Uncategorized

That’s according to Richard Benyon, the minister in charge the natural environment.

With the twelve year agreement between the insurance industry and the government coming to an end, millions of homeowners will soon find themselves searching for competitive insurance to protect them from the danger of flood damage.

The agreement, known as the statement of principles, was agreed between the insurance industry and the previous government in 2000 and effectively obliged insurers to provide insurance to homeowners irrespective  of where they lived. The agreement bound the government to investing in flood defences and, while the Labour government invested heavily, the current government has significantly reduced its funding. The insurance industry has accused the government of reneging on its side of the agreement and as chosen to opt out of the agreement when it comes due for renewal next year.

We’re working hard to deliver a range of competitively priced flood insurance policies to our clients in time for the change so watch this space.

A new report has found that families in the UK are more likely to spend their cash on luxury items than spend on life insurance.

The report found that 21% o families saw their annual holiday as a priority for 2012…only 3% said the same thing about life insurance. Oddly, the research suggested that people saw mobile phone insurance as more important than critical illness cover and that people were more likely to buy an extended warranty for their TV than they were to buy income protection insurance.

With more wild weather in the way this week, householders are being warned that any claims for storm damage could be turned down if they don’t have the right insurance cover.

Many of the UK’s leading insurers have already reported high levels of claims activity brought about by last week’s high winds and damaging weather and are advising customers to check their cover levels prior to a new weather front hitting the UK later this week.

Most home insurance policies will cover damage that has been caused by the weather but there are some important and potentially expensive exclusions that consumers are being to warned to watch out for. Items that are out in the open, such as garden furniture, TV aerials, gates and fences are unlikely to be covered unless specifically mentioned on the policy. In addition, any items that are already damaged or loose are liable to be your own responsibility. This means things like roof tiles that have come loose or fence posts that are already broken.

In order to get ready for the oncoming winds, we advise our customers to do a a quick pre-storm check of the outside of their homes. Make sure that any loose objects in the garden have been secured and give us a call to ensure that your policy is up to date and valid for all the items you wish to cover.

Santa checks out his premium

It’s the end of another year and we’d like to take this opportunity to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

See you in 2012.

Winter certainly seems to have arrived and while safety is a year long concern, there are a number of things that sensible drivers need to do before the cold really hits.

In the spirit of an early Christmas we’ve taken the time to prepare a little checklist for our customers to help them stay safe in the cold.

TYRES: This should be a monthly check all year round – tread depth, tyre pressure and sidewall damage should all be carefully monitored. have a proper look at the spare too, it’s a legal requirement to keep that in good condition.

BATTERY: Battery capacity tends to drop with the temperature, it’s one of those things so it’s worth remembering if you have trouble starting up on a cold morning.

WINDSCREEN WIPERS: Are they leaving stripes across the screen? If so it’s time to replace them. It goes without saying that you’ll need them more in the winter so make sure they’re up to the task.

SCREENWASH: two things to bear in mind here, keeping it topped up (you use a lot more of this in the winter) and making sure it has a proper additive at the right concentration. You don’t want it to freeze.

FIRST AID KIT: Always have a first aid kit in your car for immediate assistance

FUEL: Try not to let your fuel levels drop too much as this can lead to ice forming in the tank and fuel lines. It’s also not much fun being out of fuel in the snow.

BODYWORK: Obviously your car will need to be cleaned more frequently in the winter, it gets dirtier. Salt and dirt builds up and can impact on visibility. Check for chips too as rust sets in more aggressively in cold, damp conditions.

HEADLIGHTS: Another thing you use a lot more in the winter so ensure they are clean and free from dirt.

DESPERATE MEASURES: It happened a lot last year, people gettng stranded for hours at a time. If you do have to spend the night in your car you’ll be extremely glad you packed a hat, scarf, coat, blanket, duvet…Food too, keep something in the glovebox, a bar of chocolate and a sandwich – you may need it.

AND FINALLY If the weather is looking really bad ask yourself – is your journey really necessary? If you absolutely have to head out, take a shovel and make sure your mobile is charged. If you must drive in wintry conditions, don’t forget to adjust your driving style to the weather and road conditions.

Keep your distance and don’t unnecessarily change lanes. Stay at ample distance from gritters and snow ploughs. When its raining stay alert because temperatures rise just above zero degrees, but the road surface will remain cold and the rain can turn to ice.

Stay safe.