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George Stobbart

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Settling personal injury claims costs on the rise, insurance fraud and uninsured driving is what makes cost of motor insurance rise.

The ABI and our members are working to reduce legal costs, which add 10% to the cost of motor insurance premiums, and cracking down on fraudulent claims and uninsured driving.

Following these tips can help you cut the cost of your motor insurance.

1.    Shop around. Motor insurance remains competitive, with premium rates varying between companies. So it is often worthwhile to get quotes from different insurers, using an insurance broker, or a comparison website. But make sure that you don’t just buy on price, but on the policy that meets your needs, and if buying online check the details of the cover.

2.    Make your vehicle  secure. Premium discounts are often available if you have an approved alarm or immobiliser fitted – an insurer can advise on suitable security devices. And having your car garaged overnight may also reduce the cost as well.

3.    Pay a higher voluntary excess. Increasing you excess (the first part of any claim that you pay yourself) can mean you pay a lower premium.

4.    Limit the vehicle’s use. Using your vehicle in connection with any business pushes up the cost so, if you can, limit use to social, domestic and pleasure purposes.

5.    If you are a young driver, consider taking the Pass Plus course, as some insurers may offer lower premiums if you complete the course.

6.    Pay the premium in one go. If you can afford to, pay the premium upfront in one go as  you may be charged more if you pay by instalments.

7.    Choose a lower powered car. If you change your vehicle, think about the insurance. Insurers take into account a vehicle’s engine size, so a lower engine size will mean a lower premium.

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The Financial Services Authority has ordered an inquiry into Prudential’s bid for Asian rival AIA, which collapsed last year leaving its shareholders with a £377m bill.

Pru officially called a halt to the ambitious $35.3bn (£21.3bn) deal in June last year after a series of embarrassing setbacks, shareholder opposition and stock market turbulence.

The City regulator has now told the Pru to commission lawyers to analyse the advice that the insurer was given by its investment bankers at Credit Suisse, JP Morgan and HSBC.

The FSA used its so-called “Section 166” powers to demand that Pru appoint a “skilled persons report”, which will be paid for by the insurer, but have its information shared with the regulator. Pru has appointed lawyers at Clifford Chance.

None of the parties involved, including the FSA and the Pru, would comment.

Such Section 166 reports can be used as the basis for any disciplinary measures that the regulator feels are necessary – but can also be used to rule out the need for any potential action.

The FSA has been commissioning more Section 166 reports as part of its efforts to be more intrusive, following the criticism it received following the banking crisis. Last year it commissioned 140 such reports, up from 88 the previous year and around the 50 the year before that.

From the moment the deal was leaked in March it was greeted sceptically by investors in the Pru, which needed to tap its shareholders for £13.5bn of cash to fund the deal.

But it took Pru two months to produce the full financial details behind the transaction and then incurred regulatory delay when the FSA questioned whether the enlarged group would have enough capital to withstand stressful market conditions.

Tidjane Thiam, the chief executive, had £50,000 docked from his bonus for 2010 as a penalty for the anger created among shareholders for the botched deal. His total pay deal still totalled £5m.

AIA was the Asian arm of the troubled US insurer AIG, which refused to lower the price to enable Pru to continue with the deal and eventually floated the business in Hong Kong.

In an unexpected twist in the failed takeover battle, Mark Tucker was appointed chief executive of AIA in July last year. Tucker was chief executive of the Pru immediately before Thiam, who had previously been finance director of the Pru.

Source : Guardian

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Aon Benfield today releases the latest edition of its Fac Quarterly report, which provides an analysis of trends witnessed in the facultative reinsurance market during the first quarter of 2011.

The report, compiled by Aon Benfield Fac, the firm’s facultative reinsurance division, reveals that Q1 2011 was the worst quarter ever for the facultative reinsurance market in terms of loss experience.

Notable Q1 events included natural hazards such as the Australian floods, Cyclone Yasi, and the New Zealand and Japanese earthquakes, and man-made losses such as the Gryphon vessel and Glory satellite.

The report highlights that ten large market losses exceeded USD50 million during the quarter, compared with 13 during the 2010 period. However, despite this lower frequency, individual events were markedly more costly to reinsurers.

This high level of loss activity has reversed the trend towards facultative rate reductions seen during 2010, leading to the potential of increased pricing in the most impacted territories during 2011.

Total re/insured losses are expected to breach USD52.6bn for Q1 2011, compared with a total loss experience of USD40.6bn for the whole of 2010.

Elliot Richardson, Chief Executive Officer of Aon Benfield Fac, said: “The first quarter of the year saw a series of unprecedented global losses to the insurance and reinsurance markets, and our teams have been doing their utmost to ensure that the claims process is operating efficiently so that relief efforts in these territories can continue apace. We expect that rate rises will now be seen in affected territories as well as other catastrophe exposed areas. However, it is still too early to correctly state the amount. Early signs are that US property cat rates are hardening, which is an indicator that it will not be contained to affected areas only. The same is also being seen in the onshore energy and power sectors.”

Stuart Beatty, Executive Managing Director of Aon Benfield Fac APAC, added: “There are many factors that will conspire to drive facultative rates during 2011, not least the heavy loss experience in the first quarter. Rates will be further impacted by the latest model release from catastrophe modeller RMS, the increased combined ratios that reinsurers have reported for 2010, and the effect of continued low investment returns on industry financial results. Despite this potentially more challenging environment, Aon Benfield Fac has the global resources to ensure that our clients can overcome all their business challenges.”

Source : Aon Press Release

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Legal Expenses Insurance (LEI) is a type of insurance which covers people and businesses for the potential costs of various kinds of legal action. When something happens to trigger the need for legal action, it is known as ‘the event’.

Broadly, there are two types of legal expenses insurance (LEI) – Before the Event (BTE) and After the Event (ATE) insurance.

Before the Event (BTE) insurance is taken out before the ‘event’ happens, and is usually sold as an add-on to an existing insurance policy such as household insurance. It is also available for car insurance and will cover any uninsured loss related to road traffic accidents. It is sold on personal and commercial terms. BTE insurance is paid on an annual basis, by paying a premium to an insurance company.

ATE insurance is only taken out once the ‘event’ has occurred to insure a person or business against the risk of losing their legal case. A policy is taken out for each claim.

BTE and ATE insurance are available for most areas of law (not criminal law).

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While travelling most of us enjoy a pleasant, trouble free trip.  Sadly though, it does happen that things just do not go as planned. That is basically why it is strongly recommended to travel with travel insurance.

Costs can amount incredibly when we are facing an unplanned event, would it be medical needs or the loss of important belongings.

These are just a few of the reasons why we cannot afford to travel abroad without being covered.

Good to be covered for :

– Cancellation cover

– Medical expenses and repatriation

– Lost and stolen possessions including hand luggage, money, passports and other belongings.

Good to know :

– It would seem that we tend to spend more than double the cost of an average single trip travel insurance policy on magazines and sweets at the airport

– The amount travel insurers paid out to policyholders totals  £407m in 2009

Travel insurance policyies are not all the same :

The Association of British Insurers has published a guide where we can find explanations for some of the common things that are often covered and perhaps more importantly some things which may not be covered.

No insurance policy can cover absolutely everything that might happen during a trip, but policies try to provide cover for the most common problems. Deciding what is important and checking if the policy considered provides the right level of cover for the holiday circumstances is a responsible act before leaving.

This will help to avoid any nasty surprises if you are unfortunate enough to have a claim.

The Association of British Insurers top tips :

– The cheapest price may also mean the least amount of cover

That is why it is important to check a policy meets your needs before you buy it and consider whether additional cover might be necessary.

– You must tell your insurer about your health history

If you declare your existing medical conditions your insurer will be able to confirm whether or not any claims relating to them can be covered. Cover may be free of charge or require payment of an additional premium. But if you do not tell your insurer about an existing condition they may not pay for medical treatment or the costs to get you home, and this will also invalidate your whole policy.

– Act responsibly at all times

Going on holiday is the perfect time to relax and have fun, but you should never take unnecessary risks. Insurers do not cover drink or drug-related incidents and leaving possessions, particularly valuable items, unattended will invalidate a claim.

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We all love our pets, take them on holiday and treat them with food that they just adore. What is also obvious is that we have a difficult time to anticipate the costs of their treatments when they are in poor health.

With unexpected treatment often costing hundreds of pounds, it is not surprising that some pet owners struggle to afford unplanned care for their pets. Pet insurance protects you against the unexpected costs when your pet needs treatment and can help your pet live a longer, healthier life.

Benefits of taking out pet insurance :

Pet insurance principally provides cover for veterinary fees if your pet is injured or becomes ill. However, other benefits may include:

– Third party liability cover if your dog injures someone or damages someone else’s property

– The purchase price of your pet if it is lost, stolen, or dies as a result of an injury or an illness before a certain age

– The cost of advertising a reward for the return of your lost or stolen pet, and the cost of the reward itself, if your pet is found or recovered, up to a set amount

– Paying the costs of looking after your pet if you have to go into hospital for emergency medical treatment

– The cost of your holiday if it is cancelled because your pet needs emergency surgery close to departure

– The cost of emergency veterinary treatment for your pet if you take it abroad under the Pet Travel Scheme

The cover provided by different products can vary considerably. If you are looking to take out pet insurance you should take care to choose the type of product and the level of cover to meet your needs.

 

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To help better choose travel insurance before going away this summer, the Association of British Insurers published a guide to make clear what is covered or not in standard travel insurance.

15 million people are expected to go on holiday abroad this year. Most travellers have trouble free trips. However, for those without insurance, if disaster strikes their trip could come to a costly end. Medical expenses, cancellation of flights, and lost baggage are just some of the things that go wrong, and they can all cost a lot of time, money and stress if appropriate travel insurance is not in place to help soften the financial blow. The ABI’s guide will help consumers better understand travel insurance policies so that they can purchase the right policy for their needs.

Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said:

“Last Summer UK residents spent over £18billion2 travelling abroad. However, some travellers do not see purchasing travel insurance as a necessity, or, when they come to purchase it they are confused by the different policies on offer. This guide points out what standard travel insurance policies will cover and why it is needed. Hopefully when consumers plan their next trip abroad this guide will help them choose the right policy.”

Rochelle Turner, Head of Research at Which? Travel said:

“Buying travel insurance can be really complicated, particularly for those with pre-existing medical conditions or those wanting more than just medical cover. Which? Travel research shows that, in the last year, 10 per cent of people were disappointed to find that they couldn’t make a claim against the policy they had purchased. The work that the ABI have been doing will help in the move to clarify what insurance does and doesn’t cover so people are better informed and can buy policies that are right for their travel needs.”

Rob Tinline, Director of Consular Services at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said

“Every year overseas Consular staff see cases where people don’t have adequate travel insurance and end up paying out thousands of pounds of their own money to cover their medical and other bills. Getting comprehensive insurance that covers everything you want to do on holiday is a vital part of planning your trip. We welcome the ABI initiative and hope it makes choosing a policy easier for British travellers going abroad.”

The top three things the ABI advises customers to think about when purchasing travel insurance:

The travel insurance market is very competitive. However, the cheapest policy is not always the best as they often provide the least cover. Customers should shop around and ensure the policy they purchase covers their individual needs.

Travellers must ensure they disclose their medical conditions to insurers so they can confirm if their policy will cover any emergency treatment they may need abroad, or whether a tailored policy would be better suited to their needs.

Do not do anything on holiday that you would not normally do at home. Holidays are perfect for having fun, but travellers should still take necessary precautions to remain safe and not take unnecessary risks. Drink or drug-related incidents and leaving possessions unattended, particularly valuable items, could invalidate a claim.

Politics.co.uk

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Allianz Commercial will soon launch its new solution for professional indemnity, by teaming up with Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).

Following a successful pilot via Allianz Commercial’s Casualty Centres of Excellence, the new offering is now available to brokers and their clients via the Company’s 14 regional branch locations.

The offering provides PI cover for a range of occupations with UK exposures, including accountants, architects, and engineers, along with professionals in the emerging sectors such as media and technology. The product is now available to commercial customers as an add-on to existing Commercial and Construction Select products or as a standalone policy and has capacity of up to £15m to meet the cost of defending claims and damages.

The new offering draws upon existing AGCS experience that, since entering UK and International PI markets in 2009, has delivered in excess of €70m in gross written premiums. The collaboration will see Allianz Commercial’s newly-created team underwrite all cases with claims being handled by AGCS’ dedicated team of PI experts.

Key features of the policy include:

– Dedicated policy wordings for professionals that traditionally require professional indemnity cover and one general policy wording for all other emerging businesses and professions

– Cover is provided on a Civil Liability basis – the widest form of cover available

– Automatic Acquisition – cover can be automatically provided for work in respect of any firm acquired during the policy period

– Inclusion of Innocent Non-Disclosure – protection when a material fact has innocently been omitted prior to the acceptance of the insurance contract

– Capacity of up to £15m to meet the cost of defending claims and damages.

Steve Coates, head of property and casualty at Allianz Commercial, commented: “This move is another significant step in the ongoing development of our casualty proposition. As a result of this collaboration, for the first time regional brokers will have the ability to combine clients’ PI covers with existing Allianz products into one policy.”

He added: “Our 14 branch locations provide the perfect platform to deliver this product to the market and we have set ourselves ambitious growth targets. We are always looking for opportunities to expand our underwriting footprint and continue to develop solutions that give our brokers and customers choice and flexibility to meet their demands.”

Gary Everson, head of financial lines at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, said: “This development reflects the strength and expertise that Allianz possesses in the UK market. Our commercial colleagues have a strong regional presence and we are delighted to be able to align our skills, products and experience to provide a combined Allianz solution for UK brokers and their clients.”

 

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It is important to kow about the general exclusions of Aviva’s breakdown cover. We’ve summarised what’s not included below, but please refer to the breakdown cover policy wording for full details.

General exclusions which apply to the whole policy

Aviva breakdown does not cover:

– Any breakdown that occurs during the first 24 hours after joining, reinstating or upgrading cover (including adding any extra person under joint cover) – except the Rescue service which is available immediately.

– Vehicles that were broken down or unroadworthy at the time of joining, upgrading or reinstating cover, unless we agree to provide service and an appropriate charge is made.

– Vehicles which have broken down as a result of taking part in a motor sport event which takes place off the road and/or is not subject to the normal rules of the road.

– The transportation of any vehicle that we suspect is loaded over its legal limit.

– The cost of draining or removing contaminated fuel (we will arrange for your vehicle to be taken to a local garage for assistance, but you will have to pay for any work carried out).

– Any costs incurred as a result of you failing to carry a serviceable spare tyre and wheel appropriate to your vehicle, caravan or trailer.
Note: motorised vehicles that are manufactured without the provision of a spare wheel will be considered on their individual merits.

– Assistance in changing a wheel is only covered within your breakdown entitlement if you are carrying a serviceable spare as specified above.

– The cost of a locksmith, body glass or tyre specialist. We will try to arrange these services if needed but you will have to pay for them.

– The costs of ferry crossings, unless otherwise specified.

 

What’s not covered – Rescue

– Any events listed in general exclusions.

– Breakdowns within a quarter of a mile of your home or where you normally keep the vehicle.

– The costs of parts, fuel or other supplies.

– Labour at any garage to which the vehicle is taken.

– Towing costs for the whole distance if you wish to be taken to a destination further than 10 miles.

– Towing following an accident, fire, theft or act of vandalism or other incident normally covered by your motor insurance. If you call us for assistance following such an incident and your motor insurance is with Aviva, we can arrange this for you. If your car insurance is not with Aviva, you will be liable to pay us for the costs of removal (you may be able to reclaim these costs through your car insurance policy).

What’s not covered – Recovery

– Events listed in general exclusions.

– Breakdowns within a quarter of a mile of your home or the place where the vehicle is usually kept.

– A second recovery if the original fault has not been properly repaired.

– The use of the Recovery service as a way to avoid repair costs.

– Recovery which is not arranged at the time of breakdown and cannot be requested later.

What’s not covered – At Home

– A second recovery if the original fault has not been properly repaired.

– The use of the At Home service as a way to avoid repair costs.

– Recovery which is not arranged at the time of breakdown and cannot be requested later.

What’s not covered – Onward Travel

– A second use of the Onward Travel benefits if the original fault has not been properly repaired.

– Other charges arising from your use of the hire car benefit such as fuel costs, deposit, any insurance excess charges, collecting and returning the vehicle and any costs due to you keeping the car after the agreed period of hire.

– If you require a second or any other type of vehicle we will try to arrange this for you. You will have to pay for any additional costs.

– If you are unfortunate enough to have an incident with the hire vehicle and you make an insurance claim, you will be responsible for paying any excess.

What’s not covered – European Breakdown Cover

– Any costs which would have been payable even if the incident causing the claim had not occurred.

– Your vehicle if it is used for, or if you take part in motor racing, rallies or other competitive events.

– Liability for costs or losses due to delays or acts or omissions of anyone we have instructed but have no direct control of, such as garages, hotels, car hire firms etc.

– You are responsible for ensuring that repairs are carried out to your own satisfaction and you are liable for any labour costs which amount to more than the limits of this policy. You are also liable for the costs of all parts.

– If it is necessary to return your vehicle to the United Kingdom unattended you should check with your motor insurers that your vehicle and its contents will be covered against loss or damage in transit. Any costs for hiring a vehicle other than under the terms of the policy are not included.

– Any liability for claims as a result of acts of nature, strikes, war, invasion, riot, revolution or any similar event.

– Any loss, damage or liability directly or indirectly caused by:

– Ionising radiation or radioactive contamination from any nuclear fuel or nuclear waste or any risk from nuclear equipment.

– pressure waves caused by aircraft or other flying machines travelling at sonic or supersonic speeds.

– war, invasion, civil unrest, revolution or similar event.

– Breakdown due to:

– lack of oil or water.

– frost damage.

– rust or corrosion.

– unserviceable/un-roadworthy tyres.

– The effect of intoxicating liquors or drugs.

– Your vehicle being driven by anyone not holding a valid full driving licence.

– Any incident leading to a claim under the policy which is covered under any other insurance, breakdown or medical policy, we only pay our share of the claim. This restriction does not apply to the limits under the vehicle break-in cover.

– Vehicle break-in benefits do not apply in respect of:

– loss of or damage to property in your vehicle if it has been left unattended or in a public garage for more than 24 hours or whilst it is unattended on a vehicle transporter, on a train or at sea.

– your property if it is confiscated, destroyed or kept by Customs or any other authority.

 

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We aim to get to you within 40 minutes. We will give you priority if you are in a vulnerable position and with over 2000 patrols on the road you can be sure we will never be far away.

In 4 out of 5 breakdowns we are able to fix the vehicle at the roadside. (This excludes accidents and extreme failures).

If you have taken our At Home breakdown cover we will come to your home to fix your vehicle.

Should you need to leave your vehicle at a garage we will reimburse you your taxi fares to take you to a single destination up to 20 miles.

You can buy UK vehicle based breakdown cover with your car insurance. Or you can choose from vehicle cover, personal cover or joint cover options with our standalone breakdown policy.

You can either buy European cover as part of our standalone breakdown policy or you can purchase European protection with our car insurance as long as foreign use cover has been selected.

If you select personal breakdown cover within our standalone breakdown policy, you are covered for breakdowns in any vehicle whether you are the driver or the passenger (Non-commercial vehicles only, excluding certain vehicle types). Another member of your household can also enjoy the same peace of mind if you select Joint Personal breakdown cover.

Your breakdown cover starts as soon as we have processed your payment and we have issued you with a policy number.

You will only receive roadside assistance cover for the first 24 hours after taking out the policy. You will be charged a fee of no less than £75 plus VAT for any additional services you require during this first 24 hours such as recovery, home start or onward travel benefits.

Aviva breakdown cover: Rescue

If your car breaks down more than ¼ mile from your home address we will send a patrol van out to repair it at the roadside. If it cannot be repaired within a reasonable time, we will transport you and your car to a nearby destination of your choice or to the nearest garage.

Aviva breakdown cover: Recovery

In addition to the cover detailed under Rescue, Recovery includes the following feature:

If you become ill whilst driving (provided that you are more than ¼ mile from your home address) and you are unable to continue, and none of your passengers can legally drive your car, we will arrange transport for you and up to seven passengers to any one address anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Aviva breakdown cover: At home

In addition to the cover detailed under Rescue and Recovery, At Home breakdown cover enables you to make a call out if you car breaks down at your home address or within ¼ mile of it.

Aviva breakdown cover: Onward travel

In addition to the cover detailed under Rescue, Recovery and At Home, Onward Travel entitles you to one of the following extra benefits if we cannot get your vehicle repaired locally or if you become medically unfit to drive during the course of your journey:

– Replacement hire car for 24 hours, and insurance including damage waiver

– Alternative transport for you and up to 7 passengers to your final destination.

– Hotel accommodation – one night’s bed and breakfast for up to 8 people in a hotel of our choice.

– Special medical assistance – if you or one of your passengers is taken into hospital we pay for overnight accommodation for the other passengers.

 

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What the Swift Cover buildings insurance policy covers :

1. Architects fees / Debris clearance

Following a valid claim for damage under Buildings

Causes below we will also pay:

– Architects surveyors consulting engineers and legal fees but not Fees for preparing a claim;

– The cost of clearing debris from the site or demolishing or shoring up the Buildings;

– The cost to comply with government or local authority requirements but not if the order predates the loss or damage.

2. Emergency services forced entry

Loss or damage to the Buildings caused when the fire, police or ambulance service has to force an entry to the Buildings because of an emergency or perceived emergency involving you or your family.

3. Moving Home

If you have entered into a contract to sell the home, the person buying it will have the full protection of your policy for the Buildings up to the date of completion of the purchase, as long as the home is not covered by any other insurance.

4. Trace and access

We will also pay for any one claim for necessary and reasonable costs that you incur in finding the source of damage to the home caused by:

– Escape of water from a fixed water, drainage or heating installation;

– Escape of oil from a fixed oil fired heating installation;

– Accidental damage to cables, pipes, underground drain pipes or tanks providing services to and from the home.

This includes reinstating any wall, floor, ceiling, drive, fence or path removed or damaged during the search

Not covered :

– Loss or damage to pitch fibre drains caused by inherent defects in the design,

material, construction or installation of the pipes and drains

– The cost of repair of the source of the damage unless the cause is covered

elsewhere in this policy

5. Keys & locks

If your keys are lost or stolen we will pay for any one claim for the cost of replacing keys and locks or lock mechanisms to:

– External doors and windows of the home (but not to a garage or outbuilding);

– A safe within the home;

– An alarm protecting the home.

6. Alternative Accommodation

We will pay you for any one claim for the reasonable cost of alternative accommodation for you, your family and your domestic pets when your home cannot be lived in due to loss or damage from any of the causes below.

7. Property Owners Liability

We will pay you (including costs and expenses agreed by us in writing) for any one claim or series of claims arising from any one event or one source or original cause that you or your family become legally liable to pay as compensation (including claimants costs and expenses) occurring during the period of insurance in respect of accidental:

– Death, bodily injury or illness of any person who is not an employee of either you or your family;

– Damage to material property not belonging to or in the custody or control of you or your family or domestic staff.

Arising from:

– Your ownership (but not occupation) of the Buildings;

– Defective work carried out by you or your family or on your behalf to any private residence within the United Kingdom disposed of by you or your family before the occurrence of bodily injury or damage in connection with such private residence.

In the event of your death we will treat your legal representative as you for liability incurred by you

What is not covered :

Your legal liability to pay compensation arising directly or indirectly from:

– An agreement which imposes a liability on you which you would not be under in the absence of such agreement;

– The use of the home for any business, trade, profession or employment;

– Death, bodily injury or damage caused by lifts, hoists or motorised vehicles or craft;

– Rectifying any fault or alleged fault.

 

Swift Cover buildings insurance covers the following causes :

1. Storm or flood

Exclusion:

– To gates, hedges and fences;

– To drives, patios and paths unless your home has been damaged at the same time and by the same cause;

– By storm to radio or television aerials or satellite dishes.

2. Sudden and unexpected water leaking from or freezing in any washing machine, dishwasher, fridge, freezer or plumbed in domestic water or heating installation

Exclusion :

– Caused by wet or dry rot or any other cause that happens gradually over a period of time;

– To the fittings / installation / appliances themselves is only covered if the damage has happened as a result of an insured cause or cover;

– While your home is unoccupied or unfurnished;

– That happens gradually over a period of time.

3. Theft or attempted theft

Exclusion:

– While your home is unoccupied or unfurnished;

– Caused by you, your domestic employees, lodgers, paying guests or tenants.

4.Oil leaking from or freezing in a fixed oil-fired heating installation, including smoke and smudge damage by vaporisation due to a defective oil-fired heating installation and damage to soil caused by the leaking oil.

Exclusion :

– To the installation itself is only covered if the damage has happened as a result of an insured cause or cover;

– While your home is unoccupied or unfurnished.

5. Fire, smoke, explosion, lightning or earthquake

Exclusions :

Smoke damage caused by smog, agricultural or industrial operations or anything that happens gradually from repeated exposure.

6. Subsidence or ground heave of the site on which the building stands or landslip

Exclusion :

– To boundary and garden walls, gates, hedges and fences, paths and drives, patios, tennis hard courts and swimming pools unless the home has been damaged at the same time by the same cause;

– Due to normal settlement, shrinkage or expansion;

– To or as a result of movement of solid floor slabs and non-load bearing walls, unless the foundations beneath the external walls of the home are damaged at the same time by the same cause;

– Resulting from construction, structural alteration, repair or demolition;

– Caused by coastal or river bank erosion;

– Arising from the use of defective materials, defective design or faulty workmanship

7. Malicious acts or vandalism

Exclusion :

– While your home is unoccupied or unfurnished

– Malicious damage caused by you or your family or any person that has been allowed into the home

8. Riot, civil commotion, strikes, labour and political disturbances.

9. Collision by aircraft, aerial devices, road or rail vehicles (or anything dropped from them) or animal.

Exclusion :

– Caused by your domestic pets.

10. Fallen trees or branches

Exclusion :

– Caused during tree felling, lopping or topping.

– The cost of removing fallen trees or branches that have not caused damage to the Buildings.

11. Breakage or collapse of Aerials, satellite dishes telegraph poles or electricity pylons

Exclusion :

– Damage to the aerial or satellite dish.

 

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Now that you know what is included in Aviva’s short term car insurance, below are some examples of what is excluded.

– Loss or damage arising from theft while the ignition keys of your car have been left in or on your car

– Loss of use, reduction in value, wear and tear, or mechanical, electrical or computer breakdowns, failures or breakages

– Loss of value following a repair

– Confiscation or requisition or destruction by or under order of any government or public or local authority

– Damage to tyres by braking or by punctures, cuts or bursts

– Loss or damage directly caused by pressure waves caused by aircraft or other flying devices travelling at, or above, the speed of sound

We will not pay for any accident, injury, loss or damage that occurs while:

– Your car is being used for a purpose not shown under the “Description of use” section of your certificate of insurance. For example, the car is being used for business purposes but you have not requested this cover

– It is being driven by any person not described in your certificate of insurance as entitled to drive

Eligibility – drivers

The customer and any other person who will drive must:

– Be resident in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man.

– Be aged 23 or over (restrictions apply to certain vehicle models).

– Hold a current, valid, full UK driving licence and have done so for at least 12 months.

– Have no more than 8 penalty points in the last 3 years, and have no prosecution or police enquiry pending.

– Have had no motoring offence involving alcohol or drugs, careless, dangerous or reckless driving or taking a vehicle without consent in the last 3 years. This includes all convictions with the Conviction Offence Code prefixes DR, CD, DD or UT.

– Not have had more than 2 fault claims in any three year period.

– Not have been disqualified from driving in the past 3 years.

– Only use the car for social, domestic and pleasure purposes or business use by the policyholder excluding the passengers or goods for hire or reward.

– Have not been convicted within the last 5 years of any offence relating to fraud, robbery, theft or handling stolen goods including any pending prosecution or police enquiry

– Not be using this insurance for the purpose of removing an impounded vehicle from a compound

Eligibility – the car

To qualify for short term insurance, the vehicle must:

– Be registered in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man.

– Have a current market value of less than £50,000.

– Not be owned by, and/or hired out by, any Vehicle Rental company.

– Have no more than 8 seats (including the driver’s).

– Not have been (personally) imported.

– Not be used for the carriage of goods or passengers for hire or reward.

– Not be used to carry hazardous goods (other than the carriage of less than 10kg of bottled gas, or 10 litres of flammable solvents in one container.

– Not be used or driven at any hazardous location.

Any vehicles that have undergone any post manufacturer ‘after market fit’ modification (cosmetic or performance related) are NOT ACCEPTABLE. However:

– Vehicles modified to cater for a disabled driver or passenger can be covered under short term car insurance

– Vehicles fitted with manufacturer specified optional extras, fitted at the time of manufacture, can also be covered under short term car insurance.

 

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Car insurance policies will generally cover you for a year, but sometimes you may need car insurance for a much shorter period. You might want to take delivery of a new car from a dealer or seller, or insure a friend or relative to drive your car for a day or two. With Aviva short term car insurance you can temporarily insure another driver or another car for 1 to 28 days.

We’ve summarised the key features of the policy below :

Loss or damage to the insured vehicle in the event of an accident, fire, theft or vandalism :

If the car is lost, stolen or damaged, we may:

– Pay for the car to be repaired

– Replace the car

– Pay a cash amount equal to the loss or damage

Any payment which we make in respect of loss or damage to this vehicle will be made to the legal owner. The most we will pay will be the market value of the car at the time of the claim, or £40,000, whichever is the lesser amount.

New car replacement :

– The cost of repairing any damage covered by the policy is more than 60% of your car’s UK list price (including car tax and VAT)

– Your car is stolen and not recovered

Where you are buying the car under a hire-purchase agreement, we will only replace it if the hire-purchase company agrees. We will not replace your car if it is subject to a leasing agreement or contract-hire agreement.

Accident recovery and Aviva approved repair service :

If you can’t drive this vehicle as a result of damage insured under this policy, we will pay the reasonable costs of protecting your car and removing it to the nearest Aviva approved repairer, and delivering your car back to your address in the British Isles once repairs have been carried out.

Our network of expert approved repairers extends across the UK and any repairs which we carry out to the vehicle are guaranteed for 3 years.

Legal liability cover :

We will provide cover of up to £5,000,000 for any amounts which you may have to pay as a result of you being legally liable for:

– A person’s death or injury as the result of an accident caused by your car or any trailer towed by your car

– Damage to property for any claims or number of claims arising out of an accident caused by your car

We may also provide permission in writing for you to claim further expenses if required.

European cover :

As standard, Aviva’s short term car insurance cover provides the minimum insurance requirements in the majority of mainland Europe (the equivalent of third party only).

For an additional 20% surcharge on top of the standard premium, you can choose to extend this cover to provide comprehensive cover in Europe and enjoy all the same benefits whilst abroad. This is an optional cover which can be added to your policy for an additional cost.

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For buildings insurance:

We will insure your home against loss or damage from many causes, including but not limited to:

– Fire, smoke, explosion, lightning  or earthquake;

– Malicious acts or vandalism;

– Storm or flood;

– Subsidence, heave or landslip;

– Theft or attempted theft;

– Escape of water and leakage of  oil;

– Falling trees.

– Accidental damage to underground pipes or cables serving the home.

– Your legal liability as owner of the property for injury or damage to others or for damage to their property, up to a maximum of £2 million for a single claim.

We do not cover your liability as an occupier or your personal liability under this section, although we do offer this cover as standard in our contents insurance.

–  Up to £25,000 alternative accommodation costs if you have to temporarily move out of your home because of an insured event.

What is not covered :

A policy excess of £150 for each and every claim or in the event of escape of water, an excess of £250, or in the case of subsidence, heave or landslip, an excess of £1,000.

– Damage to fences, gates and hedges caused by storm or flood.

– Loss or damage caused by underground water.

– Maintenance, wear and tear or damage that happens gradually over a period of time such as damp or rot.

– Loss or damage caused by malicious acts, vandalism, theft, escape of water, leakage of oil, breakage of glass or sanitaryware or frost if your home has been unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days. In this case there is no cover from the first day the home is not lived in.

– The costs of replacing any undamaged or unbroken item or parts of items forming part of a set, suite or other article of uniform nature, colour or design if damage occurs within a clearly identifiable area or to a specific part and it is not possible to match replacements.

For contents insurance :

We will insure your contents against loss or damage from many causes, including but not limited to:

– Fire, smoke, explosion, lightning or earthquake;

– Malicious acts or vandalism;

– Storm or flood;

– Theft or attempted theft;

– Escape of water and leakage of oil;

– Falling trees.

– Your legal liability as a home occupier for injury to others or damage to their property. We also cover your legal liability as a private individual anywhere in the world. We will pay up to £2 million for a single claim.

– Your legal liability as an employer of domestic staff at your home. We will pay up to £5 million for a single claim.

– High risk property like jewellery, pictures, works of art and stamp and coin collections. We will cover them in total for up to 20% of your contents sum insured and up to 5% of your contents sum insured (minimum £2,000) for a single item, pair or set.

– Alternative accommodation costs if you have to temporarily move out of your home because of an insured event, up to 15% of your contents sum insured (minimum £3,000).

– Replacing locks to the external doors to your home if your keys are stolen, up to £500.

– Personal money in your home up  to £100.

– Loss of metered water as a result of accidental damage to your water or heating installations up to £500.

– Theft or attempted theft from your garage or domestic outbuildings up to £1,000. In certain circumstances, we will add the ‘Minimum standards of security’ endorsement

What is not covered :

– A policy excess of £150 for each and every claim or, in the event of escape of water, an excess of £250.

– Loss or damage caused by malicious acts, vandalism, theft, escape of water or leakage of oil if your home has been unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days. In this case there  is no cover from the first day the home is not lived in.

What is not covered :

– Pedal cycles.

– Money stolen from your home unless it was entered by force and violence.

– Loss or damage caused by underground water.

– Accidental damage to computers, TVs and stereos.

– Accidental damage to portable items like video cameras and hand held computer games.

– Contents temporarily removed.

– Contents of your freezer.

– Contents in your garden.

– Loss of oil.

– The costs of replacing any undamaged or unbroken item or parts of items forming part of a set, suite or other article of uniform nature, colour or design if damage occurs within a clearly identifiable area or to a specific part and it is not possible to match replacements.

 

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Private medical insurance – sometimes called PMI, private healthcare or private health cover – gives you the reassurance of knowing that, should the need arise, you and your family will enjoy medical treatment privately, without waiting for the NHS to treat you.

For anyone who’d rather not wait for medical treatment

While the NHS does a good job in very difficult circumstances, you still might not receive your treatment as quickly as you’d like – and waiting can be emotionally or physically difficult.

Private health insurance could be right for you if you want :

– Prompt treatment

Private health insurance gives you and your family prompt access to the treatment covered by your plan.

– A wide choice of hospitals and specialists

Our health insurance cover offers a choice of when you are treated and the hospital you are treated in, with access to over 18,000 specialists / consultants.

– Comfortable, private facilities

If you need to be admitted into hospital for treatment, private health insurance typically means you’ll benefit from excellent facilities – for example, most of our network of over 250 quality assessed hospitals offer private en-suite rooms with TV, telephone and radio.

Private medical insurance works in the same way as any other insurance – it’s based on managing the risk of unforeseen events. You pay your premium, either in instalments or in one lump sum, so that if you fall ill you’ll be able to receive any eligible medical treatment privately – avoiding any potential NHS waiting lists. Think of it as peace of mind.

More than 70 years’ experience and currently around 2 million customers.

When you choose AXA PPP healthcare, your family’s healthcare needs are in experienced hands. We’ve been providing people like you with private health insurance policies since before the foundation of the NHS, and our number one priority is and will always be our customers’ health and wellbeing.

As well as prompt access to treatment and a choice of over 250 quality-assessed hospitals, with health insurance from AXA PPP healthcare you also get:

– UK-based, highly trained personal advisers to support you through the claims process or with any membership queries.

– Health at Hand
With our 24-hour telephone health information service you or your loved ones can speak to one of our medical professionals at any time, day or night. This 0800 line is staffed by registered nurses, midwives, pharmacists and counsellors. So, whether you wake in the night with unusual pains or need to talk to someone after a stressful event, you know there’s always a health professional at hand.

– Dedicated cancer support
If you or a member of your family is diagnosed with cancer, our Dedicated Nurse telephone helpline is there to give you one-to-one clinical support, guidance and reassurance about your conditions, treatment and aftercare. We also have an online resource, the Cancer Centre, covering everything from how to tell friends and family to food tips for poor appetites.

– be healthy
Our free online health and wellbeing site – we support our members in health as well as sickness, with a range of tools, videos, recipes, tips and topical health related articles designed to help keep body, mind and soul in tip top condition.

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If you’re a new customer with 4 or more years’ no claims discount on your current car insurance policy, you get 12 weeks’ free car insurance when you buy a 12 month policy from Aviva. And what’s more you can save up to 20% when you buy online.

– Instantly access your car insurance certificate; plus view, change or renew your policy online through MyPolicy

– No claims discount for named drivers on comprehensive car insurance policies when they take out their own Aviva policy

– Our uninsured driver promise means you won’t pick up the bill for an accident that wasn’t your fault

– Aviva car insurance customers can now submit a claim using our free iPhone app MyClaims

– Add breakdown cover backed by the RAC (optional)

Car insurance from £188. That’s all 10% of our customers pay. Buy Direct. Get the Aviva deal.

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Aviva can guarantee that you’ll never lose your no claims discount that you have worked hard to build up. We can offer you a guaranteed protected no claims discount for the life of your motor insurance policy – regardless of the number of claims you make, we promise you won’t see any increase in your premium as a result of any claims. To opt for a guaranteed no claims discount, you will need to have:

– Comprehensive car insurance with at least 5 years no claims discount

– No ‘at fault’ claims in the last 3 years

– Policyholder and all additional drivers must be aged 21 or over

– Have a minimum excess of £250 on your car insurance policy

– Guaranteed no claims discount is not available for policies with open driving

We can give your named drivers their own no claims discount

– If you are a named driver, you can earn your own no claims discount when you purchase a car insurance policy with us in your own right.

– If you are the spouse or partner of the policy holder you could earn up to 70% discount when you insure your own car with us.

– If you are purely a named driver, you can earn up to 40%* discount when you take out car insurance with us.

– If you are a named driver looking to purchase your own car insurance, unfortunately we are unable to process your application online.

24/7 claims helpline

Our phone claims lines are open all day, all night, every day of the year. If you should need us all you need to do is call 0844 891 1111 (Calls may be recorded and/or monitored) and an incident manager will record all details relating to your car insurance claim, and will take immediate steps towards resolving it for you. There are no forms to fill in, and the incident manager will confirm;

– Whether your policy covers you for the incident

– What you will have to pay

– All steps involved in your car insurance claim being settled

– If you’ve got an iPhone, why not download our free app MyClaims; if you need to make a claim on your Aviva car insurance policy, MyClaims will take you through the process 0844 numbers will be charged at 3p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may vary.

Child car seat replacement

– Did you know that if your car has been in an accident – even if there is no visible damage – it is possible that your child car seat could be weakened so that it will not provide the same level of protection in a further accident?

– The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) recommends that all child car seats should be replaced following an accident. That’s why we’ll provide child car seat cover as standard with our comprehensive motor insurance polices. We’ll replace your child car seat up to the value of £100 following an accident or theft – even if it looks undamaged.

A single point of contact for your repairs

We all know how frustrating it can be, having to chase around a number of different people for information on the progress of your car repair(s). Having to repeat yourself over and over again can only add to your stress. Just one point of contact for your repairs keeps things simple and that is what we aim to do. Should you have an accident, and your car is being fixed by one of our approved repairers, you will be put in touch with one person and they will be your sole point of contact until your car is back on the road. And don’t forget, you have the reassurance that all repairs to your car are made by our network of approved garages and are guaranteed for 3 years.

Enhanced courtesy car upgrade

And that’s great if you have a family or just want that extra comfort and space. Our enhanced courtesy car option means that should you have an accident and your car requires repair work, then you will receive a 5 door car with a 1.6 litre engine with room for up to 5 people.

– To select the upgrade as part of your car insurance policy features, please click on the ‘enhanced courtesy car’ option in the ‘add on’ section of the online car insurance quote application form.

New car replacement

If your vehicle is less than 12 months old from purchase as new when you have an accident – or it’s stolen and not recovered – an Aviva car insurance policy will give you a new car of the same make and specification (if one is available in the UK).

– Provided the cost of your car insurance claim is more than 60% of the UK list price (including car tax and VAT, when you bought the car

– The car is stolen and not recovered

We will only replace your car if;

– You or your partner own the car or are buying it under a hire-purchase agreement (not leasing, contract hire agreement or similar)

– The hire purchase company agrees

– You and your partner are the first registered keeper of the car

A car is deemed as new when it has been pre-registered in the name of the manufacturer or supplying dealer, and your or your partner are the second registered keeper, providing at the time of purchase, by you or your partner, the car has only delivery mileage (in any event not exceeding 250 miles.). Cars sold as ‘ex-demonstrators ‘ or ‘nearly new’ do not qualify for replacement.

Multi-car motor insurance discounts

Many households have more than one car these days. We think that’s worth a discount on your car insurance policy.

– We’ll give you up to 15% discount on each additional car your insure with us

– We’ll automatically cut up to 15% off the premium of your existing car insurance when it’s time to renew

– If you have a no claims discount on the existing car insured with us, we can match the no claims discount on each additional vehicle up to a maximum of 70%

How do you qualify for multi-car discounts on your motor insurance?

– Must be a comprehensive car insurance policy

– Only applies to the insured driver or insured driver PLUS spouse/domestic/civil partner named on the first and second car insurance policies. No other drivers allowed.

To take advantage of this discount, then please call us on 0800 051 2382 (Calls may be recorded and/or monitored), quoting reference MP33.

24 hour pick up and onward journey following an accident

If you are involved in an accident and your car is undriveable, we will come and pick you and your car up from the scene of the accident whatever time of the day it may be. We can arrange for your car to be dropped of at a garage/or your home and will arrange for you to be taken on to a destination of your choice – whether it be home or to your original destination if you were travelling away from home (within the UK including Northern Ireland)

Online service

When you buy a car insurance policy from us, we’ll give you access to our online self service facility, MyPolicy. By choosing MyPolicy you’ll get instant secure access to all your insurance policy documents, so you won’t need to wait for the post. And you’ll also help us fulfil our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint.

Printed certificates of motor insurance are now accepted by the Post Office as proof of insurance when buying your vehicle’s road tax. Register with our online service and you can print your certificate as soon as your insurance policy comes into force.

Uninsured driver promise

If you’re hit by an uninsured driver and it wasn’t your fault your no claims discount won’t be lost – and you may be able to recover the cost of any excess you have had to pay. You will need to provide

– the vehicle registration and the make/model

– the driver’s details

This promise is for comprehensive car insurance policies only and applies where the driver of your car was not at fault for the accident.

 

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John Nelson is to succeed Lord Levene of Portsoken as the next Chairman of Lloyd’s insurance market.

On Monday 18 April, the Council of Lloyd’s confirmed the appointment, with Mr Nelson due to take up office in October of this year.

Speaking about his new position, Mr Nelson said: “It is a great honour for me to accept this role and I look forward to playing my part in steering the world’s leading insurance market through the next stage of its evolution.”

He added that recent global catastrophes such as the earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand and floods in Australia highlighted the “vital” role insurance plays in helping communities and businesses rebuild after a disaster.

Lord Levene, who is retiring after nine years as Lloyd’s Chairman, described Mr Nelson as an “experienced businessman with a successful record”. He added that he believed the appointment to be an “excellent choice”.

Chief Executive Dr Richard Ward said he was “delighted” to be welcoming John Nelson to Lloyd’s, adding: “Lloyd’s is in strong financial shape and can face the future with confidence. John’s business experience makes him the perfect candidate to take on this role and help Lloyd’s build on its position as the preeminent market for specialist insurance.”

Mr Nelson boasts a long and distinguished career in the financial services, real estate and retail sectors. He spent 15 years at Kleinwort Benson, working in both the UK and the US, before moving to Lazard in 1986 where for 13 years he ran the corporate finance division – becoming Vice-Chairman in 1990.

He retired as chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston Europe in 2002 after three years and took up a number of board and advisory positions including Deputy Chairman of Kingfisher plc. He is due to retire from this role later in 2011.

John Nelson joined Hammerson plc in 2004 and became Chairman in 2005, a position he will continue to hold.

Source : Lloyd’s Press Release

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Lloyd’s Channel Syndicate 2015 has appointed Iain Macleod as Head of its Marine Division.

Iain has worked in the London Market for over 25 years and has built a Marine account for previous companies. Iain will be joined by an experienced team shortly.

Richard Harris, Chief Executive of The Channel Syndicate said: “We are very pleased to welcome Iain to the Syndicate to head up the Marine Division. Iain has a wealth of experience which will be critical as we build our team and develop our Marine portfolio.”

The Channel Syndicate was authorised by Lloyd’s in the fourth quarter 2010 to write Property Direct and Facultative, Accident and Health, Marine and Financial Lines for risks incepting on or after January 1st 2011 and is managed by Whittington Capital Management Ltd.

Source : The Channel Syndicate LLP Press Release

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Non-standard household insurance specialist Plum Underwriting has hired two additional underwriters to help cater for increased demand following unprecedented growth in the business.

Plum, which in February announced sales had increased 54% year on year, anticipates at least the same level of growth in the next 12 months.

Loren Mason joins Plum with immediate effect, bringing 10 years experience to the role. Loren’s main areas of responsibility will be to underwrite new business and to maintain service excellence. Loren has previously written non-standard household insurance via the broker market at Prestige Underwriting and wholesaler ABACUS before that.

Stuart Bromley joins Plum with household underwriting experience from NIG. Specific areas of focus for Stuart include underwriting new and existing business, with an emphasis on improving back office and existing business functions. Both appointees will report to Operations Manager Mahben Quddus.

Plum director David Whitaker said: “The growth of Plum directly reflects the need by brokers for non-standard household solutions and the underwriting skill and appetite to cater for these non-standard risks. We are extremely pleased to announce these two new appointments, both of whom have proven track records, to help meet that demand. Plum has a commitment to working with brokers to help address the non-standard needs of their clients. The appointments announced today will ensure we can serve this growing need while maintaining the highest underwriting and service standards.”

Source : Plum Press Release