Under the proposed law changes owners will also be required to micro-chip their dogs and are considering plans to keep the most dangerous varieties muzzled-even in their own property as well as issuing ‘DOGBOs’, the canine equivalent of ‘ASBOS’ against dogs displaying signs of anti social behaviour.

Figures released by the Conservative party suggest that there are 100 people every week treated in hospital after being bitten by dogs.

In a survey by the Dog Trust it was found that the majority of dog owners questioned, 88%, would support such legislation.

Other measures being considered are an outright ban on some breeds of dog in the UK.

vw golf gti

Research by insurance company SwiftCover.com has revealed that motorists are paying over the odds for motor insurance when choosing flashy hot hatch GTI style cars over similar standard versions of the same make and model.

This is no real surprise and has always been the case particularly as the high end versions offer better performance and generally all round better specifications. Indeed it could be argued that the sporty versions often offer better safety systems than the standard model.

None the less the report points out that in the example of a 30 year old male with five years no claims discount, it would cost £1,000 to purchase cover on a VW Golf GTi, compared to less than half of that cost to insure the VW Golf S model.

The study says that on average motorists would save themselves £513 per year on insurance by choosing standard model cars over the much more tempting sporty versions.

You pays your money, you takes your choice!

Hastings Direct and sister brands, Renew, Insure and Likewise are investing in state of the art technology that will help them to seek out and reject the customers who are likely to make a fraudulent claims at point of sale.

Fraudulent claims are said to cost the motor insurance industry £1.9 billion each year and cost the innocent motorist an extra £100 per year on their insurance premium.

A pilot scheme that was set up a couple of months ago by the group, revealed that 15% of potential clients had given incorrect driving licence details, such as using old licences to get around speeding convictions and the like.

Chief executive of Hastings Direct,  Edward Fitzmaurice, says:

“We feel strongly about the fact that honest drivers, who have built up their no-claims bonuses, should not be forced to ‘bail out’ those who are intent on trying to defraud the system.”

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) say that £639 million was paid out over the course of the first six months of 2009, a staggering £3.6 million each day for damage caused by fires.

The plague continues to grow and looks set to exceed the twelve month record set in 2008 when insurers recorded £1.3 billion losses to fire damage in the UK.

The ABI claim in their report ‘Tackling Fire: A Call For Action’ that arson accounts for over half of all commercial fires and tends to increase in times of recession. They say that socially deprived areas and schools are particularly vulnerable, with twenty schools a week currently suffering from some form of arson attack.

The report suggests that while the number of fires reported are falling the increase in large scale fires is increasingly putting lives at risk as well as the incredible financial burden on owners and insurance companies in these difficult times.

The new product developed by HomeLet is launched this month and includes buildings and contents insurance and offers an unparalleled level of cover including Emergency Assistance and up to £500,000 of buildings cover as standard.

Key areas of cover include loss of rent or re-letting costs following a claim, enabling the landlord to recover rent for up to two years (up to £50,000) if something serious happens and the tenant is forced to move out.

HomeLet Managing Director John Boyle said;

“Landlords, particularly in today’s economy when unemployment and crime are both on the increase, are exposed to more risks than ever before. There’s a real need for a specialist insurance policy that covers landlords against the potential risk that they face. HomeLet’s Landlord’s Insurance+ is our most comprehensive and competitively priced landlord’s product to date.

It’s unlike anything else currently available on the market. One of the many benefits for example is automatic cover for kitchen fixtures and fittings and bathroom sanitaryware in leasehold properties within the contents section of cover.

When it comes to taking risk out of property rental, HomeLet is the specialist. We’ve been in the industry since the birth of buy-to-let, which means we have more experience than anyone else. We’ve used our specialist knowledge of the residential lettings industry to develop some of the most comprehensive and cost-effective products on the market today which is why we’re number one.”

British Gas, which is owned by Centrica, has won approval from the Financial Services Authority to underwrite its own household and warranty products and the company is currently looking to recruit an underwriting director to operate from their offices in Staines.

The utilities company has a customer base of 4.5 million and the new charge will be responsible for converting a ‘high percentage’ of existing British Gas clients to new insurance products.

The new director will also be commissioned by British Gas Insurance Ltd, to create a top ten UK insurance provider within the two to three year time span.

Their research says that 35% of the public will turn to online auction sites and market places to hunt for bargain Christmas gifts and 40% will be happy to turn a blind eye to potentially stolen goods if the price is right.

Experts warn online shoppers to check out the background of independent sellers online, with one in twelve shoppers previously falling victim to criminals selling stolen or fake goods.

LV= also warn shoppers to be on their guard, saying that anything stolen or counterfeit will not be covered by a home insurance policy so shoppers buying these goods could find themselves or their family out of pocket. Furthermore, buying from these sellers encourages further criminal activity such as burglary and theft.

LV= offers the following advice to avoid ‘black market’ goods:

• Carefully check the description and photographs of the item online and compare with other examples for sale.
• Check if the price is similar to other sellers, and if it is much lower be suspicious.
• When buying a designer item, such as a watch or bag, check that you are getting all the extras such as the box and certificate of authenticity.
• If you are buying a designer watch, check that the number engraved on the watch itself matches the number on the certificate of authenticity.
• If buying expensive items, avoid private sellers and buy from registered UK businesses. These are by law required to provide an address and phone number.
• When dealing with private sellers, ask for a name and check they have working contact details before you part with any money and always check their online ‘feedback’.
• Avoid any seller who asks for payment only by cash or by moneygram type services.
• Check if there’s a refund and returns policy – all legitimate UK businesses have to offer refunds and returns.
• If you’re dealing with an independent private seller, ask about their refund policy and get this in writing so you are less vulnerable in the event of the item being damaged, stolen or counterfeit.
• Use online reviews and reputation sites to check out sellers.
• Pay by credit card or take advantage of protection schemes provided by online payment suppliers. You will then be protected if the goods do not arrive or turn out to be fakes.
• One of the biggest risks of ending up with stolen or counterfeit goods is when purchasing from abroad. Be particularly cautious when buying from China, Nigeria and Romania.

The research takes into account eleven different driving behaviours, some required by law and others considered to be courteous or sensible. The survey reveals that motorists in the UK are less likely to drink and drive than our European neighbours, only 4% admitting to the crime in the UK, compared to a European average of 21% and 40% in Luxembourg.

Britons are more likely to wear a seat belt, but less likely to use a mobile phone while driving than Europeans in general. The UK  motorist also has the lowest rate of speeding, jumping traffic lights and crossing a solid white line to overtake.

So just where does the average British motorist fall down?

One of the main criticisms of the UK driver is that they do not take regular ‘rest breaks’ when driving for more than two hours, an area that only motorists from Germany and Luxembourg can compete with. UK drivers are also liable to ‘undertake’ more than any of their European counterparts other than the Germans and Portuguese.

take care on the slopes

With skiing holidays becoming among the most popular winter vacations for UK residents, specialist insurer PJ Hayman have listed their Top Five Tips for those venturing onto the ski slopes.

“With scores of Brits expected to visit popular skiing destinations this season, it is imperative to keep safety at the forefront at all times. No matter how seasoned the skier, there are certain guidelines that should be adhered to, to ensure a safe and enjoyable on the piste experience.”

1. Wear appropriate clothing and safety gear
   Wrap up warm on the slopes and make sure you have all the necessary equipment to keep you safe when skiing e.g. wearing a helmet. Double check your ski equipment before using it to ensure it is all in order.
2. Stick to the slopes you are comfortable with
   Whether trying out a new resort for the first time, or returning to an area you are familiar with, it is imperative to feel safe on the slopes. This may mean a “back to basics” approach to begin with, until you feel ready to try the more adventurous runs.
3. Ensure you obtain adequate travel insurance to cover for any mishaps on the slopes
   Whilst a fun activity, skiing can be a hazardous sport and it is imperative to have sufficient travel insurance should anything go wrong. Make sure you carry your documents with you at all times so that you are not refused help if you have an accident on the slopes. It is also important to check your policy to ensure that you are adequately covered, particularly if you are planning to go off-piste.
4. Check the weather conditions
   Before hitting the slopes, it is wise to check the predicted weather conditions so you are not caught out or put in danger by any unexpected snow storms.
5. Don’t over indulge in après ski!
   Although it is tempting to have a tipple or two at lunch time, the high altitude can affect your reactions to alcohol. Be wary of this when treating yourself after a morning of skiing

Cover for winter sports can be obtained from reputable travel insurance providers including P J Hayman who have a Travel Plus travel insurance product which offers FREE winter sports cover with annual multi trip policies.

In September this year it was reported that Helphire had been hit on several fronts when Arcomas ended their association with the company, the owners of AA and Saga insurance had accounted for one fifth of Helphire turnover.

At the same time the financial crisis took it’s effect on Helphire who saw a fall in business through fewer vehicles and less accidents on the roads as well as a massive depreciation in it’s stock of vehicles.

The new agreement has been welcomed by both parties, Helphire saying that customers would enjoy high quality accident management services and the company was committed to offering high level service.

Hastings said the agreement with Helphire provides a product offering that caters for the needs of its customers and is adaptable depending on the markets changing needs.