News

Last winter was one of the coldest this county had seen for over 30 years. The Met Office reported in the spring that the average temperature during the winter was approximately 1.5°C about 2°C lower than normal. With this in mind, it makes sense to ensure that you protect your property from server winter weather conditions.

High winds during autumn and winter can cause a lot of damage to your property. Ensure that your roof tiles are secure. This will minimise the change that you will experience water damage in the loft/roof space. Clear your gutters and drains regularly of leaves and dirt. A blocked gutter can cause overflow, resulting in flooding on the roof and ultimately damp problems. Check that sheds and other outbuildings are weather tight, these can often be overlooked, but it is quite common to keep expensive equipment in a shed or garage. You should ensure that any satellite dish or TV aerial is fixed securely to avoid damage. Gardening is no fun in the winter, but don’t leave it unmaintained. A falling tree could cause a lot of damage your property or neighbours. Keep trees well maintained, remove dead or damaged branches and ensure they are not too near buildings and overhead cables. Maintain fence panels and gates, to prevent them from flying off in high winds.

It is not just the external parts of a property that needs attention during the winter period. Burst pipes and water damage are a common problem during the winter. As the temperatures drop, pipes can freeze and burst. Collapsed ceilings, damaged furniture and electrical appliances can be the result.

If visiting friends and family over the winter period, particularly over Christmas, don’t completely switch off your heating. While you may save some money on your heating bills, this is one of the main causes for frozen pipes. Instead leave you’re heating on a low temperature (e.g. 10°C) and you will substantially minimise the potential damage to your property. If leaving your property for a long period, simply turning off the water is not sufficient. There will still be a lot of water in the system, which can cause damage. Get a plumber to drain the water in the pipes and central heating system to remove the risk completely.

Your boilers and heating systems should also have annual check-up, to ensure they are safe and working properly. This will prevent them from breaking down while you are away, leading to frozen pipes. As well as ensuring your heating is left on and working properly, you should check your insulation levels, particularly in your cavity wall and loft insulation. You should also make sure that your pipes and tanks are well lagged.

Burglars are carried out during the Christmas period by opportunists as often a home is left empty, or your defences are down. Well secured entry points will discourage all but the most determined burglars.

Some insurers exclude risks such as theft and malicious damage after a property has been left unoccupied for so many days, or if security checks aren't followed. It is common for exclusions and restrictions to apply to home insurance. Ensure you understand your policy fully and your obligations regarding any security, heating and occupancy. For complete peace of mind, speak to a local insurance broker that will be able to provide advice and guidance on what insurance policy is best for you and help with any actions you should take to ensure you comply with your policy.

The Chancellor, George Osborne, announced in the latest spending review that spending next year on flood defences would be cut to £2bn over four years, as opposed to the last review where spending was set to £2.15bn over a shorter three year period.

According to the Parliaments website, the floods of 2007 were the biggest peacetime emergency we have had to deal with since WWII, and cost the insurance industry £3 billion.

Fortunately, following these floods an agreement was struck up between the Government and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to ensure that flood insurance remains widely available. This agreement is to remain in place until June 2013.

In the agreement members of the ABI have committed to continue to make flood insurance for domestic properties and small businesses available, providing the Environment Agency has announced plans and notified the ABI of its intention to reduce the risk for those customers at risk from flooding.

Despite the agreement, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) believes there are properties that will be excluded and the owners will need specialist advice from an insurance broker.

If nothing is done and a property cannot be insured, then it less likely to be mortgaged, making it very difficult to buy or sell, and causing huge financial difficulty if the property suffers a loss.

Coversure Insurance Services said “This agreement comes to an end in 2013; there is a real need for the Government and Insurance Industry to agree a long-term plan to combat the increased risk of flooding over the next few years”

“Even if your property is insured against flood damage, if you live in an area that is prone to flooding, it is a good idea to create your own plan of action, should a flood occur. Your plan should take into consideration actions to take before, during and after a flood has occurred and everyone in the household should be familiar with it”

You can find details on what steps to take, if you are prone to flooding in your area, on the Directgov website website in the section on “Preparing for a flood”.

- it’s the same thing, isn’t it?

Coversure Insurance Services highlights the important differences between a standard Household or Buildings Insurance policy and a specifically designed Property Owners or Landlords Insurance policy.

As many new property owners look to buy-to-let for various reasons, whether it be through necessity to help with mortgage payments or though choice in an attempt to get onto the property ladder it is important to ensure the correct insurance policy is taken out. By taking out a Property Owners policy, you will be covered for most normal eventualities covered by a standard Household policy including; buildings insurance, covering the fabric of your property against certain “perils” which will be described in your policy documents.

A standard Household policy will not cover you for your liability to other people using your property if they are injured or have their own property damaged due to your negligence. What’s worse, an ordinary household policy will usually contain clauses which will not cover you if the property is let out. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you have a policy specially aimed at a property which is let out. With a Property Owners policy, there are options to include rent guarantees and accidental damage cover. There are also normally options to insure the landlord’s possessions, and even the tenant’s possessions. Some policies even have an option to include legal advice and representations in disputes with your tenants.

Look out for restrictions in cover whilst the property is unoccupied. There are normally reduced levels of cover if your property is unoccupied for an extended period of time (e.g. 30 days). Also damage due to normal wear and tear or poor maintenance is likely to be excluded.

Don't forget that the amount you should insure is the cost of rebuilding, rather than the resale value of your property and if your property is near any kind of water, check that you have adequate cover against flooding. Some insurers will insure your property if you are in an area of flooding, but exclude damage due to floods.

For more information and/or advice on Property Owners or Landlords Insurance policies for buy-to-let properties, make sure you contact your local insurance broker.

Coversure urges local residents and businesses to look out for “Crash for Cash” scams locally.

The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) currently has 24 joint police operations up and down the country.”

According to the BBC, the IFB has said that approx. 30,000 accidents were intentionally caused last year. “Crash for Cash” scams cost insurers millions each year and add approx. £44 to the premium of every driver in the UK.

These scams often happen near roundabouts or on clear stretches of road. The scam works by the culprit slamming on the brakes in front of the victim’s car to ensure they have an accident. It has been known for fraudsters to purposefully disable their brake lights, use the hand brake and/or work in teams, using an accomplice to block in the victim in, making avoiding the crash practically impossible.

Sergeant Mark Beales, from Greater Manchester Police, provided insight to the BBC on how these fraudsters chose their victims. “What these fraudsters tend to pick on are people who are single mums or elderly people, people who are less likely to cause them any issues. They also target drivers of commercial vehicles, because drivers tend not to care as much if they're not driving their own vehicle,”

The IFB’s spokesperson, Glen Marr, said “We estimate there are around 30,000 staged accidents a year costing the insurance industry £350m and overall, fraud adds £44 to the insurance premium of every motorist – no matter what no claims bonus or safe driving record he or she may have.”

The phenomenon of staged accidents is certainly not a new one and according to the BBC News’ crime reporter, Ben Ando, up until now, these scams have predominantly happened in the north-west of England including Liverpool, Blackburn, Manchester and Leeds. However these scams appear to have caught on in other areas. Birmingham is now a hot spot for these scams and now London has made the top ten. As this scam catches on it could be likely that other areas of the UK become affected by this dangerous form of insurance fraud.

Coversure urges local residents to be extra vigilant when out on the road. “This kind of insurance fraud is particularly concerning for me as not only can the whole situation be terrifying for the victim, but also is highly dangerous. Unlike other types of insurance fraud, they are not just trying to get money for nothing; they are taking people’s lives in their hands”

It is very difficult to pre-empt these attacks as by their very nature, they take the victim by surprise. If you notice someone acting suspiciously while driving in front of you, slow down to increase the gap. Ensure your car is properly maintained, including your brakes and tyres, should you need to stop suddenly.

Should you be involved in a crash and the car involved was acting suspiciously, such as following you before the crash, already having their insurance details to hand or being full of people (often paid and used to support the fraudsters claim).

Whatever you do, do not challenge the other party there and then. For one, it may be a genuine accident and secondly if they are a criminal and feel threatened, they could become violent. Instead if you have your mobile phone to hand, try to take photos of the scene and ask anyone present if they are willing to be an independent witness.

Once they have gone contact your insurer or insurance broker and the police to alert them of your suspicions.

Regardless of whether you are a victim or not, if you suspect any insurance fraud call the IFB's cheat line on 0800 328 2550 or inform your local broker in confidence.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has raised concerns over the amount of Britons travelling abroad without adequate travel insurance in place.

Most people will have booked their summer holiday by now and may even have their travel insurance policy in place. That said, the Foreign Office is urging people to buy travel insurance and make sure they are fully covered.

“Helping out Britons is our job, but we can’t get you out of jail or pay your hospital bills”
Jeremy Browne, FCO

In many cases, travellers will not be covered for any “pre-existing” conditions. For instance, if suffering from epilepsy, cover will not extend to medical costs incurred for care in the event of an epileptic fit. This also applies to compensation for cancellation. Cover for cancellation of holidays is often not valid if, for instance, a close relative has cancer at the time at which the policy is taken out and dies just before the holiday. These insurance issues can often just add to an already very traumatic time.

Unless the policy specifies it, cover does not often extend to injury incurred if participating in a “dangerous” sport whilst away on holiday. The definition of “dangerous” will depend on the insurer and travellers should check their policy carefully.

Not only are there limits on what can be claimed for, but often there will be limits on the amounts that individuals may claim on all sections of the policy and they may find they are liable to pay the first £50 or more of any claim, known as the “excess”. There will also be a limit on the amount that can be claimed for a single item. This might be as low as £300. However, these types of valuables will be covered on a household contents policy if taken out with “all risks” insurance.

People failing to declare pre-existing medical and other conditions of their holiday is often a problem when making an insurance claim according to the Foreign Office. This leads to many complaints. The Finance Ombudsman have stated before that complaints about travel insurance account for around 1 in 8 of their cases. But ultimately, no amount of complaining takes away the pain and suffering felt by so many Britons stranded abroad or presented with large medical bills after a holiday.

In the annual report, British Behaviour Abroad, it is documented that 3,689 Britons were hospitalised abroad this year. What’s more the Association of British Insurers have stated that medical treatment costs are up 33% compared with five years ago and now account for 60% of all claims paid by travel insurers.

Jeremy Browne, Minister of the FCO said “This report shines a light on the number of Britons who get into difficulty each year. The worrying fact is that so many of these situations are preventable. Helping out Britons is our job, but we can’t get you out of jail or pay your hospital bills”.

Many of these Britons would not have had these problems had they adequate travel insurance in place before they left. Mr. Browne suggests people prepare properly for their trips and emphasises the importance of arranging appropriate travel insurance.

A spokesperson from local insurance broker, Coversure said “Travel insurance is very often an afterthought when planning a holiday. It is understandable; booking your holiday is an enjoyable and exciting time. The last thing you want to be doing is spending time making sure that you have the right cover in place.”

“Many people don’t realise that there are some very significant differences between travel insurance policies. They are not all alike. I would advice residents to contact their local insurance broker for expert advice on which single trip or annual travel insurance policy is right for them.”

The table below shows British nationals needing consular help while on holiday:

Source: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)

A report last week from the Association of British Insurers reveals that the industry detected 33,000 fraudulent motor insurance claims last year, compared with 28,000 in the previous year. With bogus claims leading to car insurance premiums soaring at a record rate, Coversure gives the low down on how good drivers can secure vastly lower premiums by agreeing to credit check scoring.

Fraudsters out on the road prey on good drivers who are insured. Scams such as slamming on the brakes suddenly at roundabouts or traffic lights lead to an insurance claim from the innocent driver behind who pays the fraudster for exaggerated whiplash injuries and repairs. This, along with other drivers’ inflated claims after genuine accidents, is forcing insurance companies to increase their premiums to cover costs.

A report from the AA earlier this week showed that the average comprehensive policy now costs 30% more than last year. There was a rise from £538 to £704 and it is believed that this will continue to increase! On Friday, Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said: “Our honest customers rightly object to having to pay higher premiums to subsidise the fraudulent minority, which is why insurers continue to up their game in the war on the cheats.”

The AA fears that the soaring cost of car insurance may lead to many drivers unable to afford cover, leading to more uninsured drivers than ever. Uninsured drivers cost insurance companies millions of pounds every year and an increase in numbers could lead to insurance premiums spiralling out of control. Already around one million motorists do not have insurance, which is thought to cost insurers around £500million a year.

“I believe that insurance companies have an obligation to drivers to stop this car insurance crisis.” says a Coversure spokesperson “With permission, some brokers are starting to check databases such as The Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), The Motor Insurance Database (MID) and credit agencies such as Experian so that they can secure good drivers much lower premiums.” Using this sophisticated rating system which uses credit scoring information from third party companies such as the DVLA & Experian, some clients have found that they are eligible to pay 35% less on their premium.

It is understandable that good drivers don’t want to pick up the bill for these fraudsters, but it is very important to make sure you have the right cover when out on the road.

Any respectable broker will want to reward good drivers and want to insure them. These credit dependent policies are new and still exclusive, but if you find a good broker then they will be able to provide the scheme.

Ahead of the local schools breaking up, Coversure Insurance Services urges diligence by local residents this summer.

For most people the arrival of the summer means summer holidays, endless barbecues and this year the World Cup. However, for criminals the summer suggests one thing; an opportunity. With millions of Brits planning on going on holiday this year, how do you keep your home safe while you’re away?

According to Mark Hughes, Crime Correspondent of the Independent, this summer should see crime down on previous years, due to the World Cup. However, with a burglary happening every 37 seconds and over 1 million burglaries a year, this is no reason to become complacent. You should take every precaution you can to secure your home and protect your possessions.

Lock all your windows and doors and double check each one

In 20% of burglaries the culprit doesn’t even have to use force, getting in through a window or unlocked door. Whilst this may seem one of the more obvious pieces of advice, it is one that is sometimes inadvertently overlooked. How many times have you been on holiday and thought did I checked that one solitary window on the landing that is rarely opened, is it locked? It is important to check every door and window that can be locked. Don’t make it easy for someone to break in.

Don’t forget your garden, garage and shed

Preoccupying yourself with your house can lead to neglecting your outbuildings and garden. Yet some very expensive equipment is normally kept in your garage or shed whilst on holiday, sometimes including: cars, bikes, a barbecue, tools and in many cases much, much more. In most cases a garage or shed will not be fitted with an alarm or even sufficient locks. You should treat these with the same courtesy you do your house.

What’s more some properties adjoin to their outhouses and these connecting doors are not often the same construction as a front door, back door or patio door. There is a good chance that a lot of burglars would enter from this way as the adjoining out house would provide added cover.

Set your burglar alarm

If you have a burglar alarm, remember to set it. That said, just having a burglar alarm is a deterrent in itself. Many burglars will want to take the easier option and even though an alarm is not an obstacle for an intruder, it can be seen as an unnecessary risk, drawing attention to their crime.

Hide your valuables

It sounds simple, but if you are going to be targeted, you don’t want to make it easy for them to steal your valuables. It may be wise to invest in a safe.

Turn your lights on and off

Not all burglaries are opportunistic. Many properties are subjected to surveillance before being targeted. If the lights in your house are not switched on during the evening, this would suggest that you have either decided to get an early night’s sleep or that you are not home. Over a prolonged period, it may be concluded that the property is vacant. To avoid this, either set some strategically positioned lamps throughout the house and set them on timer switches to come on at certain times in the evening or ask a close friend or relative to pop round every evening and switch on some lights.

Inform a close friend or relative

Let a close friend, neighbour or relative know that you going to be away and leave a key with them, if you can. Having someone behind looking after your home can be particularly useful, not just for feeding your animals, watering your plants and picking up your post; but they are also on hand for other things such as locking that window on the landing that you forgot and mowing your lawn another telltale sign of a vacant property.

Cancel your milk and papers

Many people forget to do this. A collection of milk bottles outside the front of your house will not only leave you with sour milk, but is a green flag for potential burglars searching for an opportunity. As is a newspaper only pushed half way through your letterbox. You could use a friend or neighbour to collect both your milk and papers along with you post.

Technology and your online activity

Social Networking is the “not so new, anymore” phenomena that has taken the world by storm. Facebook reported last month that there are more than 25 billion pieces of content shared on Facebook each month and Twitter reported that in March there were over 50 million Tweets on Twitter each day. According to Ofcom, approximately 80% of internet users in the UK use a Social Networking site. Many of them are used for keeping updated with friends and family. But be warned, recently Facebook was in the news, criticised about the complexity its privacy settings. These settings are now being simplified; however, you should still be careful who you are telling that you are on holiday, when using these networking sites. It is very easy to get excited about an approaching holiday. Updating your status and being quite open with your holiday plans is very tempting. Telling all your friends and family that you are excited about your holiday (for example by saying “Only 7 days to go until Simon and I are in sunny Gran Canaria”) could give an opportunist burglar viewing your profile all the information they need.

“Only 7 days to go until Simon and I are in sunny Gran Canaria”

Twitter even allows you to geo-tag your Tweets, meaning that the exact longitude and latitude details of your location are posted along with your Tweets. This feature is easily deactivated, by simply un-checking the box alongside the option in your account settings. However many people do not even realize the setting exists.

If you’re taking your SatNav with you on holiday, make sure you set your home location to your street rather than your exact address. Some suggest you should even set it to your local town centre or a local police station. You would suspect that most people should be able to find their way home from there. If your SatNav is stolen whilst on holiday, not only has the thief got an expensive and easily saleable item; but the knowledge that you’re on holiday, your home address and a handy little device to help them get there. You might as well invite them round.

Following these tips cannot guarantee to prevent your property from being burgled; however, they will act as deterrent and make it less likely that you are attacked. If you do find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having been burgled, inform the police immediately. If you want to talk about insurance, you should contact a reputable insurance broker.

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.