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Read all about how to get cheaper car and life insurance from our blog section. |
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July 28th, 2011
If you have been keeping up to date with the latest insurance news then you may be aware of a term that is important for young drivers or households with them in. That term is “fronting”. It basically describes an illegal practice of having an insurance policy in an experienced driver’s name when the actual driver is a young driver. He or she will usually be named on the policy but, by having it in the experienced driver’s name, it will be much cheaper than it would have otherwise been. The insurance industry is cracking down on this practice but there is a way around it – multi car insurance.
Multi car insurance offers all drivers under one roof cover, as long as the cars and drivers are named in the policy of course. It offers a discounted policy because all residents are effectively with the same company, with many also offering individual no claims bonus accumulation as well.
As the multi car insurance policy covers the household and not the individual then it is not fronting and is not illegal. In fact, it is the only way to get around the whole issue if an experienced driver, like a parent, wants to offset the costs associated with insuring an unexperienced driver until his or her premiums will come down with time. Of course, having a young driver and his or her car on there will put up the premiums but the discounts on the additional vehicles do offset that to a great degree and it ensures that you stay on the right side of the law. This is definitely a big deal because any incidence of insurance fraud could mean that you never get car insurance of any kind again. It is not a risk that is worth taking so be sure to stay within the law at all times!
Posted in Multi Car Insurance | 148 Comments »
July 26th, 2011
Have you been watching the news about Greece recently? It’s awful that their economy is in such a terrible state but if you are going there on holiday then you may be a little worried as well. After all, your holiday may well be disrupted by the strikes and the trouble that has been occurring all over the country. Unfortunately, if you have booked a holiday to Greece then you are stuck with it because no travel company will cancel it for you and refund your money unless the embassy declares that it is unsafe to go there. This was proven in the Arab Spring earlier on this year. Whether you do or do not go, though, you need to know exactly what your travel insurance covers you for.
Most travel insurance policies offer help for you if you get ill when abroad in terms of covering medical costs there, helping you to get home and other such elements that are vital if you end up taking ill. However, many class strikes, riots and other similar events are ntot covered by travel insurance. In fact, most of the time they are deliberately excluded in the small print because they tend to cost holidaymakers a fortune.
If you read your travel insurance documents, you will soon be able to distinguish whether or not you are covered in the circumstances you may find yourself in in Greece. Regardless of what it says though, it may be worth calling your travel agent or provider anyway because they will be able to confirm exactly what you will be covered for and the help you will get should you need it. Make a note of who you speak to, the time and the date just in case. It may be vital in getting what you are entitled to at a later date.
Posted in Travel Insurance | 73 Comments »
July 24th, 2011
It is a well known fact that home insurance premiums have been affected by crime rates over the past two or three years and have risen as a result of a crime wave that has been linked to recession and job cuts. However, there may well be evidence that links it to something else – softer sentencing. A major insurance company recently requested the official figures relating to convicted burglars and their sentences and the statistics make for grim reading, which may not surprise you.
44% of all burglars convicted during 2010 were sent to jail. The rest did not face a custodial sentence at all, but of those who received a suspended sentence only 48% did not reoffend within 12 months. In other words, approximately 21% of all of those convicted of burglary in 2010 have offended again since. It is no wonder that burglary levels have gone up!
This may also give you some idea as to why many homeowners and tenants alike are worried about being targeted time and time again. 9% of people who are burgled face the crime for at least a second time within five years and many never get the justice they deserve despite the stress they suffer. Over 60% of victims spoken to in a recent survey have stated that the police were never able to catch the criminal but 28% no longer felt safe in their own home.
That said, there are things you can do to try to protect yourself. For example, you can keep doors locked. 24% admit to not locking their doors and a further 53% do not have any dead bolts fitted. Any failure to take even the most simple of security measures can cause problems as far as leaving yourself exposed to crime goes. However, if you try to think like a burglar, you can soon find out where the weaknesses in your property lie to prevent any future crime.
Posted in Home Insurance | 9 Comments »
July 22nd, 2011
With several travel companies going bust last year, article after article is stressing the importance of getting travel insurance alongside your holiday this year and indeed the writers of the articles are correct to make such a recommendation. Travel insurance is after all there to give you peace of mind. This is even more poignant considering Dream Holidays, a Hertfordshire based company that specialised in trips to Greece, Egypt and Cyprus, announced that it had gone bust this week, leaving 1800 people stuck or affected. Of course, as an ATOL protected company, their customers will be able to get home but many will still be looking into travel insurance policies to see if they are covered.
Most travel insurance policies will help you if the holiday you had booked is cancelled on you and you will not be able to get money back from a bankrupt company but some actually state that they will not reimburse you for such a loss. This is often hidden in the small print and tends to be a feature of the most basic of policies out there. However, it is certainly a feature that you should look into if you want to take out a policy that gives you peace of mind.
You may find, when looking around the travel insurance market, that many companies state in advance if they cover your holiday should the travel company go bust. If they do not but you like the other features on a policy then do what you think is best but always pay for a holiday on a credit card to give you that little extra protection. Credit card companies have to reimburse you if you lose your holiday via company bankruptcy under consumer law so you would always have peace of mind with that to back you up.
Posted in Travel Insurance | 202 Comments »
July 20th, 2011
Do you have your own business? If you do and it is established then you probably have business insurance sorted, with a policy that suits your needs at the present moment. However, if you are new to the business world or are considering establishing your own business then the likelihood is that you have yet to think about it. Let’s face it, there are so many things to think about – from the legalities to the business plan you write to the market you want to break into – that it is easy to forget something as small as insurance. However, business insurance is no small thing if you want to make sure that your liabilities are covered.
Regardless of how large or small your premises, you should make sure that you are insured from day one just in case something should happen. After all, if you are the victim of crime or circumstance, it is easy to lose everything you have worked hard for in an instant. Insurance is there for you to replace it and to ensure that your hard work is not for nothing.
Another point worth making is that even if you work at home you will need business insurance. Home insurance does not cover business equipment if it is stolen or damaged, and neither does it cover injuries to clients and employees that come to your home. Anywhere that you work should be covered by business insurance.
There are numerous business insurance providers out there that you can look at and many can be found via the APH comparison engine. Just be sure to check the policies individually to make sure that you can fill in every need you have, thus providing your business with comprehensive protection from this moment on. It is certainly worth it for peace of mind as well as your business interests.
Posted in Business Insurance | 40 Comments »
July 18th, 2011
Life insurance is one of those financial products that nobody really wants to think about getting because it is rather morbid to even think about but is one that everyone with any dependents, particularly children, absolutely needs if they want to look after their families after their passing. However, although it has always been a little on the confusing side and can be difficult to choose a policy to cover your needs, the choices available for those looking to take out life insurance are shrinking. Earlier this month, a major insurer announced that they were merging with another major provider to save money but of course that has also led to limited options.
Many insurers do not offer life insurance because of the complex nature of the policies and those that do tend to have them underwritten by one of the several experts in the field, so what difference does this make to you? Well, it may put up quotes that you get for new policies and add a little to existing policies that renew every year rather than having a fixed premium for the life of the policy. However, the main concern is obviously that the life insurance market shrinking will limit the options available to those looking for protection.
It must be said that there are still plenty of providers out there for you and many are easily accessed via APH so you can save time and money by using the comparison engine. You may not have heard of some of them before but you should check them out because they all have essential experience behind them. As such, there is no need to worry just yet but it is essential to do your research and look at policies in depth before taking one of them out. After all, your family may count on your choice one day.
Posted in Life Insurance | 1 Comment »
July 16th, 2011
Are you new to taking out pet insurance? If you are then you may think that it is a simple process. You get a quote, you like the details so you take out the policy. Job done! Well, not quite unfortunately. It is a well known fact that it is more difficult to compare pet insurance than other forms of insurance because there are so many facets of it. For example, you have excesses, veterinary cover, loss cover, injury to others cover, medication cover and a whole host of other elements that really should be considered before you take out a policy. To make it even worse, providers often offer different levels of cover so you have to choose between bronze, silver and gold in many cases. So what exactly should you look for?
Well, when you take out pet insurance, there is one issue that you should decide on above all else and that is whether or not you require recurring cover or annual cover. Is there a difference? Well, yes, and quite a big one actually. Most pet owners that have little knowledge of pet insurance do not know this but most cover in that niche actually renews annually, meaning that you start a new policy every year at renewal time. So? Well, say your dog is diagnosed with cancer in month 11 of your current policy. You can claim for treatment for those last 2 months but will not be able to claim on your renewed policy because it would be classed as a pre-existing condition. This is why you may want to consider recurring, or whole of life, policies. Under those, there is no such thing as a pre-existing condition unless your dog is already ill when the policy is taken out. Of course, any cover is better than no cover but it is worth considering these points before you take out a pet insurance policy.
Posted in Pet Insurance | 279 Comments »
July 14th, 2011
Have you ever booked a holiday with a travel company and just taken out the cover that the company recommends because it is easier than taking out standalone travel insurance? If you have then you are not alone because there are plenty of people that have done the same in the past. A decade or so ago it probably was easier to go along with the company cover but now you can get quotes from other companies within a few minutes so you should consider comparing policies. Why? Well, there are plenty of reasons to do so but one of the major reasons relates to the excess you may have to pay should you need to cancel your holiday.
All travel insurance policies have excesses attached to them, much like most other forms of insurance out there. However, they may masquerade as different items in the terms and conditions of different policies. For example, some are noted to be cancellation fees, others are administration charges and then there are plain old excesses. Either way, it will still be deducted from any payout you get at the end of the claims process. So why do travel company recommended policies vary from those you can take out yourself on the Internet?
In truth, some travel insurance policies barely differ at all because those are underwritten by the same companies that offer cover online. However, others charge a far higher excess and many people have no idea how much it is until they actually have to claim. As such, it is worth checking out the terms and conditions in advance. All charges will be documented there. If you think the excess is too high then simply shop around. There are numerous choices out there, many of which are available through APH, so take a few moments to find the travel insurance that suits you, excesses and all.
Posted in Travel Insurance | 317 Comments »
October 28th, 2010
With so many insurance companies, how do you know who to use? Price comparison sites can be the best place to start with, whether you are looking to insure your car, your pet or your travels.
One of the most important aspects of insurance is ignored by many people every year. Planning a vacation can take a lot of detail and booking, something as minor as travel insurance can easily be over-seen.
Going on the trip of your dreams can easily end in disaster without insurance. You may have booked your cheap flights from Cairo to somewhere like Egypt – land of the Pyramids, your dream hotel and organized many outings, but without insurance it can all fall apart.
Of course Travel Insurance doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, depending on who you choose to go with. It would be an idea to shop around, rather than going with the first desirable company you see. Some sites choose not to be listed with comparison sites, meaning you may have to visit their site directly to receive their best deals.
Travel insurance can be the difference between a stressful holiday, losing your luggage, being delayed for hours or even days, and peace of mind – knowing that despite these set-backs you will receive your just deserts in time. Something as important as your health should really not be over-seen, medical costs could actually cost an arm and a leg without the safety cushion of insurance which can offer you up to thousands if not millions of pounds, simply to covering yourself. Not only will you have covered yourself and your travels, it will also allow you to really enjoy your vacation without wondering whether you should have insured yourself.
What is a few pounds compared to complete satisfaction that no matter what happens – your holiday will be as good as you can personally make it?
Posted in Travel Insurance | 295 Comments »
July 29th, 2010
Business insurance products are becoming far more popular in recent years as the online presence of such providers has opened up many doors and especially, some healthy competition. It now appears that the Quotezone team are now offering business insurance services to the UK.
Quotezone is best known for offering ‘cheap car insurance quotes‘ but they have now added a range of office insurance systems to allow UK consumers to find cover such as
‘office insurance’ which can cover business premises and contents.
Quotezone seem to be expanding continually and the business sector seems to be their next target. They have proved themselves over recent years that they can clearly compete in the car and especially the van insurance comparison market.
Posted in Business Insurance | 229 Comments »
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