Archive for the Current News Category
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.
This week Ian Darnbrook looks at the benefits of taking out Learner Driver Cover over adding an additional driver to your current policy.
“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.”
Homesitters could save you money!
Oak Underwriting are offering policyholders a discount on their renewal if they use the services of Homesitters Ltd.
When you’re away Homesitters will stay in your home and look after everything – pets, garden, security – providing complete peace of mind for you, your animals and your insurers.
Homesitters’ clients take better-than-average care of their properties. They plan ahead; they are prepared to spend substantial sums to protect their homes and possessions; and they are likely to make fewer claims.
In recognition of this, insurers such as Oak Underwriting will consider Homesitters’ service within their underwriting criteria. In addition, many will give premium reductions off household insurances to those policyholders who use their services.
For more information get in touch or call 01377 318255.
- You might already be covered!
Now is the time many students are leaving home for the first time looking forward to Freshers Week Celebrations as they arrive at University and College.
Banks, Universities and Colleges are suggesting to students that they need to cover their belongings whilst away from home and they can offer an insurance solution.
A1 Insurance TIP: Before you take one of these policies ask your home contents insurers if their policy extends to cover belongings of family members whilst they are attending such establishments. Many of the policies we provide do this FREE OF CHARGE.
Why not ask us for a quotation – call 01377 318255
If you have suffered loss or damage as a result of the recent riots, please be aware that insurers require immediate notification in order to lodge a 
claim in writing with the relevant Police Authority within the recorded deadline. Losses caused by rioting can be recovered from the local Police Authority in whose areas that damage occurred. Claims for the recovery of such losses are known as subrogation claims and must be made within a strict 14 day deadline.
A full definition of riot is included within the Public Order Act (1986). One of the key elements is “12 or more persons must be present together and use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose and the conduct of them (taken together) is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety”.
Please contact your insurer as soon as you are aware of any damage or losses caused by rioting. There may be some restrictions in place preventing people returning to their premises but if Insurers have an early notification of a possible claim they will be better prepared to help.
For any further information, do not hesitate to contact A1 Insurance on 01377 318255.
Stoners Jewellers in Harrogate have sadly seen a number of people unable to replace lost or stolen jewellery with exact replacements due to out
of date valuations. Consumers should have their jewellery valued every year to ensure items are adequately insured.
Diamonds have increased in price by almost 20% in the last year making a diamond ring that was worth £5000 last year now worth £6000. This means that if the worst happens to this diamond ring and an up to date valuation isn’t in place you might be unable to get a like-for-like replacement. To ensure this doesn’t happen Stoners Jewellers provide a thorough and professional in-house jewellery and watch valuation service to ensure clients are adequately insured. Once the initial valuation is carried out, only yearly re-evaluations are required. If you have a number of watches or pieces of jewellery then Stoners provide an ‘At Home’ service where an expert from Stoners will come to you and carry out the valuation at your convenience. So, please don’t find yourself in this position and ensure you have your jewellery and watches valued on a yearly basis.
Please contact A1 Insurance if you want to check if you’re adequately covered on 01377 318255.
For more information on jewellery and watch valuations please contact Chris Stoner on 01423 561458 or email chris@stonergroup.co.uk. Alternatively visit www.stonergroup.co.uk.
AVCIS advise motorists to follow these guidelines to prevent their vehicles from being targeted by criminals:
Don't let your vehicle be next!
- Ensure that car keys are not left in sight within your house: thieves often fish keys through letterboxes and open windows
- If you have a garage, store your car there whenever possible
- With the summer months approaching, people often leave doors and windows open: ensure your keys aren’t easily accessible for opportunist thieves, but equally do not hide them and put yourself at risk of harm from a determined thief
- Lock your car whenever you leave it. Even if you are simply unloading the car, make sure that you remove the keys and lock the vehicle. If your car is stolen through these means if often invalidates your insurance
Almost 9,000 vehicles across the UK were stolen in just 36 days at the beginning of 2011, reports the Association of Chief Police Officers Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS).
This new data illustrates that 50 per cent of thefts were made when a vehicle was left at the owner’s home address or close by, including 17.6 per cent through the burglary of properties to obtain car keys.
A third were stolen when vehicles were away from the home and four per cent of crimes during the 36 day sample were made by opportunist thieves, where keys were left in or within easy reach of the vehicle. Shockingly, this would mean that annually 3,400 thefts could be easily prevented through heightened awareness.
For more information on vehicle crime and AVCIS visit www.avcis.police.uk .
Did you know most motor policies will not give you a courtesy vehicle if you vehicle is stolen and it can take up to a month for an insurer to settle a theft claim and this can be a big problem if you are self employed and don’t have a replacement vehicle to use for work.
We can offer an insurance product which gives a replacement vehicle following a theft or total loss claim for 14 days or 28 days starting from an annual premium of £20.00.
For more information give us a ring on 01937 544784.
The workman’s favourite is the most popular vehicle to be stolen in the first quarter of 2011,* illustrating that it’s not just those with high-end vehicles that need to be wary of theft. Not only does a van such as the Ford Transit prove to be valuable in terms of spare parts or as scrap metal, but the lure of potential tools and other contents stored in the back makes it irresistible for thieves.
“Vehicles appearing in the list may surprise motorists,” said Head of AVCIS, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Hooper. Although high-end cars are stolen to order by criminals, those driving more affordable vehicles should not be complacent. Whatever vehicle you drive, security should always be a priority.”
Top ten stolen vehicles in Q1 2011
Top of Car Thieves Hit List
- Ford Transit
- Vauxhall Astra
- Ford Fiesta
- Volkswagen Golf
- Vauxhall Corsa
- BMW 3 Series
- Ford Focus
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
- Ford Mondeo
- Honda Civic
Did you know most motor policies will not give you a courtesy vehicle if you vehicle is stolen and it can take up to a month for an insurer to settle a theft claim. This can be a big problem if you’re self employed and don’t have a replacement vehicle to use for work.
We can offer an insurance product which gives a replacement vehicle following a theft or total loss claim for 14 days or 28 days starting from an annual premium of £20.00.
For further information contact us on 01937 544784 or click here.
BIBA – the British Insurance Brokers’ Association give the following advice if you are involved in an accident.
Do you know what to do?
- If you have a vehicle accident which causes injury or damage, you must give your name and address, and details of your insurance policy to anyone who reasonably needs it.
- If you’re involved in an accident, do not admit liability. Take the name and address of the other driver, and details of their insurance company, and of any witnesses. If anyone is injured, call the police. If they do not attend the scene, or if someone else’s property has been damaged, the accident must be reported to the police within 24 hours.
- You must tell your insurance company about the accident, even if you do not intend making a claim, as you will always need to report and incident. Your broker can advise you about whether you should make a claim or not.
- If you intend to claim, you’ll have to contact your broker. You should wait for the go-ahead from your insurance company before having your vehicle repaired. They may want a damage assessor to look at it, or you may have to supply estimates before the work is done. Some insurers may have their own repair schemes, where you can take the vehicle to garages which may be able to start repairs immediately.
- If you have to pay a proportion of the repair costs, then you must pay this to the repairer irrespective of who was to blame for the accident. Should you decide to go ahead with the repair yourself, you are responsible for the cost until your insurers have agreed to pay. But beware of taking this course of action, because if the insurer can show repairs could have been done cheaper somewhere else, they may pay a lesser amount than you claim.
- If your vehicle is not worth repairing, the insurance company will offer you a lump sum for it. This is known as a ‘write-off’ or ‘total-loss’. The damaged vehicle then belongs to them.
- After an accident, you may incur expenses which are not covered by your policy – examples are the cost of hiring a car while yours is repaired, or compensation for personal injury. Such expenses might be claimed against a third party – again, your broker will be able to give you all the advice you need.
For more advice on Car Insurance get in touch – we’ll be happy to help and advise tel: 01377 318255.
