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Winter sports enthusiasts have been warned to check that their insurance policies adequately cover them for all of their likely activities when abroad.

The warning comes from the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), who have also published a checklist for holidaymakers to complete before they head for the slopes in 2007.

BIBA is concerned that one in seven holiday makers has no travel insurance at all, and with over a million heading for the slopes this winter, hundreds of thousands could be putting themselves at risk.

The BIBA checklist includes:

1. Have you ensured that your travel insurance policy covers winter sports?
2. Are you putting yourself at risk by relying on credit card insurance policies or similar travel insurance products?
3. Are you just relying on your free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)? As many clinics on the slopes are private.
4. Have you checked with your insurance broker that your insurance adequately covers any potential activity while on the slopes? E.g. If you ski off piste should you be accompanied by a guide?
5. Make sure that you obtain a travel insurance quote from a broker as many insurance policies from tour operators and travel agents are tied to one insurer, are expensive, often exclude terrorism cover and have high or multiple excesses.

Many people come home injured from winter sports holidays each year. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has listed ski-slopes amongst its top five locations where injuries are most likely to occur.

The basic cost of treatment for a broken wrist in Europe is £3,000 and contrary to popular belief the EHIC card does not ensure free medical attention in all cases. If you need to be airlifted from a mountain or flown home in an air ambulance you can be looking at a bill of tens of thousands of pounds. The vast majority of ski slopes in EEC countries have no public healthcare available. In France, even for a broken arm or leg you will normally be treated in the resort where the piste rescue, doctor, ambulance and pharmacy are all separate organisations and all privately owned, so you cannot use your EHIC card.

Graeme Trudgill, Technical Services Manager at BIBA, has warned:

“We estimate that millions will be heading to the slopes this season and too many of these will be putting themselves at risk by travelling without adequate travel insurance cover or no cover at all. We want everyone to be able to enjoy their holidays with peace of mind, and we want to ensure that if anything should go wrong they have the appropriate level of care, and won’t be left out of pocket.

“Winter sports are renowned to be some of the most dangerous, and we believe that many skiers and snowboarders are leaving the UK without adequate cover or no cover at all.

“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 set off.”

The Foreign Office estimates that if you aren’t adequately prepared for your holiday it could end up costing you:

• £600 for two days in a general ward – Mediterranean
• £400–600 for Gastro-enteritis – Mediterranean
• £10,000 for a broken leg – USA
• £20,000–30,000 for a heart attack – USA
• £15,000 for bronchitis requiring seven days inpatient treatment, Far East
• £20,000 for bronchitis requiring seven days in-patient treatment, USA

And the cost of repatriation to the UK if you don’t have the correct travel insurance:

• £30–35,000 Air ambulance (Jet) – East coast of USA
• £12–16,000 Air ambulance (Jet) – Canaries
• £10–12,000 Air ambulance (turbo-prop) – Balearics
• £1,200–3,000 Air taxi (propeller driven light aircraft) – Northern France
• £15–20,000 Scheduled flight, stretcher and Doctor escort – Australia
• £9–12,000 Scheduled flight, seated club, with a nurse escort – West coast of USA
• £1,800–4,000 Scheduled flight, seated economy with a Doctor escort – Mediterranean
• £100-£800 Scheduled flight, seated economy without an escort – Mediterranean
• £3,000-£6,000 Scheduled flight, stretcher and Doctor escort – Mediterranean

Further travel insurance advice from the Foreign Office can be accessed online here.

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

Remember; remember… to check your insurance ahead of Bonfire Night
With Bonfire Night only a month away, the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) is warning homeowners to double check their insurance cover before lighting a bonfire near their property or setting off any fireworks.

The warning comes because every bonfire night sees thousands of pounds worth of property damage occurring across the UK as a direct result of the misuse of fireworks or a failure to properly supervise or control bonfires.

Government figures show that in 2005 fireworks injured nearly one thousand people in the four-week period in October and November that covers Bonfire Night. The figures, found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/…ile30136.pdf, show that the North West, the South East and the North and Yorkshire regions are the UK’s danger spots for firework injuries.

The figures show the following regional breakdown for the number of firework injuries in 2005 (during the same four week period):

North Western – 179
North & Yorkshire – 131
South East – 131
Trent – 121
Scotland – 93
West Midlands – 89
Wales – 69
Greater London – 65
Eastern – 64
South & West – 49
Total – 991

The figures also show that the majority of accidents involving fireworks occur at home or in the immediate vicinity of houses – highlighting that insurance cover is a necessity. Without insurance, even a seemingly minor mishap could become a financial nightmare.

Every year sees a raft of insurance claims in the days following Bonfire Night. 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

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

Commenting, Graeme Trudgill, Technical Services Manager at BIBA, said:

"Too many people are putting themselves and their property at risk on Bonfire Night. We want everyone to enjoy themselves, but only after they have taken the necessary measures to insure against mishaps, and to cover themselves should anything go wrong.

“We strongly urge homeowners to check their property insurance cover with their local brokers to ensure they are covered, and to follow the Firework Safety Code. After all, 36% of UK homeowners don’t have building 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.

During April and May 2007 over 1,800 customers were invited to respond to a number of questions in relation to their dealings with and the service offered by Coversure Insurance Services. The survey was sent out to a wide range of customers, both male and female and aged 17 years old and upward. The survey asked customers to provide feedback on the service, advice and products purchased from Coversure, as well as an indication as to whether they would purchase another product through Coversure or recommend Coversure to their family and friends.

The results of the survey were very pleasing and encouraging, showing 96% of respondents were satisfied with the service/advice received from Coversure. Of this 96%, 72% were very satisfied indicating nearly three quarters of our customers are very satisfied with the service/advice received from Coversure.

In addition to this, 95% were satisfied with the policy that was recommended by Coversure, of which 58% were very satisfied. These figures indicate that the insurance needs of our customers are being assessed accurately and our sales staff are recommending the correct policy to meet their needs. Further to this, 99% of respondents said the product was explained properly and that they understood the product fully.

With the positive results seen above, it was no surprise to see that 98% of respondents would purchase another product through Coversure and 97% would recommend Coversure to their family and friends. This demonstrates that our customers are happy with both their policy and the service received. These are excellent findings as it indicates that customers must have a lot of faith in the products and service Coversure offer in order to put their reputation on the line and recommend Coversure to their family and friends. When asking the customers if they felt they had been treated fairly in their dealings with Coversure, 97% of respondents said they had been treated fairly.

The final question asked the customers to rate their overall dealings with Coversure, 96% of respondents rated their dealings with Coversure as good and 77% of these felt their dealings were very good. This is very impressive and expected in a way, given the results in the previous questions.

To conclude, the April/May 2007 Customer Satisfaction Survey results were very impressive and an improvement on the good results from last year’s survey. The survey shows how important it is to use customer feedback to continuously improve the products and service we offer customers. Over the last twenty years, we have worked exceptionally hard to ensure we have the right products and to give exceptional service to our customers and it’s always very pleasing and gratifying to receive such positive responses from our customers.

Following the release of the highly awaited British government report warning that global warming could have a disastrous effect on the world's economy, shrinking it by 20%, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has warned businesses to “wake up the very real threat of climate change”.

The warning comes after it was revealed by the respected economist Sir Nicolas Stern that tackling the problem now would require 1% of global gross domestic product.

BIBA is concerned that too many businesses in the UK, particularly small and medium sized operations, are failing to plan for the impact of climate change.

Climate change experts have consistently warned that Britain faces hotter, drier summers; milder, wetter winters; and an increasingly intensive frequency of extreme weather conditions.

As a result, an increasing number and severity of insurance claims is expected from UK businesses following flood, subsidence and storm damage.

Yet far too few businesses are taking action to prepare and insure for such changes.

Commenting, Steve Foulsham, Technical Services Officer at BIBA, said: “It is absolutely vital that businesses wake up to the very real threat of climate change, particularly from flooding at this time of year.

“There can be no excuse for ignoring what the experts are saying.

“I strongly urge all businesses to get ‘climate change wise’ and to speak to their insurance broker as a matter of urgency. Take sensible steps to protect your business and employees, and to properly insure yourself so you are covered should the worst happen.”

All businesses, via their insurance brokers, need to be prepared by adapting their risk management procedures and business resilience plans now.

For instance, some quick tips that businesses should consider include:

• Regularly testing their Business Continuity plan to ensure it will operate in the event of a disaster
• Ensuring business stock is not stored directly on the floor but raised at least 6 inches onto racking or pallets (to combat flooding)
• Discussing the adequacy of sums insured and extent of insurance cover with their broker
• Moving IT Servers from ground floor to a first floor location where appropriate (to combat flooding)
• Engaging with regional climate change groups to provide access to expertise

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

Campaign launched to encourage SMEs to ensure their businesses and employees are protected in the event of an emergency

New independent research, commissioned by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), has revealed that millions of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK are failing to protect themselves and their employees in the event of emergencies such as fire, flood or an act of terrorism.

As a result, BIBA has launched a high profile campaign to encourage SMEs to get serious about business continuity, the practice of ensuring that businesses are protected in the event of an emergency. The campaign is being backed by politicians from all parties.

Government figures suggest nearly one in five businesses suffers a major disruption every year. Further research suggests 80% of businesses affected by a major incident close down within 18 months, and 90% of those who lose their data are forced to close down within two years.

Small enterprises in particular suffer severe financial loss if closures prevent or restrict trading over a period of weeks or even months. In research conducted by Populus, figures show that alarming numbers of SMEs are not prepared to deal with sudden crises that jeopardise their business.

With approximately 4.3 million SMEs in the UK, employing around 12 million people, this sector is vital to the UK economy. Effective planning to deal with unexpected events makes good business sense – it ensures that a business is protected and can continue its essential operations in the aftermath of an emergency.

Commenting on the campaign and the new research, Eric Galbraith, Chief Executive of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association said:

“Our research reveals an incredibly worrying trend amongst the essential small business sector in the UK. Too many businesses are putting themselves and their employees’ futures at risk by failing to put in place proper continuity plans should the unexpected happen.

“Every business needs to be properly prepared for a worst case scenario. Small businesses are vital to the UK economy and we simply cannot afford for them to be complacent. I urge every business to urgently speak to their broker to ensure they are properly covered.”

Mike Penning MP, Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead who has been supporting constituents impacted as a result of the Buncefield oil depot fire in December 2005, has been a leading campaigner on the issue. This week he tabled an Early Day Motion supporting the campaign in Parliament. He commented:

“I strongly urge every business to double check that they have an adequate business continuity plan in place. There is a real threat that your business, and your employees’ jobs will be lost if you do not prepare for the unexpected.

“Buncefield was a prime example of something that no one expected causing heartache to thousands. I do not want to see anyone experience the lows that my constituents did in 2005 and urge all businesses to get serious about business continuity.”

Commenting on the importance of having a continuity plan in place, David Croucher, Home Affairs Chairman at the FSB said:

“Small businesses are particularly at risk from the impact of an unexpected event such as a flood or act of terrorism. It is not just the initial impact that does the damage, it is the period elapsed until the business gets back up and running again. A long period out of action can spell the end for many small businesses. As a result, the Federation of Small Businesses urges all firms to plan for the unexpected and to put in place proper continuity plans to protect their business and employees.”

Director of Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Bruce Mann recommends that all organisations have in place robust, flexible business continuity management arrangements. He said:

"From the Carlisle floods to the London bombings and the Buncefield explosion, incidents have shown clearly the vast range of impacts emergencies can have on organisations across all sectors, affecting profits and operations. This is bad for employees, shareholders, customers and communities.

“Good Business Continuity Management will ensure that the impact of any emergency on business will be minimised, and should help business recover quickly.”

Welcoming the campaign Patrick Mercer MP, Shadow Security Minister said:

“This research shows us that too many businesses have no contingency plans for disasters. The SME sector is vital to the UK economy, and it is essential that it takes every step possible to ensure that it is protected against the worst case scenario.

Events in recent years including the Carlisle floods, the Buncefield explosion and even the tornadoes in London have shown just how suddenly businesses can be hit.

I urge all SMEs to get real about business continuity planning now, and ensure that they are in a position to survive should the worst happen.”

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

BIBA urges homeowners to ensure that all improvements and renovations are covered by their insurance policies

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has urged everyone to make sure that their insurance policies cover all the improvements and renovations people will be making to their homes over the coming months.

The warning comes ahead of the UK’s busiest period for home improvements as recent research anticipates that £57 billion will be spent on home improvements over the next six months. UK consumers are estimated to spend on average £6,400 a year on their homes.

In 2006, UK consumers were estimated to have spent an average of £1,509 a year on trades people to work on their homes, with 1.2 million homeowners spending more than £10,000.

Peter Staddon, BIBA Head of Technical Services, commented:

“People should treat any improvements and renovations to their home as an investment, and should protect them as such. It is important that consumers talk to their broker to guarantee that any changes they have made are covered by their insurance cover. This is the best way to ensure they are treated fairly should anything go wrong.

“Home improvements can make a huge difference to the cost of our properties and quality of life. We save up all year so that we can afford to pay for this work, and it is vital that these changes are covered by our insurance policies.

“We are urging all homeowners to ensure that their home insurance policies are fully up to date including the correct sums insured and include all the improvements they will be making over the coming months.”

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

During April 2006 over 1,287 customers were asked a number of questions about their dealings with Coversure Insurance Services. The survey was sent out to both men and women over the age of 17 years old. The survey asked customers to provide feedback on the service, advice and policies received from Coversure as well as indications as to whether they would purchase another product through Coversure or recommend the company to their family and friends.

The results from survey were very promising, showing that 95% of the respondents were satisfied with the service/advice received from Coversure. Within this figure, 66% were very satisfied indicating that on average one in every two customers are very satisfied with the service/advice received from Coversure.

In addition to this 93% were satisfied with the policy recommended by Coversure, of which 57% were very satisfied. These figures indicate that the insurance needs of our clients are being assessed correctly and the right policy is being suggested by our sales staff.

With the positive results above it was no real surprise that 95% of respondents would purchase another product through Coversure and 97% would recommend the company to their family and friends, showing how happy they are with both the policy and service received. These are excellent findings as it indicates that customers must have a lot of faith in the products and services Coversure offer to put their reputation on line and recommend the company to their family and friends.

The final question in the survey asked customers to rate their overall dealings with Coversure and 94% of respondents rated their dealings with Coversure as good, of which 66% were very good. This was very impressive and expected in a way, as the other questions have had such a good response.

In conclusion the 2006 Customer Satisfaction Survey results were very impressive and show how important it is to use customer feedback to continuously improve the products and service we offer clients. Over the last twenty years, we have worked extremely hard building the right products and service for our customers and it’s always very pleasing and rewarding to receive such positive responses from our clients.

High-level negotiations have culminated in Coversure being appointed as insurance providers to the National Hairdressers Federation (NHF).

Formed in 1942, the NHF is the largest organisation representing salon owners in the UK with over 6000 members who between them own over 10,000 salons. The NHF is open to all salon owners and self employed hairdressers and beauticians working within a salon.

Since the 1st April 2005 a dedicated affinity division located at Coversure’s Huntingdon Head Office has provided a complete outsourcing service to the NHF giving members access to a full suite of insurance products approved by the Federation.

Commenting on the arrangement, Ray Seymour, General Secretary of the National Hairdressers Federation said, “We are delighted with this new arrangement which will provide a professional service to our members and allow us the freedom to concentrate on our core activities.”

Mike Stephenson, Head Of Commercial Operations at Coversure stated, “We are very pleased to be associated with the NHF, this new partnership is an exciting prospect with huge potential for both parties. The expansion of our affinity business will also increase our profile within the industry which will be beneficial to all group activities.”

Salon and liability products will be underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance who have held the NHF account for some years and Paul Horsely, Sales and Marketing Manager for R&SA commented, “We have a long established relationship with the National Hairdressers Federation and we welcome the opportunity to work with the Coversure Group on it’s future development”.

With the recent reports in the media about the rising costs of running a car, nationwide insurance group, Coversure Insurance Services, has announced that over the last 12 months they have managed to reduce motoring costs for their customers.

According to a report provided by software house, Datamatters Ltd, the average price paid for car insurance by a Coversure client this year is £388, which is over 5% cheaper compared to this time last year . This announcement comes at a time when the public is protesting about the rising fuel prices which is soaring to nearly £5 a gallon and the affect this is having on the overall cost of running a car.

Coversure’s Agency Director, Nick Hollands explains that, “We are really pleased with the latest findings by Datamatters especially at a time when the public are unhappy about the ever increasing motoring costs.”

“We have worked extremely hard over the last year trying to reduce the cost of motor insurance for our customers and we are really happy that they can now start reaping the benefits. Although there is little we can do about the high fuel costs we hope this saving will take some of the financial pressure associated with running a car away from our customers,” said Nick.

He added “With a large number of insurance companies transferring their telesales to call centres overseas to remain competitive in the marketplace, these figures show that Coversure is once againbucking the trend and proving that the high street broker is still very competitive in the motor insurance market.”

Despite reports to the contrary in the national press and on television during the past few days local insurance broker Coversure Insurance Services is keen to re-assure customers that regulation of the general insurance industry by the Financial Services Authority will not result directly in price increases.

“The new regulatory regime, which began on 14 th January, will help customers to compare products on a like for like basis and ensure that they receive an even greater degree of protection than before” says Carole Burgess proprietor of Coversure’s office in Heywood, Greater Manchester.

“For Insurance Brokers like ourselves this means a great deal more work but I think customers will be impressed by the amount of useful information that they receive from us even if they simply require a quotation. We have no intention at all of increasing our prices as a result, although we have no control over the premiums charged by the Insurers themselves.

“The most noticeable change for customers will be that the less scrupulous brokers will eventually be weeded out and the industry will be stronger as a result. Our customers now have a number of options when it comes to buying insurance for their cars homes and businesses and it is important that they know who they are dealing with and where they are based, something that the new regulatory regime will address. They may think they are talking to their local supermarket but it is just as likely that they are talking to a call centre in India!

“Many Insurance Companies based in Greater Manchester have closed or, like CIS, are closing their local offices. It is important for some members of the public to be able to pay premiums in cash and pick up their insurance documentation there and then.

Local insurance brokers like Coversure are able to provide this service and the existence of FSA regulation helps to reassure customers that they are dealing with a firm every bit as professional as those with a higher profile and large advertising budget.