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Archive for March, 2009

UK’s Low Income Families Lack Adequate Home Insurance Protection

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

For many of us, it is difficult to believe that in this day and age there are families within the UK that are struggling to afford even the most basic insurance protection for their homes. As the UK also continues to feel the effect of the current economic climate, more and more low income families in the UK are finding it increasingly difficult to pay for their home insurance.

The Home Office released alarming statistics with figures showing 56% of the UK’s poorest families do not have home insurance. Furthermore, these low income households actually face a higher risk of being burgled than the national average – statistics indicate they have a 71% chance of being burgled.

 Whilst the insurance industry recognizes the need to provide further support to these families, the high risk of burglary in these areas forces underwriters to increase the cost of premiums for people living in many of these communities.

 

The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, held a top level summit meeting on March 10, 2009 with the leading insurance industry leaders to discuss how to combat the take up of home insurance amongst Britain’s poorest families.

 Initial suggestions include making improvements to home security in order to reduce premiums and thereby open up insurance access to these individuals.

At Quotesearcher we would echo these sentiments as improving home security is an excellent way of reducing your home insurance premium.

If you’re interested in improving the security of your home, consider the following:

  1. Ensure that your home is properly secured when you leave it. This sounds obvious, but take the time to ensure that all windows are closed and doors are locked. Many burglars are opportunists, so if your home looks secure they may be deterred.
  2. Take reasonable precautions to secure your home. For example, if your property can be accessed from the rear or side via a gate invest in a sturdy padlock so you’re not making it easy for potential burglars to access your home.
  3. Invest in secure locks for your home, and have a qualified locksmith install them. Key security considerations should include: Deadlocks to doors, secure locks to windows and secure window shutters.
     

For more information, the Home Office Guidelines can be viewed via the following link: Home Office Domestic Security Guidelines.

Further details on security measures can be viewed on the Masters Locksmith Association site at: Masters Locksmith Association Security Guide.

Here at Quotesearcher we’re also committed to providing our customers with the very best deals on home insurance. First and foremost, we’d always recommend that people shop around to make sure that they get the best deal for them. So rather than simply renewing your home insurance with your current provider why not view the latest deals from our partners and get a competitive home insurance quote today.

You’ve nothing to lose, and you could save money – something which is front of mind for all of us right now!

Sources:

Insurance Times, 26/3/09

Locksmiths – http://www.locksmiths.co.uk/pdf/homeSecurity/Guidelinesforsecurity.pdf

 Home Office – http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/burglary/burglary084.htm

 

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Thank you for BST

Monday, March 30th, 2009

Woohoo….It has seemed like a long time coming, but eventually British Summer Time (BST) is upon us.

I don’t know about you, but it seems like we’ve just had the longest, darkest, coldest winter ever. I felt I was being starved of sunshine and my eyes only able to see, grey, blacks and whites!!

Not anymore – We can now look forward to the longer, sunnier, brighter days. It’s like watching an old black and white TV suddenly change to high definition colour.
This to me is all made official when the clocks SPRING forward!!

The proposal for BST is 102 years old this year, and was first introduced to the UK in 1916. The man behind the idea was William Willett an avid early morning horse rider, who was incensed at the idea of people wasting the glorious morning daylight hours by still being in bed.

Willett campaigned for years to get the Government to adopt this new time changing regime, though it wasn’t until after his death in 1915 that it was first introduced, and we’ve been doing it ever since.

Thank you Mr Willett for giving me more daylight in the Spring and Summer evenings, if I can find enough time after having to reset all my clocks, watches, microwave, DVD player, car clock and boiler etc I promise to make the most of the time by having copious amounts of BBQ’s (weather permitting) and exploring the horticultural delights of the local pub garden (weather permitting).

There are so many positives for having more daylight hours, the crime rate falls, energy consumption goes down, and there are less car accidents on the roads. We all know that less car accidents = lower car insurance premiums = Quotesearcher.co.uk….. (I had to get it in there somewhere)

I do wish however, that I didn’t have to lose out on my one hour of yesterday – I feel slightly jet lagged as a result. If anyone can think of an idea how to spring the clocks forward but not lose the one hour I’d love to hear from you – answers on a post card please…..

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You Can Run But You Cannot Hide!

Monday, March 16th, 2009

I don’t think there is an industry that hasn’t been affected by the credit crunch – And that includes insurance.

Most people think that insurance is pretty much recession proof, as lets face it – its just one of those things the majority of people daren’t be without.

But even insurance companies are feeling the squeeze as they are having to hire extra staff and install expensive technology to try and combat the growing number of fraudulent claims being made due to the economic downturn.

One major insurer claims a whopping 46% increase in fraud over the last six months which is estimated to cost the industry a whopping £1.75 billion a year.

Many insurers have already forked out on telephone system lie detectors – where customers calling to report claims have their voices monitored by the super high tech software which then indicates if they are giving false information.

The software is able to detect the changes in a customers voice caused by increased levels of stress – hesitation and repetition have been identified as tell tale signs of someone who is not telling the truth.

Be afraid, be very afraid!!

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Busy Busy Busy….

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

It’s all systems go here at Quotesearcher HQ, as our motor quote system has taken off so successfully, we are busy preparing the launch of our other online quote products – Home and Van insurance.

The intelligent, techy bits of the new quoting systems are all ready for us to link up to our insurance quoting panel – that’s the bit we are working on at the moment. Unfortunately it’s not just a case of “hey presto” we have to make sure everything matches up perfectly so that all the quotes we return are accurate.

We are working towards a mid April to early May launch of these products, and after that we have even more products planned. So when you drive your car, van or motorcycle, from your house or flat, to your boat, past your shop with your dog or cat and breakdown – remember Quotesearcher will be able to quote for it all.

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