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Read all about how to get cheaper car and life insurance from our blog section. |
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August 18th, 2011
Climate change has been debated for years now as experts, environmentalists and various other parties have tried to understand it, determine what it does and figure out whether or not it is a real entity or whether it is just a figment of the imagination. Although most people have now acknowledged that it exists, even if it is cyclical in nature as history has proven, many are still unaware of the problems that it can cause when it is truly examined. For example, a recent study has proved that it has an incredible impact on home insurance, believe it or not.
Climate change is essentially the changing of the temperature and weather conditions around the world, which explains why our seasons became less defined a decade or so ago but we are experiencing more extreme weather conditions in terms of drought and snow. It is this disparity that is causing problems with home insurance, or at least for those that have buildings insurance anyway, because the risk of subsidence is far greater than ever before. The extremes are destabilising the soil beneath many homes and causing major shifts, which can damage foundations and cause houses to slip to a far greater extent than you may realise. This can elevate home insurance quotes if your area is in specific danger of slipping.
So what can you do to preserve your home insurance? Well, you could get a surveyor in to check your risk or do a little research online to check where you stand. However, if the entire area is at risk then you may expect your premiums to go up in the near future so always look around to make sure that you have the cover you want at a price you can afford. You need good cover for subsidence so avoid taking cheap over quality.
Posted in Home Insurance | 150 Comments »
August 16th, 2011
Multi car insurance is one of the newest products on the car insurance market today and has easily become one of the most popular with households having more than one car at the same address, especially those who have young drivers there and do not want to break the law by fronting for them. However, you should know that multi car insurance does not always lower insurance premiums. It does bases on factors like age and driving record but it may actually elevate them if there are certain cars in your household, namely a BMW 3.5, Jaguar XJ, Mercedes C Class or Range Rover Sport. These cars are the most stole in the UK right now.
Fast, powerful, well built and incredible in terms of performance, all of the cars named above are highly sought after by thieves who look to get a hold of the keys rather than breaking into them. However, no matter how you look at it, they are all expensive to insure anyway, even more so now the information has been released about the crime and theft rates. Multi car insurance companies, in fact all car insurance companies, do use data like that to adjust their quotes. As a result, you should expect to increase your payments every month to ensure that you have the protection that you need.
Popular cars will push up multi car insurance premiums if they are also popular with thieves but the extent to which it will push them up largely depends on who is driving it. Whether you have a good record or not will make a difference. However, no matter which car you ultimately choose to have, multi car insurance may still ultimately save your household a little cash so it is worth looking at as a very real option.
Posted in Multi Car Insurance | 61 Comments »
August 14th, 2011
Life insurance is often perceived as being one of those policies that the young invest in. Those with young families choose cover to provide if they should ever pass away suddenly. Homeowners in their 20s and 30s choose to own a life insurance policy to cover their mortgage so as to ensure that their partner or spouse would not have to worry about the remaining balance if they found themselves an income down. However, attitudes towards life insurance amongst the over 50s is slowly but surely changing with policies specifically for those in their senior years now available and offering excellent value for money.
Under 50s life insurance policies are very different from those for over 50s. For a start, they tend to offer very little in terms of return, with most offering under £5000 back, but they are also perfect for those with health problems because they do not require medicals either. Initially offered as a funeral fund policy, they are also perfect for those looking to leave a bit behind for the family. There are very few clauses at all that prevent people from taking out such a policy but it is certainly still worth looking around.
Life insurance is not something that only applies to a certain group of people. We are all going to die at some point and it is simply a way of leaving something behind for those who rely on you. Whether you are 25 or 75, it is certainly worth looking into the possibilities available. There are many providers of all sorts of cover so check out your options and, most importantly, get the quotes you need to see which ones will suit you best. After all, you never know whether some will suit your family as well as your wallet better than others.
Posted in Life Insurance | 1 Comment »
August 12th, 2011
Have you ever been tempted by certain offers that are advertised by various car insurance providers on TV. “Find a better deal and we will give you £50!” “Switch to us and we will beat your renewal quote!” “Why not try us and get £100 today!” All of them sound absolutely fantastic but they tend to offer a sort of false economy. They are specifically designed to attract car insurance customers and often also serve to mask the faults behind a certain policy. Of course, every policy is designed to suit someone out there but would you really be happy with £100 to lure you to a company only to find that you have an excess of £500? Thought not. This is only an example but you catch the drift.
More and more companies are starting to offer cashback or vouchers to entice more customers to them when their car insurance is up for renewal and such an offer is often met by a greater number of policies being approved. However, there are so many problems with this and too many people settling for an average or poor car insurance policy as a result.
If you can get the car insurance policy you want and can afford then you have the best possible cover for you. If that comes with a bonus then even better, but never choose the bonus over and above the policy itself because that is a sure fire way to get burned. Incentives are just what the label suggests but they do not indicate the quality of cover available so your best course of action at renewal time is to compare car insurance quotes and go from there. If you have the policy you want then you automatically get peace of mind and that is worth more than any cash or voucher incentive available.
Posted in Car Insurance | 15 Comments »
August 10th, 2011
Have you watched much of the news about the rioting over the last few days? If you have not then where have you been??? It has literally been plastered all over the TV and newspapers for several days now. Plenty of people have been affected by it and will continue to be but if you are one of the many people that have had their cars burned or damaged as a result of the rioting then do you know where you stand in relation to your car insurance?
Car insurance providers undoubtedly put their head in their hands when they were looking at the damage because many will have to pay for cars that are no longer a viable transport option. However, some are apparently already refusing to pay out. Some of the cheapest providers actually have clauses in their cover that states that they will not pay out for incidence like mass violence and other such oragnised affairs. This is not confirmed as yet but you never know whether it is true or not until you hear it directly from the provider.
It should be worth noting though that car insurance providers will put your premiums up when renewal time rolls around because you will have had an area upgrade as far as the likelihood of crime is concerned. If you claim then you will be more likely to do so in the next 12 months but even if you have not then some providers will increase your quotes because someone near to you may have done. You cannot win either way. The only thing to do is to compare car insurance before taking out a quote. This is the only way that you will find a policy to suit you and an affordable premium that suits your wallet as well!
Posted in Car Insurance | 11 Comments »
August 8th, 2011
Are you a student? If you are the the likelihood is that you live either in student housing off campus or a dorm on campus. Either way, your room is prime fodder for thieves these days because students are more technologically savvy than ever before. In fact, a recent survey found that students are taking an average possessions value of £2,652 with them when they head away to university. This is no bad thing because it means that you are able to enjoy your time at uni and relax as well as working hard. However, there is a problem when it comes to home insurance because the simple fact is that most students do not have any.
There can be little doubt that expensive gadgets are responsible for the vast majority of value each student carries in terms of belongings. For example, 80% of students have a laptop with a further 14% having a desktop and 4% having a tablet. In addition, many have a mobile phone, camera, jewellery, PDA, iPod, iPad and many will also have designer clothing of some sort. This all adds up to a whole lot of cash… and a whole lot to lose if you do not have your stuff covered by a good home insurance policy.
Every student needs some sort of home insurance to cover their possessions and thinking you will not get broken into and stolen from is not an option. The simple fact is that you could lose everything that means something to you at uni and not be able to afford to replace it so getting cover is definitely a way to keep even deeper poverty at bay! There are some fantastic providers of regular home insurance and also specialist student insurance so it is definitely worth checking it all out today to see what little you would have to pay for peace of mind.
Posted in Home Insurance | 103 Comments »
August 6th, 2011
It is a well known fact that many people who used to drive a taxi for a living have had to quit their job in the last few months as a result of rising costs. With petrol so high per litre, increasing badge and licensing costs and huge insurance costs, which have risen as much as 40% in some cases for those who have not had an accident, it is really worth noting that many have found it impossible to work as a result of their lack of income after they have finished paying out. However, if you are one of those still hanging on then you may be happy to know that some taxi insurance providers have actually begun to recognise that there is a problem and have cut costs accordingly.
Although you absolutely have to compare taxi insurance to make sure that you have the best deal, it is possible to find a policy that can help you to save money. Some providers are offering comprehensive policies that have premiums based on individual records rather than general insurance trends. Of course, if you have points on your license then there may be a problem but otherwise there is no reason why you cannot tap into such policies.
So how can you find such taxi insurance because it is not advertised very often? Well, a comparison engine like APH is a great place to start because you can input all of your requirements and find the best policy with the most affordable premium as a result. It really is not that difficult to do and takes a few moments. With this in mind, you may well find that you are able to continue earning as a taxi driver without having no money to show for it at the end of a busy Saturday night!
Posted in Taxi Insurance | 6 Comments »
August 4th, 2011
Do you drive on roads in Europe when you go on holiday there? Many people do. Hiring a car has never been easier and can even be done as part of a package deal. With the ferry and Eurostar available as well you can even take your own car, and many car insurance companies do offer a certain level of cover abroad. However, the problem, according to a recent survey, lie not with the availability of cars but with the quality of driving.
Did you know that just 20% of Europeans think that Brits take enough care when driving on their roads? Yes, the quality of driving by Brits on the continent is appalling, with many Europeans being outraged by the lack of care taken by Brits on their roads. This may have something to do with arrogance though. For example, we all know that they drive on the opposite side of the road to us but only 49% knew that they had to change the beam on headlights. In addition, a test given to drivers featuring 6 road signs from the continent gave an average individual score of 28%. This is nowhere near good enough because it would not enable any driver to pass their driving tests in Europe. As such, they should not technically be driving there.
With approximately 7 million Brits heading to Europe and taking their cars with them, you do need to do your homework and find out the rules of the road. If you do not then you will find your car insurance invalidated by your appalling driving and inability to adhere to the law. You also need to check just how far your car insurance will reach too as some only offer third party cover abroad. Phone them in advance to make sure that you have the level of cover you want to enjoy your holiday.
Posted in Car Insurance | 165 Comments »
August 2nd, 2011
Do you have a family history of diabetes, cancer and other such illnesses that tend to have a genetic connection? Of course, not all cases of diabetes and cancer are genetic but they are excellent examples of ailments that may be passed down from parents to children and are also excellent examples of illnesses that life insurance companies will ask about when you apply for a life insurance policy. I recently took a policy out after an addition to the family and, having diabetes and cancer in the family, I was expecting my initial quote to shoot through the roof. I was shocked, or should I say pleasantly surprised, to find out that it cost me just 50p more a month for the same level of cover!
It is the usual myth with life insurance that tends to put people off – that you are stung if there is anything potentially damaging in your family’s medical history – or encourages them to lie but taking the easier road of telling your chosen life insurance company is definitely worth it. If you tell porkies then you may well find your family struggling if you get found out. If you did die, or indeed if another policyholder did, and you withheld information like that then you are technically invalidating your policy and thus also your right to any payout. If your family thinks they are covered then this would prove to be a huge shock, and if you think that life insurance companies do not check the details then you are definitely mistaken!
All in all, life insurance is a valuable policy to have so as to protect your children and other family members that depend on you. Making sure that you tell them everything they need to know in advance will not only save you heartache later on but will also offer you peace of mind in the meantime.
Posted in Life Insurance | 96 Comments »
July 30th, 2011
Have you ever been tempted by credit cards with a 0% balance fee for 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months or even, rarely, 18months? Maybe it is 0% on all spends within that period or on balance transfers within that period, but either way it seems like an incredible offer and an excellent way to get credit for cheaper over a period of time. Until you really think about it that is…
When you consider the benefits of credit cards with amazing 0% offers they are comprehensive but you should make sure that you are aware of the negatives as well because all too many people ignore them in the hope that they will go away. For example, if you cannot pay your debt off during the time that it is interest free then you may find that the interest rate at the end of it is higher than on some other cards, meaning that you may have to pay more over an extended period of time. This is obviously not good because it will cost you more. In addition, some of the cards also have initial charges that you have to pay to access the deals. Although these are rare they are worth checking for in the small print.
If you are looking for balance transfer credit cards then the best way to see exactly what they offer you is via a comparison site like APH. You can compare the deal you will get as well as then comparing the interest rate you will have to pay after it has finished. In fact, such sites make it easy to see exactly what you are getting for your money before you take out the card. Approvals may differ thanks to your individual credit rating but if you do have a decent rating then you should pretty much be able to take your pick of the credit cards on offer.
Posted in Credit Cards | 1 Comment »
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