May 30th, 2009 → 2:40 pm @ admin
A leading motorbike insurance provider has unveiled a new marketing campaign as part of its efforts to rebrand.
Bennetts’ new adverts feature the slogan “Whatever You Ride” and have been created to highlight the cheap motorbike insurance that the company claims to provide.
The company has also redesigned its website to coincide with the promotional drive, in the hope that consumers will now find it easier to navigate.
Paul Galligan, director at Bennetts, said: “We went through a complete creative review earlier this year to ensure Bennetts maintains its number one position in the bike insurance market, delivering cut-through in an increasingly competitive market.
“At a time when people across the UK are watching every penny, we at Bennetts are going that extra mile to ensure bikers get the best insurance deals.”
Bennetts is part of the BLG Group of insurers, which also includes firms such as van insurance provider Budget.
May 30th, 2009 → 2:38 pm @ admin
The theft of Conservative leader David Cameron’s bicycle has highlighted the need for people to have such items covered as part of home insurance, it has been claimed.
According to AA Insurance, the incident, which is the second time the politician has had his bike stolen in the past year, shows that homeowners must ensure their home insurance policies include cover for items taken away from their properties.
Simon Douglas, the director of the company, also claimed that the theft could be the tip of iceberg.
“We could see a Himalayan peak in cycle theft this summer as the recession makes the bike an ever more sought-after item,” he explained.
“This episode reinforces the need to check your insurance to make sure your bike is included. Make sure your bike is adequately covered and adequately secured.”
Last month, figures from the AA revealed that the average quoted premium for home insurance rose by over £3 during the first three months of this year.
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May 30th, 2009 → 2:37 pm @ admin
Tesco offers home cover discount
A leading supermarket retailer has confirmed it is now offering a discount on its home insurance products for a limited period.
Tesco has announced it is offering new customers 45 per cent off their premiums if they apply for a home insurance quote online.
However, the company has also warned that interested parties only have until May 27th to take advantage of the deal.
Jim Bruce, head of Tesco Home Insurance, said: “We are aware of the strain on people’s finances at the moment. This offer could help reduce one of the necessary living costs.
“Customers can trust us to provide them with cover to suit their needs, protecting them against unforeseen events.”
It is not the first time Tesco has introduced such a deal this year, as it announced in February it was offering a 20 per cent discount on premiums to consumers who received an online quote for car insurance for a limited period.
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May 27th, 2009 → 3:47 pm @ admin
Empty homes provide summer burglars with easy pickings
In the excitement of preparing for your holiday, double checking your home cover is up-to-date might not seem very appealing.
But when you leave your home empty you leave it at risk, so it is absolutely essential that you make sure it is secure and protected.
The summer is a peak time for burglaries, with 42% more theft claims than in the winter months according to Saga Home Insurance, which also says that nearly half of all burglaries occur when a home is empty.
What should you do to protect your home?
You need to do everything you can to make it look as though you are still at home.
Measures such as cancelling the milk and newspapers, and getting timers on your lights can be helpful, but it’s also worth asking a friend or member of the family to act as a housesitter while you are away, or at least to push any protruding post through your letter box.
Decent window and door locks are vital, as is a burglar alarm (according to recent research from Confused.com, 16 million homes in the UK do not have an alarm fitted), and having these in place could also reduce your home insurance premiums.
Also look at access to your back garden or the side of your property. Do you have a sturdy gate with a lock, or is it easy for somebody to access your land without being seen?
Whatever you do, don’t leave a spare set of keys in the garage or shed – even if you think they are well hidden.
Ensure you insure your property
These preventative measures are important but the reality is that burglaries still happen. They are always upsetting and some things are irreplaceable, but knowing that home insurance could recompense you for your belongings is invaluable.
Yet despite this, Confused.com estimates that almost 10 million households in the UK do not have any form of home insurance.
Is your home underinsured?
Even those who do have contents insurance are often significantly underinsured. This happens because, as we increase our possessions over time, we tend to forget to increase our contents insurance to cover the extra value. This is a potentially expensive problem, particularly when you consider that research by Sainsbury’s found that the cost of replacing the contents of the average British home is £45,000.
Cover your car
If you are taking your car on holiday you might be making long car journeys or driving in unfamiliar areas. A bump on holiday could be costly and comprehensive car insurance could save you hundreds of pounds.
Even if you are leaving the car at home this year, it could be at risk of theft. If you only have third party cover, upgrading could be a smart move and needn’t mean vastly increased premiums.
Whatever you do, don’t neglect your home and possessions when you go away. It can cost surprisingly little for the peace of mind that your property is protected.
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May 27th, 2009 → 3:45 pm @ admin
Top Tips to Protecting Your Property in Shared Accommodation
How to ensure your contents are safe when you live with others
Sharing the kitchen, waiting for your turn in the shower, handing over control of the TV remote – living with others can sometimes be trying, but it can also be a lot of fun.
However, it’s important to insure your valuables from potential thieves – both inside and outside your home.
Confused.com has 8 top tips to protecting you property while living with others.
1. Get some cover
First things first: check out insurance deals at Confused.com for a competitive quote. Make sure you read the small print – does your policy cover the whole house or just your room, and what does that include: fire, theft, damage? It might be that everyone in the house has to get their own policy, or that you can all go under one and split the cost.
2. Lock up
Get a good lock on all doors and windows. In a shared house, you might want to put a lock on your bedroom door too. Think about extra security locks, chains or deadlocks on your front and back doors. Ask your landlord to install these if necessary.
3. Hide valuables
Keep valuables away from windows. Shiny objects left out in the open will be irresistible to burglars. If you leave jewellery or gadgets lying around in the open, some home insurance policies won’t pay out. Find out where the UK’s Burglary Hotspots are with Confused.com.
4. Do a full inventory
If you’re moving into a furnished or part-furnished place, you’ll get a list of everything in the house when you move in. Make a note of any dents, chips and damage to the décor and let the landlord know so you don’t have to worry about covering the costs out of your own pocket.
5. Ask for evidence
Ask for copies of all relevant safety certificates, i.e. gas and electric. If you don’t have these items and an appliance causes damage that leads to a home insurance claim, it could be dismissed. Keep documents (such as insurance policy, copy of tenancy agreement, safety certificates, inventory) together in a file and in a safe place.
6. Magic marker
Get an invisible pen – that’s not a pen you can’t see, but one filled with ink that’s visible only in the glare of an ultra violet lamp. Write your name and postcode on items around the house – for example, on the inside of your phone’s battery cover, or the bottom of your TV. If your items are stolen, all you’ll need is a UV light to prove they’re yours.
7. Bland is best
Don’t leave telltale signs of your personality on the outside of your house. A life-size cut-out of Han Solo might look cool, but anyone casing your house might assume you’re a student – one of the most targeted groups for burglars as they tend to have little money to spend on home security. A well-kept house frontage displays the maturity that comes with being security conscious.
8. Join Neighbourhood Watch
It may sound like an old cliché, but joining a neighbourhood watch scheme can reduce your home insurance premiums and also ward off potential burglars. If they see a sticker in the window suggesting everyone looks out for each other in the area, they might just think twice about breaking in.
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