Archive for the Current News Category

A1 on the road to expansion

On March 20, 2013   /   Current News  

Driffield broker A1 Insurance Services Ltd has increased its footprint in the market with the acquisition of Harrogate’s John Matthews and Co.

The deal, worth £50,000, takes the headcount to seven, with A1 Insurance Services forecasting a turnover of £1.5m by the end of the financial year.

A1 managing director Ian Darnbrook said:  We knew John Matthews wanted new owners who could offer their clients the same levels of personal service – and that’s always been at the core of our own business.  In the current climate, people want to know any money they invest is safe and we see our job to make sure any premium paid is a sound investment.

Established in 1983, A1 Insurance Services offers a broad range of policies, with over 180 options in the household sector and 250 in private cars. The majority of accounts acquired from John Matthews and Co are in personal insurance.

He added:   Acquiring John Matthews and Co is a significant move for us but we’re not targeting aggressive expansion. We would certainly hope for more growth in 2013 – but it’s more likely to be organic.

Mr Darnbrook will share day-to-day management duties with A1’s commercial insurance advisor Alan Beardmore.

Mr Beardmore said:   One thing we would like to say to our new clients is that we do like to talk.  We’d urge anyone who hasn’t reviewed their insurance needs for a while to give us a call and we’d be happy to walk them through their options. It’s a fast-changing world and insurance is no different so it might be worth another look at those policies to see if they’re still the right ones for you.

Back to Top

March 2013 – New ’13’ Registration Plate

On March 20, 2013   /   Current News  

Don’t forget to purchase your GAP Insurance!

If you are looking to purchase a new vehicle then your dealer will most likely offer you GAP insurance. However GAP insurance sold via a insurance broker is much cheaper and only attracts an Insurance Premium Tax rate of 6% versus 20% for a dealer sold alternative!

This example is based on Purchase Price Protection GAP Insurance. In the event of a total loss occurring, Purchase Price Protection GAP Insurance will pay the difference between the motor insurers total loss settlement and the net invoice price your customer paid for the vehicle, up to the maximum benefit shown in the policy schedule. Subject to policy terms and conditions. Benefits available up to £25,000.

For more information contact ian@a1insurance.co.uk tel 01377 318255

Back to Top

Why this ActionCoach uses A1 Insurance

On January 17, 2013   /   Current News  

 

 

 

 

Dear Ian

In the course of this last year I have renewed both personal and professional insurance policies and in each case I asked A1 Insurance Services to look at my cover and premiums.  I normally hesitate to seek out finding alternative quotes as it often involves lengthy application forms and phone calls and potentially wastes a great deal of my valuable time.

Dealing with A1 Insurance Services was a different story and I have to congratulate you and your team on how well you dealt with my enquiries, quietly and efficiently, ensuring that I was aware of alternative covers available to me and you were not afraid to advise me to stay with a particular provider on one occasion.  In short, you gave me great confidence in what you were about and delivered a completely professional service.

I have no hesitation in recommending A1 Insurance Services to friends, colleagues and importantly my clients – and have already done so.

Yours sincerely

 

John Davison – Business Coach

Back to Top

ThinkColour let us know why they use A1 Insurance

On January 17, 2013   /   Current News  

 

 

 

 

A1 Insurance Testimonial

 

Dear Ian

 

Ian Darnbrook and his team have provided an excellent solution, offering a personal and cost effective service that you don’t get from some of the larger operators in this field.

His advice has been honest and straight forward and has been in our best interests, even when it has not benefitted A1 Insurance directly.

 

I would not hesitate to recommend A1 Insurance.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Chris Nussey – Director 

 

 

Back to Top

Stumps.Biz loves the A1 experience

On January 17, 2013   /   Current News  

STUMPS.BIZ

Dear Ian

For many years I was a slave to the notion of cheapest is bestest.  This appeared to be reinforced when I moved to Yorkshire (notions of short arms and deep pockets) but then I found BNI.

I slowly became convinced that its not the price but the value that is the most important factor in any transaction and as the time arrived for renewal of my LandRover insurance it was an easy referral to yourself for a quote.  I hardly expected a beat up LandRover on business use to inspire either you or your team but within hours one of your staff, it was a while back and I don’t remember whom it was, rang me with a quote.  The decision was easy as the quote was cheap, this pleased the old me, but also offered better cover than my previous insurer and this appealed to the new BNI me.

As the years have gone by I now usually have three or four policies renewed on an annual basis, I say three or four because my wife, Heather, has fully embraced the Yorkshire deep pocket code and occasionally will spend hour after hour trawling t’internet for a cheaper quote for our teenage drivers only to find some hidden downside to the initially less expensive option.

I have made a great deal of the price of Ian’s policies but have said little of the value.  Having an insurer who has freely given his mobile number to me and will take calls at inconvenient times, (most accidents are at inconvenient times) who does virtually all of the paperwork for any claim and always offer a better value than his competitors, and Heather has tried them all I fully recommend Ian and his team with assurance.

Kind regards

 

John Hart

Back to Top

Be prepared for Winter Driving

On October 16, 2012   /   Current News  

TYRES – Ensure your tyres are inflated correctly and that you have sufficient tread on your tyres to cope with wet and slippery conditions.

BATTERY – In winter, the battery will run down quicker. Make sure you do a regular long journey to top it up.

ENGINE – Modern engines are more robust than older ones. All the same, depress the clutch when starting the vehicle as this will reduce drag on the engine and preserve the battery.

SCREENWASH – Keep this topped up and use an additive at the right concentration to prevent it freezing.

FUEL – Keep your tank topped up – that way if you are caught out, you’ll have enough fuel to make it home or run the engine to keep warm. However, it’s essential to keep snow from blocking the exhaust as noxious fumes can leak into the vehicle.

WINDOWS – Clear all snow and ice from the windscreen before driving. Do not use water to de-ice windscreens. Hot water can crack the glass, and the water will only freeze again on the screen or on the ground where you are standing.

LOCKS – A squirt of WD-40 will prevent your door locks freezing up.

WARM CLOTHING – Your car may be warm on the inside but if you have to step outside, you could be in trouble if you haven’t got warm clothing with you.

SNOW KIT – Always pack the following: ice scraper, warm coat, hat, gloves, sturdy boots, a blanket to keep you warm if you get stuck.  Take some food, water and a hot drink if you can. Always carry a fully charged mobile and some old bits of carpet, or cat litter, to put under the tyres if they get stuck and a shovel to clear the snow.

And what to do if you get stuck in the snow…

First of all, make sure you have packed your emergency snow kit. If you are trapped in your car, you can stay warm by running the engine. However, it is vital that the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow. If the engine fumes cannot escape, you could be overwhelmed by carbon monoxide gas, which is highly toxic.  If there is any risk the fumes could enter the car, do not run the engine. Even if it is safe, do not run the engine for more than 10 or 15 minutes in each hour.

Stay in or close to your car. In heavy snow it is easy to get disorientated and lost, or separated from your vehicle. If necessary you can always hang a piece of brightly coloured cloth to your car to let others know you are there.

It’s always worth getting your car serviced before the Winter weather closes in.  We can recommend T M Sport in Scotton, Knaresborough who provide a great service plus they have a free collection service if you live in a 20 mile radius of Yeadon and Scotton.

Back to Top

Is your Cleaner covered?

On October 9, 2012   /   Current News  

Are you a Window Cleaning or general Cleaning Contractor or do you use Cleaners?

If so, did you know there are thousands of window cleaning businesses in the UK that are inadequately insured with most having standard liability policies that exclude damage to property worked upon and restrict the types of premises that can be cleaned.

We can offer a specialist Cleaning Contractors scheme that provides cover for:

  • Damage to property worked upon
  • Height limit of 25 metres (which can be increased on request)
  • No need for annual declarations
  • Continual policy cover

So why not ask your contractor if they’re covered or get in touch and speak to a member of our team for further information.

Back to Top

Are you considering purchasing a new car this month? Ask us for a quote before you buy GAP cover via the Dealer

On September 5, 2012   /   Current News, Products  
Contact us before you buy!
Did you know that a GAP Insurance policy will typically cost you, on average, 35% more when purchased directly from the vehicle dealer than from your insurance broker?  Where your dealer will charge you 20% VAT we will only charge you 6% Insurance Premium Tax.

 

Why do I need GAP Insurance?

In the event of a total loss occurring Purchase Price Protection GAP Insurance will pay out the difference between the motor insurers total loss settlement and the net invoice price you paid for the vehicle, up to the maximum benefit shown in the policy.  You can buy Purchase Price Protection GAP Insurance from as little as £101.76.

Most vehicles are eligible and the vehicle doesn’t have to be brand new.

 

So before you purchase GAP Insurance through your dealer contact us first for a quote.

PS:  We can also offer GAP cover on contract hire vehicles, fleets and finance too!

Back to Top

Can the CatClamp save you money?

On September 5, 2012   /   Current News  

Recent years have seen a marked increase in instances of metal theft and in particular the theft of Catalytic Converters.

Thieves have typically been targeting commercial and sport utility vehicles, with the average replacement and repair costs averaging £2500.  This, as well as an increase in premiums, excess payments and lost business due to vehicles being off the road, can be an expensive experience.

A new product on the market called CatClamp has been invented to prevent thieves from stealing your catalytic converter. Its exclusive, patent pending, cable cage design surrounds converters with an aircraft grade stainless steel cable cage that’s virtually impossible to cut. Locked to the Car, 4X4 motorhome or LCV’s chassis with cable loops, it’s far too much trouble for thieves in a hurry.  Typical prices range from £175 for the standard model to £275 for the MAXX version.  A small price to pay considering the alternative.

For more information visit http://www.catsafe.org.uk/

For all your vehicle insurance requirements give the team a call on 01377 318255.

Back to Top

How to claim after a flood

On July 25, 2012   /   Current News  

Most insurers have emergency helplines and you can find these in your policy booklet or on our website https://www.a1insurance.co.uk/index.php/how-to-claim/ alternatively you can always ring A1 Insurance tel: 01377 318255.

Last year’s flooding left the insurance industry with a £1bn claims bill, a figure that could easily rise if the UK is hit by more bad weather.

What do I do now?

• Make a record of all flood damage by taking photographs or video and also mark the water levels on the walls for future reference.

• Keep a record of any correspondence you send or receive from your insurers relating to the flood

• If you need to, arrange for emergency repairs to be carried to stop further damage occurring.  Ensure you keep any receipts as you will need these for your claim.

• If you need extensive repairs carrying out make sure you get advice before commencing.  We can provide advice on finding reputable tradesmen and always check references before you engage someone to carry out the work.

• If the damage to your property is such that you need to move out while it is being repaired then check with us first.  Most policies will cover the cost of accommodation up to a specified limit.

• Make sure you let us know your new contact details if applicable so we can contact you during your claim.

You can also find further Flood information on the Environment Agency website http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/

For further information contact our offices on 01377 318255

 

Back to Top