsbury’s 20% of drivers in the UK obtained just one quote when they last bought vehicle insurance. It is advisable for consumers to obtain at least three quotes before making a decision on car insurance, as the cost of cover can vary dramatically from one insurance provider to another, and can make a big difference to drivers’ monthly instalments or total premium costs.

There are also a number of other factors that affect the cost of vehicle insurance, and some insurance professionals have been offering advice to consumers on how they can cut the cost of cover. In addition to shopping around for insurance cover, consumers can save money by opting for a smaller engine size and by cutting down on mileage.

For younger drivers the Pass Plus scheme is a good way to cut back on the cost of cover – car insurance for younger drivers has rocketed in price over recent years and can be extremely expensive, even at the more basic levels.

According to officials from Direct Line younger drivers that take the Pass Plus course after passing their initial driving test could benefit from around 35% off the cost of their insurance premiums, which could amount to a substantial sum based on the average premium for a younger make driver of £2000.

Tom Smith
25th October 2007

Parents urged to insure kids’ belongings

Parents in the UK are being urged to insure the belongings of their children, as they head off to school and college armed with everything from their text books and pencils to their mobile phones and games consoles.

Children these days, particularly secondary school and college students, carry a range of valuable items with them, and the cost of replacement if the items get accidentally damaged, or are lost or stolen, can be extortionate.

According to recent research the value of items that the average secondary school student now carried around is about £250. Parents of secondary school and college kids are therefore being advised to make sure that their children’s more expensive belongings, such as hand held consoles and mobile phones, are insured to avoid the financial implications of loss, damage, or theft.

Research shows that around 20% of secondary school students carry a hand held games console, and around three in five have a mobile phone that they carry with them. Additional cover may be needed for items such as ipods, MP2 players, and even musical instruments, which can prove to be very costly to replace if they are accidentally damaged or stolen. Sports equipment also needs to be covered wherever possible, as this can also prove costly to replace. Parents are urged to contact their insurance companies and ask for the items to be covered under personal possessions.

There are a number of insurance companies that can offer this type of cover, and parents are advised to shop around to make sure that they get affordable cover that offers competitive prices without compromising on the level of cover provided.

Tom Smith
17th October 2007

Make sure your kids’ belongings are insured

Parents in the UK are being urged to ensure that their children’s belongings are insured after research showed that kids today carry around an array of expensive gadgets and items when going to school or college.

This includes mobile phones, MP3 players, iPods, handheld games consoles, digital cameras, and even expensive jewellery in some cases. Industry experts state that the cost of replacing the items should they be lost, stolen, or damaged could be very high, and therefore parents should make sure that there is adequate insurance in place.

In addition to a range of expensive gadgets and jewellery, many kids also carry costly sports equipment or musical instruments to school or college, and again the cost of replacement in the event of loss, damage, or theft can be very high. Parents are urged to ensure that the insurance cover in place covers all of these items, so that there is no financial loss in the event of a loss, theft, or damage to the items.

According to a recent survey around three in five school and college kids carry a mobile phone, and around one in five carry a handheld games console. As an increasing number of mobile gadgets comes on to the market, kids today are going to school laden with an array of expensive items making them targets for thieves. The average student now carries around £250 worth of items according to reports.

Insurance experts advise parents to contact their insurance companies and ensure that the goods carried around by their children are covered under personal possessions. Parents may want to shop around to compare the cost of this cover, as it can vary from one provider to another. Parents should also make sure that they disclose all expensive items that their child carries to ensure that the cover provided is adequate.

Tom Smith
9th October 2007

Benefit from low cost home insurance cover from Sainsbury’s

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s recently announced changes to its credit cards that meant consumers would be able to enjoy longer interest free periods on purchases in addition to a low life of balance transfer interest rate, as well as other benefits.

The supermarket giant has now announced that it has some good news for homeowners that want to enjoy the peace of mind and security of having comprehensive home insurance cover in place without having to pay over the odds on this type of cover.

Sainsbury’s has announced a special deal that will be available for consumers that wish to purchase both buildings and contents insurance cover as a bundle package. These consumers will be able to get twelve months of cover for the cost of just nine months, saving them 25% on the cost of their premiums right away.

Furthermore, consumers that make the purchase online will be able to save a further 10% on the cost of their cover, which means that some consumers could save a whopping 35% on the cost of their cover for a year.

The offer is open to consumers that take out cover before the 27th November, and could attract many customers who are taking out cover for the first time or are due to renew their cover. As a special bonus consumers that take out this cover before 27th November will also enjoy being in with a chance to earn one million Nectar points. The cover includes protection against accidental damage, and customers are able to pay conveniently and easily by direct debit.

Officials from the company state that although insurance premiums on home and contents cover has risen recently, particularly after the flooding problems that hit the country in June, there are still affordable policies and deals available.

Tom Smith
9th October 2007

ABI calls for increased help with flooding problems

June and July of this year saw heavy rains and bad weather really take their toll in some areas of the UK, causing billions of pounds worth of damage to home and resulting in rocketing numbers of insurance claims that have cost the insurance companies dearly.

Claims for damage to home have been flooding in since June, and insurance companies have had to pay out millions of pounds each in some cases to cover the cost of the claims.

The Association of British Insurers is now calling on the government to provide increased protection against future flooding, stating that although the government has planned to put aside funding for this problem around £150 million more is needed to minimize the risk of this situation arising again in the future.

Stephen Hadrill, director-general of the ABI, stated: “The scale and impact of the floods has been massive. The cost to the industry of over 60,000 claims is approaching £3bn and more claims continue to come in.”

In a letter to the Environment Secretary, Hillary Benn, the Association of British Insurers stated that some drains and watercourses were blocked as the result of poor maintenance.

The letter stated: “Some defences will have been put under great pressure in recent events and will need to be checked and possibly strengthened.”

The ABI also stated that “an urgent review is needed of how best to maintain urban and rural drainage”. 

Mr Hadrill said that this should include “whether expenditure is adequate, and how to co-ordinate better modelling of flood risk and planning of alleviation measures.” A number of areas of England were particularly hard hit in June and July as torrential rain caused major flooding across the country. As a result of the claim levels from the flooding insurance companies have had to hike up rate by up to 10% in some cases.

More info: www.abi.org.uk/floodinfo

Tom Smith
5th September 2007

Drivers affected by insurance company blunder

A payment blunder made by a popular vehicle insurance company has resulted in many drivers being stranded without insurance cover and having their insurance policies cancelled.

The blunder was made by Hastings Direct, and due to a mistake that the company made with regards to its charges and premiums over 2500 drivers were left with no insurance cover after their policies were cancelled by the insurance giant.

The drivers that have been affected by the problem were contacted in writing recently by the insurance company. The payment error that was the fault of the insurance company meant that the consumers in question had been paying too little for their cover. Policyholders are being offered refunds on a pro rata basis following the blunder, and the insurance company claims that it has kept the Financial Services Authority up to date on what is going on.

In a letter that was sent to the affected policyholders Hastings Direct stated: ‘You have seven days from the date of this letter in which to make alternative insurance arrangements. No cover under the existing policy will be in force after this period and no further notice of cancellation will be issued. May we take this opportunity to remind you that it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act to keep a motor vehicle on the public highway without valid insurance cover being in force.’

This has left customers of the insurance company angry and upset, and with the problem arising in the peak of the summer it is thought that many could be away on holiday and therefore not even realize that they are no longer insured.

Tom Smith
29th September 2007

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

Does your critical illness policy cover breast cancer?

Every year many women in the UK take out critical illness insurance cover, and most think that this will cover them if they are diagnosed with critical illnesses such as breast cancer, which could result in them being unable to work or earn an income.

However, recent research has revealed that critical illness policies do not provide cover or protection if the policyholder is diagnosed with a specific – and common – form of breast cancer known as ‘ductal carcinoma in situ’.

According to insurance providers, this is a form of breast cancer that is usually caught in its early stages and can therefore be treated, hence cannot really be construed as critical. Insurance companies also claim that the diagnosis of this form of breast cancer is so common that it would simply cost them too much to cover this particular form of cancer. However, for those with critical illness policies, who are then diagnosed with this cancer and unable to work, this is of no help at all.

One woman explained that she was diagnosed with the cancer, which is normally treated through major surgery or a mastectomy, and ended up having to sell her home and downsize in order to pay off her debts after being unable to work and earn money. She stated that when she tried to claim on her policy she was told that this form of breast cancer was not covered, but stated that she was never told this when policy was sold to her by NatWest.

An official from NatWest stated: ‘ Unfortunately, this policyholder’s illness is not covered by her policy. The brochures which she admits she received when she first took out the policy clearly state that there are exclusions to the type of cover the policy provides. They also emphasise the importance of checking the accompanying guide to serious illness cover for more detailed definitions of the cover.’

Tom Smith
28th September 2007

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?

Nationwide stops PPI sales

The largest building society in Britain, the Nationwide, has stopped sales of Payment Protection Insurance with its financial products, after admitting that customers were not being properly advised with regards to PPI by staff members.

Payment Protection Insurance has been at the centre of controversy for some months after it was found that customers were being pushed into purchasing this non-compulsory cover, and that the cover was often being mis-sold inappropriately so that customers ended up purchasing a costly policy that they would never be able to benefit from.

The Financial Services Authority has been running a long term investigation into the sales of Payment Protection Insurance for two years, and is in the final phase of its review and investigation. The cover is designed to assist those that cannot keep up with repayments on their financial commitments due to accidents, illness, or redundancy, and is sold with products such as credit cards, loans, and other financial products that may need protection.

However, the review revealed that in many cases sales staff were mis-selling this policies, making the customer think that they cover was compulsory, and in some cases even adding PPI without the customers’ knowledge. This has led to a real crackdown on the sales of PPI after many people ended up purchasing policies that they were either not eligible to claim benefits on or that they were not even aware that they had purchased.

A Nationwide spokesman stated that the halt in sales of PPI is a temporary one, adding: ‘We did some mystery shopping and weren’t satisfied the sales processes were as robust as they should be, so they have been halted temporarily.’

Tom Smith
27th September 2007

Could supermarkets soon take over current accounts market?

There was a time when supermarkets were only used for the purchase of groceries and household goods, but all of this has changed over recent years.

Many leading supermarkets in the UK have really branched out over recent years, and have started offering an array of financial products and services, such as insurance services, loans, and credit cards, amongst others. Many offer savings accounts as well as banking services, providing the consumer with far more choice when it comes to finding the best financial products and services.

A recent survey has revealed just how popular supermarket financial services have become in the UK, indicating that one in every ten consumers has a supermarket savings account, and one in every five shoppers holds a supermarket credit card. The figures show just how much business supermarket giants such as Asda, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s have taken away from the major banks in the UK. Figures also indicate that if supermarkets decide to branch out further they could take away far more business from banks.

According to the results of the survey around half of consumers in the UK would like to see supermarkets branch out and offer more in the way of financial products, as most think that supermarkets can offer far better value and service on such services and products. Current accounts seemed to be of particular interest, and although only one in every two hundred consumers has a supermarket current account at present, if more supermarkets offer this facility they could end up with close to half of the 40 million current accounts in operation in the UK today.

One industry expert stated: “This is a massive unpicked cherry for supermarkets to target. With their low running costs, supermarkets can easily undercut other providers. They are already pinching customers from banks and in time could steal even more.”

Tom Smith
25th September 2007

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

Supermarkets branch out to car insurance

Over recent years supermarket giants in the UK have branched out enormously and in addition to offering groceries and household goods many have also been offering a wide range of financial products, such as loans, credit cards, insurance products and even banking facilities.

According to a recent report, Tesco has now gone a step further and has launched a price comparison website for those looking for deals on car insurance in the UK.

There are already a rising number of price comparison websites in operation for car insurance, and Tesco will be joining this long line of comparison sites with its news venture Tesco Compare.com, which has been launched in conjunction with the Royal Bank of Scotland. The site will be launched in mid-September, but consumers should be aware that there will be a limited number of insurance companies that are used in the comparison, which totals around twenty in all.

As has been the trend in other sectors, this move by Tesco could result in other supermarket giants also setting up similar sites, which means that the huge number of price comparison sites could balloon even further in the near future. As with other price comparison sites customers will be able to enter their details into the Tesco website in order to search for the best deal on car insurance, but this will be from between the companies listed by Tesco.

Amongst the insurance companies that will be listed are some RBS ones, including Churchill, and consumers are reminded that because of the limited number of insurance companies that will be listed there could be better deals available from other insurance companies that are not listed on the Tesco site. 

Tom Smith
20th September 2007

PMI customers can enjoy hefty discounts by staying fit

A recent report has shown that there has been a rise in the number of people taking out private medical insurance this year compared to last year.

The rise of around 1.5% is thought to be because many PMI providers are offering huge discounts to those that are prepared to try and stay fit and healthy, which means that many consumers can enjoy far lower premiums. In the past the level of interest in this type of cover had fallen due to increased costs on premiums.

Some PMI providers are now offering discounts of up to 75% to consumers that have no serious health problems, do not smoke, go to the gym, and lead a healthy lifestyle, as these factors all reduce the risk of claims. In addition, many PMI providers are now also offering no claims discounts to consumers, much in the same way as car insurance companies do, and in some cases these discounts can be transferred if the consumers switches provider.

In some cases insurance companies are allowing consumers to pay larger excesses, which helps to keep the cost of premiums down further. One industry official stated: ‘We found many people were prepared to pay a much higher excess in return for lower monthly premiums. This is especially true of the elderly, who often have more savings in place than younger policyholders. It gives customers more options.’

In addition to leading healthier lifestyles and paying higher excesses, consumers that want to enjoy the protection of private medical insurance should also shop around for the most competitive deals, as this can also help to ensure that the cost of cover is kept down. One official stated: ‘Savings can be made by switching insurer to a more competitive policy, even for the over-60s. The advantage of many of the policies offered by smaller companies is that premiums do not rise so sharply. This is because they have fewer claims.’

Tom Smith
20th September 2007

Veggies can now get great deal on life insurance

Life insurance premiums can vary from one insurance company to another, but the cost of premiums is based upon your circumstances, medical history, and lifestyle.

In the past, we have all learned that those that smoke, those that are morbidly overweight, and those with certain medical conditions will pay more for life insurance because it makes them high risk. Healthy individuals that do not smoke, do not drink to excess, and are not overweight, however, can enjoy lower premiums.

There is now an insurance policy that takes it one step further, and offers discounted premiums to those that do not eat meat. Vegetarians and those that eat only fish and no meat can enjoy lower premiums with the life insurance cover that is available through Animal Friends Insurance. The company, which is a non-profit organization that deals with pet insurance, has got together with Liverpool Victoria in order to offer the special life insurance deal.

According to the company there are around 3.5 million people in the UK that are either vegetarian already or are planning to give up meat in the next year or so. The term life insurance on offer from Animal Friends and Liverpool Victoria will offer a 6% discount on premiums to vegetarians and fish eaters.

One official from the company stated: “The risk of vegetarians suffering from some cancers is reduced by up to 40 percent and from heart disease by up to 30 percent, but despite this they have to pay the same life insurance premiums as meat eaters. We believe this is unfair and the life insurance industry needs to acknowledge the fact that being a vegetarian can have a very positive impact on life expectancy and reduce premiums accordingly.”

Tom Smith
19th September 2007

Flooding costs to affect insurance premiums

The UK has seen some of the worst rain and floods in years over the past few weeks, and for many this has resulted in severe damage to their property and huge insurance claims.

Many insurance companies have been inundated with claims following the flood damage, and millions of pounds worth of claims have had to be processed and paid out. Insurance companies have stated that the level of claims coming in has been high and the payouts have made a big dent.

The recent flooding is said to have been the worst in the UK for around sixty years, with many households devastated by the damage caused. A number of leading insurance companies are now stating that they will have to push the cost of premiums up because of the level of claims that have had to be paid out as a result of the flood damage. Both contents and buildings insurance cover is now expected to rise as a result of the situation.

One of the leading insurance companies in the UK, Norwich Union, has confirmed that its premiums will be going up. From next week those taking out cover with the insurance giant can expect to pay around 10% more than previously. All customers will be affected by this price increase and not just those that were hit by flood damage and had to therefore make a claim on their policies.

One insurance company official stated: “People are spending more on home improvements. When things go wrong they’ve got flat-screen televisions and expensive flooring. So, when the do damage, it’s costing us more.”

An official from Direct Line insurance stated: “We do recognise that premiums will rise, and that goes for all RBS brands.”

Tom Smith
19th September 2007

Norwich Union tried to catch out insurance customers

One of the UK’s leading insurance companies, Norwich Union, is targeting customers that hold critical illness insurance policies in order to try and find out whether they have withheld information in the past that could in effect mean that their policies are null and void.

The insurance giant is writing to five thousand critical illness policyholders to try and find out whether they withheld information when they initially took out their critical illness cover.

This is a pilot scheme being trailed by the insurance company, and the policyholders being questioned have been selected at random. However, if the scheme does prove successful then the insurance company is looking to widen the scheme to all two million of its critical illness policyholders. Critical illness cover has already been at the centre of controversy over recent years, as statistics show that around 20% of critical illness claims from customers end up getting rejected due to either incorrect claims on diseases that are no covered, or due to lack of information from the policyholder when the insurance was first taken out.

Critical illness cover is designed to pay out a lump sum to the policyholder in the event that he or she is diagnosed with one of the critical illnesses that are specified on the policy. The policyholder gets to keep the money even in the event that he or she goes on to make a full recovery from the critical illness. However, the level of rejected claims with this sort of cover has resulted in a great deal of negative publicity for critical illness insurance cover.

Norwich Union states that the exercise is to try and update all customer information before any claim needs to be made. One official from the insurance company stated:  ‘We want to be able to clearly advise people . . . how to proceed if they believe they may have missed something off their application form. We feel this is the right approach to try to help customers prevent non-disclosure in the event of a claim.’

Tom Smith
17th September 2007

Students forgetting to take out insurance cover

It has become traditional for many students in the UK to take a year out after graduating from university to travel the world or get some work experience abroad before settling down to handle ‘real life’.

For many students this is a hugely exciting prospect, and is their first taste of freedom and independence. However, some get so carried away with their plans for taking time out abroad, that they forget about the basics – the vital protection of travel insurance cover.

Travel insurance is vital for those going abroad for any length of time, and even more so for students that are intending to spend long periods of time abroad. Without this the student could really run into problems when it comes to anything from lost and damaged belongings to medical and emergency treatment. Experts are now urging parents to ensure that their children have taken out an adequate travel insurance policy before their head off on their travels.

One official stated: ‘Most parents wouldn’t dream of allowing their child to drive a car without insurance. Yet as many as one in four gap year travellers sets off without travel insurance. Parents could be putting their home at risk because if their child suffers an illness or accident and needs hospital treatment or repatriation, the costs can run into tens of thousands of pounds.’

One student explained how travel insurance cover had helped her when she ran into problems and her belongings were taken: ‘After such a bad experience, I wouldn’t now dream of going away without travel insurance. I have also fallen off a moped in Thailand, which required hospital treatment. Thankfully, my insurance covered me.’

Tom Smith
13th September 2007

School holidays could mean more insurance claims

With the long stretch that is known as the school summer holidays, many parents are trying to think of ways to keep their children amused for the six week break, which any parent knows is not always easy.

Many children spend a great deal of time in the house over the school summer break, and particularly in the case of younger kids this can often lead to boredom and mischief. There is also an increased risk of accidents occurring when the kids are in the house all day every day, and according to a leading insurer this tends to result in an increased number of insurance claims.

According to officials from Halifax Home Insurance 20% of all claims for accidental damage are made during the months of July and August, when the kids are off school, and are often running amok in the house. These two summer months see claims for accident damage rocket by around 23% according to the insurance company, with claims for accidents ranging from smashed windows and damaged carpets to broken equipment and more.

Officials from the Halifax have been urging parents to make sure that they have accident damage as part of their home insurance policy, and also to ensure that they have an adequate level of cover in case of costly accidents. Without this type of cover parents could find that the summer holidays turn into a far more expensive time than they ever imagined, as they will have to foot the bill for accidental damage themselves.

One Halifax Insurance spokesperson stated: “It’s particularly important at this time of year for parents to check their home insurance policies and make sure they are covered for accidental damage to the home and contents. This summer’s heavy rains show little sign of abating, meaning children may well find themselves cooped up indoors for hours on end when they want to be outside playing, so they may get restless and find mischievous ways to amuse themselves.”

Tom Smith
13th September 2007

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

Is international medical insurance something that you need?

Most people in the UK are well aware of the benefits of having medical insurance, and many enjoy peace of mind thanks to the protection that this type of cover provides for them and their loved ones.

However, the needs of consumers looking for medical insurance cover have changed over recent years according to some industry experts, and this has also impacted on the type of cover that medical insurance companies are now able to offer to consumers.

Recent reports suggest that more and more consumers in the UK are opting to go abroad on a long term or even a permanent basis, with many deciding to head abroad to enjoy their retirement. Some younger people decide to head off abroad to enjoy some travelling experience and even to live and work abroad for a while. Many others travel abroad on a regular basis as a result of their work or business, again often spending extended periods of time in another country.

As a result of these lifestyle changes an increasing number of medical insurance firms are now offering international cover according to recent research, enabling those that intend to live or move abroad, or spend longer periods of time abroad, to enjoy the peace of mind of having cover even when they are away from home.

One industry professional stated: “We have done research that shows that the number of internationally mobile employees will continue to grow over the next five years. Add to this an extra 2.3 million Brits who are set to retire abroad and by 2020, and one in five older people who will be living outside the UK. So, naturally the number of companies providing international medical insurance has increased.”

Tom Smith
27th August 2007

Is your caravan insured for your holiday?

If you are planning to take a caravanning holiday this year, as many Brits tend to do, it is important to ensure that you have adequate insurance cover in place, state experts.

According to many industry professionals many consumers forget to insure their caravan and contents before heading off on their holidays, and although not compulsory as with car insurance, not having caravan insurance in place could cost some holiday makers a fortune in the event of unforeseen circumstances or accidents.

According to recent figures just over 25% of caravan owners have taken out adequate insurance cover, and with around two million Brits likely to be heading off on caravanning holidays over the next couple of months this reflects a serious deficit in the number of consumers that have protection for their caravans. A good caravan can be a costly investment, and without the benefit of insurance cover can end up costing the owners a fortune.

Many people with lower value caravans fail to take out cover because they may feel that it is not worth it. Reports suggest that the same goes for those that have caravans but rarely use them. However, insurance experts are warning caravan owners of the serious financial implications that can stem from lack of adequate insurance on their caravan, no matter what the age of the caravan or now much it is used.

One industry expert stated: “We were alarmed to see from our research how many people were not taking out insurance. Not only can some of the top of the range caravans set you back well over £20,000 if they are stolen, the damage you can cause to third parties can be enormous.”

Tom Smith
1st August 2007

Consumer group warns on insurance for music downloads

A consumer group has issued a warning relating to insurance cover for music downloads. Downloading music has become a hugely popular way for younger generations in their teens, twenties, and thirties to enjoy listening to their favourite music.

However, Which? has carried out a survey into insurance cover for music downloads and is urging consumers to be aware of exclusions relating to these policies.

According to the result of the survey carried out by Which? music downloads will not be covered by insurance if they are lost as a result of a computer virus – these music collections are often worth hundreds of pounds in total, and therefore can cause considerable financial loss to consumers. Many insurance firms also did not cover music downloads if they were lost as a result of hard drive failure.

As part of the survey 46 insurance firms were reviewed by the consumer group, and out of these only 22 actually offered insurance cover for music and digital downloads. The cover is offered when the downloads are lost as the result of fire, weather conditions, or theft. However, out of the insurance companies surveyed none of the policies offered provided protection against loss of music through virus or computer failure.

One spokesperson from Which? stated: ‘Downloading music online is widely accepted now as being the easiest and most convenient way to buy music. Music lovers know it, the music companies know it – but it seems insurance companies are determined to stay behind the times.” Consumers that do take out this type of cover for their music and digital downloads should ensure that they know what is excluded from the policy, and therefore consider whether the cover is actually worth the cost.

Tom Smith
31st July 2007

Insurance cover could become fairer

New regulations and changes to the law could result in greater fairness for consumers that have various types of health insurance cover, as it means that there will be less of a chance of the insurance company being able to deny the claim.

In the past a number of insurance companies have been slated for denying claims from policyholders because of information that was or was not given at the time that the policy was taken out, leaving the policyholder with no way to claim on his or her policy.

Plans have been proposed by the Law Commission, which looks at the way that laws are applied in cases such as these, and if everything goes through successfully it means that insurance companies will not be able to refuse to payout on a claim because of lack of information provided when the policy was taken out by the claimant. Life and critical illness insurance policyholders may benefit the most, as the level of denied claims in these areas is quite high.

One spokesman from the Law Commission stated: ‘We have sought to bring insurance law up-to-date to reflect the reasonable expectations of insurers, policyholders and intermediaries. Our overriding objective has been to achieve fairness between both parties to an insurance contract, while recognising different levels of information about the insured risk and different bargaining strengths.’

However, insurance companies plan to fight against the changes. According to an official from the Association of British Insurers: ‘In effect, our members are operating to these standards anyway and are not forcing claimants to go to the Ombudsman needlessly. Many insurers have already made clear that they will not decline critical illness or life claims when the information that was not disclosed has nothing to do with the final claim.’

Tom Smith
26th July 2007

Middle classes fiddle insurance claims

Although many of us are led to believe that fraudulent activities are usually conducted by those from lower income families, a recent report has suggested that many illegal activities in this field are actually committed by middle classes, particularly fraud such as inflated insurance claims.

The results from the survey suggested that a high number of middle class policyholders inflated insurance claims in order to improve their homes or simply to get back at the insurance companies for having to pay high premiums.

The survey was conducting using nearly 2000 respondents from across England and Wales. The report was compiled by Professor Susanne Karstedt and Dr Stephen Farrall of Keele University. Although other types of ‘white collar crime’ were also highlighted in the report, one of the significant types of crime that middle classes admitted to was fiddling insurance claims.

One official stated: ‘Politicians from across the political spectrum regularly claim that most crime is committed by a hard core of offenders, largely drawn from low-income groups. This research demonstrates that volume crime is far more widespread, with the middle class being responsible for a wide range of illegal activities. The reasons for this are complex, and relate to the fundamental social changes in British society over the past 30 years.’

One professor involved with the study added: ‘Contempt for the law is as widespread in the centre of society as it is assumed to be rampant at the margins and among specific marginal groups. Anti-social behaviour by the few is mirrored by anti-civil behaviour by the many. Neither greed nor need can explain why respectable citizens cheat on insurance claims or in second-hand sales, and do not hesitate to discuss their exploits with friends in pubs.’

Tom Smith
15th July 2007

Flood claims could hit £1 billion

According to industry professionals the cost of flood related insurance claims in the UK could top the £1 billion marks, after thousands of people were left to deal with the horrific damage caused by the torrential rain and storms over the past week or so.

Many areas of the UK have been particularly hard hit by the weather, with consumers suffering the misery of seeing their homes and belongings wrecked as a result of serious flooding. With more bad weather to come it is thought that the estimated cost of claims could still keep on rising.

The average claim for flood related damage in the UK is likely to be between £15,000 and £20,000 according to analysts, and with thousands of people submitting claims for such high amount, insurance companies are going to have to deal with huge payouts.

Ultimately, this is likely to push up the cost of insurance premiums for the future state some experts, which means that all consumers with home insurance will end up suffering financially.

Another factor that claimants should take into account apart from the rise in premiums is that the time taken to process their claims is likely to be far longer than normal simply due to the sheer level of claims currently pouring into insurance offices.

The Association of British Insurers has been offering advice on its website for those affected by flood damage to enable them to make their claim as quickly as possible. One ABI official stated: ‘If you have been affected by flooding, contact your insurance company. Their priority is to deal with all claims as quickly as possible.’

Each year there are, on average, just over 13,500 claims to insurance companies as a result of flooding. However, last week there were nearly 9,000 claims made in one day alone according to report estimations.

Tom Smith
13th July 2007

Insurance claims expected to flood due to flooding

The recent wet weather in Britain has devastated many homeowners all around the country, causing millions of pounds worth of damage collectively and causing untold stress and inconvenience.

According to officials the level of insurance claims is set to soar as homeowners assess the level of damage that the flooding has caused. This June has been reported as the wettest on record, and many areas throughout the country have suffered huge levels of damage.

A spokesman from the Association of British Insurers: ‘These events highlight just how important insurance protection is. If you have been affected by flooding, contact your insurance company. Their priority is to deal with all claims as quickly as possible.’

The Association of British Insurers has called upon the government to increase the funding for its defenses against flooding.

In the meantime, many of those without insurance cover or with inadequate levels of cover will be suffering the financial costs of the flooding, as they will have to foot the bill for the damages caused by the weather themselves, which could costs thousands upon thousands of pounds.

Even those with insurance cover have to now go through the laborious task of assessing the damage and making a claim with their insurer, which could take time to sort out given the number of claims that are likely to be flooding in.

More unpredictable weather is expected over the next few weeks, and this means that the number of claims being made could rise, which could mean further costs to insurance companies and a higher level of claims from customers. 

Tom Smith
10th July 2007

Financial advisers now under scrutiny

UK regulators have been cracking down on all sorts of services and sectors over the past year, from bank and credit card charges to travel insurance and payment protection cover. Read more

Cost of comprehensive car cover at its highest in two years

According to recent reports those purchasing comprehensive vehicle insurance on the direct market are having to pay the most expensive premiums for two years.

The research was carried out by Experian, and indicates that in May of this year comprehensive vehicle insurance premiums rose by nearly 8 percent compared to the same period in 2006. There are a number of factors that can affect the cost of premiums, including age, past driving convictions and claims, and the make and model of the vehicle being insured.

The research also indicates that consumers could find it cheaper to get comprehensive cover on the intermediary market rather than through the direct market.

Even policies from the intermediary market are at their highest in nearly a year for those looking for comprehensive cover, but these are still likely to be a fair amount cheaper than direct market policies, with the average cost for a comprehensive policy in May of this year coming in at £530 compared to £560 through the direct market.

The report also showed that the cost of third party, fire, and theft cover was higher in both direct and intermediary markets, and it is thought that one of the reasons for this is because this type of policy is typically taken out by younger drivers due to affordability of comprehensive cover, which pushes up the cost of premiums.

Those looking for car insurance cover in either market are advised to shop around, as the cost of cover can vary quite widely from one insurer to another. This can be done through a price comparison website as well as by searching through individual insurers online, although the latter is likely to take more time.

Tom Smith
7th July 2007

How Do Insurance Companies Work Out Premiums?

The winning number is…

As you wait for the insurance sales person on the other end of the phone or over the counter to come back to you with how much your insurance premium is going to be it’s rather like entering an unfortunate lottery. Quite how they work out the cost of insurance sometimes seems like anybody’s guess. Read more

Smokers lose money on insurance premiums

Most smokers realize that by kicking the habit they could save a fortune each year, with many smokers spending thousands of pounds each year on cigarettes.

However, many forget that in addition to saving money on the cost of cigarettes, which can then be used for anything from luxury holidays to investments for the future, they can also save money in areas, one of which is insurance.

There are many different types of insurance cover, and the main ones on which smokers can save money include medical or health insurance cover, life insurance cover, and home insurance cover.

Smokers are classed as an increased risk when it comes to these types of insurance cover, and as a result of this increased risk most smokers pay considerably larger premiums than non-smokers, which adds to the overall cost of being a smoker.

When it comes to medical and health insurance, smokers are more likely to make a claim because of the health risks and illnesses associated with smoking, and therefore have to pay higher premiums. With life insurance, smokers are more likely to contract a terminal illness such as cancer due to smoking, and again as a result of this the cost of premiums are pushed up.

And in terms of home insurance, smokers are classed as an increased risk when it comes to fires in the home, and this also pushes up the cost of insurance premiums.

It is also thought that the number of people in the UK smoking in their homes, and therefore being classed as an increased fire risk, will increase, as the smoking ban in public places has now come into force in the UK.

Although many smokers now aim to give up altogether, which could boost their finances in many areas, many others will resort to staying in and smoking in the home rather than going out to pubs and clubs where they can no longer smoke.

Tom Smith
5th July 2007

Government to crackdown on insurance cover from travel agents

According to a recent report the government in the UK plans to crackdown on travel insurance cover purchased from travel agents in a bid to provide consumers with higher levels of protection when they purchase this insurance.

The government has announced plans to regulate the sector, and this means that travellers could look forward to increased levels of protection when they purchase their travel cover from travel agents.

The government has announced that the Financial Services Authority will now be regulating travel insurance sold alongside holidays by travel agents. Travel agents that plan to sell this type of insurance with holidays will therefore have to make sure that it is designed to fit the needs of customers.

Customers will have to be treated fairly in line with Financial Services Authority regulations when buying these policies, and in the even that the customer of dissatisfied with an aspect of the sale of the policy he or she can go through the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Ed Balls, economic secretary to the Treasury, stated: ‘Evidence shows that companies regulated by the FSA are better at getting consumers to make an informed choice because they are better at explaining the key features and exclusions of the product and guiding the customer through the sales process.’

The crackdown results from complaints from consumers groups with regards to unsuitable and expensive policies being sold to customers in the past – a problem that this move will help to reduce. The new regulations are set to come into force in 2009, although many officials from the travel agents industry are not happy about the move.

The travel agency industry had asked for the opportunity to make changes without these new regulations being put in place, but were not granted this opportunity.

Tom Smith
4th July 2007

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

Direct Line launches campaign against price comparison services

One of the UK’s best known car insurance companies, Direct Line Insurance, has launched a campaign against price comparison websites that help consumers to find that they claim is the cheapest insurance for their needs.

Price comparison websites require consumers to input a number of details, and then use these details to find the cheapest deal on car insurance cover. However, this is only from their database of insurers and not from every major insurance company in the UK.

According to research carried out by Direct Line over 40 percent of consumers that had used price comparison services to find cheaper vehicle insurance had thought that all major insurance companies would be included in the search.

The research also goes on to indicate that over 90 percent of those that have bought their vehicle insurance cover through a price comparison site feel that there should be some sort of warning so that consumers know right away that not all insurance companies are part of the database.

The Royal Bank of Scotland owns Direct Line, as well as Churchill and Privilege, and will not provide any quotes for customers through price comparison websites. An advertising campaign has now been launched by Direct Line to make consumers aware that price comparison sites do not represent all leading insurance companies in the UK.

One Direct Line spokesperson stated: ‘Consumers are confused about price comparison websites and our research shows many believe they provide an independent, public service designed to ensure consumers get the best deal on their insurance. Unfortunately this is not the case, as these websites are really just on-line middlemen who make money out of commissions on insurance sales, just like a traditional high street broker.’

Tom Smith
1st July 2007

Check your garden is protected against theft

Although the British summertime is a pleasant period for green fingered people and garden lovers, it is also a time that can increase the risk of theft from outside your actual house – from your back garden.

Many people are looking forward to spending time sprucing up their gardens, adding plants, and enjoying barbeques with families, and the popularity of garden programmes on television has seen more and more people invest in their gardens, often spending huge amounts of money on their pride and joy.

However, as summertime approaches insurers are warning consumers to check that they have adequate cover to protect the items on their gardens. Summertime thieves will target everything from expensive plants and shrubs to barbeques, lawnmowers, decorative ornaments, furniture, tools, and just about anything else that could be of value in your garden. And without adequate cover this could mean financial losses as well as a ruined garden.

According to the Halifax the average claim for garden based theft last year was around £400. Claims tripled between March and August last year according to the Halifax, and there were total claims of around £1 million last year relating to garden based theft. Some of the items may be covered under the regular home insurance cover, but many do not cover plants and therefore additional cover may be required.

Consumers should contact their home insurance providers to see what sort of garden items and equipment are already covered, and can then arrange additional cover if required. Cover on garden items can vary from one insurance provider to another, and terms and conditions for making a claim can also vary, so this is something else that consumers will need to check.

Tom Smith
7th June 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

Insurance premiums could fall for those with penalty points

In the past UK motorists that have clocked up penalty points on their driving licences have seen the cost of their vehicle insurance premiums rise quite considerably as a result of this.

However, according to recent reports from insurance companies points that have been accrued through speeding will no longer result in rising premiums, as speeding will no longer be viewed by insurance companies as signifying that the driver is a greater risk on the roads.

Insurance companies have revealed that points accrued through speeding have become so common that there is little point viewing these drivers as a greater risk on the roads. This means that many UK drivers with points on their licence as a result of speeding may find that their insurance premiums start to fall. Some insurance companies have announced that those drivers with up to nine points on their licences will now be treated as those without any points in terms of insurance premiums.

In the past, these drivers could have seen their car insurance premiums rise to four times the amount of standard premiums. Swinton Insurance has been the first to make the announcement about the fall in insurance premiums for those with points, and it is expected that other insurance firms are set to follow in the footsteps of the insurance giant.

An official from Swinton Insurance stated: ‘Penalty points used to be the yardstick for dangerous drivers, but with up to 10million drivers collecting them, they are so common place that they have almost become pointless. We will be looking at each driver as an individual and not automatically upping the cost of their premium if they have six penalty points on their licence.’

Tom Smith
4th June 2007

Protect your expensive wedding gifts

A new report has highlighted the importance of home insurance for newly weds, citing the cost of ever extravagant wedding gifts as the main reason for needing to get home insurance cover pretty much right away following the wedding.

According to reports wedding gifts are getting more and more extravagant, and with gifts as expensive and luxurious as plasma screen TVs and the like being purchased as wedding gifts in some cases, home insurance cover is more important than ever for newly weds with thousands of pounds worth of presents.

Research was carried out by NFU Mutual, which showed that under ten percent of newlywed couples actually check their insurance policies immediately after the wedding, which means that millions of pounds worth of extravagant wedding gifts could be at risk, as it could be left in the new homes of newlyweds as they jet off to enjoy their honeymoon still caught up in the excitement of the wedding.

Research also showed that many newlyweds couldn’t remember whether they had checked their policies or not following the wedding. Officials reports that millions of pounds are spent on wedding gifts each year in the UK, and those gifts could be at risk from damage or theft – particularly if they are being left in the house whilst the couple go on honeymoon – which could mean huge financial losses for the newlyweds just as they embark upon their married life together.

One official from NFU Mutual stated: “There is a great deal of excitement in the run up to a wedding and naturally, the practicalities of checking your home insurance can sometimes be forgotten.”

Tom Smith
31st May 2007

You could get a better deal with annual travel insurance

According to officials from MoneyExpert buying annual travel insurance cover could work out cheaper than opting for single trip cover, although experts do warn that consumers need to carefully check the policies to see what is and isn’t covered before making any commitment.

According to researchers from MoneyExpert some annual travel insurance policies can work out cheaper than single trip policies, but consumers must check that they are adequately covered.

One MoneyExpert official stated: “Holiday makers often think that single trip cover is simple and cheap, but the truth is it’s often not best value for money. You are certainly paying for a quick fix. As with all insurance, the quality of cover will always vary so like-for-like comparisons are quite difficult to make. Nevertheless it remains the case that you can get annual travel insurance for the whole family without breaking the bank. Focusing on price alone can mean holidaymakers will be left with insurance that is not worth the price. Insurance policies are only tested when you need to make a claim. You don’t want to find out when you are making a claim that you’ve saved money at your expense.”

MoneyExpert officials have warned that although it can be cheaper to take out annual cover, consumers should take into consideration the quality of the cover as well as the price. It is important to ensure that you compare different policies, and know exactly what you are and are not covered for in order to ensure that you get proper value for money with your travel insurance policy.

According to Sean Gardner from MoneyExpert: “Average prices provide a guide as to what to look for. It is then up to holidaymakers to probe a little deeper to find the policy that suits them best.”

Tom Smith
26th May 2007

Am I Insured To Drive Anyone’s Car?

Confusion

Whether you have got fully comprehensive insurance and want to drive somebody else’s car or whether you have only third party insurance and want to do so, it’s a confusing mess – the simple question is, are you legal or not? Read more

HSBC to improve insurance products

One of the UK’s leading banks, HSBC, has announced that it is extending its relationship with insurance underwriter Norwich Union in a bid to improve the insurance products and services that it provides.

Over ten million customers with HSBC can now opt for a range of general insurance products through HSBC that will be underwritten by Norwich Union. The bank and the insurance company have already been working together for over twenty years on certain insurance products, and their relationship will be strengthened as the bank increases the insurance products that will now be provided through Norwich Union.

HSBC hopes that this latest move will place it amongst the top ten providers of general insurance in the UK. Previously, HSBC offered a number of insurance products through Norwich Union, and this included travel, vehicle, and home insurance.

The bank also hopes that profits from its insurance products can be doubled through this improved joint venture, with the bank’s managing director of insurance stating: ‘Creating preferred strategic partnerships with leading general insurers is a key element of that plan. In the UK, an estimated £1 in every £5 of financial services expenditure is spent on insurance. That is why we have chosen Norwich Union, the leading UK insurer with whom we already have a strong working relationship, to help HSBC satisfy its customers’ insurance needs.’

The Chief Executive of HSBC stated: ‘It would be fair to say that HSBC has historically punched below its weight in insurance but we have shown before that our customers want to stay with us if we offer well serviced, good value products.’

Tom Smith
23rd May 2007

Insurance policyholders could be paying out million to compensate for fraud

According to industry professionals holders of UK insurance policies could collectively be paying out millions upon million of pounds simply to compensate for fraud levels losses.

Experts claim that policyholders could be shelling out four million pounds everyday simply to make up for the financial losses that are caused by fraudulent claims that are made to insurance companies.

The data comes from the Association of British Insurers, and the ABI states that over one and a half billion pounds is paid out by honest policyholder each year to make up for the cost of fraudulent claims made by millions of others. Around five million people have admitted to making a fraudulent insurance claim in the past. This adds an average of forty pounds a year to the cost of cover according to the Association of British Insurers.

The insurance fraud relates to different types of claims. Some people cheat their insurance company by making a valid claim but inflating the amount that they are claiming for. Others actually take out insurance cover for the sole purpose of making a fraudulent claim so that they can cash in their cover – this is known as ‘planned’ insurance fraud.

Around £8M had to be paid out in extra premiums by honest policyholders last year to make up for claims where the amount had been inflated by the claimant. Around fifty percent of fraudulent claims relate to home and contents insurance cover.

One spokesperson from the ABI stated: “These figures highlight that greater deterrents, such as criminal prosecutions, are needed to discourage fraud. This is why we are calling for police forces to be given more resources so that fraud can be treated with the seriousness it deserves.”

Tom Smith
23rd May 2007

More Information:

• What is Insurance?

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

Shopaholics Should Include Insurance on the List

The average yearly UK car insurance premium is £460 with a difference of £110 from most expensive to least. This rate reflects a premium for the same make and model vehicle, driven by the same driver, living in the same towns and cities. Shopping around for insurance is worth the time. Read more

Making sure that you have adequate mortgage protection cover

Recent surveys carried out in the latter part of 2006 seemed to indicate that many homeowners in the UK had failed to take out adequate mortgage protection insurance, and experts warned consumers to make sure that they looked into the type and level of insurance cover that they had for their mortgages. For most people in the UK a mortgage is a long term financial commitment and property purchasing is one of the most costly and important investments that they will make, which is why protecting both is so important.

Most people don’t think about the possibility of not being able to meet repayments on the mortgage when they first take out this loan, but there are many unexpected situations that can arise, which can render is unable to keep up with repayments. For instance, sickness, accidents, and redundancy could leave us unable to earn an income for a certain period of time, which would leave most people struggling to repay the mortgage. Being diagnosed with terminal illness or a critical illness could mean that you can no longer work or earn an income. And if you were to die your family may be left struggling to meet repayments without your income to keep them going. All of these circumstances could result in the loss of your home.

There are different mortgage protection plans available on the UK market these days, and consumers should ensure that they have as comprehensive a plan as possible in place in order to enjoy full peace of mind. Mortgage life insurance is a type of cover that decreases over the term and will ensure that your mortgage is repaid in full in the event of terminal illness, critical illness, or death. Mortgage repayment protection will cover your repayments for a specified period if you are unable to work due to redundancy, sickness, or injury, giving you time to get back on your feet and start work again without worrying about your mortgage.

The Pros And Cons Of Payment Protection Insurance

Lenders are always eager to convince borrowers to protect their repayments for loans, credit cards, store cards, mortgages and other financial products. And they have a point. People in the UK are saving less and borrowing more, with a high rate of debt. Read more

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.”

Motor insurance set to rocket in the UK

Motorists in the UK are set to face huge increases in motor insurance over the next year according to recent reports relating to some of the larger motor insurance companies in the UK. It has been reported that the biggest motor insurer in the UK could be whacking up the cost of premiums in 2007, increasing the gap even further between the prices from some major insurers and some of the cheaper motor insurance companies.

Unfortunately, the large rise in premiums could mean that those companies currently seen as budget insurance companies, which are able to offer huge discounts, could also be forced to push up premiums, making it even more costly to own and drive a car in the UK. Norwich Union has already raised premiums by up to forty percent over the past few months, and other major players are set to follow.

The largest motor vehicle insurer, the Royal Bank of Scotland, is now set to follow suit and push up its insurance premium rates, and smaller companies could follow. One spokesperson from the Admiral Group stated: ‘We believe Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance is the decisive factor in taking the market up in price. If it were to sustain a series of increases over the next 12 to 18 months, that would take rates up substantially.’

According to statistics forthcoming rises could push up an average insurance premium of around seven hundred and fifty pounds to around nine hundred pounds. Officials from the Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance stated that the rises were largely due to the heft cost of claims that had been made over recent years. An AA spokesperson also spoke about the rises, stating: ‘You will find people will shop around even more now. The market is going to be even more polarised between the highest and lowest prices.’

Content insurance claims due to rocket in January

Barclays Home Insurance experts have warned that the level and cost of contents insurance claims in January is likely to rocket compared to claims made over the rest of the year, following a similar trend to recent years. Barclays state that this is due to the increase in thefts and burglaries in homes over the festive period, where thieves target homes because of potential rich pickings in the way of gifts, as well as the increased likelihood of homes being empty due to homeowners being out at parties or visiting relations.

According to Barclays Insurance the number of claims during the month of January can rise by around fourteen percent, and based on last year’s figures the cost of claims could shoot up again this year. In January 2006 there was a rise of fifteen hundred pounds compared to the amount claimed throughout the rest of 2005. Barclays experts state that consumers need to take care to minimize the chances of theft.

Barclays also advise customers to ensure that they have adequate cover in place in order to protect themselves during this higher risk period.

One official stated: “The least you can do to make sure your Christmas doesn’t get spoilt by burglars, is to ensure you have sufficient cover in place as part of your home insurance policy. While your insurance won’t be able to compensate you for the distress a burglary can cause, it will allow you to replace all of your stolen items, so that your Christmas doesn’t have to end in a bitter disappointment.”

Consumers are also advised not to leave present on show, and to ensure that there is someone to look after the home in the event that they have to go out for a long period or are away visiting relations.

The Barclays spokesperson added: “Christmas should be the time of fun and happiness but it has unfortunately also become a time of year where more thefts and burglaries are occurring. Nowadays many presents are high in value but also light and portable, such as laptops, jewellery, gadgets like iPods and BlackBerrys or the latest games console – making them ideal targets for burglars. ”

Treasury Announces Investigation Of Travel Insurance Mis-Selling

By and large, Brits are a conservative consumer group.  As such, millions of us will gladly pay a relatively small premium to take-out a travel insurance policy before we go away on our holidays.  If you happen to have been one of the millions of Britons who have also experienced the reality of trying to claim on a travel insurance policy, only to find the insurance company worm its way out of the deal under one of the many exemptions, then you may well be delighted to hear that the Treasury has announced that it going to commence an investigation into the manner in which travel insurance is sold in the UK. 

Annually, we Brits spend over £1 billion a year on travel insurance premiums.  We do it because we believe we will be covered for almost all eventualities should something go wrong – either prior to the holiday itself or while on holiday.  In many cases, however, the harsh reality is that the numerous “get out” clauses that travel insurance policies customarily contain means the reality of being refunded, or even being compensated, for an event we thought was covered in our travel insurance is a far cry from what we may have been lead to understand when being sold the policy in the first place.

As such, of particular interest to the Treasury’s investigation will be the old gripe of whether or not travel insurances that are sold as part of a “holiday package” are being mis-sold.  While standalone insurance policies are regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), travel insurance that is sold as part of a holiday package is not. 

Commenting on the current practice of possibly mis-selling travel insurance as part of a travel package, Economic Secretary Ed Balls said, “We need to find out whether travel insurance sold with a holiday is being mis-sold and if we need to educate consumers to consider the cover they want and ensure they are properly informed.”  This comes after Balls discovered that almost half of the UK’s 20 million annual travel insurance policies don’t cover terrorist attacks.

Although travel insurance policies sold by travel firms are not currently regulated, meaning that aggrieved policyholders have little or no right of redress against the travel firm, the announced forthcoming investigation by the Treasury may be just the wake-up call the industry needs to get its house in order or follow the fate of other financial service providers whose practices and activities have recently been curtailed following high profile investigations.

UK consumers should compare contents insurance policies

With experts advising UK consumers to ensure that they have adequate contents insurance cover over the festive period, which is when there is an increased risk of accidents, damage, and theft, Insurancewide.com has now added an additional warning – that consumers thinking of taking out cover to protect their contents should be careful when it comes to companies offering special Christmas and festive deals and discounts on cover.

According to Insurancewide.com there are a number of companies that are offering a range of offers on contents insurance cover over the coming Christmas and new year period, with some offers that include increased cover over the festive period at no extra cost, as well as Christmas discounts on contents insurance policies. Amongst the companies offering special deals on contents insurance cover over the Christmas and New Year period are American Express and Tesco.

However, Insurancewide experts have advised consumers to ensure that they look carefully at any policy before making a firm commitment, no matter how tempting the short term special offer may be. A spokesperson for the company stated that those looking to purchase contents insurance need to make sure that the policy they go for continues to benefit them after the festive period is over, making it suitable for the long term rather than just on a short term basis. This means reading the small print on policies as well as comparing the different policies and deals on offer.

James Harrison, chief executive of Insurancewide, stated: “It’s great that insurers are remaining competitive and offering their customers a chance to save money. But we urge people to pay close attention to the increase in the sum insured, to compare like with like, watch out for unexpected policy exclusions and check other insurers’ offers according to their precise needs before being lured by advertising campaigns.”

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.

Consumers could save money on home insurance

A number of studies carried out in relation to consumer trends with buildings and contents insurance have shown that a large percentage of consumers could save a small fortune on the cost of their insurance premiums by taking a few simple steps. A recent survey was carried out by Tesco, and the results indicated that many consumers could be paying up to twenty five percent too much on their premiums for buildings and contents cover.

In many cases consumers are failing to shop around for good deals on home insurance cover simply because they think that they have to take the insurance cover that is offered by their mortgage provider, which is not always the case. The head of insurance at Tesco stated: “Many consumers are apathetic about their home insurance or believe it is an integral part of their mortgage. Others suspect the saving made by shopping around won’t be worth the effort but that isn’t true.”

As part of a survey, around 125 consumers were asked to shop around when it came to renewing their home insurance, and out of these a quarter discovered that they were paying around seventy five pounds more than they needed to on the cost of their premiums. The other seventy five percent from the survey also discovered that they could make some form of saving on their cover simply by shopping around.

In addition to shopping around, Moneysupermarket.com has advised consumers to ensure that their home is made secure through the fitting of security locks, burglar alarms, and other security devices, as this could also help to slash the cost of insurance premiums through reduced risk. Consumers may also find that purchasing a combination package of buildings and contents cover could save them money on the overall cost of their home insurance.

Consumers Advised To Get Home Insurance Before Christmas Arrives

With an alarming percentage of homeowners having inadequate or even no contents insurance cover to protect their worldly goods and their homes, experts are advising consumers to ensure that they get themselves sorted out with protective cover before Christmas comes around. With reports suggesting that claims on contents insurance tend to rocket over the Christmas period, consumers are being advised to ensure that they do not get caught short at a time when it seems that accidents and burglaries are most likely to occur.

According to research carried out by Zurich, a whopping ten percent of UK homeowners have no contents cover at all, which means that they are not protected in the events of theft, loss, or damage. A further twenty percent do not have adequate contents insurance based on the items that they have in their homes. The reports also suggested that fifty percent of those with contents insurance had no accidental damage cover on their policies, reducing the protection they received from having cover.

Data provided by Barclays Insurance suggested that the festive period was the time when accidental damage in the home was most likely to occur, and statistics showed that the rise in contents insurance claims tended to shoot up over this period. This is also the time of year when many homes are left empty, as people go to stay with friends and family, as well as the time of year when there are many valuables in homes, in the form of gifts and cash. These factors combined could also mean an increased risk of burglaries.

Data showed that there was a rise of over forty percent in home insurance claims after the Christmas period in 2005 compared to claims made the month before. One Barclays spokesperson stated: “Our data shows that during the Christmas party season, people are particularly likely to incur accidental damage incidents in their homes. The cost of replacing items or cleaning carpets or furniture can quickly add up. It is therefore important to add accidental damage cover to your home insurance policy.”

Is travel insurance more important than life cover?

Most Brits are well aware of the complications that can arise without the protection of life insurance cover. Nobody knows what lies around the corner, and an accident, sudden illness, or unexpected event could change everything in one fell swoop for our loved ones. Although nobody likes to dwell on the prospect of death it seems that many Brits are simply burying their heads in the sand when it comes to providing their loved ones with protection and peace of mind through life insurance cover, and a survey has revealed that an alarming percentage of Britons do not insure their lives.

A recent survey was carried out by Bright Grey, and a sample group of two thousand Brits was used in the survey in order to determine average figures relating to insurance cover. The results from the survey indicated that Britons considered life insurance cover to be the most important form of protective insurance, with thirty eight percent of those surveyed stating that they felt that it was most important to insure their lives. Home contents insurance and mortgage insurance cover were ranked next in line when it came to importance by the group surveyed.

However, despite the fact that the survey revealed the majority think that life insurance cover is the most important cover to have, it seems that Brits are more interested in protecting their travel than they are their lives. The most popular insurance cover, according to the report statistics, was home content cover, with seventy four percent of people having this type of protection. Hot on its heels was travel insurance cover, with sixty one percent taking out this type of policy.

According to the results of the survey life insurance cover came in third, with only fifty three percent enjoying the protection of this type of cover. Mortgage protection figures were also alarmingly low, with only twenty three percent having this type of cover. Bright Grey products director, Roger Edwards, stated: “This is a real worry. Less than a quarter of people protect their mortgage – over three times more people insure their home contents. And although people seem to know how important life insurance can be, many simply aren’t taking out cover.”

HSBC Becomes First UK Bank To End ‘Free’ Banking

20 years after HSBC and Barclays introduced the concept of free banking to the UK, HSBC have announced that it is now time to pull the plug on this popular product and re-introduce a charge for using its banking services.

At present, HSBC has announced that it will limit charging the fee to its online banking arm, First Direct.  Moreover, the fee charge of £10 per month will not be applied to all customers of First Direct.  The “lucky” First Direct customers who will find themselves subject to the £10 monthly fee will be those who fail to make deposits of at least £1,500 per month or those who do not maintain an average balance of £1,500 on their current accounts.

While it is true to say that the UK has remained one of a very few select countries to maintain free current account banking for those bank customers who do not go overdrawn, over time this has probably been one of the most popular products that major UK banks have offered.  Nevertheless, it seems, in this case, that the success of free current account banking in the UK has also been its eventual down-fall, with many leading UK banks having made grumbling noises over the past year or so that the because the UK has free current account banking, this no longer makes the banks competitive with their European and American competition, the majority of whom already charge for current account services.

To many of the 1.3 million customers of First Direct, however, this is going to be a bitter pill to swallow.  UK banks made record profits in 2005, so to now be told that the bank is no longer competitive with its overseas rivals merely because it has not been arbitrarily applying a monthly fee  £10 on certain financially disadvantaged customers may just sound a little like sour grapes.

Thankfully, other leading UK banks, such as Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, HBOS and Lloyds TSB, have decided not to follow the lead of HSBC at this time.  However, with most UK bank’s looking to recoup the estimated £1 billion in lost revenue following the Office of Fair Trading’s forced cut to penalties applied on late credit card payments, it would need optimism of the highest order to believe they won’t follow suit soon, a view clearly echoed by a spokeswomen for Royal Bank of Scotland, owners of Nat West, who, when asked RBS’s stance on the issue, was quoted as saying that: “There are no current plans, but you can never completely rule options out in the long term”.

In the meantime, the estimated 200,000 customers of First Direct who are likely to be directly affected by this latest move now have until February 2007, when the new charges will come into effect, to either get their accounts in order so that they do not fall foul of the new charges or to look for alternative free banking arrangements. 

Kindly, however, First Direct have given the 200,000 or so estimated customers it says will likely be effected by this move a ‘get out of jail’ free card: the bank will agree to waive the fee if the customer agrees to take out another First Direct product – such as a loan or insurance. 

What Is Material Fact And Why Is It So Important?

The Fact of the matter

The insurance business is full of words that seem like jargon, but the fact of the matter is that the words used often mean very precise things because these insurance policies are contracts. “Material Fact” is one expression that you are likely to come across. Read more

What is Insurance?

It’s only just begun

Let’s say you are a young person with very little money and no job. You’re driving down the road in your new car that is anything but “new” because you just picked it up from a bloke who sold it to you for three hundred quid. The engine’s rattling like a bag full of spanners and the smell of petrol inside the car is causing you a little concern. But that doesn’t matter, because you have a car, your first car. Read more

Pet Insurance

It’s a Dog’s Life

Whether you have received a cute kitten or a puppy as a present or been out and bought one for yourself, vets bills and care of the animal are all part and parcel of being a pet owner. Insurance is there to help with the unexpected or even expected bills. Read more

Brits Seriously Undervaluing the Cost of Their Home Contents

New research published by Legal & General indicates that most Brits are seriously undervaluing the cost of replacing their home contents when it comes to filing a home contents insurance policy. 

The average UK homeowner currently values the possession in their home to worth a mere £14,300, whereas the actual cost of replacing most items found in an average UK home would likely cost more than £38,000.  Alone, the average UK living room now contains electrical and other goods that make the value of replacing these exceed £10,500.

With research undertaken recently by the Halifax Home Insurance showing that burglaries and house theft levels in the UK increasing by as much as 8%. During the winter months, UK home insurance providers are not only cautioning homeowners to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their homes but are also asking policyholders to take a careful look around their home and make sure they are reflecting a true value to the value of the contents.

Moreover, with the average UK homeowner unlikely to amend their home contents insurance dramatically year-on-year, a big question remains whether UK households take into account items purchased for their homes in the previous calendar year when renewing their home contents insurance.  Given that new electronic items can be expensive, UK home contents insurance policyholders should also be taking a close look at whether or not the threshold value of home contents is being reached and whether or not new expensive items need to be reported individually when renewing a home contents insurance policy. 

Special attention should also be given to any new jewellery items you may have purchased in the last year, as these are also unlikely to be covered under any general home contents insurance policy unless they have been specifically identified.  In this regard, it is generally advised that any UK household photograph new items purchased so that they can keep a log of all of the items in their home.  Photographing home contents is also much easier when it comes to making any claim on your UK home contents insurance policy.

Reflecting this general opinion among home contents insurance providers in the UK, Andy Dawson, operations director at Legal & General, commented, “From the survey findings it would appear that insurance cover loss of property from the home could be over £20,000 below the level it should be.  We would suggest that everyone take the research findings as a prompt to review their home contents and check the insurance cover they have in place”.

Fierce Competition Likely to Push Car Insurance Premiums Down

Despite the recent announcement by Norwich Union that it is to increase premiums on its UK motor insurance policies by up to 16 per cent. in the coming year, recent research undertaken by Defaqto indicates that fierce competition among UK car insurance providers is likely going to result in car insurance premiums falling in the coming months.

According to the findings in Defaqto’s recently released report, “Motor Insurance in the UK – Adapting to Survive”, many of the UK’ leading car insurance providers are either electing to keep their car insurance premiums frozen this year or are looking to reduce premium burdens on their customers.  With UK car insurance premiums constituting £7.4 billion in sector revenues for 2006, many of the UK’s leading car insurance policy providers now acknowledge that intense market competition is stopping them from following Norwich Union’s lead and increasing premiums.

To a large extent, most of the competitive pressure on car insurance premiums in the UK is coming from savvy motorist who have now learnt that looking online for discounted car insurance is the easiest and quickest way of finding cheap UK car insurance.  Brian Brown, Defaqto’s head of general insurance research commented that “With the Internet, it is now easy for customers to shop around and so many insurers are still giving introductory discounts, cash-back or guarantees to beat other quotes, that there is little, if any, need for customers to stick with their existing insurer when faced with premium increases”.

The question of whether or not UK motorist can look forward to reduced car insurance premiums is still, however, subject to whether or not large UK motor insurance providers, such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, decide on price freezes.  If RBS were to decide that now is not the right time to push through a price hike, then joint competition from RBS and alternative discount UK car insurance available on the Internet will almost certainly result in premium freezes or reductions in the coming year.

Nonetheless, UK motorist still need to be careful they read their UK motor insurance policy carefully as over 60 per cent. of motor insurance providers in the UK now recoup lost revenue from premium reductions in the form of policy adjustment charges.  Here, Defaqto’s report found that the fee to cancel a UK car insurance policy can cost the policyholder as much as £75.  However, Defaqto are also quick to point out that following the Office of Fair Trading move to reduce late payment fees on UK credit cards, it is likely that these high additional fees will not be round for long – with or without the OFT’s intervention. 

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