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The Perils of Comparison Websites

On March 1, 2012   /   Current News  

So your insurance is due for renewal, sometime soon.

This year you were going to research the market, make informed decisions which were cost effective and time efficient….but then everything else happened.  Sound familiar?  Before you log on to a price comparison website,  just stop for a moment and consider the facts:

Comparison Websites make assumptions about your circumstances which you are obliged to correct, if you do not do this, in the event of a claim your policy may be invalidated. Your time, money and effort have been wasted and you are now in the position of dealing with a difficult situation on your own.

So lets reconsider….your insurance is due for renewal, you are running out of time, you decide to give the friendly staff at A1 Insurance a ring to tell them of your woes.  We take all your details and we use our panel of insurers to source the best cover at the best price for you.  Any tricky bits, well that’s our job!  And the exciting part – we do this for you year after year, sourcing the best deals at competitive prices.

A1 Insurance – The insurance professionals who deal with your insurance needs.

 

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Preventing the theft of Heating Oil

On February 8, 2012   /   Current News  

This week Jacqui discusses the increase in Heating Oil thefts and how you can help prevent it happening to you.

Running parallel with rising oil prices has been a significant increase in the incidence of theft of heating oil from fixed surface tanks.

The amount of fuel stolen and the methods employed vary ranging from decanting or siphoning into cans or drums, to pumping into bulk tanks mounted in or on criminals’ vehicles.

In addition to the monetary loss of fuel, such attacks can also result in serious ground or water course pollution in circumstances where sight tube gauges or supply pipes are smashed or cut and the oil allowed to run free, often long after the thieves have left the premises. In these situations, clean up costs and possible action by the regulatory authorities can far exceed the value of the fuel stolen.

These thefts are not only committed in areas of high crime, but are also commonly perpetrated in less populated rural areas and on farms. Typically there is no single solution to the problem.

Insurers therefore advise an assessment of the security be undertaken based on features including the value and quantity of the oil in store, the location of the tank and the presence, if any, of external perimeter security, general security protections for the premises as a whole, known loss experience for the area and the proximity of any nearby rivers or other water courses.

Security protections/measures to be considered may be one or more of the following:

Physical perimeter protection of the tank or the area in general

  • Security lighting and/or CCTV
  • Physical security of vent caps, inspection apertures, filling points, dispensing nozzles etc. A range of products are available from specialist oil tank supply service companies.
  • Physical security of oil supply pipework
  • Isolation of electric pump controls out of working hours (commercial customers)
  • Removal of empty containers or drums from the area around th tank which could be used by opportunist thieves
  • Specialist tank alarm systems to detect lifting of the inspection cap or falling oil levels

Fore more information or to discuss your insurance requirements please contact us on 01377 318255 or click here.

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GAP Insurance – why it’s worth considering

On January 25, 2012   /   Current News  

So you’ve just had a spin in your potential new car, infact you look so good in it you know with certainty that you are going to buy it, all that’s left to do is deal with the paperwork, sign up to the GAP insurance and arrange a collection date.

But lets just rewind a moment and consider the GAP insurance. The first question is, what does GAP insurance actually mean?  The answer, Guaranteed Asset Protection.

Image: cjansuebsri / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In a nutshell, whether you purchase your vehicle by cash, finance or lease hire, GAP insurance covers you for the short fall between the insurance payout and either the invoice price or finance agreement (depending on how you made the purchase) if the vehicle is written off.

Lets also consider this fact; the moment that you drive off the garage forecourt in your lovely new vehicle it starts to depreciate at an alarming rate, in fact after 3 years the vehicle is likely to be worth only around 40% of its original list price. Horrendous when you consider the original price of the vehicle and the fact that you will only be recompensed the market price of the vehicle by your insurer. To add further insult to injury, you will still be financially liable for the shortfall.

GAP insurance is an invaluable product that provides you with peace of mind should you ever find yourself in this unpleasant situation. Here at A1 Insurance we are exceptional pleased with our choice of GAP provider due to the exceptional quality of the product coupled with, what we believe, is the best price on the market.

Let the car sales man finish his spiel, ask him for a few extras and a couple of air fresheners, but ask us for a GAP insurance quote, after all nobody wants to pay more than they have to.

For more information and advice on GAP Insurance give our team a call on 01377 318255.

 

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Winter Emergency Kit – have you got yours?

On December 7, 2011   /   Current News  

Winter is well and truly here with many of us in the North having experienced our first flurries of snow!  We all think we will never get caught out if it snows but is it really worth taking that risk?  Why not consider putting together the following items into an Emergency Kit* to keep in your vehicle while your out and about.

  • Ice Scraper and De-IcerDon't get caught out this Winter
  • Torch and spare batteries – or a wind up torch
  • Warm clothes and blankets – for you and all passengers
  • Boots
  • First aid kit
  • Jump leads
  • A shovel
  • Road atlas
  • Sunglasses (the glare off snow can be dazzling)

*Recommended by the Highways Agency

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Drive safely this Winter

On November 30, 2011   /   Current News  

1.3 million people are killed in public road accidents every year.

Don’t become a statistic.

Unless immediate and effective action is taken, road traffic injuries are predicted to become the 5th leading cause of death worldwide.
Take control, and don’t let yourself become part of that statistic. The most simple safety precautions, such as those detailed on the link below, are often those that will save your life.

Safe Driving Tips

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Why insure your vehicles on a motor fleet policy?

On November 23, 2011   /   Current News  

The answer is simple! A motor fleet policy is a way of arranging your vehicles in to one single policy which not only offers ease of administration but can also work out cheaper than insuring all your vehicles individually.

A motor fleet policy can start at as few as 3 vehicles and can include any combination, cars, vans, trucks and plant equipment.  We can include drivers of any age, enhance cover and reduce cover on individual vehicles; in fact we can tailor any policy to suit your needs.

If you’ve not considered a motor fleet policy before then why not give our dedicated team of specialist a call today for a cost effective, no fuss solution to your motoring needs.  If you have an existing policy, why not let us give you a review as we’re experts at strategic marketing.

A1 Insurance – happy to go that extra mile!

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Why compare when we do it all for you?

On October 19, 2011   /   Current News  

This week Jeannie Keenoy provides an insight into our renewal process.

From left to right - Ian, Alan, Jacqui, Jeannie, Jean and Jaimme

“Let me begin by introducing you to our Renewal Team, Jacqui, Jaimme, Jean and myself, by sheer coincidence we are all J’s.  What is not a coincidence is that we are a strong team who have a vast amount of product knowledge and more importantly we really get to know what our customers want and need.

Some of our customers have been with us a long time and that’s just the way we like it.  It gives us chance to tailor make our policies and ensure that they give the exact level of cover required.  Our renewal process accounts for a large chunk of our working day and that’s to be expected.  Not only do we compare the price but also the level of cover and the suitability of the insurance company in question; if it’s a reasonable alternative with an excellent company then great, if it’s cheap and exposes you to any kind of risk then it’s immediately discarded.  When we know that we have done the best job for you, we can sleep easy at night!

We live in a fast paced, expect-everything-in-an-instant era, which is great for coffee but insurance is something that you can’t afford to take a risk with, that’s why we’re here, to guide you through the minefield.  It doesn’t matter to us if it’s new business or old business, it’s your business that matters to us.”

If you require a more personal service then give us a call on 01377 318255.

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Why take out Learner Driver Cover?

On October 12, 2011   /   Current News  

This week Ian Darnbrook looks at the benefits of taking out Learner Driver Cover over adding an additional driver to your current policy.Learner Driver Insurance

“We all know that once your child reaches 17 years of age the first thing that they want to do is learn how to drive, what they don’t appreciate is how expensive it is to accomplish just that.

To add your child as a provisional driver on to your car policy can increase your annual premium by thousands.  A better option for you as a parent is to take out our Learner Driver Cover.  This additional insurance covers your vehicle whilst your child is learning to drive.  Cover can be arranged from one to five months, can be renewed and starts from as little as £109.  Besides the low cost benefits, if there are any ‘unfortunate incidents’ you can claim against your Learner Driver Cover and not against your own policy, thereby protecting your no claims bonus.

Really it’s a win win situation for both parents and the kids.  Another great solution from A1 Insurance.”

If you’d like more information please contact me on 01377 318255 or complete your details online.”

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Rasmus Design recommend A1 Insurance

On October 10, 2011   /   What our customers have to say  

We were really pleased to receive a recommendation this week from Sally Rasmussen of Rasmus Design and Rasmus Living.

Sally said “I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Ian, he has saved me a great deal of money with both business and personal insurance over the last 12 months. He and his colleagues are easy to deal with and assess what the real needs are – it’s seriously good, old fashioned personal service – Ian makes everything easy – great news for busy people!”



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