Heath Lambert launches new Homeline Solutions policy
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Heath Lambert launches new Homeline Solutions policy
Heath Lambert Group has launched a new product under its Homeline Solutions brand, a policy created specifically to address specialist risk frequently rejected by other insurers.
Quotes will be available for risks that fall outside mainstream categories, with examples including subsidence, flood, converted barns, people who work from home (such as dentists) and previous convictions.
Heath Lambert’s […]
AXA resonds to Pitt Report
by Gill Montia
Story link: AXA resonds to Pitt Report
Following yesterday’s publication of the final report of the Pitt Review of last summer’s flooding, AXA has responded in the form of a statement from its claims director, David Williams.
Mr Williams said that the company welcomed the report and will be studying its practical recommendations aimed at preventing and mitigating the effects of flooding.
The review […]
Pitt report acknowledges insurers’ strengths and weaknesses
by Gill Montia
Story link: Pitt report acknowledges insurers’ strengths and weaknesses
The Pitt report on last summer’s flooding has been published today.
Among its 92 recommendations are proposals for the development of a 25-year plan to address the issue of flooding.
The author of the report, Sir Michael Pitt, wants to see a review of building regulations for homes built or refurbished in flood-prone areas and greater collaboration […]
Pitt report to highlight insurers’ shortcomings
by Gill Montia
Story link: Pitt report to highlight insurers’ shortcomings
The insurance sector is bracing itself for Sir Michael Pitt’s report on the flooding of summer 2007.
It is understood that the document will contain serious criticisms of the insurance industry and could propose a radical review of the way in which home contents and buildings insurance works, with proposals for the development of new types […]
ABI survey reveals flooding fears
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI survey reveals flooding fears
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has been researching public attitudes towards flood risk one year after the serious flooding of summer 2007.
The study found that three-quarters of people think that not enough is being done to prevent flooding and many named improved drainage as a key priority.
Of those questioned from areas that were badly […]
AXA launches home insurance via Insurecom
by Gill Montia
Story link: AXA launches home insurance via Insurecom
AXA has announced that its ABC and Exclusive household insurance products are now available to customers of Insurecom, the software solutions firm.
Insurecom will host the products as Full Cycle EDI, which should give brokers a faster and easier method of managing their household insurance business with AXA.
ABC is a buildings and contents policy designed […]
ABI advice to flash-flood victims
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI advice to flash-flood victims
Last week’s flash flooding in the West County has prompted the Association of British Insurers to issue advice to the property owners affected.
Those who have household and/or business insurance policies should be covered for flood damage and need to contact their insurer as soon as possible.
Twenty-four hour emergency helplines are provided by most insurers, […]
Nationwide offers 20% discount on home cover
by Gill Montia
Story link: Nationwide offers 20% discount on home cover
Nationwide has launched a home insurance offer that gives a 20% discount to those purchasing combined buildings and contents cover.
The offer lasts until 31st July and the discount will be applied for a second year, if the policies are renewed jointly. New customers can save an additional 10% on the first year’s premium by applying […]
FSA dissatisfied with insurance comparison websites
by Gill Montia
Story link: FSA dissatisfied with insurance comparison websites
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has completed a review of insurance comparison websites and concluded that some are misleading consumers by not providing clear and accurate information.
In its report, the regulator states that only a small number of insurance sites provide a full list of policy features and that in the majority of cases, consumers […]
CETA promotes identity theft insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: CETA promotes identity theft insurance
CETA, the 4,000 strong network of insurance intermediaries, is urging its brokers to promote identity theft insurance.
The risk of this type of fraud is increasing for UK consumers; losses from plastic cards used for Internet, telephone and mail purchases totalled £290.5 million in 2007, although CETA believes the figure could be much higher.
While the crime […]
Homeowners prefer shopping online for insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Homeowners prefer shopping online for insurance
Research conducted by Global Reviews has found that browsing and purchasing home insurance online is preferred by homeowners.
The survey involved a thousand respondents.
However, the customer experience benchmarking firm also discovered that a large number of online home insurer websites did not offer the service that was being sought, and that as a result, the industry […]
Homeowners need to guard against burglary
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Homeowners need to guard against burglary
A survey carried out by Zurich Insurance has revealed that homeowners are not doing enough to protect themselves against burglary.
Of the 1,000 surveyed, 10% stated they had broken into their own property, with 32% claiming they would be able to do so.
Two-thirds of those who had broken in had managed to do so in under […]
Amateur chefs bump up household claims
by Gill Montia
Story link: Amateur chefs bump up household claims
Esure, the online provider of home insurance, has noted a new trend in claims involving mishaps in the kitchen.
Since celebrity chefs tried to educate the nation and the blow torch moved in alongside the potato masher, amateur chefs have been getting into trouble.
According to the research, 14% of those questioned had experienced an accident […]
AA: premiums not yet hit by flooding
by Richard Kilner
Story link: AA: premiums not yet hit by flooding
The widely tipped surge in cost of car and home insurance premiums has yet to appear, according to the AA British Insurance Premium Index.
Car insurance premiums rose by 6% over the course of a year, but most recently have recorded a modest decline.
The present average cost of comprehensive car insurance is £682, £37 higher than […]
A third of retirees move house
by Richard Kilner
Story link: A third of retirees move house
Almost a third of retired people are forced to move, according to new research conducted by Saga Home Insurance.
The home insurer believes that a strong reason behind the research’s findings is the soaring cost of living, with food and energy costs rising particularly quickly.
Saga also found that 38% of retirees discovered that their actual financial […]
£173m damage caused by DIY
by Richard Kilner
Story link: £173m damage caused by DIY
Halifax Home Insurance has conducted research which reveals that DIY causes £173m of damage to the homes of neighbours annually.
The research showed that 590,000 failed efforts at DIY caused some degree of damage to neighbouring properties, creating a typical bill that can run into hundreds of pounds.
The destruction varied from walls tumbling down to damage […]
Insurance costs more in Islington
by Gill Montia
Story link: Insurance costs more in Islington
A study by EMB, the actuarial consultancy, has concluded that the London borough of Islington has become the most expensive locality in the UK in which to insure possessions.
EMB has calculated the average annual combination of motor, buildings and contents premiums for the 10 “worst” and “best” places to live in the UK, in terms […]
ABI demands 25-year flood risk strategy
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI demands 25-year flood risk strategy
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published its Summer Floods 2007 report in which it calls on the Government to develop a 25-year strategy to manage flood risk in the UK.
The ABI believes the strategy should be the responsibility of a single national body, which should develop an investment programme and stronger planning controls.
The […]
Spike in burglaries expected as clocks spring forward
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Spike in burglaries expected as clocks spring forward
Saga has advised homeowners to be on their guard against burglary, as the rates of the crime rise during the period when the clocks go forward.
Paul Green, Saga’s communications chief, explained that the reasoning behind the crime increase is thought to be that lighter evenings make people feel more secure.
Green went on to say that […]
10,000 flood vicitms wait to return home
by Gill Montia
Story link: 10,000 flood vicitms wait to return home
Research on the victims of last summer’s floods by BBC’s Radio Five Live, asserts that over 10,000 people have not yet returned to their homes.
Figures from local authorities across England show that over 5,000 households remain in temporary accommodation but the actual number could be greater because the authorities may not be aware of all […]
