Jan
20

How to Claim Against a Travel Insurance Policy

When the unthinkable happens on holiday it is always a good idea to make sure you are protected with an insurance policy. Insurance policies are designed to cover the loss or theft of items and also for medical expenses should an injury occur while away from home.

In some cases the insurance company insist on an official report as to what has happened to an item or items that have been lost or stolen. In the cases of theft this could be a police report, so if the traveller notices the item missing while still abroad, making contact with the local police department to report the incident is the best way to start. The loss of an item should be reported to the holiday rep, if appropriate and for cases of injury, medical reports will be required.

A claim can be made directly with the travel insurance company, simply by making a phone call. They will advise on what paperwork will be required, depending on the individual claim being made. Simple claims are often paid out within a few weeks, but in the case of more complicated problems or those where on-going medical expenses are involved, the process is likely to take much longer.

Jan
24

Travel Insurance: Making a Claim

Going on holiday without travel insurance is inadvisable.  No one can guess what will happen while abroad but a lost camera or piece of jewellery can be replaced.  Sickness or injury can be much more of a problem when dealing with foreign countries.

If you are unfortunate enough to need to make a claim on your travel insurance while you are away, the necessary contact information should be detailed on the insurance policy documents.  If not or you forgot to bring the paperwork with you, then your holiday rep may be able to help.  Simply call the insurance company to make your claim, explaining what is lost or what medical care is needed and they will talk you through the rest.

If you are claiming for the loss or theft of an item then the insurance company may need proof that it has been reported to the relevant authorities.  A police report is often requested.  If the loss is not noticed until arrival back in the UK, then your insurance company will advise you of any official paperwork needed.

In the case of claims for medical bills, the insurance company will need full details of the hospital or doctor who has been treating you.  In many cases they will then deal with these institutions on your behalf.  The travel insurance company will pay the bills directly, giving you peace of mind and far less to worry about.

Nov
02

What to Do When You’ve Had a Car or Van Accident

Car or van accidents can happen at any time and to the best of drivers.  People who have been on the road for decades without anything untoward happening can still run the risk of accidents or damage occurring.

For experienced as well as new drivers, it is advisable to take a minute to consider the things you should do in case of an accident.  Some words of advice are not only meant as reassurance or guidance but remind you of your legal and car or van insurance obligations.

Stay Calm and Remember the Details
Sudden accidents can unsettle you, whether in the case of major or minor accidents.  Staying calm is the best first tip as it will help you deal with the accident’s aftermath rationally and efficiently.  Regardless of whether you personally caused the accident or not, you are legally obliged to stop and either call the police and/or ambulance or exchange your details with the other involved parties.

What Details Should You Exchange and How to Report an Accident
The details you exchange with the other involved parties are your name and address, the names and addresses of the other drivers and the registration plates of your vehicles.

Should you not exchange details, you need to report the accident to the police by the next day.  You should report the accident to your insurer, even if you do not want to file a claim.

Aug
05

Home insurance – What’s covered?

When taking out home insurance, it is always a good idea to check what you will be covered for. The main things that will be covered are theft and damage. If anyone breaks into your home and takes any items, you will be covered. If items are taken outside of your home, such as your car or an item from inside your car, then you will be covered.

Home insurance also usually covers you for damage caused by floods, earthquakes, fires and storms. You will even be covered for any damage caused by vehicles or airplanes crashing into your home. Any leakages or accidental breakages will also be covered. If you or a family member accidentally break an item or any malicious damage is caused by someone breaking into your home, then home insurance will cover it.

There may be cases where you are unable to claim home insurance. If you have caused damage to your home or any items intentionally, then you will usually not be covered. Researching and comparing different policies will give you a general idea of what you will and will not be covered for.

If you are a tenant, then you can have all your personal items protected by taking out contents insurance. Whilst contents insurance is optional for some people, many estate agents are now making it compulsory for tenants renting from them to have such a policy. This is due to the fact that any personal items taken into a rented home are not the responsibility of the landlord so it is vital that tenants have contents insurance to ensure that their own items, such as TVs, jewellery or clothes, are protected. 

Jul
20

Contents insurance – what’s covered?

Taking out contents insurance will ensure that your personal items are protected. If you are a homeowner, then contents insurance may be taken out alongside your buildings insurance. If you are a tenant, then you will need contents insurance for all your items that you will be moving into your rented accommodation, such as TVs, DVD players, clothes and jewellery. Many estate agents have now made contents insurance compulsory to ensure that tenants have cover for any items that do not belong to the landlord.

Items that are usually covered for contents insurance include TVs, clothes, furniture curtains and in some cases, even food. There are items that you may need extra contents insurance for as they may not be covered on your policy. This mainly applies to items that you carry around or items that are kept outside your home, such as bikes and equipment in a greenhouse or garden shed. You may need to check whether or not you will be covered for items that you keep in a handbag or any electrical items that you carry around, such as a laptop.

If you take items out of your home regularly for long distance journeys, then you may wish to apply for travel insurance instead, as this type of insurance is more likely to provide cover for your items. Vandalism, damage by floods or earthquakes and theft are the main things that you will be covered for when taking out contents insurance.

In some cases, you may not be covered for contents insurance. If you have lost or damaged an item outside of your home, then you may not be covered. Damaging items intentionally will also prevent you from claiming contents insurance. It is always best to check what you will be covered for, so that you have a good idea of whether or not your claim for contents insurance will be accepted.

Jul
09

How to make a house insurance claim

When making a claim on your house building insurance or house contents insurance, there are a few basic steps you can take to make the process as simple as possible:

1.    Check whether your claim is covered. If still in doubt after reading your policy documents, contact your insurance company for clarification.

2.    Get a claim form from your insurer. This should be done as soon as the loss, theft, or damage to your home or possession(s) occurs. Complete the form as soon as possible and return it to your insurance company, with an estimate for any cost of repairs or replacements. If you cannot get estimates quickly, return the form and send the estimates when you get them.

3.    Keep all of the damaged items. There is a good possibility that the insurance company will want to see them. Keep any receipts for emergency repairs; they may become part of your claim.

4.    If your claim is substantial, there is high likelihood that your insurance company will send out a claims adjuster (loss adjuster). This individual will take a look at the claim as a whole and any/all items reported within it. The claims adjuster is not an impartial entity, but is there to represent the insurance company.

5.    In claims of substantial size, you can contact a claims assessor (loss assessor). These individuals work on a commission basis (paid by you) and can represent your interests and deal with the insurance company on your behalf.

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