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Article Archives: from "Buying Breakdown Cover could be a way to save money", to "Insurance News in Brief: Michael Winner, Fred Goodwin and other animals". †
Buying Breakdown Cover could be a way to save money - 04.02.09
The AA estimates that in excess of £120 million has been paid out by over 2 million drivers for roadside assistance - money that was initially dismissed as an unnecessary expense.
Hard times have already seen thousands of drivers cut back on their annual services, in spite of the fact that without ... [Metasearch: Cancelling any insurance is a false economy]
Ever thought that crash you were in was a little suspicious? You might be right - 05.02.09
The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) estimates that since 1999 there have been around 22,500 'staged or induced' accidents, costing the industry an estimated £200 million a year. That's the equivalent of £50 added onto every motor insurance policy in the UK.
Last year an investigation by TV's Th ... [Metasearch: Crash for cash street scammers]
Financial Services Authority to ban single premium PPI sales - 25.02.09
The Financial Services Authority has acted upon recommendations from the Competition Commission and announced that banks, building societies, mortgage and credit card companies will be prohibited from offering payment protection insurance paid for by a single premium from 2010, due to its high cost and inflexi ... [Metasearch: Financial Services Authority to ban single premium PPI sales]
Specialist travel insurance for HIV any benefit or another gimmick? - 07.02.09
While most insurers offer travel insurance, very few provide specialist policies for travellers with medical conditions such as HIV.
We spoke to Martin Rothwell, managing partner for World-First Travel Insurance, and Kevin Drake, director of Its-so-easy Travel Insurance, who both specialise in worl ... [Metasearch: Travel insurance with a pre-existing condition]
Government can now check for insurance even if your car is just sitting in your garage - 21.02.09
The Department of Transport has revealed its intention to create new legislation, giving the Motor Insurance Bureau the right to cross-reference its records with the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency to find and punish people owning a vehicle without insurance. Under present laws, only those who actually drive v ... [Metasearch: Government can now check for insurance even if your car is just sitting in your garage]
Hundreds of vehicles seized as police clamp down on bad drivers - 18.02.09
According to recent media reports, it looks as if local police forces are sticking to their New Year's resolution of cracking down on uninsured drivers. And with uninsured drivers reportedly adding a whopping £50 to every car insurance policy in the country that's good news for you and me.
In Wales ... [Metasearch: Hundreds of vehicles seized as police clamp down on bad drivers]
Finally! Those idiots with the oversized exhausts could have their license taken away. - 10.02.09
Most modifications make a vehicle more attractive to thieves, let alone affect the handling and performance of the vehicle ... that's the point in most cases, isn't it? Boosting your engine by a couple of hundred horsepower is an obvious red flag, but many of you could be unaware of the extensive list of modif ... [Metasearch: Even the smallest car modifications can invalidate insurance]
Women-Only insurance generally doesn't save you money or give you any great benefits - 13.02.09
We checked with three insurers who offer specialist women driver insurance to see who really wears the trousers?
With Sheila's Wheels you get £300 handbag cover in the event of theft - not generally offered with non-specialist car insurance providers - and if you have a comprehensive policy you'll ... [Metasearch: Insurance for girls is also for men, so what's the point?]
£150+ of your insurance premium should never have been paid - 16.02.09
The AA estimates that for every £100 received, insurers are paying out £105 in claims, which represents a five percent shortfall. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) puts the total motor insurance net premiums for 2007 (written premiums less re-insurance premiums) at £10.5 billion, making that five per c ... [Metasearch: £150+ of your insurance premium should never have been paid]
Maybe if people would just die instead of getting injured, our insurance premiums would fall - 19.02.09
In recent years, we have seen the payouts for personal injuries escalate to almost US proportions with several multi-million pound settlements. But at least in the States, everyone gets the same ridiculous payouts. Who is getting the money over here:
£1.5 million awarded to Ruth Layton a ... [Metasearch: Hey, Michael Moore, why don't you try our compensation system next?]
"Insurance Premiums will rise!", "Oh no they won't!", "Oh yes they will!" - 19.02.09
If you read The Telegraph or The Daily Mirror you'd be forgiven for thinking it was inevitable that insurance premiums will rise across the board by up to 20% during 2009. But is it? All the adverts we've seen from insurers talk about savings, not more costs. NCD News investigated further, contacting insurers ... [Metasearch: Which insurers are planning on raising premiums this year?]
Your car is self-braking and has night-vision ... but no insurance discount? - 23.02.09
The Mercedes S Class boasts safety aspects such as the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) that serve to stabilise the vehicle when it is at risk of skidding and the Brake Assist Systems (BAS) that are able to reduce the stopping distance significantly in an emergency. There is also a Distronic system that no ... [Metasearch: Your car is self-braking and has night-vision ... but no insurance discount?]
Price comparison only may not be the best approach for flood-risk home insurance - 24.02.09
The plight of flood victims in the UK, particularly in Yorkshire, is still making the headlines long after the flooding has receded. An estimated 6,000 people are reportedly stranded in what The Guardian calls "Flood City", waiting for their housing to be restored. The media has been calling attention to the ... [Metasearch: Price comparison only may not be the best approach for flood-risk home insurance]
Jan-March may be time to switch insurers but will you save any money? - 25.02.09
When we recently reported on the likelihood of insurers raising premiums during 2009, almost all the companies we contacted advised us ... "Not at this time".
What they didn't tell us though, is that during the first quarter of the year there is a traditional industry scramble for mar ... [Metasearch: Jan-March may be time to switch insurers but will you save any money?]
6,500 cash-for-crashes staged every year - 26.02.09
Cash-for-crash scammers are conning insurance companies out of more than £200 million a year by duping innocent motorists in to fake car accidents.
The scammers lure other motorists to crash in to the back of their vehicles and then make inflated claims for damage and injuries
Each bogu ... [Metasearch: 6,500 cash-for-crashes staged every year]
What credit crunch? Insurers on a spending rampage - 27.02.09
Perhaps the only growing businesses at the moment are the hairdressers outside the major TV stations, as financial analysts of every description go for a quick trim just before their first telly appearance commenting on the latest financial debacle in the city.
As the majority of the world's big-na ... [Metasearch: What credit crunch? Insurers on a spending rampage]
While celebrities insure their legs, we should be insuring our whole bodies - 28.02.09
It is not unusual to read about celebrities taking out insurance on parts of their bodies. High-profile cases include the $8 million insurance policy on wine expert Ilya Gort's nose, and the $10 million policy with Lloyds of London on the smile of America Ferrara, of Ugly Betty.
News of this kind ... [Metasearch: While celebrities insure their legs, we should be insuring our whole bodies]
1 in 10 people leave their insurer over foreign call centres - 01.03.09
The poll displayed across the NoClaimsDiscount.co.uk website over the past several weeks has discovered that 11% of people said they left their last insurer because of their use of foreign call centres.
580 of you voted† on the question "Why are you leaving your current insurer?" which brough ... [Metasearch: 1 in 10 people leave their insurer over foreign call centres]
Trendy revamped insurers still behind the times on gay insurance - 02.03.09
The Equality Act of 2007 sought to end discrimination against gays applying for insurance in Britain. While insuring couples, companies are required to evaluate gay marriages (officially known as "civil partnerships") in exactly the same way as they would heterosexual ones. The Association of British Insurers ... [Metasearch: Trendy revamped insurers still behind the times on gay insurance]
Your Call is important to us ... you are number 34 in the queue ... - 03.03.09
You might think that with the all the problems in the world of commerce at the moment, businesses would be falling over themselves in a bid to answer your call and please you so you don't leave them. It seems ironic that the customer services arm of most businesses seems anything but that. A survey of UK consu ... [Metasearch: Your Call is important to us ... you are number 34 in the queue ...]
Decades of warnings yet winter burst pipe damage still increasing - 04.03.09
The country has experienced the coldest winter for many years and experts predict that these winters may become standard for the future. After last year's comparatively mild winter, many householders have become complacent in regards to their insurance cover. Unfortunately many have been caught out by burst pi ... [Metasearch: Decades of warnings yet winter burst pipe damage still increasing]
The CUE list: Don't even say the word "claim" to you insurer unless you mean it! - 07.03.09
Sally Dunshea suffered the misfortune of denting the front of her car when she backed out of her driveway. The damage itself was confined to the front left wing and although not very aesthetic, wasn't too severe. After ringing up Allianz, her insurance company to advise of the mishap, it was concluded that as ... [Metasearch: The CUE list: Don't even say the word "claim" to you insurer unless you mean it!]
101 ways an insurer can wiggle out of paying out for a claim - [Part 1] - 09.03.09
The majority of people, but not all, are aware that leaving their front door or car unlocked will result in any insurance claim being refused, but there are also a number of little-known and apparently trivial ways in which policyholders can invalidate their policies.
Not all home insurance policies ... [Metasearch: 101 ways an insurer can wiggle out of paying out for a claim]
Hands-free mobile chats should be banned according to Esure's customers - 10.03.09
The risks of driving while using a mobile phone have been very clearly communicated to drivers over the past few years and the punishments have been increased to reflect the seriousness of the issue. Hands free phone were thought to be the perfect solution but it appears that the distraction caused by the hand ... [Metasearch: Hands-free mobile chats should be banned according to Esure's customers]
Cutting insurance costs by any means - 11.03.09
As another year of cutting back begins, many people are trying many ways to reduce their insurance premiums. The "credit crunch" has hit people hard and that reluctance to spend is affecting the choices they make on their insurance products. Some opting to be frugal with their luxuries, some option to be fruga ... [Metasearch: Cutting insurance costs by any means]
You can't tax the rich if they don't live here anymore - 12.03.09
Insurance companies in the UK are facing increasing pressure to move their business bases overseas to avoid the heavy rate of Corporation tax levied in this country. With the credit crunch influencing their profits, many are seeing moving as a way of keeping their shareholders happy.
Despite pressur ... [Metasearch: You can't tax the rich if they don't live here anymore]
Insurers not exempt from Red Nose Day fun and fundraising - 13.03.09
It is that time of the year again when we don our silly wigs, shave our heads and put on large red noses. Yes it is Red Nose Day. With it being on Friday the 13th this year it feels like a good time to do something extra funny for money.
Offices around the country are having special events and insur ... [Metasearch: Insurers not exempt from Red Nose Day fun and fundraising]
You used an insurance comparison site last year, why not this year? - 16.03.09
Despite many years of internet use and the proliferation of comparison sites, it seems the message is not getting through to a huge section of society. Five million UK motorists claim they do not compare their insurance quotes before they buy, leading to a possible loss of up to £1billion per year.
... [Metasearch: You used an insurance comparison site last year, why not this year?]
Kick them when they're down: insurance premiums could rise if you lose your job - 16.03.09
It would be nice to think that the credit crunch is something that happens to other people with strange investments in Iceland or who have managed their money badly for years - wouldn't it? After all, if you work hard and save for a rainy day there should be nothing to worry about ... right?
With ba ... [Metasearch: Kick them when they're down: insurance premiums could rise if you lose your job]
New Compensation Scheme for Asbestos Sufferers - 18.03.09
Industrial Illness specialists have called for a new centralised compensation scheme to be introduced for victims of mesothelioma. It has been suggested that the UK needs a Government run Employers Liability Insurance Bureau (ELIB), which would work in a similar way to the Motor Insurance Bureau. The main diff ... [Metasearch: New Compensation Scheme for Asbestos Sufferers]
Finally, a real solution to cheaper young driver premiums AND better road safety - 18.03.09
Young male drivers in the UK are almost 10 times more likely to be involved in a serious accident than those aged 40-59 and a staggering 14 young drivers and passengers are killed each week. These are pretty sobering statistics and thanks to a new in-car gadget they may become a thing of the past.
T ... [Metasearch: Finally, a real solution to cheaper young driver premiums AND better road safety]
Don't drink and drive ... or walk, or work, or watch TV - 20.03.09
Driving is not the only thing you should avoid after drinking, it seems that walking, working, or sightseeing are no-no's too.
Many people in this country may be unaware that they could easily invalidate the terms of any insurance policy by just having a drink or two. Whether it is your trave ... [Metasearch: Don't drink and drive ... or walk, or work, or watch TV]
Pot-hole problem just keeps getting worse and Councils say they are out of cash - 21.03.09
Following recent bad weather and the resultant freezing and thawing of the road surface, potholes have become a major issue affecting councils up and down the country. Many councils have been faced with up to 5 times the normal number of potholes to repair and this is added to the backlog they have from previo ... [Metasearch: Pot-hole problem just keeps getting worse and Councils say they are out of cash]
Angelina Jolie's Life Insurance double Brad Pitts'? - 23.03.09
"Really?" We have no idea - and without the inclination to dig around in Ms Jolie and Mr Pitt's wheelie bins, we're unlikely to know any time soon. But don't be surprised if this headline pops up again in the near future with someone claiming to know. If an insurer and tabloid can get together to discuss Sa ... [Metasearch: Angelina Jolie's Life Insurance double Brad Pitts'?]
Insuring your Cosmetic Surgery: 1 in 20 procedures do go wrong - 24.03.09
It seems that, mainly thanks to TV, us Brits have caught the American cosmetic surgery bug and are going full steam ahead into areas where we seem to know very little. Many of us fail to do our research and end up with doctors who are not properly qualified and botched operations.
The industry is w ... [Metasearch: Insuring your Cosmetic Surgery: 1 in 20 procedures do go wrong]
Today's Insurance News in Brief: Jade Goody Takes, Barclays Gives and Brussels Spouts - 25.03.09
>>>>> An almost completely tactless press release by Legal and General who discussed the merits of life insurance for Mothers to co-incide with Mother's Day ... and the highly publicised death of Jade Goody. Whether intentional or simply co-incidental, it's unclear whether the timing of the rele ... [Metasearch: Today's Insurance News in Brief: Jade Goody Takes, Barclays Gives and Brussels Spouts]
Do you need to surgically implant your car keys into your hand? - 26.03.09
With rise of luxury cars and those fitted with anti-theft devices such as immobilisers and alarms, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of cars being stolen with the keys. This begs the question "will my insurance company pay out?".
Obviously, it is your responsibility to take all ... [Metasearch: Do you need to surgically implant your car keys into your hand?]
Today's Insurance News in Brief: Asbestos, Job Losses and Missing Husbands - 26.03.09
>>>>> The Association of British Insurers have been publicly critical of Scottish Parliament's decision to restore compensation to asbestos victims. The right to compensation for pleural plaques was scrapped in 2007 by the House of Lords ... you know, that group of people recently in the news ... [Metasearch: Today's Insurance News in Brief: Asbestos, Job Losses and Missing Husbands]
Lemsip and Cocaine are all the same to your insurer - 27.03.09
Many of us wouldn't think twice before getting in the car for that long drive to work, even if we had a really nasty cold. You have dosed your self up with flu remedy and had a couple of hot toddy's the previous night - so you'll be fine. But will you? If you are fit for work it doesn't necessarily mean you ar ... [Metasearch: Lemsip and Cocaine are all the same to your insurer]
Today's Insurance News in Brief: Funerals, Bureaucrats and Bumbling Norwich Union - 27.03.09
>>>>> Over the past year it's felt as though Norwich Union were deliberately trying to sabotage themselves prior to their upcoming deletion ... and the embarrassments just keep coming. Thousands of Royal Bank of Scotland customers received demands for money from Norwich Union for mortgage prot ... [Metasearch: Today's Insurance News in Brief: Funerals, Bureaucrats and Bumbling Norwich Union]
In hard times people are becoming more inventive to get an insurance bail out - 27.03.09
Insurers are suffering a double whammy as the worsening credit crunch causes premium income to fall while claims are on the increase. And with the number of fraudulent claims rising, no sector of the industry seems immune.
Travel insurance is particularly badly affected with people often booking th ... [Metasearch: In hard times people are becoming more inventive to get an insurance bail out]
Today's Insurance News in Brief: Dangerous Sofas, Dodgy Insurers and the Doddering NHS - 28.03.09
Sorry that it's not so "brief" today, quite a busy day considering we're heading into the weekend:
>>>>> The £10million in compensation estimated to be heading to victims of dangerous China-made leather sofas sold by companies such as Argos and Homebase may not be reaching any of La ... [Metasearch: Today's Insurance News in Brief: Dangerous Sofas, Dodgy Insurers and the Doddering NHS]
Insurance fraud might make money now, but you'll pay later - 30.03.09
With the credit crunch still looming large in the headlines and on peoples minds, many of us are looking to ways we can save money. Unfortunately for a significant number of people, insurance fraud is seen as an easy and victimless way of saving a few pounds.
Whether it is mere misrepresentation or ... [Metasearch: Insurance fraud might make money now, but you'll pay later]
Insurance News in Brief: Tesco, Horses and Lawyers let loose on Britain - 30.03.09
>>>>> Blackpool, Coventry and Brislington are due to be the launching points for the new Tesco Banks. 30 Tesco supermarkets are earmarked to have bank facilities built in to capitalise on their already extensive financial product range with home, car and pet insurance already complimented with ... [Metasearch: Insurance News in Brief: Tesco, Horses and Lawyers let loose on Britain]
Flat rate for insurance whether you're aged 17, 40 or 90 - 31.03.09
The Equality Bill is due to come before Parliament and the insurance industry, in particular the Association of British Insurers (ABI), seems to have been thrown into a panic at the prospect. With ageism already illegal in the workplace, the aim of this legislation is to get rid of age discrimination in respec ... [Metasearch: Flat rate for insurance whether you're aged 17, 40 or 90]
As Norwich Union prepares to be deleted, how is Aviva's PR exercise going? - 31.03.09
The Norwich Union name, which has been around since 1797, now has a matter of only weeks to go with the multi-million pound deletion by Aviva due to take place in June. The reason put forward for the change is that the insurer has simply outgrown the name, especially since combining with Commercial Union and G ... [Metasearch: As Norwich Union prepares to be deleted, how is Aviva's PR exercise going?]
Dear Michael Moore - We agree the NHS is a great idea, we disagree that it works - 01.04.09
Experts have predicted that negligence payouts by the NHS are set to increase by 80% in the next year. This is a shocking statistic which has been blamed on the increase in compensation and no win no fee type claims. The Conservatives have stated this month, that NHS Trusts have set aside £713m for this yea ... [Metasearch: Lawyer's suits a larger expense to the NHS than hip replacements?]
Insurance News in Brief: Monopolies, Terrorists and another way to lose your Home - 01.04.09
>>>>> Nationwide Building Society, already the largest in the UK, will be allowed to purchase Dunfermline Building Society's retail and wholesale deposits, branches, head office and some of the Scottish mutual's residential mortgages. The monopolising move by Nationwide will mean that all of Dunferml ... [Metasearch: Insurance News in Brief: Monopolies, Terrorists and another way to lose your Home]
NoClaimsDiscount.co.uk's 2nd Free Insurance Winner Announced - Are you No.3? - 01.04.09
NoClaimsDiscount.co.uk provides thousands of consumers and industry professionals with insurance related news all year long. Now, they're helping out their readership during this tough financial period through a string of free insurance giveaways.
Those looking to be in with a chance can enter their ... [Metasearch: 2nd Free Insurance Winner Announced]
New Insurance Comparison Website Launched: or a very early April fools - 02.04.09
The traditional ways of buying insurance have changed dramatically over the years and a lot of this is down to comparison websites. Confused.com, moneysupermarket.com, comparethemarket.com and countless others all give you the opportunity to enter your details once only and get numerous quotations so you can c ... [Metasearch: New Insurance Comparison Website Launched]
Insurance News in Brief: Decievers, Hypocrites and Foreigners - 02.04.09
>>>>> World First Travel Insurance has stated that more than 25 per cent of travel operators fail to follow Financial Services Authority (FSA) guidelines regarding the sale of travel cover with some of the 400 reviewed even acting illegally. Three errors were highlighted as common: 1) the insurance c ... [Metasearch: Insurance News in Brief: Decievers, Hypocrites and Foreigners]
Legal and General's "Mums are worth £30,000+" figures are surely flawed? - 03.04.09
As a parent, a Mum is expected to carry out most of the household duties for the love of her family, but a major insurer has finally placed a price on all that work and it comes in at more than the man of the household often earns.
Legal and General have released the figures of their regular survey ... [Metasearch: Priceless]
Insurance News in Brief: "live, work, get ill, work, get very ill, work, die" - 04.04.09
>>>>> Apparently the phrase "live, work, die" will no longer describe existence for Brits. The new "live, work, get ill, work, get very ill, work, die" motto, though not as striking, will reflect conditions in the UK far better.
BUPA blames the increasing age of people still in work for th ... [Metasearch: Insurance News in Brief: "live, work, get ill, work, get very ill, work, die"]
Speed limit to be dropped to 50mph - 04.04.09
In a bid to save up to 250 lives a year and reduce carbon emissions, the government is planning to cut the national speed limit from 60 to 50 miles per hour on the majority of Britain's roads. The new limit, which could be introduced as early as 2010, will apply to all single carriageway roads although the 70 ... [Metasearch: More time and energy wasted]
Redundancy: Employees - how to sue your employer. Employers - how not to get sued - 05.04.09
Once again the credit crunch has hit insurers in the pocket. With an unprecedented rise in redundancies and small businesses ceasing trading, Hiscox has released figures indicating a threefold rise in claims relating to unfair dismissal.
Hiscox is a specialist insurer for small businesses, who are u ... [Metasearch: Everyone needs protection]
Warning to Insurance Comparison Sites - Accept Self-Regulation - 06.04.09
Although comparison sites may be relatively new, they have revolutionised the way that insurance and various other products are bought. Their big attraction is that busy people no longer need to spend hours trawling through information from various insurers in order to find the cover that's best for them. Inst ... [Metasearch: This Yellow Brick road was taken by claims management companies before you]
Insurance News in Brief: Claims, Claims, Claims! - 06.04.09
>>>>> The Telegraph have coined the phrase "staycation" to describe the fact that more people are staying in the UK for their holidays to save money. We really hope it does not catch on ... though it probably will, at those Bremner, Bird and Fortune type dinner parties ...
>>>>> ... [Metasearch: Insurance News in Brief: Claims, Claims, Claims!]
Insurance News in Brief: Pirates or Bad Drivers ... who is costing you more? - 08.04.09
>>>>> After the RAC released statistics stating that 1 in 10 accidents are caused by the driver being tired, Norwich Union has jumped on board to speak up for workers feeling pressured into working longer hours and driving whilst tired. With the news constantly displaying the thousands of job ... [Metasearch: Insurance News in Brief: Pirates or Bad Drivers ... who is costing you more?]
BNP join the ranks of David Cameron, Tony Blair and John McCain - 08.04.09
We have all seen the political ad campaigns with the cheesy song in the back ground. They are supposed to make us feel like the political party really are "down with the kids" or perhaps to spur on some sort patriotic fervour. Who knows ... but it has become apparent that not all political parties gain the cor ... [Metasearch: Or, how to make yourself the target of angry celebrities]
Insurance News in Brief: Michael Winner, Fred Goodwin and other animals - 09.04.09
>>>>> Sainsburys Insurance has announced their estimate that over half a million people have cancelled their life insurance policies to save money during the financial downturn. No insurer, no government body and no independent financial advisory service has ever recommended cutting insurance ... [Metasearch: Insurance News in Brief: Michael Winner, Fred Goodwin and other animals]
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