Here's a smart report from the UK about Christmas shopping and how you can save yourself from getting ripped off:
But it's no good snapping up bargains if you then fall for other tricks of the trade such as expensive warranties, loans and store cards with hefty interest rates, or useless insurance.
These money-spinners rake in hundreds of millions of pounds for stores, while offering little benefit to consumers.
Sales assistants will push them because they can earn commission on every sale.
Insurance
If you're buying expensive gifts such as jewellery, watches and mobile phones, then you could be offered insurance in case they are lost or stolen.
Research by insurer Esure shows that a quarter of shoppers would buy these policies. But you can cover them all through your home insurance policy under personal possessions, whether they go missing at home or when you are out.
This will add a bit to the cost of your home insurance, but will be much better value than buying stand-alone cover.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Even Mobile Homes Need Insurance
Mobile home insurance?
It sounds like insurance for white trash.
I've needed owned a home. I'm looking into renters insurance. It can come to your aid if you are a blogger and you get sued for libel (in addition to other protections). One will usually get the best deal on things like renters insurance if you get it through the same company that insures your car, etc.
I got offers on renters insurance through my bank, Bank of America, but it was only for up to $30,000, which is not much help if you get sued for libel.
Well, maybe, but even white trash need home insurance, as this article illustrates:
As fire tore through Oakridge Mobile Home Park in Sylmar on Friday, some of its residents likely knew they would bear the entire burden of rebuilding.
About 500 mobile homes were destroyed in the fire. While it's unclear how many were uninsured, about one-fourth of mobile homes statewide – 82,000 – don't carry insurance, according to a Bee analysis of 2007 census data. Another 200,000 houses don't carry insurance.
"It's hard to determine why someone wouldn't get insurance on their home," said Tully Lehman, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Network of California, a nonprofit education organization. "Maybe they assume a disaster will never happen to them."
It's a problem that plagues Northern California wildfire hot spots, too. In Butte County, site of several large wildfires this year, about 8 percent of homes don't carry insurance.
It sounds like insurance for white trash.
I've needed owned a home. I'm looking into renters insurance. It can come to your aid if you are a blogger and you get sued for libel (in addition to other protections). One will usually get the best deal on things like renters insurance if you get it through the same company that insures your car, etc.
I got offers on renters insurance through my bank, Bank of America, but it was only for up to $30,000, which is not much help if you get sued for libel.
Well, maybe, but even white trash need home insurance, as this article illustrates:
As fire tore through Oakridge Mobile Home Park in Sylmar on Friday, some of its residents likely knew they would bear the entire burden of rebuilding.
About 500 mobile homes were destroyed in the fire. While it's unclear how many were uninsured, about one-fourth of mobile homes statewide – 82,000 – don't carry insurance, according to a Bee analysis of 2007 census data. Another 200,000 houses don't carry insurance.
"It's hard to determine why someone wouldn't get insurance on their home," said Tully Lehman, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Network of California, a nonprofit education organization. "Maybe they assume a disaster will never happen to them."
It's a problem that plagues Northern California wildfire hot spots, too. In Butte County, site of several large wildfires this year, about 8 percent of homes don't carry insurance.
Chaplains Respond To Fire Disaster
Here's a cool article about the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.
Duke Helfand writes:
The chaplains are accustomed to responding to disasters in some of the nation's poorest communities, places where people have no home insurance, if they own homes at all, and where victims are desperately in need of food, shelter and other essentials.
Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda presented a different, and unexpected, challenge.
On Monday, Stiles and fellow chaplain Ray Thompson of Laguna Niguel started their day at The Cascades apartment complex in Anaheim Hills, which had lost several units to the fire and looked like a burned-out ghost town.
Duke Helfand writes:
The chaplains are accustomed to responding to disasters in some of the nation's poorest communities, places where people have no home insurance, if they own homes at all, and where victims are desperately in need of food, shelter and other essentials.
Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda presented a different, and unexpected, challenge.
On Monday, Stiles and fellow chaplain Ray Thompson of Laguna Niguel started their day at The Cascades apartment complex in Anaheim Hills, which had lost several units to the fire and looked like a burned-out ghost town.
UK Street Crime Way Up
Brits are ticked that they are paying high taxes but getting little service.
Robberies are higher in Britain than in the US.
The National Health Service was rated as the worst government service.
So much for socialized medicine.
Michael Moore made the movie "Sicko" that said socialized medicine was wonderful.
The Democratic Party wants to bring socialized medicine to the US.
No thanks.
Report:
A third of the UK population have seen an increase in street crime in their neighbourhood over the past five years.
And a quarter of people said they felt unsafe walking in their neighbourhood at night, a report commissioned by home insurer LV showed.
The report, which polled 4,022 home owners and renters, also highlighted that policing and crime prevention are seen as just 'average' in most areas throughout the UK.
The Government recently announced a £500 million plan to revive deprived communities across the country, with the aim of cutting crime levels, improving educational services, and boosting job opportunities.
John O'Roarke, managing director of LV Home Insurance, said: "This paints a bleak picture of how large parts of society view their local areas, so this announcement by the Government to inject £500 million into certain areas to help tackle street crime is much needed.
"The Government has announced a number of steps to tackle neighbourhood concerns but only time will tell if they are enough."
Robberies are higher in Britain than in the US.
The National Health Service was rated as the worst government service.
So much for socialized medicine.
Michael Moore made the movie "Sicko" that said socialized medicine was wonderful.
The Democratic Party wants to bring socialized medicine to the US.
No thanks.
Report:
A third of the UK population have seen an increase in street crime in their neighbourhood over the past five years.
And a quarter of people said they felt unsafe walking in their neighbourhood at night, a report commissioned by home insurer LV showed.
The report, which polled 4,022 home owners and renters, also highlighted that policing and crime prevention are seen as just 'average' in most areas throughout the UK.
The Government recently announced a £500 million plan to revive deprived communities across the country, with the aim of cutting crime levels, improving educational services, and boosting job opportunities.
John O'Roarke, managing director of LV Home Insurance, said: "This paints a bleak picture of how large parts of society view their local areas, so this announcement by the Government to inject £500 million into certain areas to help tackle street crime is much needed.
"The Government has announced a number of steps to tackle neighbourhood concerns but only time will tell if they are enough."
Friday, September 19, 2008
Don't Go Without 'Home Insurance'
Report from UK:
Although many people are having to cope with uncertain economic conditions, households have been advised not to cut their car or home insurance in order to save money.
Defaqto urged consumers not to cancel their insurance policies "without giving it serious thought".
"Car insurance is required by law, and home insurance is vital to protect your house and belongings," the firm stated.
In order to find the best car and home insurance deals, people ought to consider using online aggregators to "shop around".
However, it is important that consumers are aware of what level of cover their new policy provides, it added.
Graeme Trudgill, technical and corporate affairs executive at the British Insurance Brokers' Association, recently advised motorists not to accept it when they car insurance provider increases the price of their premiums.
Although many people are having to cope with uncertain economic conditions, households have been advised not to cut their car or home insurance in order to save money.
Defaqto urged consumers not to cancel their insurance policies "without giving it serious thought".
"Car insurance is required by law, and home insurance is vital to protect your house and belongings," the firm stated.
In order to find the best car and home insurance deals, people ought to consider using online aggregators to "shop around".
However, it is important that consumers are aware of what level of cover their new policy provides, it added.
Graeme Trudgill, technical and corporate affairs executive at the British Insurance Brokers' Association, recently advised motorists not to accept it when they car insurance provider increases the price of their premiums.
The Future For American Home
American Home Assurance Company, which writes property risk and casualty insurance in the Jamaican market, is awaiting a pronouncement of its long-term future following this week's near collapse of its parent, American Insurance Group (AIG).
AIG, caught in America's sub-prime mortgage crisis, was pulled back from the brink on Monday with a $40 billion bail-out package from the US central bank, the Federal Reserve.
The development has placed question marks over the future of AIG's small subsidiaries, like the one in Jamaica.
"I am awaiting directives (from the parent group) before I can say anything to the press," said American Home's general manager, Earl Codling.
AIG, caught in America's sub-prime mortgage crisis, was pulled back from the brink on Monday with a $40 billion bail-out package from the US central bank, the Federal Reserve.
The development has placed question marks over the future of AIG's small subsidiaries, like the one in Jamaica.
"I am awaiting directives (from the parent group) before I can say anything to the press," said American Home's general manager, Earl Codling.
Are Sports Injuries Subject To Home Insurance?
Here's a report from the UK:
A home insurance warning has been issued by a provider, after new figures revealed that liability claims for sports injuries are increasing.
According to Esure, more policies were being claimed on through personal liability for sport injuries. Personal liability is usually included with home contents policies, although it has remained unused.
Esure have issued the warning as there is potentially a large financial cost of being hit with such a case, and not having insurance can become very complex..
A spokesperson for Esure stated: “Fire, flood, theft and accidental damage are the perils that most people see themselves using their home contents insurance for - but personal liability cover can be a life saver for anyone claimed against. Although it is one of the rarest, it is also the most serious types of claim.”
A home insurance warning has been issued by a provider, after new figures revealed that liability claims for sports injuries are increasing.
According to Esure, more policies were being claimed on through personal liability for sport injuries. Personal liability is usually included with home contents policies, although it has remained unused.
Esure have issued the warning as there is potentially a large financial cost of being hit with such a case, and not having insurance can become very complex..
A spokesperson for Esure stated: “Fire, flood, theft and accidental damage are the perils that most people see themselves using their home contents insurance for - but personal liability cover can be a life saver for anyone claimed against. Although it is one of the rarest, it is also the most serious types of claim.”
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