Allianz Retail offers Christmas security tips
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Allianz Retail offers Christmas security tips
As Christmas draws nearer Allianz Retail has issued advice to customers and brokers to help ensure properties are as secure as possible over the festive season. Many spend time away from home, visiting family and friends, which can leave unoccupied homes easy pickings for criminals. The insurer has issued a range of tips to avoid [...]
Groupama offers tips to avert burst pipes
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Groupama offers tips to avert burst pipes
Groupama Insurances has alerted policy householders to pre-emptive measures they should take to help avert burst pipes due to the freezing winter weather. The firm advises homeowners to keep their heating on a high enough level to prevent freezing occurring, lagging pipes and insulating vulnerable areas, and to check plumbing joints. Head of Household at [...]
Cost of UK flooding hits five year high
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Cost of UK flooding hits five year high
Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development centre of excellence has released its latest monthly Global Catastrophe Recap report. The report reveals that the recent floods to hit the UK damaged over 1,100 homes, and, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers’ report, are likely to cost insurers up to £500m. This will increase the total cost of floods to [...]
Direct Line adds home insurance to comparethemarket.com
by Gill Montia
Story link: Direct Line adds home insurance to comparethemarket.com
From today, home insurance via Direct Line brands, Churchill and Privilege, and strategic partner brands, Nationwide and Sainsbury’s Bank, are available on comparethemarket.com. The insurer says the move reinforces its multi-channel distribution model. Direct Line chief executive, Paul Geddes, adds: “This builds on the successful launch in July of motor insurance products through this channel. [...]
Apples the top temptation for Christmas thieves
by Gill Montia
Story link: Apples the top temptation for Christmas thieves
Aviva is warning that while “must have” Apple products are likely to fill Christmas stockings this year, iPhones, iPods and iPads are also likely to be on the top 10 list of items stolen over the festive period. However, burglars will wait until revellers are out celebrating the New Year before attempting to steal their [...]
AXA bolsters customer support for flood victims
by Richard Kilner
Story link: AXA bolsters customer support for flood victims
In response to the recent flooding AXA has announced that it has increased the number of staff on hand to respond to customers. The measure has enabled AXA to maintain a fast response for the claimants who have been affected by the widespread flooding to afflict the United Kingdom. Numerous staff members have been reallocated [...]
QuestGates warns of floods’ environmental aftermath
by Richard Kilner
Story link: QuestGates warns of floods’ environmental aftermath
QuestGates’ Alan Dobson, director of Environmental Claims, has warned that the potential implications of environmental damage caused by flooding are often ignored in the early stages of the event. Dobson explained that unless proper assessment and management of the environmental aspects of the flooding occur the ultimate cost faced by insurers and danger faced by [...]
ABI speaks out on flood insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI speaks out on flood insurance
With over 300 flood warnings in place across the UK, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) is calling on the Government to commit to a joint solution to ensure long-term affordable flood insurance for high-risk households. The ABI describes the current state of talks with ministers as at an “impasse” following the Government’s refusal to [...]
ABI issues flood advice
by Richard Kilner
Story link: ABI issues flood advice
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued advice to people who have been affected by the recent flooding. Those who have suffered damage to property or contents should contact their home insurer as soon as possible, most of which have 24 hour hotlines. Policyholders should also effect temporary repairs, if necessary to present the [...]
“Digital Neighbourhood” advances on local crime
by Gill Montia
Story link: “Digital Neighbourhood” advances on local crime
Sixty per cent of Britons say they are already using, or would be open to using, digital channels to stay one step ahead of local crime. According to new research from Legal & General, residents are already using, or are open to using, email updates from the police (56%), e-newsletters (56%), local community email groups [...]
Lloyds advice on weathering winter storms
by Gill Montia
Story link: Lloyds advice on weathering winter storms
With a harsh winter predicted and freezing temperatures on the way, Lloyds TSB Home Insurance is advising householders to give their properties a winter health check. Last year, the insurer handled 26,500 burst and frozen pipe claims which cost over £39 million to put right, and over 14,000 windstorm damage claims that cost over £5 [...]
LV= launches with Insure4Retirement
by Gill Montia
Story link: LV= launches with Insure4Retirement
LV= Broker has launched its ABC home insurance product on Insure4Retirement. This is the first collaboration between the companies and the first launch of ABC home insurance with a specialist over-50′s provider. The insurer says the move is a key step in helping to increase the availability of the policy through the broker channel. LV= [...]
FSA fines Card Protection Plan £10.5 million
by Gill Montia
Story link: FSA fines Card Protection Plan £10.5 million
Plastic card and identity theft insurer, Card Protection Plan Limited (CPP), has been fined £10.5 million by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for mis-selling insurance products. The regulator found widespread mis-selling of CPP’s two main UK products between January 2005 and March 2011 as follows: CPP sold its card protection product by emphasising that customers [...]
Mobile phone theft up 25% in three years
by Gill Montia
Story link: Mobile phone theft up 25% in three years
Mobile phone theft has increased 25% in the past three years, with an average 264 mobile phone robberies currently reported to the Police each day. According to official data obtained by LV=, over half of mobile phone thieves are in their teens but some are as young as nine years old, and only 1% of [...]
ABI issues advice to avoid burst pipes
by Richard Kilner
Story link: ABI issues advice to avoid burst pipes
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has urged homeowners to take pre-emptive action to reduce the risk of burst and frozen pipes. Two years ago the especially savage winter led to insurers being swamped with 3,500 claims a day for burst pipes. The problem can be very expensive, disruptive and stressful, but taking simple steps [...]
Aviva warns of rising theft on Bonfire Night
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Aviva warns of rising theft on Bonfire Night
Aviva has warned that Bonfire Night is the worst day of the year for burglaries, with 25% more burglaries occurring than on a standard day. Gold and jewellery are particularly sought after, with a 33% rise in claims for them compared to the September/October average. Car thefts also spike during Guy Fawkes Night, during which [...]
Winter weather warning for British homeowners
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Winter weather warning for British homeowners
AXA has advised its customers to carry out home maintenance, as 60% make inaccurate assumptions about coverage offered against stormy weather. Every year around one in 20 claims against damage caused by stormy weather is declined because the damage is attributed not to bad weather but to poor maintenance. This is contrary to the expectation [...]
DIY know-how lost by “Do It For Me” generation
by Gill Montia
Story link: DIY know-how lost by “Do It For Me” generation
Home maintenance and improvement know-how is being lost through the generations as grown-up children turn to mum and dad for help with their DIY, according to new research from Aviva. More than half (55%) of empty-nest parents are called upon to help with improvements at their children’s homes, carrying out jobs that would cost around [...]
Home & Legacy launch HNW building works policy
by Gill Montia
Story link: Home & Legacy launch HNW building works policy
Home & Legacy has partnered with Allianz Engineering to launch a building works product for the high net worth insurance market. Building Works Extension is designed to give protection to home insurance policyholders against the risk of damage when refurbishments or extensions are being carried out. As well as covering all risks for the existing [...]
Aviva to underwrite own pet insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva to underwrite own pet insurance
Aviva will be underwriting its own pet insurance from 1st August. The insurer has been selling pet insurance for years and says it is aware that owners worry about finding policies that will cover recurring medical conditions. So, for existing customers with Aviva and new customers from their first renewal, their cat or dog will [...]
