News

Coversure Andover appeared in the Andover Advertiser on Friday 5th February. Click here to see the article (pdf).

In the wake of the floods in Cumbria, Anoushka Lynes, managing director of Coversure in Andover, is urging homeowners and businesses to be prepared.

Most people have seen on TV news what devastation a flood can bring. Water is relentless, and if you are in its way, there is nothing you can do to hold it back.

If you are properly insured, you should be covered for the damage and repairs. When disaster strikes, Insurers are very quick to set up additional telephone lines and draft in staff to cope with the calls.

If you could be susceptible to this kind of damage, here are some tips to help you make a plan.

When the warning comes, you should be able to spring into action;

Keep important papers upstairs, and make sure your insurance documents are close to hand.

Keep a list of important phone numbers.

If you have a store of sandbags, keep them where it’s easy to reach them when you get the warning.

Locate any airbricks around the building. Lots of people sandbag doors and forget the other routes in. Have an emergency pack ready. Include a torch, dry clothes, a flask, blankets, toiletries, first aid and water containers.

Make sure mobiles are fully charged. Have a plan, but be aware that safety comes first and that you should not take risks unnecessarily.

Here are a few things to have in your plan:

Turn off the electricity.

Look out for the elderly and vulnerable.

Make sure they are safe, and be prepared to call emergency services if you suspect they are in trouble.

Move important furniture upstairs or to a higher part of the building, especially electrical items.

If you have to evacuate, take care. Even a one foot deep current of water can knock you off your feet.

Insurance can be considerably more costly in high risk areas, so it can pay to use a broker to find the right cover.

After last year’s disappointing Summer when Insurance Companies spent a lot of time dealing with claims for floods and storm damage, it has come as a relief to see that some warm sunshine has heralded its arrival this year.

This unexpected turn of events has already seen us all scurrying into our gardens to light the first barbecues of the year and make a start on our borders, but have you ever given a second thought to the insurance cover that is available for your garden? When we think about contents insurance we tend to think about items in the house itself but many insurers offer additional cover under the contents section of their policies for items in or around the garden including patio furniture, mowers and even the plants themselves.

As always, not all insurers offer the same level of cover so, before you head out to your own little part of Britain this Summer, why not consult your local Coversure branch about home insurance and make sure that the cover you buy is the cover you need.

BIBA urges home insurance health check ahead of Bonfire Night

With bonfire night rapidly approaching, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association is warning homeowners and businesses to check that their homes are adequately covered for building and contents insurance before lighting a bonfire near their property or setting off any fireworks.

Every year, BIBA members receive calls for help from those caught out by bonfire and firework mishaps. All too often a simple health check on insurance policies could save thousands of pounds worth of property damage across the UK. Many people are hurt every year at this time from bonfire and firework-related injuries. They need to be careful to pay attention to safety precautions at all times, particularly where children are near or where they will be handling fireworks.

The most frequent claims related to the 5th November celebrations include:

• Shattered windows
• Garden damage
• Fire spreading to outbuildings or homes
• Personal Liability for injury to other parties e.g. guest or neighbours
• Theft from your home if it is left open for guests

Every homeowner or Bonfire Night party host should be checking their insurance to ensure they are sufficiently covered.

With families heading for the shops to buy Guy Fawkes-related merchandise in the coming days, Graeme Trudgill, Technical and Corporate Affairs Executive at BIBA, has warned:

“Too many people are putting themselves and their property at risk on Bonfire Night. We want everyone to enjoy themselves, but we do recommend they take all the necessary measures to insure against mishaps, and to cover themselves should anything go wrong, so that they’re not out of pocket.”

“Our advice is clear – don’t put yourself or your family at risk. Check you are properly covered by speaking to your insurance broker before you start, and always follow the Firework Safety Code. After all, 25% don’t have contents insurance. By taking these simple steps everyone will enjoy the night with peace of mind and without finding themselves in harms way.”

Coversure Insurance Services are members of the British Insurance Brokers Association – www.biba.org.uk; this article is reproduced here with their kind permission.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has called on all businesses to work with their insurance brokers to ensure that they maintain the appropriate level of cover during the credit crunch.

BIBA is concerned that budgetary pressures and the impact of recession may result in some firms reducing their levels of risk management or insurance cover. BIBA is warning that action taken to reduce costs, such as putting off maintenance of property and vehicles could expose businesses by reducing or invalidating their insurance cover.

BIBA has written to Business Minister Baroness Vadera, to ask for the Government’s support in raising the importance of maintaining appropriate levels of risk management and insurance cover during tough economic times.

Eric Galbraith, BIBA Chief Executive, commented: “In challenging market conditions and with the threat of recession, BIBA understands the pressure on all businesses to make cost savings. However, it is vital that all businesses take the appropriate steps to ensure they are protected and not breaking any condition or warranty on their insurance policy which could leave them exposed. Cost cutting, could ultimately be a false economy and businesses should work closely with their brokers.”

Coversure Insurance Services are members of the British Insurance Brokers Association – www.biba.org.uk; this article is reproduced here with their kind permission.