UK Insurance

Churchill Car Insurance Claims Procedure- 2

2008-02-04T03:45:00.000Z

This is part II of the article. Please start reading this article from Part I onwards
You need to exchange details with those involved including:
• Name, address and phone number

• Vehicle make and model

• Registration number

• Insurance company

• Policy number

• Write down details of the accident and draw a sketch map of what happened. If you have a camera, take photos

• Take a note of the names, addresses and registration numbers of any witnesses

• If your car cannot be driven, we will usually arrange for it to be taken to the nearest suitable repairer with our 24 hour accident recovery service

Making a claim

After an accident

• After an accident, you need to tell us as soon as possible, we have a 24 hour claim line to make it easy to contact us. The number is 0845 603 3599

• We will then talk you through what happens next and take the details of your claim over the telephone

• We will tell you where your nearest recommended repairer is and organise for them to contact you

• Our recommended repairer will also arrange a courtesy car whilst your car is being repaired

• Alternatively, you can have your car repaired at another garage but you must make sure we approve an estimate before having repairs carried out. Please do not take your car in for repairs before we have approved the estimate

• Please don't forget you will be required to pay any agreed excess as shown on your Schedule

The Claims process for Churchill Car Insurance

As the claim proceeds you should follow our recommendations to make the claims procedure as quick and simple as possible. Keep all receipts and copies of any letters linked to your claim.

Link to previous articles:
Churchill Car Insurance Claims Procedure
Churchill Car insurance - Enhanced Courtesy Car
Churchill Car Insurance - Legal Assistance Service
Churchill Car Insurance: Online Quote Underlying Assumptions
Life Insurance with Critical Illness Cover: Types of cover
Direct Line Critical Illness Cover Overview

Churchill Car Insurance Claims Procedure

2008-02-01T04:05:00.000Z

Churchill Car Insurance guarantees you full peace of mind while buying car insurance through smooth and easy online process or call and buy process. The same kind of friendly and helpful process can be expected from Churchill while making a claim for a Car Insurance if you’ve bought a car insurance policy from Churchill.

Being involved in an accident can be very traumatic. By being prepared, knowing what to do at the time and having a quick and easy claims process, you'll feel more in control and confident about how the process works.

Churchill Insurance Claim helpline 24 hour phone number is: 0845 603 3599.

However, just before you call us, make sure you have the right documents and the required information that is required by law. Hence, below we mention a checklist for you to ensure that you have the required and necessary things to make your car travel safer and enjoyable. Not only that, in case of a misfortunate incident of an accident, we also provide you with a list of what you should carry in your car and what should you do if you find yourself in an accident situation.

Be prepared with the following in your car

It's always useful to have these things in your car in case of an accident:
• Pen and paper

• First aid kit

• Torch

What to do at the accident scene

If you find yourself in an accident

• Stop! You must stop after an accident by law

• You should check to see if anyone is hurt and if needed call an ambulance

• If there has been an injury, you need to tell the Police and get an incident number

• Providing it is safe to do so, you should not move the cars before an independent witness (if one is available) has noted their positions

• Even if you feel you are at fault do not admit liability at the scene as we will take care of this for you

Link to previous articles:
Churchill Car insurance - Enhanced Courtesy Car
Churchill Car Insurance - Legal Assistance Service
Churchill Car Insurance: Online Quote Underlying Assumptions
Life Insurance with Critical Illness Cover: Types of cover
Direct Line Critical Illness Cover Overview
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims FAQ

Churchill Car insurance - Enhanced Courtesy Car

2008-01-31T03:52:00.000Z

Churchill Car Insurance provides you with loads of add on benefits when you buy car insurance from Churchill Car Insurance. One such good add on feature or benefit is that you get an enhanced courtesy car cover starting at just 2.28 GBP per month. Read on for the details:

Enhanced Courtesy Car cover from just £2.28 a month.

If you rely on your car, you need to be able to rely on your cover. A courtesy car which is, for example, much smaller or less powerful, could turn simple things like getting the kids to school into a nightmare.
Designed for customers who need more than the standard courtesy car that we offer, Enhanced Courtesy Car cover guarantees you a replacement car similar to your own.

Just what you need?

The Enhanced Courtesy Car product could be just for you if you
• Drive a larger or more powerful car

• Drive a car with seven seats like an MPV

• Have high annual mileage

• Have only one car in the household

• Use your car for commuting/business use

• Drive a van

What do I get?

• A replacement car for repairs and write offs and if the car is stolen

• A car of a similar size - up to a large family estate, mini MPV or small van

• A replacement car within 24 hours of registering your claim

• £500 transport allowance (for public transport and taxis) if you are injured and unable to drive

• £50 emergency fund to complete your journey if your car is taken away after the accident

• Cover for up to 28 days from registering your claim

How do I buy?

To buy Enhanced Courtesy Car simply tick the box when you apply online or call us anytime to take out this cover.

For just £27.30 a year for comprehensive customers there will be no need to worry about getting around should you have to claim. You can also add this to non-comprehensive policies for just £38.85.

Upgrading your car after a claim can prove costly, from just £2.28 per month we will make sure you get the cover that suits your needs.

Link to previous articles:
Churchill Car Insurance - Legal Assistance Service
Churchill Car Insurance: Online Quote Underlying Assumptions
Life Insurance with Critical Illness Cover: Types of cover
Direct Line Critical Illness Cover Overview
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims FAQ
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims

Churchill Car Insurance - Legal Assistance Service

2008-01-30T04:03:00.000Z

Churchill car insurance offers the insurer a legal assistance service, that comes in to your help in case there are any legal requirements. Offcourse that comes at a small and nominal cost, which depends upon the plan you choose.

Below are the details of Churchill Legal Assistance services:

The hourly rate for a qualified solicitor or legal executive is likely to be in excess of £100*. For as little as £1.93 per month, Churchill Legal Assistance Service (CLAS) will provide up to £100,000 of legal costs to help you to recover losses that cannot be claimed from any insurance policy.

Examples may include:
• Compensation for injury or death

• Your car insurance excess under your Comprehensive policy

• Accident repair costs if you do not have Comprehensive cover

• Damage to your clothes, luggage or personal belongings if you do not have Comprehensive cover

• Hire car costs

• Loss of earnings

Churchill Legal Assistance Service also extends protection for anyone authorised to drive your car and for any authorised passengers travelling in your car at the time of the accident.

The solicitor acting for you will handle all aspects of your claim, including locating a medical expert such as a physiotherapist or osteopath, if this is necessary for the treatment of an injury resulting from the accident. The specialist’s charges will be met by CLAS.

The appointed solicitor is regulated by the Law Society which, in addition to the high standards of service you would expect from Churchill, ensures that you receive a professional legal service.

CLAS provides you with extra peace of mind and a hassle free solution when you need it the most.

Please see policy wording for full terms and conditions.

If you have a road traffic accident involving your car that is not your fault, you have a right to claim back your uninsured losses from the driver responsible.

Link to previous articles:
Churchill Car Insurance: Online Quote Underlying Assumptions
Life Insurance with Critical Illness Cover: Types of cover
Direct Line Critical Illness Cover Overview
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims FAQ
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims
Directline European Breakdown Cover Summary

Churchill Car Insurance: Online Quote Underlying Assumptions

2008-01-29T03:55:00.000Z

Churchill car insurance online quotes are based upon certain assumptions. Hence, it is important to understand clearly the underlying assumptions before you finalize a deal with Churchill car Insurance.

Please ensure that the information provided by you and the statements on this page are correct. If you decide to buy a Churchill car insurance policy, these details will form the basis of the insurance contract between us. Incorrect information could invalidate all or part of the policy. Under European law you and we may choose which law will apply to this contract. English law will apply unless both parties agree otherwise. Our cancellation and complaints procedure is detailed in the policy, where you can also find the details of the 14 day cooling-off period.

If your circumstances change between the date you purchase the policy and the date when you require the policy to commence, please call us. Incorrect information could invalidate all or part of the car insurance policy.

Here is the list of assumptions that Churchill makes while giving you the opportunity to purchase economical price insurance online:

• All drivers are at least 17 years of age, hold a valid EU driving licence and are permanently resident in the UK

• All drivers are under 80 years of age (quotes are available by phone for drivers aged 80 or over)

• The total number of accidents or claims for all drivers does not exceed 2 in the last 3 years

• The total number of convictions, fixed penalties or disqualifications for all drivers does not exceed 2 in the last 5 years

• The vehicle is owned and registered by you at your address and has not been modified or altered in any way (including optional extras). For example - wheels, suspension, bodywork and engine

• You use the vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure use or for commuting to and from your normal place of work if your occupation is one of the following: Motor Trade, Retired, Housewife/Househusband, Driver, Student and Unemployed. For all other occupations the vehicle may be used in connection with your business or those of your spouse, partner or civil partner (not business partner). If you require additional drivers to have business use or are uncertain about the type of use you require, please contact us.

• Your business or the business of your employer is not in any way connected with any of the following: the entertainment and fashion industry, professional sports, foreign service or diplomatic personnel, scrap or salvage merchants, general dealers, mini-cab drivers or controllers

• The annual mileage of your vehicle does not exceed 25,000

• The value of your vehicle is no greater than £50,000

• Your No Claims Discount (NCD) must be provided by an insurer from an EU country. We accept Proof of NCD from other countries entirely at our own discretion. Proof must be the original documentation (not a copy), written in English and the NCD level shown in years, not as a percentage.

• You accept this car insurance policy on an automatic renewal basis and agree to us automatically renewing your policy each year using the payment details given when you purchased the policy unless you ask us not to.

All of the above statements must be correct for you to be able to complete a car insurance quote online. If any of the statements do not fit your requirements, please call us as we may be able to complete your quote by phone.

After buying your car insurance policy, please send proof of your NCD to Churchill at the following address:
Churchill Insurance Company Limited, Churchill Court, Westmoreland Road, Bromley, BR1 1DP.

Link to previous articles:
Life Insurance with Critical Illness Cover: Types of cover
Direct Line Critical Illness Cover Overview
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims FAQ
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims
Directline European Breakdown Cover Summary
Directline Travel Insurance: European Breakdown Cover

Direct Line Life Insurance Critical Illness Cover: Amount of Cover

2008-01-28T04:12:00.000Z

How much you should take out is something you must consider. There is not a definitive answer, but you may wish to think about some of the following:

What do you require the life cover for?

• Security for your family/partner.

• Required to pay off your mortgage or other loans.

There are other considerations which you should then take into account:

• How much is your mortgage.

• What type of mortgage do you have.

• What are your general family living expenses.

• For how long will your partner and/or children be dependent on your income and what education commitments might you be required to meet.

• If you have other savings what might it earn for family income.

You should also allow for a reasonable rate of inflation as life cover is generally a long term purchase. For example compare prices now to ten years ago.

It really is up to you, you should consider what income would be required should you die or suffer a critical illness to keep your dependants in the same lifestyle and standard of living as they have now. Also note this will not just be for one year, but possibly a number of years, especially if your children are young.

It's tempting to put off any decision about taking out life cover but beware:-
• Approximately 1,700 people die everyday in the UK (Source: The Office for National Statistics).

• Every year that you delay increases the cost.

Churchill Car Insurance Overview

2008-01-28T03:52:00.000Z

Car insurance - price guarantee

We guarantee to beat your renewal quote as long as it’s on a like-for-like basis and you’ve been claim free for the last 3 years. What’s more, independent research (Consumer Intelligence – Q4 2006) shows that 1 in 10 people save as much as £140 by switching to Churchill car insurance.
Add breakdown to your car insurance quote and buy online now for
up to 25% off breakdown cover and up to 10% off car insurance.

Why Churchill?

• Courtesy car at no extra cost when you use an approved repairer

• Repairs guaranteed for 5 years when you use an approved repairer

• Up to 65% No Claim Discount which, if it is 4 years or over, you can choose to protect

• 24 hour accident recovery

• Optional Churchill Legal Assistance Service

• Up to 25% off breakdown cover

We guarantee to beat your car insurance renewal. So if your online quote doesn't beat your renewal premium, simply save the quote and call us on 0800 200 326.

Life Insurance with Critical Illness Cover: Types of cover

2008-01-25T03:47:00.000Z

Direct Line Critical Illness cover has two types of cover:

• Fixed Term Life Cover with Critical Illness
• Mortgage Life Cover with Critical Illness

Fixed term life cover with critical Illness

This is a protection policy that will pay out a cash lump sum if you die or are diagnosed with a critical illness that meets our policy definition within a set period of time known as the policy term. The amount of cover remains fixed throughout the policy term.

Mortgage life cover with critical illness

Unlike the Fixed Term policy, this is a decreasing protection policy where the level of cover reduces each year during the term of the policy roughly in line with the outstanding balance on a standard repayment mortgage – hence it is frequently referred to as “mortgage protection”.

Provided the initial sum insured and term are the same as the mortgage at the outset it means that in the event of death or diagnosis of a critical illness that meets our policy definition the policy should be sufficient to repay the mortgage provided interest rates have not risen above 12% p.a.

General policy information applying to both products

• Minimum age to take out a policy is 18 next birthday

• Maximum age to start a policy is 65 next birthday

• Minimum term is 5 years

• Maximum period of cover is up to the age of 70 next birthday

• Minimum sum assured

• Up to the age of 40 - £30,000

• Over the age of 40 - £20,000

• Maximum sum assured - £500,000

• Both pay out in the event of death or on diagnosis of a terminal or a specified critical illness. (A terminal illness claim must be notified to us at least 18 months before the end of the policy term)

• Both policies can be written in trust if required.

• Both polices can be taken out on a single life or joint life first death or diagnosis basis

• Premium payment is by monthly direct debit only

• Once confirmed terms have been offered, confirmation can be faxed to your solicitor or lender if a mortgage is involved

• Your premium can change during the term of your policy

There is no surrender value or cash-back at the end of the policy term - it merely expires as it is a protection only policy

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Critical Illness Cover Overview
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims FAQ
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims
Directline European Breakdown Cover Summary
Directline Travel Insurance: European Breakdown Cover
Directline Tradesman Business Insurance: Assumptions made

Direct line Critical Illness Cover

2008-01-24T03:46:00.000Z

The Critical Illness Cover deal that gets even better...

1. Our life insurance with critical illness cover is available from 27p a day

2. You can arrange your cover easily by phone or online

3. No complicated forms to fill in as we take care of it all for you

4. We can often offer cover instantly

What is critical illness cover?

Our life and critical illness cover pays out a lump sum if you either die or are diagnosed with a critical illness thats meets our policy definition. We only cover the critical illnesses we define in our policy and no other.
We offer two types of cover:
- Fixed Term Life Cover with Critical Illness
- Mortgage Life Cover with Critical Illness

Link to previous articles:
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims FAQ
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims
Directline European Breakdown Cover Summary
Directline Travel Insurance: European Breakdown Cover
Directline Tradesman Business Insurance: Assumptions made
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: Claims FAQ

Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims FAQ

2008-01-23T03:28:00.000Z

Q: What kind of details and additional information will I be asked to provide?
Q: What is a Policy Excess?
Q: What service does the emergency helpline offer?
Q: How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?
Q: While I'm away from home, do I need to report any loss or theft to the police?
Q: What should I do if my belongings are damaged or temporarily lost in transit?
Q: What should I do if I need medical attention while abroad?
Q: What should I do if I need to return home urgently?
Q: What do I need to do in the event of a travel delay?
Q: Are there organisations I can contact for counselling if I am upset by the incident?
Q: How long will it take to sort out my claim?
Q: Who will deal with my claim once it has been reported?
Q: What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?
What kind of details and additional information will I be asked to provide?

It is helpful if you keep receipts, guarantees, instruction manuals, valuations or photographs of your belongings as these may help to support your claim.
We may also ask you to provide us with estimates or invoices for claims involving replacement of items or medical expenses.

What is a Policy Excess?

This is the part of the claim that you agree to pay - we cover you for the remaining amount up to the limit of your cover. Our Claims representatives will inform you of the amount of the excess and details can also be found in your policy schedule.
We will deduct the amount of the Policy Excess from the settlement of your claim, or alternatively our appointed specialist or supplier will collect this amount from you on our behalf.

What service does the emergency helpline offer?

When away from home, the unexpected always happens at the most inconvenient time. If you are unable to contact us, you can call our emergency helpline service, which is operated in conjunction with Direct Line Assistance Service.
Direct Line Assistance Service are a specialist provider who operate a 24-hour emergency assistance service. They are available at any time to discuss the nature of your problem and to provide specialist advice and assistance to you.

How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?

Our Claims representatives are fully trained and have an excellent knowledge of the policy cover you have arranged with us. Wherever possible, we will let you know during your first call to us whether your claim is covered by your policy. It may help you to read through your policy details before ringing us to report your claim.

While I'm away from home, do I need to report any loss or theft to the police

Yes, you should report any loss or theft to the police within 24 hours of discovery.In the event that you are unable to contact the police, a report should be made to either your tour representative, accommodation provider or carrier - for example the airline or ferry company.

What should I do if my belongings are damaged or temporarily lost in transit?

You should report any damage or temporary loss to your carrier (for example the airline or ferry company) and obtain a 'Property Irregularity Report' (commonly known as a 'PIR') from them. Please keep any damaged items for inspection.
If your belongings have been temporarily lost and you need to purchase any replacement items, please keep all your receipts as this will help us to deal with your claim.

What should I do if I need medical attention while abroad?

If the medical condition appears to be serious, you should contact our emergency helpline straightaway for advice and assistance. For any other medical treatment, you should pay any bills yourself and keep the receipts as this will help us to deal with your claim.

What should I do if I need to return home urgently?

In the event that you need to return home urgently - don't worry - simply contact our emergency helpline straightaway for advice and assistance.

What do I need to do in the event of a travel delay?

You should obtain written confirmation from the airline, train or ferry company, giving exact details of the reason for and length of the delay.

Are there any organisations I can contact for counselling if I am upset by the incident?

Direct Line, in association with Victim Support, can provide you with support when you need it the most. The emotional effects of a theft or loss can be difficult to deal with - you may feel angry, frightened or unsafe.
Most people suffer in silence, but you needn't - just sharing your thoughts can help. Together, Direct Line and Victim Support can help you pick up the pieces practically and emotionally.
Victim Support is the national charity offering victims of crime emotional support through trained volunteers and, if you need a knowledgeable and sympathetic ear, the service is available 24 hours a day.
Simply call the Victim Support line on 0845 30 30 900 or have a look at their web site at www.victimsupport.com

How long will it take to sort out my claim?

Some claims are more straightforward than others - when you call us, one of our Claims Advisors will give you an indication of the timescales involved.

Who will deal with my claim once it has been reported?

We have our own dedicated Travel Claims Unit, based in our Glasgow office. The contact details are:
Travel Claims Unit
Direct Line House
14-18 Cadogan Street
Glasgow
G2 6QN
Telephone - 0845 246 8680
Fax - 0141 204 4754
Calls may be recorded

What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?

Our main aim is to ensure that our honest customers, which of course are the vast majority, are dealt with as soon as possible. However, we know that fraud is a reality and that a very small number of people provide false details in order to make up, or inflate claims. We believe that it is important that we identify these people and avoid paying such claims as they affect the cost of insurance for everybody. As fraud is a criminal offence, we believe it is our duty to forward details of fraud to the Police.
There are a number of insurance industry databases through which we share information with other companies about claims and fraudsters. This allows us to use the latest technology to make many checks looking for unusual features and fraud. We also share some information about fraud with other companies within the financial services industry, the Police and other bodies where the law allows us to do so.

These pages are for information purposes only. They do not form part of the contract of insurance.

Link to previous articles:
Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims
Directline European Breakdown Cover Summary
Directline Travel Insurance: European Breakdown Cover
Directline Tradesman Business Insurance: Assumptions made
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: Claims FAQ
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: How to make a claim?

Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims

2008-01-22T03:48:00.000Z

Need to make a claim to Directline European Breakdown Cover? We're here to help you.

It is when you need to make a claim that you find out how good your travel insurer really is. You can be sure that we will deal with your claim quickly and fairly, paying up to the limit of your cover.

Call: 0845 246 8680

Lines open: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday

Out of hours call: 24-hour Emergency Helpline on:

Direct Line Assistance Service
+44 870 241 4628

Calls may be recorded. Max call charge from a BT landline is 3p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary.

Your step-by-step guide to making a travel claim

Before you ring us

Please have your policy number ready - you will find this at the top of your schedule.

What happens Next?

You will be asked to provide details of your claim by one of our friendly Claims representatives.
We will advise you whether your claim is covered by your policy and the amount of any excess which may apply.

We will issue a claim form to you straight away.

You may be asked to provide us with additional information to support your claim.

We will explain to you what will happen next.

Link to previous articles:
Directline European Breakdown Cover Summary
Directline Travel Insurance: European Breakdown Cover
Directline Tradesman Business Insurance: Assumptions made
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: Claims FAQ
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: How to make a claim?
DirectLine Business Tradesman Insurance FAQ

Directline European Breakdown Cover Summary

2008-01-21T07:58:00.000Z

Two levels of cover - the choice is yours:

1. Breakdown

Our standard level of cover provides you with emergency assistance if your car breaks down or is involved in an accident. If your car can't be repaired, we will provide a replacement vehicle and make sure the car and passengers get home to the UK. And if the driver's taken ill or injured, we'll get the stranded passengers home too.

2. Breakdown and Travel Cover

In addition to first class European breakdown cover, this option includes extensive travel insurance for you and all your passengers. We'll be there to help should there be a medical emergency, and you'll be protected from incurring costs due to things such as unavoidable cancellation, delays and lost baggage.

Summary of Cover

Breakdown Cover

Pre-departure protection	Up to £800
Roadside assistance and recovery service	Up to £250
Hire of replacement vehicle	Up to £800
Returning you and your car to home address	Market Value
Emergency repairs following theft	Up to £175
Driver illness	Repatriation costs paid*
Delivery of replacement parts	No limit
Loss of tent	Up to £100 per person
Legal advice and expenses	Up to £10,000 per person
Alternative route	Up to £1,500 per party

Travel Cover

Emergency medical expenses	Up to £5,000,000 per person
Personal possessions	Up to £1,500 per person
Personal money	Up to £500 (£250 cash) per person
Cancellation	Up to £5,000 per person
Curtailment	Up to £5,000 per person
Travel Delay	Up to £200 per person
Personal liability	Up to £2,000,000 per party
Personal accident	Up to £25,000 per person
Loss of passport	Up to £250 per person

You can also add Winter sports cover to your Travel cover

Equipment	Up to £500 per person
Essential replacement items	Up to £300 per person
Loss of ski pass and fees	Up to £250 per person
Piste closure	Up to £200 per person
Delayed resort departure	Up to £200 per person

*In the event of driver illness we will ask for another member of the party to drive is there is one, or we may provide a qualified driver to drive the vehicle back. Repatriation (up to market value) will be arranged if either of these is not possible.

Excess: An excess of £40 per person will be applied to certain claims in respect of Personal Possessions and Money, Emergency Medical Expenses, Loss of Passport, Cancellation, Curtailment and Winter sports. A £100 excess will apply to certain Personal Liability claims.

Link to previous articles:
Directline Travel Insurance: European Breakdown Cover
Directline Tradesman Business Insurance: Assumptions made
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: Claims FAQ
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: How to make a claim?
DirectLine Business Tradesman Insurance FAQ
Direct Line Business Insurance: Overview

Directline European Breakdown Cover

2008-01-18T10:06:00.000Z

Directline European Breakdown Cover: A good deal that gets even better...

• Choice of European breakdown cover on it's own, or including travel and winter sports insurance

• Cover for your tent in the event of theft or damage

• Cover for missed motorail connection

• Alternative driver covered if you're medically unfit to drive

• Pre departure cover (providing purchased more than 7 days prior to departure)

• UK call centres on hand, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Link to previous articles:
Directline Tradesman Business Insurance: Assumptions made
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: Claims FAQ
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: How to make a claim?
DirectLine Business Tradesman Insurance FAQ
Direct Line Business Insurance: Overview
Directline Life Insurance: Level of Cover you need

Directline Tradesman Business Insurance: Assumptions made

2008-01-13T23:46:00.000Z

Tradesman insurance assumptions - saving you time with your quote

Please ensure that the information provided by you is correct, and you comply with the statements on this page. Should you decide to buy this policy, these details will form the basis of the insurance contract between us. Incorrect information could invalidate all or part of the policy. Under European law you and we may choose which law will apply to this contact. English law will apply unless both parties agree otherwise. Our cancellation and complaints procedure is detailed in the policy documents, where you can also find the details of the 14 day cooling off period.

If your circumstances change between the date you purchase the policy and the date when you require the policy to commence, please call us. Incorrect information could invalidate all or part of the policy.

Mid term adjustments to your policy will result in a maximum amendment fee of £21.00 (including Insurance Premium Tax where applicable) in addition to any premium charged or refunded.

If you decide to cancel your policy during the period of insurance a cancellation fee will apply amounting to 1/12th of your annual premium, up to a maximum of £50.00 (calculated at the time of cancellation, plus Insurance Premium Tax where applicable).

• Neither You, nor Your Directors nor Your partners have ever had a proposal for insurance declined, renewal refused, cover terminated, increased premium required or special conditions imposed by any Insurer

• Neither You, nor Your Directors nor Your partners have ever been convicted of or have any prosecution pending for any offence involving arson, violence or dishonesty of any kind (e.g. involving fire, fraud, theft or handling stolen goods)

• Neither You, nor Your Directors nor Your partners have ever been subject of a County Court Judgement (or the Scottish equivalent) or been declared bankrupt or insolvent.

• The number of persons working manually in the business (total of Proprietors, Partners, Employees, Working Directors, Labour Only Sub-Contractors and Trainees) does not exceed the maximum allowed of 10.

• Your business does not involve the use of hazardous substances, such as Radioactive Substances/Devices, Explosives, or materials giving rise to dust, flames or vapours, discharge of toxic or dangerous substances into the atmosphere, waterways or elsewhere and any substance regulated by COSHH regulations

• Your business does not use Cranes, Hoists, Passenger Lifts, Escalators and Scaffolding unless erected by a specialist scaffolding Contractor.
Your business does not operate in what may be considered a high risk environment, such as Nuclear Plant/Power Stations, Gas or Chemical Works, Oil Refineries/Bulk Oil Storage, Off Shore Structures, Airfields/Airports, Railway Property, Quarries, Towers, Steeples, Chimney Shafts, Bridges, Viaducts, Flyovers, Underpasses, Docks, Harbours, Piers, Wharves, Dams, Reservoirs, Lakes, Rivers, Foundries or Forges, or in connection with Tunnelling, Mining, Piling, Ground Stabilisation, Underpinning, Dewatering, Water Diversion, Flood Protection, or Sea Defences, processes involving a noise level exceeding 90 decibels, Manual Work outside of the EEC.

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: Claims FAQ
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: How to make a claim?
DirectLine Business Tradesman Insurance FAQ
Direct Line Business Insurance: Overview
Directline Life Insurance: Level of Cover you need
Directline Life Insurance: Tips and Advice

Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: Claims FAQ

2008-01-11T12:41:00.000Z

Frequently asked claims questions

Q: What questions will I be asked when I phone to register my claim?
Q: What kind of additional information will I be asked to provide?
Q: What is a Policy Excess?
Q: How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?
Q: Are there any organisations I can contact for counselling if I am upset by the incident?
Q: Will my premium increase at the next renewal date if I make a claim?
Q: How long will it take to sort out my claim?
Q: Who will deal with my claim once it has been reported?
Q: What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?
What questions will I be asked when I phone to register my claim?
We will ask you what happened and when it happened and what action you've taken so far. Then we'll ask you what it is you're claiming for and the approximate cost(s) involved.

What kind of additional information will I be asked to provide?
It is helpful if you keep receipts, guarantees, instruction manuals, valuations or photographs for your most valuable items in a safe place as these may help to support your claim. By valuable items, we mean tools, computer equipment and business equipment whilst in transit in your vehicle.
We may also ask you to provide us with estimates or invoices for claims involving repair or replacement of items.
If the claim involves a repair, we normally request two estimates for comparison purposes.
If the incident involves theft or criminal damage, or if any property has been lost outside of the workplace, you should inform the police immediately and make a note of the police incident number.

What is a Policy Excess?
This is the part of each claim that you agree to pay - we cover you for the remaining amount. The experienced claims handler will inform you of the amount of the excess and details can also be found in the policy schedule.
We will deduct the amount of the Policy Excess from the settlement of your claim, or alternatively our appointed specialist or supplier will collect this amount from you on our behalf.

How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?
Our experienced claims handlers are fully trained and have an excellent knowledge of the policy cover you have arranged with us. Wherever possible, we will let you know during your first call to us whether your claim is covered by your policy.
It may help you to read through the policy booklet along with your schedule of cover before ringing us to report your claim.

Are there any organisations I can contact for counselling if I am upset by the incident?
Direct Line, in association with Victim Support, can provide you with support when you need it the most. The emotional effects of a theft or loss can be difficult to deal with - you may feel angry, frightened or unsafe.
Most people suffer in silence, but you needn't - just sharing your thoughts can help. Together, Direct Line and Victim Support can help you pick up the pieces practically and emotionally.
Victim Support is the national charity offering victims of crime emotional support through trained volunteers. If you need a knowledgeable and sympathetic ear, their services are available 24-hours a day.
Simply call the Victim Support line on 0845 30 30 900 or have a look at their website at www.victimsupport.com. Calls may be recorded.

Will my premium increase at the next renewal date if I make a claim?
Our tradesman insurance policies do not include a 'no claims discount', as we feel it would be unfair to penalise clients for the many types of trade claims which are totally outside of their control e.g. flood, fire or theft. However, making several claims under your policy could result in an increased premium at the next renewal date. This depends on the number, type and value of claims you make. Our premiums are calculated individually and you will be notified in advance of the renewal date.

How long will it take to sort out my claim?
Some claims are more straightforward than others - when you call to register your claim one of our experienced claims handlers will give you an indication of the timescales involved.

Who will deal with my claim?
Our Claims Handling Centre is based in Liverpool. The details and contact numbers will appear on any correspondence we send you.

What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?
Our main aim is to ensure that our honest customers, which of course are the vast majority, are dealt with as quickly as possible. However, we know that fraud is a reality and that a very small number of people provide false details in order to make up, or inflate claims. We believe it is important that we identify and avoid paying such claims, as they affect the cost of tradesman insurance for everybody. As fraud is a criminal offence, we believe it is our duty to forward details of any fraudulent activities to the Police.
There are a number of insurance industry databases through which we share information with other companies about claims and fraudsters. This allows us to use the latest technology to conduct checks for unusual features and fraud. We also share information about fraud with other companies within the financial services industry, the Police and other bodies where the law allows us to do so.

These pages are for information purposes only. They do not form part of the contract of insurance.

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: How to make a claim?
DirectLine Business Tradesman Insurance FAQ
Direct Line Business Insurance: Overview
Directline Life Insurance: Level of Cover you need
Directline Life Insurance: Tips and Advice
Directline Life Insurance: Get Life insurance cover

Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: How to make a claim?

2008-01-10T00:30:00.000Z

Directline is here to help you make a claim quickly, and deal with it fairly - with as little hassle as possible.

To make a claim, or for information on claims, call our experienced claims team on:
0845 303 1753

Lines open:
8am - 8pm Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm Saturday and 10am - 4pm Sunday
Calls may be recorded. Calls from a BT landline charged at local rate. Calls from other networks may vary.

How to claim

• Ring us and we'll tell you if your claim is covered - if you are, we'll register your claim straight away. Please have your policy documents to hand.

• If you have suffered a break-in or lost any items outside your property - call the Police straight away, and make a note of the crime reference number.

• For all large claims, we'll arrange for a claims adviser or loss adjuster to visit you as soon as possible

• A Direct Line approved specialist or supplier may be appointed to deal with the claim on our behalf.

• Damaged items may be repaired for you.

Have you been a victim of crime?
Victim Support is the national charity which helps people cope with the effects of crime. It provides free, confidential, practical help and support - you can call them on 0845 30 30 900 (9am - 9pm weekdays, 9am - 7pm weekends, 9am - 5pm Bank Holidays. Calls may be recorded.).

Link to previous articles:
DirectLine Business Tradesman Insurance FAQ
Direct Line Business Insurance: Overview
Directline Life Insurance: Level of Cover you need
Directline Life Insurance: Tips and Advice
Directline Life Insurance: Get Life insurance cover
Directline Life Insurance: How much cover do you need?

DirectLine Business Tradesman Insurance FAQ

2008-01-09T02:19:00.000Z

Q: What if I don't have an email address?
Q: How long is a quote valid for?
Q: How far in advance can I get a quote?
Q: What if I don't know the date of my claim?
Q: What if I don't know the amount of my claim?
Q: What if the cause of my claim is not there?
Q: How many claims can I have?
Q: What are the exclusions on this policy?
Q: What are the standard excesses?
Q: Do you accept cheques or cash?
Q: What does public liability cover?
Q: What does employer's liability cover?
Q: What if I haven't got a business name?
Q: I'm not a Tradesman, can I insure with Direct Line for Business?
Q: Can you cover my van under the tradesman policy?
Q: What if my trade is not on the list?
Q: What do I do if I have multiple trades?
Q: How many trades can I have on this policy?
Q: What do I do if I have more than three trades?
Q: What is the maximum number of people I can cover for manual work?
Q: What is the maximum number of people I can cover for clerical work?
Q: What covers are available under this product?
Q: If I select the tools section will they be covered in the van overnight?
Q: Under what circumstances will my premium in year 2 be the same as year 1?
Q: What would be a material change to my risk?

What if I don't have an email address?
You will need to enter a valid email address to obtain a quote. If you do not have an email address you can still obtain a quote and buy a policy by calling us on 0845 303 1756. Calls may be recorded.

How long is a quote valid for?
Your quote will be valid for 30 days from the day you receive it.

How far in advance can I get a quote?
You can get a quote up to 30 days in advance.

What if I don't know the date of my claim?
If you are unsure of the date of your claim(s) please contact your current or previous insurance provider to find out. Alternatively you can enter an approximate date and then contact us on 0845 303 1760 to amend your claims details with the correct information. Calls may be recorded.

What if I don't know the amount of my claim?
If you are unsure what the amount of your claim(s) is please contact your current or previous insurance provider to find out. Alternatively you can enter an approximate cost and then contact us on 0845 303 1760 to amend your claims details with the correct information. Calls may be recorded.

What if the cause of my claim is not there?
If you can not find the cause of you claim from the list provided, please contact us on 0845 303 1756 for help. Calls may be recorded.

How many claims can I have?
You can provide us with up to four claims within the last 3 years. In the majority of cases we will be able to help, but our ability to provide a quote will depend on the information you supply. Unfortunately, if you have more than four claims we will not be able offer a quote

What are the exclusions on this policy?
Please refer to the policy summary document where we detail the general exclusions. For more details please refer to your policy wording or call our customer services department on 0845 303 1756. Calls may be recorded.

What are the standard excesses?
Your individual excesses will be found in the 'Your Summary' page when you have completed the quote details or alternatively please call us on 0845 303 1756. Calls may be recorded.

Do you accept cheques or cash?
No, we only accept payments by direct debit and credit/debit cards. Cards that are accepted are MasterCard, Visa Electron, Visa, Maestro and Solo card.

What does public liability cover?
This provides protection against your legal liability for death or bodily injury (other than to an employee) and / or loss or damage to third party property arising out of the operation of your business.

What does employer's liability cover?
This protects you against claims for compensation from employees following injury for which you are legally liable

What if I haven't got a business name?
If you do not have a business name then please enter your full name instead.

I'm not a Tradesman, can I insure with Direct Line for Business?
We only provide insurance solutions for Tradesmen, Residential Properties and Vans at present. We are in the process of developing some additional products.

Your Business

Can you cover my van under the tradesman policy?
Unfortunately your van is not covered under the tradesman policy but Direct Line does offer van insurance as a separate product. If you would like to get a quote you can do this online or call us on 0845 303 1756. Calls may be recorded.

What if my trade is not on the list?
If you can not find your exact trade, or one that best matches what you do, on the list provided please call us on 0845 303 1756. Calls may be recorded.

What do I do if I have multiple trades?
You have the option to input up to three trades so that we can fully understand your business. If you need some help selecting the right trade or you have more than 3 trades under one policy please call us on 0845 303 1756. Calls may be recorded.

How many trades can I have on this policy?
You can select up to a maximum of 3 trades on your policy.

What do I do if I have more than three trades?
If you need to add more than three trades under your policy please call us on 0845 303 1756. Calls may be recorded.

What is the maximum number of people I can cover for manual work?
You can have up to a maximum of 10 people covered for manual work under your policy.

What is the maximum number of people I can cover for clerical work?
You can have up to a maximum of 10 people covered for clerical work under your policy.

What covers are available under this product?
Our policy provides the following as standard:
• Public Liability
You can also insure:
• Employers Liability
• Tools

If I select the tools section will they be covered in the van overnight?
Only if your van is in a locked building or compound. Please refer to the policy wording for full details.

Under what circumstances will my premium in year 2 be the same as year 1?
The premium will be fixed for two years if there is no material change in your risk.

What would be a material change to my risk?
Some examples of materials changes to your risk are if you hire more employees, make changes or additions to your trade, or add extra covers to your policy.

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Business Insurance: Overview
Directline Life Insurance: Level of Cover you need
Directline Life Insurance: Tips and Advice
Directline Life Insurance: Get Life insurance cover
Directline Life Insurance: How much cover do you need?
Direct Line Life Insurance: Types of Covers

Directline Business Insurance

2008-01-08T02:33:00.000Z

Whether you're a plumber, decorator, electrician or builder you won't want to put your livelihood at risk. After all, one small mistake could jeopardize your ability to earn an income.
Tradesman Insurance from Direct Line protects you from such situations, giving you a really good deal: the comprehensive standard policy gives you up to £1 million public liability cover, with the option to increase up to £5 million and add additional covers, allowing you to get precisely the insurance you want.
For full details, please refer to the tradesman insurance policy document, or read on for a guide to our cover: it's a good deal better!

Standard Cover

Public Liability: up to £1 million of cover for compensation payable arising from injury to third parties or damage to their property caused by you in the course of your business or arising from the sale, supply, servicing/repair or use of the goods that you sell and for which you are held legally liable. You can increase the limit of cover if required.

Optional Covers

Employers' Liability: up to £10 million of cover against compensation claims by your employees injured in the course of employment by you where you are held legally liable, as well as expenses and legal costs arising from such an injury.

Tools & Equipment: all risks cover against damage to tools and equipment. Different levels of cover are available, up to £1,500 per worker.

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Life Insurance: Mortgage Life Cover
Directline Life Insurance: Level of Cover you need
Directline Life Insurance: Tips and Advice
Directline Life Insurance: Get Life insurance cover
Directline Life Insurance: How much cover do you need?
Direct Line Life Insurance: Types of Covers

Directline Life Insurance: Mortgage Life Cover

2008-01-04T03:47:00.000Z

One of the main reasons for taking out life insurance is to make sure your loved ones don’t go without a roof over their heads if the worst were to happen. If this is your main priority then Direct Line Mortgage Life Cover could be an appropriate choice for you…
With Direct Line, you can choose from two types of Life Insurance: Fixed Term Life Cover (the type that pays out a fixed lump sum on the death of the life assured) and Mortgage Life Cover. The latter is sometimes known as mortgage protection.
For many people, mortgage life cover is an unknown entity until they purchase their first property. This is because many mortgage lenders recommend that there is some insurance in place that will make sure it will be paid back –if you die during the term of the mortgage. You may find that Direct Line Mortgage Life Cover offers great value for money.

A must for mortgage protection

Even if your mortgage lender doesn’t specify that you take out mortgage cover, it is vital that you consider how your dependents would repay the loan if you are not here, otherwise they may need to sell their home.

While the amount you may need to pay off a mortgage can be built into Fixed Term Life Cover (along with provision for living expenses and maintenance of lifestyle), Mortgage Life Cover can be a cheaper option, if you are on a budget for example. This is because Direct Line Mortgage Life Cover is a decreasing protection policy where the level of cover reduces each year, roughly in line with the outstanding balance on a standard repayment mortgage. Provided the initial sum insured and term are the same as the mortgage at the outset (and interest rates do not rise above 12%), the policy should be sufficient to repay the mortgage in the event of death.

On our website you’ll find general policy information on Direct Line Mortgage Life Cover under ‘Types of Cover’, plus full policy terms and conditions. You’ll also find details on Fixed Term Life Cover, which can be taken out as a separate policy if necessary for extra peace of mind.

Why not apply for a quote for Direct Line Mortgage Life Cover today.

Link to previous articles:
Directline Life Insurance: Level of Cover you need
Directline Life Insurance: Tips and Advice
Directline Life Insurance: Get Life insurance cover
Directline Life Insurance: How much cover do you need?
Direct Line Life Insurance: Types of Covers
Direct Line Life Insurance: Overview

Directline Life Insurance: Level of Cover you need

2008-01-03T05:55:00.000Z

Don’t underestimate the amount of life insurance required to protect your loved ones – sadly many people do. A few simple sums before you apply for a quote could make all the difference.

Generally the point of taking out life insurance is to make sure you don’t leave your loved ones in the lurch should the worst happen to you. But if you don’t take out any, or even enough cover, that’s exactly what you could do. For example, a total sum of £100,000 might sound like a lot, but how far will it stretch to cover a family of five over 20 years?

To get started on working out the right amount for you, first check out the range of Direct Line Life Insurance on offer under ‘Types of cover’ to check which one may be suitable for you. You’ll see that we offer Fixed Term Life Cover and Mortgage Life Cover. We also offer Life with Critical Illness Cover on both Fixed Term and Mortgage Life. We can’t tell you how much cover to take out, but there are some guidelines on maximum and minimum amounts. For full details on our Life Insurance policies you should read our Life Insurance Policy Documents online.

If you choose a Fixed Term Life Cover policy, you might wish to work out a figure that will provide enough security for your family or partner. This would provide a lump sum that could include cover for the mortgage, bills, education costs where relevant and any extra living costs that they are accustomed to.

If you choose a Mortgage Life Cover policy, the cover amount can be directly related to how much mortgage you have left to pay. The level of cover reduces each year, roughly in line with the outstanding balance on a standard repayment mortgage.

In both cases you also need to work out the ‘term’ of your policy – anywhere between five years and the time between now and your 70th birthday for persons between the ages of 17 and 64 years. The factors that may influence your choice of term are such as your age and how old your children are.
To help you work out a final sum for Fixed Term Life Cover, you may wish to consider the checklist below:

What are my monthly general expenses?

Mortgage (amount left to pay and in what format, consider would this be repaid from this life cover or another policy)
Family living costs (bills, education, food, clothing, transport, lifestyle / entertainment etc.)

What are my one-off expenses?

Debts to pay off (loans, bills)

Directline Life Insurance: Tips and Advice

2008-01-02T04:11:00.000Z

No time like the present

Taking out life insurance can be a great weight off your mind, especially if you have family or loved ones who depend on you. With Direct Line Life Insurance, arranging cover sooner rather than later can help keep your premiums down and give you peace of mind.
Life insurance is often seen as an afterthought – just one more bill to pay. But if you have dependants, it’s vital to make sure they will be provided for if you are not around. Direct Line offers two types of Life Insurance. Fixed Term Life Cover ensures a fixed sum is paid if you die within the agreed policy term. Mortgage Life Cover ties in with your standard repayment mortgage and could provide a cash lump sum, that will decrease at a similar rate to your mortgage should the worst happen.
In both cases the age range that can be covered by Direct Line Life Insurance is 17 and 69. The maximum age to start a policy is 65 (next birthday), with the minimum term being five years. It’s worth noting that your age and personal situation, will determine how much premium you will pay. Younger people tend to pay less because of course life insurance is worked out using life expectancy and generally the older you get the more likely you are to die.

Of course, you may have been putting off taking out a life insurance policy because you can’t face the thought of all the paperwork. With Direct Line, there are no complicated forms to fill in – we take care of all this for you. You can apply for a quote by phone or quickly and easily online. Once we’ve approved your quote, you could be covered from as little as £6 a month depending on your age and personal situation.

Stop smoking

Worried about the costs of smoking? Not only can your nicotine habit seriously affect your health and leave a dent in your bank balance by the sheer cost per packet, it can also affect how much premium you pay on your Direct Line Life Insurance.
Of course, many factors affect your Life Insurance premium. But while you can’t change things such as your age, you can help your case by giving up smoking. Not only does a ‘non-smoker’ status score points when you apply for a Direct Line Life Insurance quote, it also positively impacts on other factors, such as your health. Cheaper premiums are available for ex-smokers who have given up smoking for at least 13 months.
While very few people would give up smoking just to keep their Life Insurance premium down, having to tick the ‘smoker’ box and know that it adds even further to your living costs could be the catalyst to help you give up the habit for your health.
The costs of smoking

Puffing away might feel great at the time but this means many smokers are in fact in denial about the effects. To others these noticeably include wheezing and shortness of breath, lack of energy, dull skin, poor circulation and nicotine-stained fingers and teeth. On the inside – and more seriously – smoking could also be a culprit behind lung cancer, heart attack and stroke, and emphysema.
On the financial side, the results can be equally as crippling: at today's rates, a 20-a-day smoker will spend £36,500 over the next 20 years (Figure taken from www.ash.org.uk).
Then, of course, smoking doesn’t only affect you. It pollutes the air around you, places children at a higher risk of asthma and can be unpleasant for those who don’t smoke but have to share public places with you.
Help giving up

It isn’t all doom and gloom, though. Medical research shows that within 10 to 15 years of giving up smoking the risk of developing lung cancer is only slightly more than for a non-smoker.

Once you decide to give up, there is plenty of help at hand. You can visit your GP for advice or look on the NHS website www.gosmokefree.co.uk. This includes a range of fact sheets, tips and advice such as what makes you smoke in the first place, how to break the habit, aids to use such as patches and chewing gum, and what to expect as and when you do give up.
Research also shows that stopping smoking is easier with the help of others, so you can also benefit from the recently launched ‘Together’ scheme. This guides you through the process of giving up smoking from the day you decide to stop until you have successfully quit, full stop. The service is free – all you need to do is register online at givingupsmoking -together.broadsystem.com or call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 quoting 'Together Online' (lines open daily from 7am to 11pm). They can also put you in touch with a local NHS Stop Smoking Service, so you can see a specialist on a one-to-one basis or join a group of people who are giving up at the same time.
So for the benefit of your health and your bank balance, why not decide to stop now?

Link to previous articles:
Directline Life Insurance: Get Life insurance cover
Directline Life Insurance: How much cover do you need?
Direct Line Life Insurance: Types of Covers
Direct Line Life Insurance: Overview
Direct Line Pet Insurance Claims Process
Direct Line Pet Insurance: Summary of cover

Directline Life Insurance: Get Life insurance cover

2007-12-31T04:08:00.000Z

Direct Line was the insurance company which pioneered the use of the telephone to provide customers with the facility to purchase insurance over the telephone quickly and simply. The same principle applies with life assurance only it's even easier! You can now obtain an initial quote online and go ahead with a full application, which may allow us to offer you immediate cover. Alternatively, if you prefer, everything can be done over the telephone - just call us on 0845 246 8080*.
In some instances we may require a simple medical report or simple medical examination. However, we try to make that as convenient and as easy for you by arranging appointments to suit you at your convenience. In most cases this can even be carried out within the comfort of your own home. Further, should you require such a medical, free accidental death cover will be put in place for you in order to allow the time for the medical process to be carried out.

Online

Simply click Get a Quote and you will be taken directly to our buy online screens. All you are required to do is answer a few simple lifestyle questions to obtain your quote and if you wish to continue a short medical questionnaire must be completed. This may enable you to be covered online with us immediately assuming you require an immediate start date.

At any time, however you can save your data and follow up with a phone call to us as well - telephone number 0845 246 8080*.

By phone

If you prefer to speak with one of our operators and obtain your cover over the phone just call - 0845 246 8080* during 8am - 8pm (Monday to Friday) or 9am - 5pm (Saturday). Again the process is as simple as above - answer a few lifestyle questions and if you wish to continue a few medical questions. Again this may enable you to be covered over the phone with us, again assuming an immediate start date.

*Calls may be recorded.

Link to previous articles:
Directline Life Insurance: How much cover do you need?
Direct Line Life Insurance: Types of Covers
Direct Line Life Insurance: Overview
Direct Line Pet Insurance Claims Process
Direct Line Pet Insurance: Summary of cover
Direct Line Pet Insurance

Directline Life Insurance: How much cover do you need?

2007-12-28T04:51:00.000Z

It's tempting to put off any decision about taking out life cover but beware:-

Approximately 1,700 people die everyday in the UK (Source: The Office for National Statistics)
Every year that you delay increases the cost

How much you should take out is also something you must consider. There is not a definitive answer, but you may wish to think about some of the following:

What do you require the life cover for?

Security for your family/partner
Required for your mortgage

There are other considerations which you should then take into account:

• How much is your mortgage?

• What type of mortgage do you have?

• What are your general family living expenses?

• For how long will your children be dependent on your income and what education commitments might you be required to meet?

• If you have other savings what might it earn for family income?

You should also allow for a reasonable rate of inflation as life cover is generally a long term purchase. For example compare prices now to ten years ago.

It really is up to you, you should consider what income would be required should you die to keep your dependents in the same lifestyle and standard of living as they have now. Also note this will not just be for one year, but possibly a number of years, especially if your children are young.

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Life Insurance: Types of Covers
Direct Line Life Insurance: Overview
Direct Line Pet Insurance Claims Process
Direct Line Pet Insurance: Summary of cover Direct Line Pet Insurance
Travel Insurance: Claims information

Directline Life Insurance: Types of Cover

2007-12-27T04:44:00.000Z

Directline has two types of covers for Life Insurance:

• Fixed Term Life Cover

• Mortgage Life Cover

Fixed Term Life Cover

This is a protection policy that will ensure that a cash lump sum is paid out if death occurs within a specified period of time known as the policy term. The amount of life cover remains fixed throughout the policy term.

Mortgage Life Cover

Unlike the Fixed Term policy, this is a decreasing protection policy where the level of cover reduces each year roughly in line with the outstanding balance on a standard repayment mortgage – hence it is frequently referred to as “mortgage protection”.

Provided the initial sum insured and term are the same as the mortgage at the outset it means that in the event of death the policy should be sufficient to repay the mortgage provided interest rates have not risen above 12% p.a.

General policy information apply to both products

• Minimum age to take out a policy is 18 next birthday

• Maximum age to start a policy is 65 next birthday

• Minimum term is 5 years

• Maximum period of cover is up to age 70 next birthday

• Minimum sum assured
-up to age 40 - £30,000
-over age 40 - £20,000

• Maximum sum assured - £2 million

• The premium is fixed at the outset and remains exactly the same throughout the policy term

• Both pay out in the event of death or on diagnosis of a terminal illness (not to be confused with critical illness), however a terminal illness claim must be notified to us at least 18 months before the end of the policy term

• Both policies can be written in trust if required

• Both policies can be taken out on a single life or joint life first death basis

• Premium payment is by monthly direct debit only

• Once confirmed terms have been offered, this fact can be faxed to your solicitor or lender if a mortgage is involved

• There is no surrender value or cash-back at the end of the policy term - it merely expires

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Life Insurance: Overview
Direct Line Pet Insurance Claims Process
Direct Line Pet Insurance: Summary of cover Direct Line Pet Insurance
Travel Insurance: Claims information
Direct Line Van Insurance: Legal Protection

Directline Life Insurance

2007-12-26T04:52:00.000Z

The Directline life insurance good deal that gets even better...

• Get life insurance cover from just 20p a day

• Easy to arrange online or over the phone

• There are no complicated forms to fill in

• We often offer instant cover

• We also offer Critical Illness Cover.

Find out more about our types of cover for Directline Life Insurance

Our fixed term life cover policies will pay out a lump sum to help provide for your loved ones should you die within the term of the policy.

But you can also apply for Life cover with Critical Illness protection, to help protect you and your family if you are diagnosed with a specified critical illness.

Why would I need Directline Life Insurance?

If the unthinkable happened and you were not around, our policies can help make sure that your family's finances will be one less thing to worry about.

Simply choose the level of cover you require, and there will be a lump sum available to help when they need it.

What if I'm already covered?

Even if you already have life insurance, it makes sense to carefully review it to make sure you've got the cover you need.

You may not have enough cover if your circumstances have changed recently - for instance, if you've just had kids, or moved home.

call us on 0845 246 8080.

To find out how much you could save on your life insurance...

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Pet Insurance: Missing Pets Bureau
Direct Line Pet Insurance Claims Process
Direct Line Pet Insurance: Summary of cover
Direct Line Pet Insurance
Travel Insurance: Claims information
Direct Line Van Insurance: Legal Protection

Direct Line Pet Insurance: Missing Pets Bureau

2007-12-24T04:36:00.001Z

Keep your pet safe with Petback Protect

Direct Line always has something great additionals to offer. So here is something that might be of interest to you, if you buy pet insurance from Directline. If you become a Direct Line pet insurance customer you will be entitled to 1 years FREE Petback Protect membership with the Missing Pets Bureau.

Protection for your pet - reassurance for you...

The Missing Pets Bureau will provide you with a unique pet ID tag and store ALL information needed (address, phone numbers, medical history etc.) to reunite you if your dog or cat strays.

Should your pet be lost or stolen its details (including a colour photo) are immediately transferred into the national missing pets register
The Missing Pets Bureau work with 10,000 UK pet care organisations including the RSPCA, Battersea Dogs' Home, rescue centres, vets and animal wardens to ensure that you get your pet back fast
The Bureau will contact you immediately, 24 hours a day, when your pet is found.

]Further information about Petback Protect will be sent with your pet insurance policy should you choose to purchase Direct Line pet insurance.

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Pet Insurance Claims Process
Direct Line Pet Insurance: Summary of cover Direct Line Pet Insurance
Travel Insurance: Claims information
Direct Line Van Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct Line Van Insurance: New improved Van Insurance

Direct Line Pet Insurance Claims Process

2007-12-21T03:54:00.000Z

If you need to make a claim, you can be sure we will deal with it quickly and fairly. Wherever possible you must contact us before incurring any costs for which you may wish to claim. If you wish, we can arrange to pay the bills direct to your vet to make things easier for you, providing your vet agrees.

Call: 0845 246 8712

Lines open: 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday

Calls may be recorded

Your step-by-step guide for Pet Insurance Claims Process

- Before you ring us, please have your policy number ready – you will find it at the top of your policy schedule
- One of our friendly Claims Representitives will ask for details of your claim
- We will inform you of the excess and how to continue with the claim
- We may ask you for more information to support your claim
- We will then send you a claim form, and explain what will happen next

Frequently Asked Claims Questions

Q: What kind of details and additional information will I be asked to provide?

Q: What is a Policy Excess?

Q: What services does the Pet Advice Line offer?

Q: How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?

Q: If my claim is for vet's fees, does the vet need to complete part of the claim form?

Q: Is it possible for my claim to be settled directly with the veterinary practice?

Q: If my pet has a condition which requires ongoing treatment, do I need to wait until the treatment has finished before submitting my claim?

Q: What should I do if my pet is referred on to a Specialist by the vet?

Q: What should I do if I have added Overseas travel cover to my policy?

Q: Will my premium increase if I make a claim?

Q: How long will it take to sort out my claim?

Q: Who will deal with my claim once it has been reported?

Q: What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?

What kind of details and additional information will I be asked to provide?
If you wish to claim for vet's fees, we will ask you for details of the pet you are claiming for, the nature of the illness or injury and when the problem started.

We will also ask you which veterinary practice you will or have already attended and the cost of the treatment, if this is known.

Should your claim not involve vet's fees, we will advise you of the exact information we require during your first call to us.

What is a Policy Excess?
This is the part of the claim that you pay. Our Claims Representive will inform you of the amount of the excess and details can also be found in your policy schedule.

We will deduct the amount of the Policy Excess from the settlement of your claim - in the event that any treatment for your pet is ongoing, we will only apply the excess once at the start of the claim.

What services does the Pet Helpline offer?
Our Pet Helpline offers you access to three pet advice lines - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Find a vet
- unfortunately a medical emergency can occur at any time. If you are unable to contact your usual vet or if you and your pet are away from home, our advice line is able to assist. We have details of veterinary practices providing cover throughout the UK, and we will be able to provide you with details of a practice near you.

Pet Bereavement Counselling
- it can sometimes be difficult to come to terms with the loss of a much loved pet. We provide a service staffed by professionals offering counselling, advice and support to you.

Legal Advice Line
- the ownership of a pet involves additional responsibilities. Your policy gives you access to practical legal advice on any personal problem, whether it relates to an incident involving your pet or not. Legal professionals are on hand to explain complex legal issues in plain language, and in a helpful and friendly way.

How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?
Our Claims Advisers are fully trained and have an excellent knowledge of the policy cover you have arranged with us. For claims involving illness or disease, it is likely that we will require detailed information from your veterinary surgeon to determine whether your claim is covered.

It may help you to read through your policy details before ringing us to report your claim.

If my claim is for vet's fees, does the vet need to complete part of the claim form?
Yes - in most cases we will require your veterinary surgeon to complete the reverse side of the claim form.

Is it possible for my claim to be settled directly with the veterinary practice?
Yes, providing that the vet has agreed to this. Please indicate on the space provided on the claim form, should you wish us to do this.

If my pet has a condition which requires ongoing treatment, do I need to wait until the treatment has finished before submitting my claim?
No - we are able to settle any initial costs, then make interim payments should further treatment be necessary.

What should I do if my pet is referred on to another vet?
In the event that your pet is referred on to another vet - simply contact us straightaway for advice and assistance.

What should I do if I have added Overseas travel to my policy?
You should keep receipts, invoices or any other evidence of your expenses as these may help to support your claim.

Included with your 'Pet documents' is a blank claim form - in the event that you need to claim for any veterinary treatment, please ask the vet that treats your pet to complete this. Don't worry if this is not written in English - we will be able to translate it.

You do not need to notify us of your claim until your return to the UK.

Will my premium increase if I make a claim?
No. As most incidents affecting your pet will be outside of your control we do not feel you should be penalised for making a claim. For the same reason we do not offer a 'no claims discount' on our pet insurance policies.

How long will it take to sort out my claim?
Some claims are more straightforward than others - when you call us, one of our Claims Representives will give you an indication of the timescales involved.

Who will deal with my claim once it has been reported?
We have a dedicated Pet Claims Unit, based in our Bristol office. Their contact details are:

Pet Claims Unit
Direct Line Insurance plc
Direct Line House
1 Cathedral Square
Trinity Street
Bristol
BS1 5DL

Telephone - 0845 246 8496
Fax - 0117 984 6890

Calls may be recorded

What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?
Our main aim is to ensure that our honest customers, who of course are the vast majority, are dealt with as soon as possible. However, we know that fraud is a reality and that a very small number of people provide false details in order to make up, or inflate claims. We believe that it is important that we identify these people and avoid paying such claims as they affect the cost of insurance for everybody. As fraud is a criminal offence, we believe it is our duty to forward details of fraud to the Police.

There are a number of insurance industry databases through which we share information with other companies about claims and fraudsters. This allows us to use the latest technology to make many checks looking for unusual features and fraud. We also share some information about fraud with other companies within the financial services industry, the Police and other bodies where the law allows us to do so.

These pages are for information purposes only. They do not form part of the contract of insurance.

Calls may be recorded. Max call charge from a BT landline is 3p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary.

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Pet Insurance: Summary of cover Direct Line Pet Insurance
Travel Insurance: Claims information
Direct Line Van Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct Line Van Insurance: New improved Van Insurance
Direct Line Van Insurance: Types of cover

Direct Line Pet Insurance: Summary of cover

2007-12-20T04:34:00.000Z

We cover cats and dogs:

• Excludes working animals and dangerous dogs
• Must be in good health on the start date of insurance
• Aged between 8 weeks and up to 9 years (up to 6 years for some breeds)
• Must reside in the UK

Get the cover you need

It's designed to be flexible! Vet's fees cover is automatically included, up to the level you select, and our Helplines are included. Tailor the rest of the benefit options to suit your needs!

Essential policy:

Covers vet's fees for a maximum of 12 months treatment for each illness, injury or disease, up to £4,000 (per condition).

Advanced policy:

Covers vet's fees up to £6,000 (per condition) – with no time limit on reaching this amount.

Helplines

• Both policies include three Helplines:
• Find a vet helpline
• Pet Bereavement Counselling
• Legal Advice Line

3 Additional Cover Options

i – Additional Benefits
Advertising and reward if your pet strays, gets lost or is stolen - up to £1000 towards advertising and £200 for reward
Reimbursement if you lose your pet through theft, straying or death due to accidental injury – purchase price, up to £1,500
Pet boarding costs if you have to go into hospital for more than 4 days – up to £1000
Holiday cancellation cover due to loss, illness or injury of your pet - up to £5,000
ii – Third Party Liability
Legal liability should your dog cause injury to another person or damage their property – up to £2 million (dogs only)

iii – Overseas Travel Cover

Extends the cover above for trips to countries included in the government's Pet Travel Scheme. There is no cover for liability arising under the laws of the USA or Canada. Also covers:
• Quarantine costs
• Loss of pet passport
• Repeat tick and worming treatment
• Emergency expenses while abroad.
• Need more information? See our Policy Document

Link to previous articles:
Direct Line Pet Insurance
Travel Insurance: Claims information
Direct Line Van Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct Line Van Insurance: New improved Van Insurance
Direct Line Van Insurance: Types of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Legal problems & your rights

Direct Line Pet Insurance

2007-12-19T05:39:00.001Z

Direct Line Pet Insurance deal : good deal that gets even better...

• We’ll be giving all customers that insure their pets with us before 31st December 2007 up to £20 towards the cost of vaccinations. If the price is less we cover the actual cost. The offer is redeemable within the first 12 months from the start date of your policy.
• Insure more than one pet and we'll give you a 10% discount
• We'll give you 12 Month's free membership of The Missing Pets Bureau
• Our pet insurance can pay your vet direct
• Your pet is covered per condition, so there's no restriction on the number of times you can claim

• Fixed one-off excess for each condition
• If you're hospitalised, we'll pay up to £1000 for your pet's boarding costs
Protect your pets andhelp the Scottish SPCA.

Insure with us and we'll donate 10%
of your premium to the Scottish SPCA
(a good deal better from Direct Line)

Link to previous articles :
Travel Insurance: Claims information

Direct Line Van Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct Line Van Insurance: New improved Van Insurance
Direct Line Van Insurance: Types of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Legal problems & your rights
Direct Line Home Insurance: Family legal protection

Direct Line Travel Insurance Claims FAQ

2007-12-18T04:31:00.000Z

Frequently asked claims questions:

Q:What kind of details and additional information will I be asked to provide?
Q: What is a Policy Excess?
Q: What service does the 24 hour emergency assistance offer?
Q: How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?
Q: While I'm away from home, do I need to report any loss or theft to the police
Q: What should I do if my belongings are damaged or temporarily lost in transit
Q: What should I do if I need medical attention while abroad?
Q: What should I do if I need to return home urgently?
Q: What do I need to do in the event of a travel delay?
Q: Are there any organisations I can contact for counselling if I am upset by the incident?
Q: How long will it take to sort out my claim?
Q: Who will deal with my claim once it has been reported?
Q: What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?

What kind of details and additional information will I be asked to provide?
It is essential you keep receipts, guarantees, instruction manuals, valuations or photographs of your belongings as these may help to support your claim.
We may also ask you to provide us with estimates or invoices for claims involving replacement of items or medical expenses.

What is a Policy Excess?
This is the part of the claim that you agree to pay - we cover you for the remaining amount up to the limit of your cover. Our Claims Advisor will inform you of the amount of the excess and details can also be found in your policy schedule.
We will deduct the amount of the Policy Excess from the settlement of your claim, or alternatively our appointed specialist or supplier will collect this amount from you on our behalf.

What service does the 24 hour emergency assistance offer?
When away from home, the unexpected always seems to happen at the most inconvenient time. You can call our emergency helpline service, which is operated in conjunction with Direct Line Assistance Service. You will need to select the correct number depending on your geographical location.
Both Direct Line Assistance Services are specialist providers who operate a 24-hour emergency assistance service. They are available at any time to discuss the nature of your problem and to provide specialist advice and assistance to you.

How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?
Our Claims Advisers are fully trained and have an excellent knowledge of the policy cover you have arranged with us. Wherever possible, we will let you know during your first call to us whether your claim is covered by your policy.
It may help you to read through your policy details before ringing us to report your claim.

While I'm away from home, do I need to report any loss or theft to the police?
Yes, you should report any loss or theft to the police within 24 hours of discovery. In the event that you are unable to contact the police, a report should be made to either your tour representative, accommodation provider or carrier - for example the airline or ferry company.

What should I do if my belongings are damaged or temporarily lost in transit?
You should report any damage or temporary loss to your carrier (for example the airline or ferry company) and obtain a 'Property Irregularity Report' (commonly known as a 'PIR') from them. Please keep any damaged items for inspection.
If your belongings have been temporarily lost and you need to purchase any replacement items, please keep all your receipts as this will help us to deal with your claim.

What should I do if I need medical attention while abroad?
If the medical condition appears to be serious, you should contact our emergency helpline straightaway for advice and assistance. For any other medical treatment, you should pay any bills yourself and keep the receipts as this will help us to deal with your claim.

What should I do if I need to return home urgently?
In the event that you need to return home urgently - don't worry - simply contact our emergency helpline straightaway for advice and assistance.

What do I need to do in the event of a travel delay?
You should obtain written confirmation from the airline, train or ferry company, giving exact details of the reason for and length of the delay.

Are there any organisations I can contact for counselling if I am upset by the incident?
Direct Line, in association with Victim Support, can provide you with support when you need it the most. The emotional effects of a theft or loss can be difficult to deal with - you may feel angry, frightened or unsafe.
Most people suffer in silence, but you needn't - just sharing your thoughts can help. Together, Direct Line and Victim Support can help you pick up the pieces practically and emotionally.
Victim Support is the national charity offering victims of crime emotional support through trained volunteers and, if you need a knowledgeable and sympathetic ear, the service is available 24 hours a day.
Simply call the Victim Support line on 0845 30 30 900 or have a look at their web site at www.victimsupport.com

How long will it take to sort out my claim?
Some claims are more straightforward than others. When you call us, one of our Claims Advisers will give you an indication of the timescales involved.

Who will deal with my claim once it has been reported?
We have our own dedicated Travel Claims Unit, based in our Glasgow office.
The contact details are:
Travel Claims Unit
Direct Line House
14-18 Cadogan Street
Glasgow
G2 6QN
Telephone - 0845 246 8680
Fax - 0141 204 4754
Calls may be recorded

What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?
Our main aim is to ensure that our honest customers, which of course are the vast majority, are dealt with as soon as possible. However, we know that fraud is a reality and that a very small number of people provide false details in order to make up, or inflate claims. We believe that it is important that we identify these people and avoid paying such claims as they affect the cost of insurance for everybody. As fraud is a criminal offence, we believe it is our duty to forward details of fraud to the Police.
There are a number of insurance industry databases through which we share information with other companies about claims and fraudsters. This allows us to use the latest technology to make many checks looking for unusual features and fraud. We also share some information about fraud with other companies within the financial services industry, the Police and other bodies where the law allows us to do so.

These pages are for information purposes only. They do not form part of the contract of insurance.
Insurance policies are subject to our normal underwriting criteria.
Calls may be recorded. Max call charge from a BT landline is 3p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary.

Travel Insurance: Claims information

2007-12-17T04:12:00.000Z

Need to make a claim? Direct Line is here to help you.

It is when you need to make a claim that you find out how good your travel insurer really is. You can be sure that we will deal with your claim quickly and fairly.

Call: 0845 246 8680

Lines open: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday

Out of hours? Call one of our 24-hour Emergency Helplines
Direct Line Assistance Service:

In USA & Canada call toll free:
1 877 350 6968

In Central & South America & Caribbean call collect:
(Canada) 905 816 2565

From anywhere else in the world:
(UK) +44 870 241 4628

Or in the UK: 0870 241 4628

Calls may be recorded. Max call charge from a BT landline is 3p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary.

Your step-by-step guide to making a travel claim

Before you ring us:

Please have your policy number ready - you will find this at the top of your policy schedule.

What happens next?

• You will be asked to provide details of your claim by one of our friendly Claims Advisers.

• We will advise you whether your claim is covered by your policy and the amount of any excess which may apply.

• We will issue a claim form to you if necessary.

• You may be asked to provide us with additional information to support your claim.
We will explain to you what will happen next.

Link to previous articles :
Direct Line Van Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct Line Van Insurance: New improved Van Insurance
Direct Line Van Insurance: Types of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Legal problems & your rights
Direct Line Home Insurance: Family legal protection
Direct line Home Insurance Claims FAQ

Direct Line Travel Insurance

2007-12-14T03:57:00.000Z

The good deal that gets even better...

• Every day in November we’re giving away one 160GB iPod classic. (Terms & conditions apply. )

• Single trip policies from £10.66 and annual cover from £48.25 (annual cover available to under 65's only)

• We cover children for independent travel like school trips

• One excess per incident (not 'per section' like some insurers)

• New-for-old replacements as standard (with the exception of clothing)

• Up to £250 total valuables limit to replace your stolen or damaged items

• Unlike some insurers, we cover your watches and sunglasses

• We also offer a 'long stay Backpacker' policy

Travel Insurance: Personalised cover

Whether you're going away for the weekend or backpacking round the world, we've got money-saving cover designed to meet your needs.

• Medical expenses abroad up to £5 million

• 24-hour Medical Emergency Assistance – including repatriation to the UK from anywhere in the world

• Optional sports and activities cover

• Discounts for families and children

• Baggage and personal money cover.

Link to previous articles : Direct Line Van Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct Line Van Insurance: New improved Van Insurance
Direct Line Van Insurance: Types of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Legal problems & your rights
Direct Line Home Insurance: Family legal protection
Direct line Home Insurance Claims FAQ
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim

Direct Line Van Insurance: Legal Protection

2007-12-13T04:26:00.000Z

If you have a road traffic accident involving your van that is not your fault, you have a right to be able to claim back your uninsured losses from the driver responsible.
The hourly rate for a qualified solicitor or legal executive’s costs is likely to be in excess of £100. For less then £1.75 per month, our legal protection cover will provide up to £100,000 of legal costs to help you to recover losses that cannot be claimed from any insurance policy.

(Information taken from the 2005 Guide to the Summary Assessment of Costs. Source: www.courtservice.gov.uk)

Examples may include:

Compensation for death or injury
Your van insurance excess under your comprehensive policy
Accident repair costs if you do not have comprehensive cover
Damage to your clothes, luggage or personal belongings if you do not have comprehensive cover
Hire van costs
Loss of earnings
This cover also provides protection for any one else authorised to drive or use the van and for any authorised passengers.
The solicitor acting for you will handle all aspects of your claim such as locating a specialist (i.e. a medical expert) should this be necessary as a result of injury resulting from the accident. The specialist charges will be met by this legal protection policy.
The appointed solicitor is regulated by the Law Society and, should you choose to appoint one of our solicitor’s, they will also have to operate under our own high service level protocols – ensuring that you receive the professional legal service you would expect.
All in all providing you with peace of mind and a hassle free solution when you need it most

Our uninsured driver promise

If you make a claim for an accident that is not your fault and the driver of the vehicle that hits you is not insured, you will not lose your no claims discount or have to pay any excess.

Conditions

We will need:
the vehicle registration number and the make and model of the vehicle; and
the driver's details, if possible.
It also helps us to confirm who is at fault if you can get the names and addresses of any independent witnesses, if available.
When you claim, you may have to pay your excess. Also, if when your renewal is due investigations are still ongoing, you may lose your no-claim discount temporarily. However, once we confirm that the accident was the fault of the uninsured driver, we will repay your excess, restore your no claims discount and refund any extra premium you have paid.
This promise is for comprehensive policyholders only.

Link to previous articles : Direct Line Van Insurance: New improved Van Insurance
Direct Line Van Insurance: Types of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Legal problems & your rights
Direct Line Home Insurance: Family legal protection
Direct line Home Insurance Claims FAQ
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim
Direct Line Home Insurance: Summary of cover

Direct Line Van Insurance: New improved Van Insurance

2007-12-12T03:39:00.000Z

Good news for motorists– Direct Line has just announced our new and improved van insurance

Direct Line offers a range of discounts and product innovations that are aimed at achieving one thing – bringing down the cost of van insurance. Read on to find out about the exciting savings…

Named Driver No Claims Discount
Matched No Claims Discount
Multi-van Discount
Breakdown Multi-van Discount

It’s all a fantastic reward for safer driving...

NAMED DRIVER NCD (No Claims Discount)

Direct Line is the first major insurance company in the UK that recognises named drivers’ No Claims history

If you have named drivers on your Direct Line van insurance policy, you (and they) will be pleased to know that we have become the first major insurance company in the UK to offer Named Driver No Claims Discounts.

This means that when we provide your named drivers with a quote for Direct Line van insurance, we’ll recognise every year they haven’t made a claim on your policy.
Taking advantage of this deal couldn’t be easier. Your named drivers’ no claims histories are automatically stored on our system, so when they come to apply for their own policy with us they simply need to give us your details online or on the phone and we can identify them immediately, at which point they will be able to receive up to 5 years' No Claims Discount.

MATCHED NCD (No Claims Discount)

Use your No Claims Discount on your second van

If you are the only person insured on your Direct Line van insurance policy and you purchase a second van that will only be driven by you, we will match your No Claim Discount on the policy for your new vehicle.

MULTI-VAN DISCOUNT

Insure both your vans for less with Direct Line

We don’t want to hit you in the pocket just because you own more than one van. In fact, we are dedicated to doing the exact opposite - saving you money with the new Multi-van Discount.

As part of Direct Line’s new improved van insurance deal, we’re offering a 10% discount on new policies taken out on any additional vans by named drivers or members of your household. This means that, as long as you can identify the existing Direct Line policy in your household or the policy on which you are a named driver, we will discount your premium by 10% - it’s that simple.

BREAKDOWN MULTI-VEHICLE DISCOUNT

Multi-van discounts on your breakdown cover

Customers who insure more than one van with Direct Line can also save money on their breakdown cover. Our Breakdown Multi-Van Discount offers a fantastic 35% saving off our top two levels of cover.

Link to previous articles : Direct Line Van Insurance: Types of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Legal problems & your rights
Direct Line Home Insurance: Family legal protection
Direct line Home Insurance Claims FAQ
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim

Direct Line Van Insurance: Types of cover

2007-12-11T04:27:00.000Z

1. Third Party Fire & Theft (TPF&T)

This covers you if other people claim against you for injury or damage to their vehicle or property, and if your van is stolen or damaged by fire.

2. Comprehensive

As Third Party Fire and Theft plus accidental damage cover to your van plus cover for personal belongings, medical expenses and personal accident cover. Subject to selected levels of cover.

3. Third Party Only (TPO)

• Covers liability to third parties i.e. claims made by third parties, against you, for bodily injury or damage to their property. Please call us for details.

And that's not all:
• Accident Action Pack – what to do if you have an accident
• 24 Hour Accident Helpline – expert help and advice at any time
• 24 Hour Windscreen Helpline if your windscreen is damaged
• Windscreen Repair for damaged windscreens (Comprehensive only)
• Legal Protection (optional) - to recover your uninsured losses

Link to previous articles: Direct Line Home Insurance :Home Security
Direct Line Home Insurance: Legal problems & your rights
Direct Line Home Insurance: Family legal protection
Direct line Home Insurance Claims FAQ
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim

Direct Line Home Insurance: Home security

2007-12-10T03:49:00.000Z

Alarm systems to beat the burglar

We’ve teamed up with one of the UK's leading specialists, Eastern Security, and negotiated great value deals on two types of fully approved professional alarm systems tailored to your home, which qualify you for a 7.5% or a 12.5% discount on contents insurance premiums.

Option 1 – 'Bells Only' system

Just £565 fully installed, includes 12 months comprehensive maintenance including parts and labour guarantee. 24 hour helpline. This system means you will qualify for a 7.5% discount.

Option 2 – 24-hour Monitored System with Keyholder/Police response

Just £585 fully installed, plus maintenance and monitoring charge of £18.25 a month. This system means you will qualify for 12.5% discount.

For more information, and free alarm survey call 0845 246 0934 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5.30pm)

Save up to 40% on approved locks and bolts

Better security means a 5% discount on your Direct Line contents insurance. For great deals on locks and safes, or to get advice or a catalogue, call 01454 321 311 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm)

Link to previous articles : Direct Line Home Insurance: Legal problems & your rights
Direct Line Home Insurance: Family legal protection
Direct line Home Insurance Claims FAQ
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim
Direct Line Home Insurance: Summary of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim
Direct Line Home Insurance Overview

Direct Line Home Insurance: Legal problems & your rights

2007-12-07T07:32:00.000Z

This information is provided for your assistance only and does not offer a definitive statement of the law.

Personal Injury

Q. Recently while shopping in a large department store I slipped on a wet floor. There were no warning signs and I fell awkwardly breaking my ankle. I have been off work since and I am still receiving outpatient treatment. The store manager sent me a bunch of flowers but I am losing wages. Can I claim compensation?

A. As a lawful visitor, the store owes you a duty to take reasonable steps to ensure your safety. It appears that this duty has been breached by failing to warn shoppers of the wet area or by swiftly cleaning up the mess. As your injuries were suffered as a direct result of the breach, you have a potential claim for damages.

Consumer

Q. I bought a computer two days ago to help my daughter with her GCSE’s. The computer keeps crashing, I cannot open the DVD drive and the helpdesk is always engaged. The shop manager is refusing to replace the computer. What are my legal rights?

A. It appears that your computer is not of satisfactory quality nor fit for its purpose. The shop that sold you the computer is therefore in breach of the Sales of Goods Act 1979. When such a breach occurs soon after purchase, you have a short time to reject the computer and obtain a refund. After this time has elapsed, you will be entitled to a reasonable repair, a replacement of the computer or a partial refund at the discretion of the shop.

Unless you really want a replacement, you should reject the computer, return it to the shop immediately and request a full refund.

Property

Q. 'I am in dispute with my neighbour over the position of the boundary wall separating our properties. He is insisting he is entitled to an extra foot of my land. We have not spoken for several months after falling out over car parking spaces. If he moves the boundary wall and encroaches on my land what steps can I take?
A. It will be necessary to establish who owns the disputed land. Check your legal documents relating to your property firstly. If you have registered land you can obtain a copy of the Title Certificate and filed plan from the Land Registry. If the land is unregistered you will need to refer to your conveyancing deeds which if you have a mortgage, will be with your lender. Clear evidence in legal documents is normally conclusive as to the boundary. If there is no clear evidence you will need to look at all other facts to see if evidence can be established by different means, such as where existing boundaries are and how long they have been there. If your neighbour attempts to move the boundary without your permission you can apply to court for a declaration of the true boundary and require he removes any trespassing wall.

Employment

Q. After working for my employers for the last 5 years I was called into my boss’s office yesterday and dismissed. No explanation was given. After being treated so badly I feel that I must take action. I believe, if you have over one year’s service you can claim unfair dismissal, is this correct?

A. In your circumstances you are correct. Irrespective of your employers reason for your dismissal, it appears that they have not followed statutory procedures they are required to follow in relation to disciplinary and dismissal situations, potentially making your dismissal automatically unfair. You have a right to bring an unfair dismissal claim to an Employment Tribunal. However you should first write to your employers quickly and appeal the decision to dismiss you on-the-spot.
The information in this article is intended to provide you with general information only. You should seek detailed legal advice for individual cases. The information given is based on the laws of England and Wales.
Max call charge from a BT landline is 3p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary.

Link to previous articles : Direct Line Home Insurance: Family legal protection
Direct line Home Insurance Claims FAQ
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim
Direct Line Home Insurance: Summary of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim
Direct Line Home Insurance Overview
Directline Car Insurance: Legal Protection

Direct Line Home Insurance: Family legal protection

2007-12-06T04:22:00.000Z

Family Legal Protection has improved!

If you need legal advice or financial help to claim your rights, our Legal Protection policy is designed to help. For a small additional annual premium, you can have this option added to your home insurance and benefit from:

24 hour advice line

With Direct Line's Family Legal Protection Policy you always have immediate access to legally qualified staff through our exclusive 24 hour helpline. Our legal experts are ready to advise you on any private legal problem, whether or not it results in a claim. And, you can use the helpline as many times as you like!

Legal costs up to £100,000

As a legal protection policyholder we'll meet your legal fees and now we'll cover costs up to £100,000 per claim for the following situations:
• Faulty goods or services you have bought including a holiday that didn't live up to expectations.
• Employment claims including unfair dismissal, redundancy and discrimination on the grounds of sex, race or disability (the cause of action must occur at least 90 days after cover starts).
• Civil claims relating to the ownership or occupation of your home including boundary and neighbour disputes (the cause of action must occur at least 90 days after cover starts).
• Defence of actions against you where you have privately sold personal goods.
• Personal injury claims including accidents at work, in public places, medical and clinical negligence.
On top of this cover, we've also added cover for:
• Tax protection
• Inheritance disputes
• Legal defence for your work as an employee
• Motoring prosecution
• Your salary while you attend jury service...
And we've also extended the existing cover for Personal injury and Contract claims to include:
• Contract disputes for buying or selling your home
• Personal injury and Contract claims that occur outside the UK.

Cover for everyone

Legal Protection cover is available for all members of the family living with you.

The information in this article is intended to provide you with general information only. You should seek detailed legal advice for individual cases. The information given is based on the laws of England and Wales.

Max call charge from a BT landline is 3p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary

Link to previous articles : Direct line Home Insurance Claims FAQ
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim
Direct Line Home Insurance: Summary of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim
Direct Line Home Insurance Overview
Directline Car Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct line Car Insurance Claims process

Direct line Home Insurance Claims FAQ

2007-12-05T04:06:00.000Z

Frequently asked claims questions

Q: What questions will I be asked when I phone to register my claim?
Q: What kind of additional information will I be asked to provide?
Q: Who are the approved suppliers and specialist and what do they do they do?
Q: What is a Policy Excess?
Q: What services does the emergency help-line offer?
Q: How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?
Q: What should I do if I believe my house is suffering from subsidence?
Q: Are there any organisations I can contact for counselling if I am upset by the incident?
Q: Will my premium increase at the next renewal date if I make a claim?
Q: Is my policy 'new-for-old'?
Q: How long will it take to sort out my claim?
Q: Who will deal with my claim once it has been reported?
Q: What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?
What questions will I be asked when I phone to register my claim?

We will ask you what happened and when it happened and what action you've taken so far. Then we'll ask you what it is you're claiming for and the approximate cost(s) involved.

What kind of additional information will I be asked to provide?

It is helpful if you keep receipts, guarantees, instruction manuals, valuations or photographs for your most valuable items in a safe place as these may help to support your claim. By valuable items, we mean jewellery, watches, paintings, collectors' items and any items/sets of gold or silver.

We may also ask you to provide us with estimates or invoices for claims involving repair or replacement of items.

If the claim involves a building repair, we normally request two estimates for comparison purposes.

If the incident involves theft or criminal damage, or if any property has been lost outside of the home, you should inform the police immediately and make a note of the police incident number.

Who are the approved suppliers and specialists and what do they do?

We have a national panel of approved specialists and suppliers who we may appoint to inspect damage or replace goods on our behalf. Full details of the specialist or supplier and the next steps will be discussed with you by one of our Teleclaims Service Advisers over the telephone.

We also have a team of Claims Advisers, who may visit you at home to discuss your claim in detail and will manage the settlement of your claim for you.

What is a Policy Excess?

This is the part of each claim that you agree to pay - we cover you for the remaining amount. The Teleclaims Service Adviser will inform you of the amount of the excess and details can also be found in the policy schedule.

We will deduct the amount of the Policy Excess from the settlement of your claim, or alternatively our appointed specialist or supplier will collect this amount from you on our behalf.

What service does the emergency helpline offer?

Burst pipes, storm damage, broken windows, damaged locks - the unexpected always happens at the most inconvenient time. If you are unable to contact a local qualified tradesman, you can call our emergency helpline service, which operates a 24-hour domestic emergency assistance service.

The helpline is available at any time to discuss the nature of your problem and to find a local qualified tradesman for you. Arrangements will be made for the tradesman to call you to offer immediate advice and to give you an expected arrival time.

You will be billed for the work. The standard rates are specially negotiated to protect you from excessive charges and you will be asked to sign a satisfaction form upon completion of the repairs.

It is a 24-hour service and the contact number is 0845 601 3004.
Calls may be recorded

Remember to check your policy booklet to see if any of the damage is covered as you may be able to recover the cost, less any policy excess.

How will I know if my claim is covered by my policy?

Our Teleclaims Service Advisers are fully trained and have an excellent knowledge of the policy cover you have arranged with us. Wherever possible, we will let you know during your first call to us whether your claim is covered by your policy.

It may help you to read through the policy booklet along with your schedule of cover before ringing us to report your claim.

What should I do if I believe my house is suffering from subsidence?

Subsidence is the downward movement of the ground supporting your house which usually results in the appearance of small diagonal cracks to the weaker parts of the home. These cracks normally appear above and below windows and doors.

We have a specialist subsidence unit that you may ring for advice or to register a claim on: 020 8686 3313 (ask for the subsidence unit).

Calls may be recorded

Are there any organisations I can contact for counselling if I am upset by the incident?

Direct Line, in association with Victim Support, can provide you with support when you need it the most. The emotional effects of a theft or loss can be difficult to deal with - you may feel angry, frightened or unsafe.

Most people suffer in silence, but you needn't - just sharing your thoughts can help. Together, Direct Line and Victim Support can help you pick up the pieces practically and emotionally.

Victim Support is the national charity offering victims of crime emotional support through trained volunteers. If you need a knowledgeable and sympathetic ear, their services are available 24-hours a day.

Simply call the Victim Support line on 0845 30 30 900 or have a look at their website at www.victimsupport.com

Will my premium increase at the next renewal date if I make a claim?

Our home insurance policies do not include a 'no claims discount', as we feel it would be unfair to penalise clients for the many types of home claims which are totally outside of their control e.g. flood, fire or theft. However, making several claims under your policy could result in an increased premium at the next renewal date. This depends on the number, type and value of claims you make. Our premiums are calculated individually and you will be notified in advance of the renewal date.

Is my policy 'new-for-old'?

Yes, your policy is one of 'reinstatement' or 'new-for-old'. This means that all items (except clothing) will be replaced with the new equivalent without any deduction for 'wear and tear'.

For example, if you have damaged a 5-year-old television, we will replace it with the latest available equivalent model.

How long will it take to sort out my claim?

Some claims are more straightforward than others - when you call to register your claim one of our Teleclaims Service Advisers will give you an indication of the timescales involved.

Who will deal with my claim?

We have Claims Service Units, in Leeds and in Glasgow, and you will be advised which unit will be dealing with your claim at the end of your first telephone call to us. The details and contact numbers will appear on any written correspondence we may send to you.
Your contact numbers are:
Leeds - 0845 246 8416
Glasgow - 0845 246 8417
We also have a Technical Claims Unit - 0845 246 8413 which handles higher value and more complex claims.
Calls may be recorded

What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?

Our main aim is to ensure that our honest customers, which of course are the vast majority, are dealt with as quickly as possible. However, we know that fraud is a reality and that a very small number of people provide false details in order to make up, or inflate claims. We believe it is important that we identify and avoid paying such claims, as they affect the cost of home insurance for everybody. As fraud is a criminal offence, we believe it is our duty to forward details of any fraudulent activities to the Police.
There are a number of insurance industry databases through which we share information with other companies about claims and fraudsters. This allows us to use the latest technology to conduct checks for unusual features and fraud. We also share information about fraud with other companies within the financial services industry, the Police and other bodies where the law allows us to do so.

These pages are for information purposes only. They do not form part of the contract of insurance.

Link to previous articles : Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim
Direct Line Home Insurance: Summary of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim
Direct Line Home Insurance Overview
Directline Car Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct line Car Insurance Claims process
Other related articles:Types of cover:Directline Car Insurance

Direct Line Home Insurance: Insurance claim

2007-12-04T04:35:00.000Z

Direct line is here to help you make a claim quickly, and deal with it fairly – with as little hassle as possible.

You can either make a home insurance claim online or call the direc tline teleclaims team on:
0845 246 8710

Lines open:
8am – 8pm Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm Saturday

Out of hours call our 24-hour Emergency Helpline on:
0845 601 3004

Calls may be recorded. Max call charge from a BT landline is 3p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary.

Have you been a victim of crime?

Victim Support is the national charity which helps people cope with the effects of crime. It provides free, confidential, practical help and support – you can call them on 0845 30 30 900 (9am – 9pm weekdays, 9am – 7pm weekends, 9am – 5pm Bank Holidays).

How to claim

• Ring us and we'll tell you if your claim is covered – if you are, we'll register your claim straight away. Please have your policy documents to hand.

• If you have suffered a break-in or lost any property outside your home – call the Police straight away, and make a note of the crime reference number.

• Small claims may be settled immediately over the phone – it will help if you can estimate the cost of repair or replacement of the items concerned.

• For all large claims, we'll arrange for a claims adviser or loss adjuster to visit you as soon as possible

• A Direct Line approved specialist or supplier may be appointed to deal with the claim on our behalf.

Damaged items may be repaired for you.

Link to previous articles : Direct Line Home Insurance: Summary of cover
Direct Line Home Insurance Overview
Directline Car Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct line Car Insurance Claims process
Other related articles:Types of cover:Directline Car Insurance
Direct Line Car Insurance:New improved car insurance
Directline Insurance: Frequently asked Claims questions

Direct Line Home Insurance: Summary of cover

2007-12-03T06:18:00.000Z

Below are the choices of cover available to you:

Direct Line Buildings Insurance

• Automatically provides buildings cover up to £1,000,000 for the cost of rebuilding your home and any outbuildings.

• Covers the structure of your home, roofs, walls, fences, gates and outbuildings, plus permanent fixtures like kitchens, bathrooms and fitted wardrobes.

• Covers fire, lightning, storm or flood (excluding fences and gates), theft, explosion, escape of water or oil, vandalism and subsidence.

• Also covers burst pipes, accidental damage to windows or sanitary ware and the cost of alternative accommodation if necessary (following an insured event).

• 24-hour Emergency Helpline

Direct Line Contents Insurance

• Provides cover on a new-for-old basis for household goods, including furniture, carpets, curtains, and your personal belongings in the home, garages and sheds.

• Covers cash in your home up to £500, plus items in the garden up to £1,000.

• Covers against fire, smoke damage, lightning, theft, flood and escape of water or oil.

• Also covers accidental damage to TVs, home computers, home entertainment systems, freezer contents (unlimited), replacement locks and keys following theft of keys (unlimited), and possessions temporarily removed from the home to another e.g. while children are at college.

• Includes an automatic £5,000 or 10% increase in cover for several weeks either side of

• Christmas and family weddings.

24-hour Emergency Helpline

Optional Extras

Extra Accidental Damage cover – DIY disasters, damage to furniture, ornaments, carpets etc.

Personal Possessions – covers your personal effects and valuables, including cash and credit cards, outside the home – on holiday, for example.

Family Legal Protection – A confidential 24-hour Helpline manned by legal experts, and up to £100,000 of legal costs to help pursue your rights for issues such as:

- Employment claims – Unfair dismissal, breach of contract, discrimination due to sex, race or disability. The cause of action must start at least 90 days after cover starts.

- Personal injury claims – accidents at work, accidents in public places, accidents caused while cycling or in a car and clinical negligence.

- Contract claims – Purchase of a faulty car, purchase of faulty goods, purchase of negligently performed services, a poor holiday experience.

- Property Claims – Disputes with your neighbour, noisy neighbours, boundary disputes. The cause of action must start at least 90 days after cover starts.
All claims must be reported to the legal Helpline as soon as possible. Claims are handled by our staff or by one of our panel of solicitors until the issue of legal proceedings.

Link to previous article : Direct Line Home Insurance Overview
Directline Car Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct line Car Insurance Claims process
Other related articles:Types of cover:Directline Car Insurance
Direct Line Car Insurance:New improved car insurance
Directline Insurance: Frequently asked Claims questions

Direct Line Home Insurance Overview

2007-11-30T04:23:00.001Z

Great discounts on Direct Line Home Insurance

• 12 months home insurance for the price of 9 available on new policies

• you get an additional 20% discount if you buy online

• if you don't claim we'll give you 10% off when you renew with us

• if you are over 50 then you will benefit from up to an additional 15% new business discount

The good deal that gets even better

At Direct Line we understand how important it is to ensure that you have adequate and affordable cover for your hard earned home and valuables. That is why we offer:

• Buildings cover up to £1 million as standard

• New for old cover for household goods with our contents insurance cover (excludes clothing)

• Cover for up to £1,000 for items in the garden

and better..

• Automatic increases in cover over Christmas as well as 4 weeks before and after a family wedding

• Golf clubs covered as standard under our Personal Possession cover (up to £1,500)

• Our Personal Possessions cover offers protection for your personal possessions, cash and credit cards (up to £500 while you're away from your home, anywhere in the British Isles and up to 60 days while you are overseas

• We offer cover for your second home in the UK (even if your first home is not insured with us) over the phone - just call us on 0845 246 3564

Link to previous article : Directline Car Insurance: Legal Protection
Direct line Car Insurance Claims process
Other related articles:Types of cover:Directline Car Insurance
Direct Line Car Insurance:New improved car insurance
Directline Insurance: Frequently asked Claims questions

Direct Line Home Insurance Overview

2007-11-30T04:23:00.000Z

Great discounts on Direct Line Home Insurance

The good deal that gets even better

and better..

Directline Car Insurance: Legal Protection

2007-11-29T04:22:00.000Z

If you have a road traffic accident involving your car that is not your fault, you have a right to be able to claim back your uninsured losses from the driver responsible.
The hourly rate for a qualified solicitor or legal executive’s costs is likely to be in excess of £100. For less then £1.75 per month, our legal protection cover will provide up to £100,000 of legal costs to help you to recover losses that cannot be claimed from any insurance policy.

(Information taken from the 2005 Guide to the Summary Assessment of Costs. Source: www.courtservice.gov.uk)

Examples may include:

• Compensation for death or Injury

• Your car insurance excess under your comprehensive policy

• Accident repair costs if you do not have comprehensive cover

• Damage to your clothes, luggage or personal belongings if you do not have comprehensive cover

• Hire car costs

• Loss of earnings

This cover also provides protection for any one else authorised to drive or use the car and for any authorised passengers.

The solicitor acting for you will handle all aspects of your claim such as locating a specialist (i.e. a medical expert) should this be necessary as a result of injury resulting from the accident. The specialist charges will be met by this legal protection policy.

The appointed solicitor is regulated by the Law Society and, should you choose to appoint one of our solicitor’s, they will also have to operate under our own high service level protocols – ensuring that you receive the professional legal service you would expect.
All in all providing you with peace of mind and a hassle free solution when you need it most.

Link to previous article : Direct line Car Insurance Claims process
Other related articles:Types of cover:Directline Car Insurance
Direct Line Car Insurance:New improved car insurance
Directline Insurance: Frequently asked Claims questions

Directline Insurance: Frequently asked Claims questions

2007-11-28T04:12:00.000Z

Q: Do I need to contact the police after an incident involving my car?
Q: What happens if my car is stolen?
Q: Who repairs my car?
Q: What happens if I want to use my own repairer?
Q: What is a total loss?
Q: If my vehicle is a total loss what will I receive in settlement?
Q: How long will it take to sort out my claim?
Q: What are the different levels of cover?
Q: What is a Policy Excess?
Q: What happens if the accident was not my fault?
Q: What happens if the accident was my fault?
Q: What if the other driver disputes the accident circumstances?
Q: What are Uninsured Losses?
Q: What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?

Do I need to contact the police after an incident involving my car?

If your car has been stolen you should report the theft to the nearest Police
Station and obtain a crime reference number. If you have been involved in an
accident and there are injuries to another person you should also report the
accident to the Police.

What happens if my car is stolen?

The first thing you should do is report the theft to the nearest Police Station and
obtain a crime reference number.
Then contact our Personal Claims Advisers who will take the details from you.
After this, a number of insurance industry database checks designed to protect
our customers from fraud are carried out. A Claims Assessor may also be
appointed to discuss the claim with you.
When our enquiries are successfully completed an offer will be made to settle
your claim.

Who repairs my car?

One of our Network Repairers will repair your car. Our Network Repairers are approved garages which have been appointed by Direct Line to provide the highest customer service and quality of repairs for our customers.
In most cases the Network Repairer has the authority to carry out the repairs to your car immediately.
Each repair is carried out in accordance with recognised industry standards, it is guaranteed for at least 5 years and all replaced parts are approved by the car manufacturer.
Our own Engineers regularly visit the Network Repairers to ensure that our high quality standards are met.
We also have our own accident repair sites which allow us to understand the latest repair technology and ensure that the best possible standards are being adopted for our customers.

What happens if I want to use my own repairer?

You can use a repairer of your own choice but doing so means that we can't guarantee the work and you will need to obtain an estimate for us to approve before work can commence.

What is a total loss?

If the cost of repairs exceed the market value of your car then it is likely we will consider it to be beyond economic repair. This is often referred to as a total loss.

If my vehicle is a total loss what will I receive in settlement?

A Direct Line Engineer, or one appointed by us, will inspect your car and place a value on it. We obtain our valuation by researching market trends and car value guides.
We take into account the condition of the car before the incident took place including the bodywork, mileage and interior.
The engineer will contact you to discuss the valuation and, once settlement has been agreed, they will arrange for your Personal Claims Adviser to carry out a series of industry database checks designed to safeguard our policyholders against fraud. Once these have been successfully completed, payment will be sent to you, subject to the deduction of any excess.

How long will it take to sort out my claim?

When you call to register your claim a Personal Claims Adviser will give you an approximate indication of the timescales involved.

What are the different levels of cover?

Comprehensive - This gives you both of the cover elements below and also covers accidental damage to your car.

Third Party Fire and Theft - Covers you for claims made by other people for bodily injury or damage to their property following an accident, plus your car is covered if it is stolen or damaged by fire.

Third Party Only - Covers you for claims made by other people for bodily injury or damage to their property following an accident.

What is a Policy Excess?

This is the part of the claim that you agree to pay - we cover you for the remaining amount. The Personal Claims Advisor will inform you of the amount and details can also be found in your policy schedule. You should get the excess back if an incident is proven to be the fault of another driver and, if you have Direct Line Car Legal Protection cover, we will attempt to regain any uninsured losses on your behalf. You will only pay an excess when there is damage to your car or if it has been stolen.

What happens if the accident was not my fault?

Our first priority is to get your car repaired or settlement to you if it is a total loss.
After this, we will try to recover our outlay from the person responsible for the accident. If we are successful then making the claim will not affect your No Claims Discount. If you have Direct Line Car Legal Protection cover we will also include in our recovery any uninsured losses that you can not recover from any insurance policy.
If the incident circumstances are straightforward this is usually a short process and, whilst in the majority of cases we are successful, we can't guarantee to always get our money back as sometimes the unexpected does happen.

What happens if the accident was my fault?

If you have comprehensive cover we will arrange the repairs to your vehicle or it's inspection if it is likely to be a total loss and we will also handle the other driver's claim as quickly as possible.
If you receive any correspondence from the other driver or their insurers please forward it to us and we will respond on your behalf.

What if the other driver disputes the accident circumstances?

We will do our very best to persuade the other driver, or their insurer, that the accident was their fault by presenting them with all the evidence we have gathered and you have provided us with.
We will always attempt to defend your position, but on occasions if the evidence does not fully support either driver's version of the incident, everybody involved may have to take some responsibility. If this happens we will negotiate the best possible settlement with the other driver.

What are Uninsured Losses?

Uninsured losses are costs for which you are responsible. Examples are, the policy excess, the cost of a hire car and any medical expenses you may incur. However, if you have Direct Line Car Legal Protection cover we will pay any reasonable cost of legal proceedings against another person who is responsible for the accident, if it results in injury to you or uninsured losses being incurred.

What measures do Direct Line take to prevent fraud?

Our main aim is to ensure that our honest customers, which of course are the vast majority, are back on the road as soon as possible. However, we know that fraud is a reality and that a very small number of people provide false details in order to make up, or inflate claims. We believe that it is important that we identify these people and avoid paying such claims as they affect the cost of motor insurance for everybody. As fraud is a criminal offence, we believe it is our duty to forward details of fraud to the Police.
There are a number of insurance industry databases through which we share information with other companies about claims and fraudsters. This allows us to use the latest technology to make many checks looking for unusual features and fraud. We also share some information about fraud with other companies within the financial industry, the Police and other bodies where the law allows us to do so.

These pages are for information purposes only. They do not form part of the contract of insurance.

Link to previous article : Direct line Car Insurance Claims process
Other related articles:Types of cover:Directline Car Insurance
Direct Line Car Insurance:New improved car insurance

Direct line Car Insurance Claims process

2007-11-27T04:41:00.000Z

Need to make a claim? We're here to get you back on the road

If your car has been stolen you should report the theft to the nearest Police
Station and obtain a crime reference number before calling us.

Call: 0845 246 2367

Lines open: 8am-9pm Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm on Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday.

Out of hours call: 24-hour Accident Recovery Helpline

Call: 0800 269 015
Calls may be recorded

What happens next?

• When you phone, a Personal Claims Adviser will take the details of the incident and the crime reference number, if you have one.

• Your policy cover will be reviewed.

• We will confirm the amount of any excess which may apply.

• If the damage to your car is covered, we can arrange for the work to be
carried out by one of our recommended repairers (if available).

• If the car is a total loss we will arrange settlement.

Link to previous article : Types of cover: Directline Car Insurance

Types of cover:Directline Car Insurance

2007-11-26T05:14:00.000Z

1. Third Party Fire & Theft (TPF&T)

This covers you if other people claim against you for injury or damage to their car or property, and if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.

2. Comprehensive

As Third Party Fire and Theft plus accidental damage cover to your car plus cover for personal belongings, medical expenses and personal accident cover. Subject to selected levels of cover.

3. Third Party Only (TPO)

Covers liability to third parties i.e. claims made by third parties, against you, for bodily injury or damage to their property. Please call us for details.

And that's not all:
• Accident Action Pack – what to do if you have an accident

• 24 Hour Accident Helpline – expert help and advice at any time

• 24 Hour Windscreen Helpline if your windscreen is damaged

• Windscreen Repair for damaged windscreens (Comprehensive only)

• Legal Protection (optional) - to recover your uninsured losses

Link to previous article : Direct Line Car Insurance:New improved car insurance

Direct Line Car Insurance:New improved car insurance

2007-11-23T08:02:00.000Z

Direct Line offers a range of discounts and product innovations that are aimed at achieving one thing – bringing down the cost of car insurance. Read on to find out about the exciting savings…

Named Driver No Claims Discount
Matched No Claims Discount
Motorbike No Claims Discount
Company Car No Claims Discount
Multi-car Discount
Breakdown Multi-car Discount

It’s all a fantastic reward for safer driving...

NAMED DRIVER NCD (No Claims Discount)

Direct Line is the first major insurance company in the UK that recognises named drivers’ No Claims history

If you have named drivers on your Direct Line car insurance policy, you (and they) will be pleased to know that we have become the first major insurance company in the UK to offer Named Driver No Claims Discounts.

This means that when we provide your named drivers with a quote for Direct Line car insurance, we’ll recognise every year they haven’t made a claim on your policy.

Taking advantage of this deal couldn’t be easier. Your named drivers’ no claims histories are automatically stored on our system, so when they come to apply for their own policy they simply need to give us your details online or on the phone and we can identify them immediately, at which point they will be able to receive up to 5 years' No Claims Discount on their own policy.

MATCHED NCD (No Claims Discount)

Use your No Claims Discount on your second car

If you are the only person insured on your Direct Line car insurance policy and you purchase a second car that will only be driven by you, we will match your No Claim Discount on the policy for your new vehicle.

In addition we will give you a 10% discount on the additional vehicle followed by 5% every year there after.

MOTORBIKE NCD (No Claims Discount)

Your motorbike No Claims Discount is recognised by Direct Line

Motorbike riders who are hanging up their helmets for the relative comfort of a car, will be pleased to know that we recognise your safe driving record. Your Motorbike No Claims Discount can be used against a car policy, and you can get the discount on the premium that you deserve.

COMPANY CAR NCD (No Claims Discount)

Claim-free driving of a company car can count on a Direct Line policy

We will reward your claim-free driving where you have recently relinquished a company car that you had sole use of.
If you’re over 25 and can confirm that you have made no claims on the company policy, then the Company Car No Claims Discount could mean that you are entitled to a discount of up to 5 years No Claims Discount on a policy you accept with us.

MULTI-CAR DISCOUNT

Insure both your cars for less with Direct Line

We don’t want to hit you in the pocket just because you own more than one car. In fact, we are dedicated to doing the exact opposite - saving you money with the new Multi-car Discount.

As part of Direct Line’s new improved car insurance deal, we’re offering a 10% discount on new policies taken out on any additional cars by named drivers or members of your household. This means that, as long as you can identify the existing policy in your household or the policy on which you are a named driver, we will discount your premium by 10% - it’s that simple.

BREAKDOWN MULTI-CAR DISCOUNT

Multi-car discounts on your breakdown cover

Customers who insure more than one car with Direct Line can also save money on their breakdown cover. Our Breakdown Multi-Car Discount offers a fantastic 35% saving off our top levels of cover.

Link to previous article:SCOOTER Insurance – Norwich Union

- SCOOTER Insurance – Norwich Union

2007-11-22T05:25:00.000Z

Norwich Union Scooter Insurance overview

Avoid congestion, reduce running costs and cut down on harmful emissions. Motor scooters and mopeds are an economical and practical choice for the daily commute and other short journeys.

Our online scooter insurance offers a range of cover options including commuting and business use, with instant cover, claim-free discounts and optional additional cover.

Summary of benefits of Norwich Union scooter insurance:

• Instant online quote, instant cover

• Discounts for claim-free history

• Got another Norwich Union insurance policy? Receive a 5% multi-product discount

• Monthly payment available

• No hassle claims handling via our 24 hour claims helpline

Your Vehicle:

Loss or damage to your motorcycle

Accident recovery

New motorcycle replacement
(where applicable)

Link to previous article Norwich Union Motorcycle Insurance FAQ

Norwich Union Motorcycle Insurance FAQ

2007-11-21T04:37:00.000Z

The most common motorbike insurance questions answered.

Your Questions

1. Can I have more than one motorcycle on my Norwich Union Direct policy?
2. Why can't I find my motorcycle's make & model?
3. Can I ride my bike abroad on my policy?
4. Do I need "Business Use" to ride to work?
5. Can I pay monthly with Norwich Union Direct?
6. Are my helmet and leathers covered on this policy?
7. Which security devices can help to reduce my motorbike insurance premium?
8. Do I need to report any car accidents when obtaining my motorcycle quotation?

Answers from Norwich Union

1. Can I have more than one motorcycle on my Norwich Union Direct policy?

You can insure more than one motorcycle through Norwich Union Direct. You need to take out a different motorbike insurance policy for each vehicle. If you choose to do this, you get an extra 5% off the price of the additional policies.
You can name up to 4 riders on each policy. Please check your quote for any excesses which may apply.

2. Why can't I find my motorcycle's make & model?

If you cannot find your motorcycle's make and model details, please contact Norwich Union team on 0800 092 9561†.who will be happy to help you.

3. Can I ride my bike abroad on my policy?

You are automatically covered to ride in any European Union countries, to the minimum level of insurance required (usually the equivalent of UK Third Party Only). You can upgrade this cover to match your UK cover whilst riding abroad.
Foreign Use cover is valid for up to 90 days in any one trip, to a maximum of 6 months in any one insurance period. You can also select European Breakdown cover (provided by the RAC), and includes breakdown cover, emergency services and other additional benefits whilst travelling abroad.

4. Do I need "Business Use" to ride to work?

No; under our motorcycle insurance policy you can ride your bike back and forth to the same place of work using Social, Domestic, Pleasure & Commuting cover.
If you need to use your bike to visit any other sites of business during the working day, Norwich Union can increase your cover. Norwich Union will not, hoNorwich Unionver, cover any goods or samples carried in connection with business use, e.g. courier or delivery services.
If you are a courier and need a motorcycle insurance policy, please contact our call centre on 0800 092 9561†.

5. Can I pay monthly with Norwich Union Direct?

Yes you can, our usual terms and conditions will apply.

6. Are my helmet and leathers covered on this policy?

Unfortunately Norwich Union are unable to cover your protective clothing and helmet on your motorbike insurance policy, although your household insurance policy may cover these items.

7. Which security devices can help to reduce my motorbike insurance premium?

Norwich Union recognises some manufacturer-fitted devices which were fitted at the time your motorcycle was built.
You can confirm whether this applies to your device by checking your motorcycle's specification document for a manufacturer's approved certificate.

8. Do I need to report any car accidents when obtaining my motorcycle quotation?

Any car accidents are considered separate from your motorcycle policy, and therefore do not affect your .motorcycle policy. However, any motoring convictions do need to be reported by calling Norwich Union team on 0800 092 9561

Link to previous article Norwich Union Motorcycle Insurance

Norwich Union Motorcycle Insurance

2007-11-20T07:58:00.000Z

Motorcycle Insurance overview

Summary of benefits of Norwich Union motorcycle insurance:

• Up to 50% No Claims Discount*

• Instant online quote, instant cover

• Up to four riders may be covered on one policy

• Discounts for bikes with enhanced security devices

• Got another Norwich Union insurance policy? Receive a 5% multi-product discount

• No hassle claims handling via our 24 hour claims helpline

Optional extras:

• Legal Services

• Foreign Use: extend your cover for use in the EU

• European Breakdown Service

To provide you with the flexible motorcycle insurance cover you want, Norwich Union offer a number of optional extras you can add to the policy of your choice, in addition to our standard comprehensive and third party fire and theft plans.

Our standard plans:

• Comprehensive cover

• Third party fire and theft

Additional cover options:

• Legal services

• European breakdown assistance cover

• Foreign use

For a comparison of our comprehensive and third party fire and theft motorbike insurance plans, see our Summary of cover section.

For more information see our motorcycle insurance Frequently asked questions.
call 0800 092 9561†
* No Claims Discount applies to the risk element of the premium only and not to any optional covers, or to the first £14 which covers administration costs.
† For our joint protection, calls may be recorded and/or monitored.

Link to previous article FAQ - Pay As You Drive insurance - Norwich Union

FAQ - Pay As You Drive insurance - Norwich Union

2007-11-19T12:37:00.000Z

• Eligibility

• Cover

• Premium

• Installation

• Billing

• Important Policy Information

Eligibility

1) I'm looking for short term cover for my car- is this product suitable for me?

No. "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance is an annual policy so is not suitable as short term cover. Norwich Union Direct is however, able to offer a tailored short term policy available on this website.

2) Why are vehicles which are older than 1990 ineligible for this product?

Our research has found that there can be problems fitting the in-car device to cars manufactured before this date.

Cover

3) How quickly will I be able to cover my car with "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance?

Norwich Union will be able to place you on cover immediately. You will be charged a base premium and flat rate charge (which will be confirmed with you) until the in-car device has been fitted in your car.

4) Can I have "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance if I'm interested in third party fire and theft cover only?

"Pay As You Drive"™ insurance is a comprehensive policy so Norwich Union are unable to offer third party fire and theft cover

5) Can I earn No Claims discount and will I be able to protect it?

With "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance you can earn No Claims Discount as usual, with the opportunity to protect it once you have reached 4 years discount. Once your No Claims Discount has been protected you can have 2 at fault claims in a 3 year period before any discount will be lost.

6) Can I drive other people's cars with "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance?

No. "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance premiums are based on actual vehicle usage as measured by the in-car device, therefore it is not appropriate to offer this cover under this policy.

7) What happens if I want to drive my car abroad?

With "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance you can easily be covered should you wish to drive abroad, just let us know when you take out your policy or advise us prior to travelling. A Foreign Use tariff, which will be advised to you on illustration, will be applied to any usage of your car outside of Great Britain.
Premium
8) If I drive quite often at night will "Pay As You Drive"™ cost me much more?

If you are aged 23 and under and intend to drive less than about 60 miles per month between 11pm and 6am then "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance could be suitable for you.

9) Could I actually end up paying more for my insurance with "Pay As You Drive"™?

Costs are dependent on your driving, so Norwich Union have included an important premium guarantee for the first year. If the total of the monthly premiums paid in return for cover under your insurance policy for the first 12 months is greater than the total amount you would have paid for the same period under a Norwich Union Direct motor insurance policy, then Norwich Union will refund you the difference

Installation

10) Will I be able to have the installation done at home or work?

Yes, RAC In-car Services will arrange to fit the in-car device at the most convenient location for you, so this can be at home, work or at one of the RAC Auto Windscreen centres.

11) How will installing the in-car device affect my car's warranty?

The Norwich Union Direct installation guidelines ensure that all installations are completed to the industry standards MPT1362, these guidelines protect the vehicle manufacturer's warranties.

12) What happens if I change my car?

Should you wish to change your car during the insurance period and retain your "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance policy, please notify us as early as possible of the intended car change. Norwich Union recommend you leave the in-car device in the current car and order a new in-car device for installation in your new car.

Billing

13) What sort of journey information can I expect to see on my itemised monthly bill?

Each month you will receive a bill which shows all journeys over 0.5 miles and the cost of each journey over the previous month (similar to a mobile phone bill). If you do not wish for this detail you will have the opportunity to opt out of itemised billing.

14) What happens if I disagree with anything on my bill?

Norwich Union will use the most accurate data possible when compiling your bill. Should you disagree with any information contained in your bill and your interpretation of a journey, you should contact us with your bill enquiry immediately so Norwich Union can investigate any discrepancy further.

15) Can I pay for "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance on an annual basis?

No. "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance is only available as a monthly paid policy, so you will need to have a direct debit facility to take out a policy with us. Norwich Union do not, hoNorwich Unionver, charge an additional cost for this service.

Link to previous article Norwich Union Pay As You Drive™ overview

Norwich Union Pay As You Drive™ overview

2007-11-01T05:30:00.000Z

"Pay As You Drive"™ overview

"Pay As You Drive"™ insurance, which is a new and fairer way to insure your car, is designed for people who don't use their car as much as others. You simply pay variable costs based on when and where and how far you drive plus a fixed monthly fee.

Car Insurance is now fairer by miles
• If you drive less than 6000 miles, "Pay As You Drive"™ could save you up to 30% on your car insurance*.

• A Global Positioning System (GPS) is fitted to your car for free. The GPS allows us to work out how you use you car, so you can enjoy a fairer premium.

• Norwich Union even include as standard an assistance button that provides you with around the clock access to help in the event of an accident or breakdown.

• That's not all - you'll also receive a 30 day free trial of satellite navigation. It's really easy to use, and a great way to make sure you never get lost.

* 24% of "Pay As You Drive"™ Pilot customers would have saved up to 30% compared to a standard Norwich Union Motor Insurance premium

The Benefits

Our award winning "Pay As You Drive"™ insurance offers you a unique way to help control your costs. You get great cover and much, much more.

Fairer pricing

"Pay As You Drive"™ is a unique form of car insurance with a fairer price.
You pay a monthly charge which is personal to you. It's made up of a fixed charge and an amount you control according to when, where and how far you drive

Comprehensive cover

Norwich Union haven't compromised on cover - you still get all you would expect from a comprehensive Norwich Union policy. So you are always covered for accidental damage, fire and theft.
There are also a number of additional services such as Norwich Union Rescue, and itemised billing that you can take advantage of.

Assistance button

"Pay As You Drive"™ insurance includes an assistance button fitted discreetly in your car. Just press the button to link directly to a personal assistant who can provide help, around the clock, if you break down or have an accident. You won’t have to remember any telephone numbers or even know where you are.

Satellite navigation - 30 day free trial

You also get to try Smartnav, an award-winning satellite navigation system, for a 30 day free trial. Press the assistance button to get clear directions to any location - so you can drive somewhere new with confidence. It's hassle free - no complicated maps or screens, just simple voice instructions at every turn.

If you like your trial you can choose to buy a 'pay as you go' service, or there's a subscription for drivers who want to use Smartnav more often.

Speed camera alert - 30 day free trial

In addition Norwich Union offer give you a 30 day free trial of Safe Speed. This alerts you when you approach areas monitored by most types of safety cameras, helping you to drive more safely.

Safe Speed is also available on a subscription basis after the trial period.

24% of "Pay As You Drive"™ Pilot customers would have saved up to 30% compared to a standard Norwich Union Motor Insurance premium

Link to previous article Review of Norwich Union Breakdown Cover

Review of Norwich Union Breakdown Cover

2007-10-31T04:50:00.000Z

Key Features of Norwich Union Breakdown Cover

• Norwich Union is owned by Aviva who also own The RAC .

• Breakdown cover is tailored to your needs – hence you get to select what you want.

• 30% No call out discount for vehicles less than 12 years old

• Breakdown policy cover for cars, motorbikes and for vans (size & weight restrictions apply)

• Average breakdown response time less than an hour – which is very good.

Advantages of Norwich Union Breakdown Cover.

• 80 % of vehicles fixed at the roadside –meaning you get the mobility instantly

• Monthly installment option at no extra cost (payable in 4 equal installments over the first 4 months of cover).

• Affiliated with the RAC.

• Well known company name.

• Allows you to get all your insurance products from one supplier .

Disadvantages of Norwich Union Breakdown Cover.

• Cover is vehicle based, so if you want personal cover you have to pay extra.

• Can work out expensive if you have the wrong type of car or if it's over a certain age .

Our review of Norwich Union Cover.

The Norwich Union is a more recent entry into the breakdown services sector, however, with it's strong links to the RAC it's service and it's products are very similar. Because of the way The Norwich Union calculate premiums, cover for some cars can prove to be cheaper.

Other user reviews about Norwich Union:

Advantages Competitive quotes, Good deals for young drivers, Additional cover

Disadvantages Poor customer service, Zero representation, Long On hold times

Link to Previous article :FAQ about Norwich Union Breakdown Cover

FAQ about Norwich Union Breakdown Cover

2007-10-30T09:50:00.000Z

Your questions & Our answers

1. For what type of vehicles can I take out Norwich Union Rescue breakdown insurance?

Norwich Union Rescue is available when you are travelling in a car, van, or on a motorcycle, which complies with the following restrictions:
• Maximum vehicle Norwich Unionight -3,500kg
• Maximum vehicle length (vehicles other than cars) - 5.5 metres
• Maximum vehicle width -2.3 metres
NB - Motorcycles cannot be covered as the sole vehicle under vehicle based breakdown cover. Cover is only available as a secondary vehicle under the "personal cover" options

2. Do I need Norwich Union Insurance cover to take out Norwich Union Rescue breakdown insurance?

No - Norwich Union Rescue is available on its own.

3. Can I be covered when getting a lift in other people's vehicles?

Yes, if you select personal cover you can use your Norwich Union Rescue when getting a lift, you can also cover another member of your household if you select Joint personal cover.

4. Can I add European breakdown cover to my Norwich Union Rescue policy?

Yes, you can add European breakdown cover to any of the Norwich Union Rescue options.

5. Can I cover my caravan for breakdown?

Provided it is attached to your vehicle when you breakdown, Norwich Union Rescue can also recover your caravan. There are certain restrictions that apply.

6. Am I covered if I have an accident?

Towing following an accident, fire, theft or act of vandalism or other incident is normally covered by your motor insurance. If you have comprehensive motor insurance with Norwich Union Norwich Union can arrange this for you, if you have Third party fire and theft cover Norwich Union can arrange this but you may be charged for this service.
If your motor insurance is not with Norwich Union you will be liable to pay us the costs of removal. (Subject to the terms of your motor insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these costs through your motor insurance)

7. How quickly do you come and get me if I break down?

If you find yourself in a vulnerable situation Norwich Union will prioritise your request for help. Norwich Union can also stay on the phone and call the police if necessary. Our average response time is under an hour.

8. How does the special medical assistance work?

Special medical assistance is included if you select Onward Travel for your UK breakdown insurance cover. If you or one of your passengers is taken into hospital more than 20 miles from home Norwich Union arrange and pay for overnight accommodation, and arrange for an ambulance to take the patient to a local hospital near their home.

9. Is it safe to use my credit/debit card on your site?

Norwich Union Rescue appreciates the importance of protecting our clients' personal information from possible security risks, and therefore all of your personal information you enter into our quote form is protected using SSL encryption technology, which works with your Internet browser to protect the data.
For a number of credit and debit cards Norwich Union require a Card Security code (also known as CVV2 or Card Verification Value) which is a three digit number on the signature strip of your card. You may also, depending on the card you have chosen to use, be asked during the payment process to provide a secure password (MasterCard SecureCode or Verified by Visa) which provides extra protection from online fraud.

10. Can I get instant breakdown cover with Norwich Union Rescue?

If you pay by either a Credit or Debit card online, Norwich Union Rescue can provide you with instant breakdown cover.

11. Can I pay monthly with Norwich Union Rescue?

Norwich Union have a unique premium payment option, so you can split out your payments evenly across the first four months of your breakdown cover period. These monthly premiums are interest free.

If you can't find the answer you are looking for please call us on 0800 096 4704 and Norwich Union will be happy to help you with any Breakdown insurance questions you may have. (lines available Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm)

Link to Previous article :Norwich Union Breakdown Cover

Norwich Union Breakdown Cover

2007-10-29T05:06:00.000Z

Breakdown cover overview

Unlike some other breakdown service providers, Norwich Union does not charge a flat rate. Norwich Union takes into account your unique set of circumstances and calculate a premium according to who you are.
This way, you will only pay for the service which you are likely to need. Norwich Union also provide a range of roadside assistance

Our breakdown cover is competitively priced. The following table shows a comparison against other providers:

Provider: ---- Prices
Green Flag Recovery Plus ---- £89
Direct Line Recovery Plus ---- £101
Norwich Union Direct Rescue/recovery/at home and onward travel ---- £54

Prices based on a 27 year old male living in Colwyn Bay driving a 2000 Ford Fiesta 1.3i. Prices correct as at 8th August 2005, source www.directline.com and www.greenflag.co.uk Norwich Union Rescue price is based on named vehicle breakdown cover - personal cover options are available on request.

Benefits of Norwich Union Rescue breakdown cover

• 80% of vehicles fixed at the roadside

• Priority response if you're in a vulnerable situation

• You build the breakdown insurance product you choose

• 30% "No call out" discount for vehicles less than 12 years old

• Interest-free monthly payment option

• Receive the latest travel news direct to your mobile phone with our travel line 1745 service.

* If you have not utilised a breakdown service in the past 12 months.

Breakdown cover from Norwich Union

For further information on our breakdown insurance cover, additional options and policy benefits:

• Cover options

• Summary of cover

• Additional cover information

If you can't find the answer you are looking for please call us on 0800 096 4704 and Norwich Union will be happy to help you with any Breakdown insurance questions you may have. (lines available Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm)

Link to Previous article :Norwich Union Car Insurance FAQ

Norwich Union Car Insurance FAQ

2007-10-26T05:46:00.000+01:00

Please read our FAQ section to find answers to the most common car insurance and motor insurance related questions.

Your questions & Our answers

– FAQ about Norwich Union Car Insurance

1. Why can't I find my car's make & model by its registration number?
If you find your vehicle's registration number doesn't return your vehicle's details on our quote form, you can also enter the vehicle's year of manufacture, make and model to assist your search. If you are still unable to find your vehicle's details, please contact Norwich Union team on 0800 092 9561 who will be happy to help you.

2. What is an excess?
An excess is a contributory amount you pay, when making a claim, hoNorwich Unionver if the claim is deemed not to be your fault, it may be possible to recover your excess from the party deemed to be at fault.

3. If I've been named on another policy, am I entitled to any no claims discount?
Norwich Union Direct like most insurers, will only reward the actual policy holder with no claims discount.
HoNorwich Unionver, if you have been claims free Norwich Union may be able to give some type of introductory discount. Young drivers may also receive a discount if they have completed the Pass Plus course and are an existing Rapid Bonus policy holder.

4. What happens if I have an accident?
Depending on your car cover, Norwich Union can arrange for your vehicle to be recovered and you and your passengers taken home or to your destination safely.

5. What if I am making a claim?
You should contact our freephone 24-hour claims service on - 0800 222400, where an incident manager will record details of the incident and will start sorting out your problem immediately. There are no forms to fill in, and the incident manager will confirm: - Whether your policy covers you for the incident; - What you will have to pay; and - All the steps involved in your claim being settled

6. How do I get about whilst my car is being repaired?
If you have opted for courtesy car cover, a courtesy car is provided by our approved repairers, and is available for the duration of any repairs to your vehicle. If a car is stolen or a total loss, Norwich Union will guarantee a hire car until an offer is made to settle the claim- subject to a maximum of 14 days.

7. What is legal cover?
Our legal cover provides legal advice via a 24 hour, 365 days a year helpline. Legal cover provides assistance to recover uninsured losses (such as excess), medical losses or loss of earnings. Norwich Union will provide up to £50,000 for legal costs to pursue a case, and up to £10,000 worth of cover to defend against any motoring prosecutions (N.B. excluding drink/drug-related offences).

8. Can I drive abroad on my policy?
Your policy will automatically cover you to drive in any countries which are members of the European Union, to the minimum level of insurance required (Usually third party only).
If you require a higher level of cover Norwich Union can offer you Foreign Use additional cover.
9. What is protected No claims Discount?
With Norwich Union Direct, clients can protect their no claims discount for up two at fault claims in any 5-year period. This means that if your car is stolen, or you have no other party to claim against, you wont have to lose your no claims discount as Norwich Unionll. Clients must have at least 4 years no claims discount and be over 21 years old in order to be eligible.

10. Do I need to provide proof of my no claims discount?
Norwich Union may ask you to provide proof of your NCD at any stage during the period of insurance. This could take the form of a renewal notice from your previous insurance company, or a letter on headed paper from that company.

11. Do I need business use to drive to work?
No, under our insurance policy you can drive your vehicle back and forth to the same place of work using social, domestic and commuting purposes. Norwich Union can hoNorwich Unionver increase your cover if you need to use your vehicle to visit any other sites of business during the working day; Norwich Union will not hoNorwich Unionver cover any goods or samples carried in connection with business use.

12. Is it safe to use my credit/debit card on your site?
Norwich Union Direct appreciates the importance of protecting our client's personal information from possible security risks, and therefore all of your personal information you enter into our quote form is protected using SSL encryption technology, which works with your Internet browser to protect the data.
For a number of credit and debit cards Norwich Union require a Card Security code (also known as CVV2 or Card Verification Value) which is a three digit number on the signature strip of your card. You may also, depending on the card you have chosen to use, be asked during the payment process to provide a secure password (MasterCard SecureCode or Verified by Visa) which provides extra protection from online fraud.

13. Can I get instant cover with Norwich Union Direct?
If you pay by either a Credit or Debit card online, Norwich Union Direct can provide you with instant cover.

14. Can I pay monthly with Norwich Union Direct?
Yes you can, our usual terms and conditions will apply.

If you can't find the answer you are looking for please call us on 0800 092 9564 and Norwich Union will be happy to help you with any motor insurance questions you may have.

Norwich Union Rapid Bonus Car Insurance Policy

2007-10-25T06:05:00.000+01:00

Rapid Bonus

Norwich Union understands that young drivers taking out car insurance want to be able to build up no claims discount quickly. Our Rapid bonus comprehensive car insurance policy allows young drivers to do this.

What is Rapid Bonus?

Rapid Bonus is a specific young driver car insurance policy. It allows young drivers to build up their No Claims Discount quickly - hence develop lower future motor insurance premiums. Young drivers can also benefit from an additional discount if they complete 'Pass Plus'.
Rapid Bonus policies run for 9 months instead of 12 which means that if you don't claim, you get the equivalent of 1 year's No Claims Discount* in just 9 months, provided you renew your policy with Norwich Union.
This also means that in a 5 year period you could gain full No Claim Discount 15 months earlier. Based on a customer who starts with nil No Claims Discount (NCD).
* Norwich Union cannot guarantee that other insurers will accept the NCD proof.

Who qualifies for Rapid Bonus?

Young drivers that qualify are:

• Aged between 17-29

• Have no claims, accidents or convictions

• Have less than 4 years No Claim Discount

• Drive a ‘Group 15’ car or less

• Requiring a Comprehensive car insurance policy

What is covered?

This covers the basic module of Norwich Union Direct's car policy, our comprehensive car insurance cover.

All examples are based on customers who do not have any NCD-entitlement when they take out their policy and who remain claim-free for the life of their policy.

How do I obtain a Rapid Bonus Quote?

Please call 0800 092 9564 and ask for a Rapid Bonus quote. Unfortunately Norwich Union cannot offer a Rapid Bonus quote online at present.

Link to previous article Car Insurance from Norwich Union

Car Insurance from Norwich Union

2007-10-24T05:22:00.000+01:00

Find out what our car insurance covers:
• Third party fire and theft cover
• Additional car cover options
• Young drivers car insurance available through our Rapid Bonus plan
• Classic car insurance
• Grey import car insurance
If you can't find the answer you are looking for please call us on 0800 092 9564 and Norwich Union will be happy to help you with any motor insurance questions you may have.

Third party, fire and theft car insurance cover

New customer?

Third party, fire and theft cover is provided by Premium Search (not Norwich Union Direct), who will search a panel of up to 22 leading insurers on your behalf to find you the best quote.

Get a Third Party, Fire & Theft Car Insurance

Third Party, Fire & Theft car insurance is introduced by Norwich Union Insurance Services Limited (Registered Office: St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London, EC3P 3DQ) to Premium Search, a trading name used under licence by BDML Connect Limited.

Existing customer?

If your policy number starts with either MOT/ PGM/ HPI / CVM / CHM / BSN and you require further information please call Norwich Union Direct on 0800 092 9564 and Norwich Union will be happy to help you.
Alternatively, if your policy number starts with 'NUPS' and you require assistance or would like to access the policy wording, please call Premium Search on 0870 2420048, and one of the dedicated team will be happy to help you.

Norwich Union Rescue Vehicle Cover

New! - Breakdown cover can now be included as part your Norwich Union Direct car insurance quote.

Benefits of Norwich Union Rescue Vehicle Cover

• £5 online discount is included if you select breakdown cover as part of your car quote
• 80% of vehicles can be fixed at the roadside
• Our policy is rated according to your personal details so you only pay for the cover you need
• Priority is given to customers who break down in a vulnerable situation
Unlike some other breakdown providers, Norwich Union don't charge a flat rate so you only pay for the service you need. Norwich Union provide a range of options that vary in cost, and cover starts from just £22.

Legal services

Our Legal services additional cover option can be taken out with either our comprehensive or our third party fire and theft car insurance plans.

What is covered

• Norwich Union'll cover you for up to £10,000 in legal costs to defend a motoring prosecution following an accident (though not drink or drug related offences).

• And Norwich Union'll cover you for up to £50,000 in legal costs for you, your passengers or an authorised driver, to pursue your case after a motor accident.

• Norwich Union also provide a 24-hour legal helpline, which gives you free confidential legal advice from an expert, so all you pay for is the phone call.

• Legal assistance is also available to recover any uninsured losses, such as your policy excess, medical fees or damages for injury after a motor accident.

Courtesy car

Our courtesy car options can be taken out with both comprehensive and third party fire and theft covers.
Two groups of courtesy car cover are available for a small additional charge:
Standard Courtesy Car Cover
Designed to keep you mobile during the period of your claim, this option will cater for most customer needs. A standard courtesy car is a small, 3 door, 1 litre hatchback.

Enhanced Courtesy Car Cover

Norwich Union recognise that not all people needs are the same, and as a result Norwich Union offer a larger courtesy car. An enhanced courtesy car is a 5 door car with a 1.6 litre engine and room to seat 5 people.
This option is best suited to customers who already have a larger car and use it for situations like, the school run, have small children and need room for a pram, or use their car for business which may involve a lot of motorway driving.
Both options provide a courtesy car for the duration of repairs or in the case of theft and total loss, either up to a maximum of 14 days or until the claim is settled, whichever is sooner.
To receive the courtesy car you must use one of our approved repairers.

Physio Fast

Physio Fast is a comprehensive physiotherapy cover to help you recover if you've been involved in a car accident.
Approximately 80% of all personal injury claims involve 'soft tissue' or 'whiplash' injuries and medical research strongly suggests early diagnosis and treatment significantly increase your chances of making a full and speedy recovery.
For just £15 a year you can add Physio Fast to your comprehensive motor insurance policy. This unique cover gives you:
• Speedy referral to a fully qualified chartered physiotherapist in your area
• An initial consultation to determine the suitability and level of treatment required
• Up to 8 treatment sessions
• Full report will be sent to your GP on completion of your treatment.
At just £15 per year, this cover represents fantastic value for money
What is covered
• Physiotherapy treatment from a Norwich Union appointed Chartered Physiotherapist who is of the opinion that treatment will help your recovery. The most Norwich Union pay for each injured person is £400.
• Fast track applications - you are contacted normally within 48 hours of your request.
• You are covered even if the accident was your fault, there's no impact on NCD (claims including your vehicle still affect your NCD), and your passengers also benefit from this fast track service.
What is not covered
• Physiotherapy will end once the Physiotherapist considers additional treatments will provide no further assistance to your recovery, or the limit (above) has been reached, whichever is sooner.

European Breakdown

Our European protection option is European breakdown cover that can be taken out with our Comprehensive or Third party fire and theft car insurance policy.
• Just call 0800-092-9561 for an immediate quote

What is covered

• Hire car for up to 14 days following a claim
• And there's a rescue and recovery service in the UK, while you're travelling to and from the port
• Vehicle repatriation will ensure that you vehicle is recovered back to your home.

Travel abroad

What is covered
• Your policy will automatically provide the minimum cover required to travel in most European countries.
• This can be upgraded for an additional annual premium of £26.25 to give you the same cover as you have in the UK for travel within the following countries:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark (inc Faroe Islands), Finland, France (inc Monaco), Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, SNorwich Unionden, Switzerland, Vatican City.
If the country you wish to travel in does not appear in the list above, please call 0800 092 9564 and one of our advisors will help you.
• For greater protection and peace of mind, why not add our European Breakdown Protection.
• Please be aware that Legal cover and Courtesy Car cover will only extend for use in Europe if European Breakdown Protection is also purchased

If you can't find the answer you are looking for please call us on 0800 092 9564 and Norwich Union will be happy to help you with any motor insurance questions you may have.

Link to Previous article : Norwich Union Cover options & additional information

Norwich Union Cover options & additional information

2007-10-23T06:40:00.000+01:00

Cover options & additional information

To provide you with the flexible car insurance cover you want, Norwich Union offers a number of optional extras you can add to the policy of your choice, in addition to our standard comprehensive and third party fire and theft car insurance plans.

Our standard plans:

• Comprehensive cover

• Third party fire and theft cover

Additional cover options:

• Norwich Union Direct Breakdown Cover

• Legal services

• Courtesy Car

• Physio Fast

• European breakdown

• Travel abroad

Save up to 10% on comprehensive car insurance online now

Whether you are a young driver, a classic car owner or simply looking for an online car insurance quote, Norwich Union can help.

Norwich Union offer comprehensive and third party fire and theft car insurance quotes online. Norwich Union also offer additional cover options which allow you to upgrade your car cover.

Classic car owners can get an indication of their classic car insurance premium online and can insure their cars through us by calling 0845 300 0327.

Norwich Union also offer young driver car insurance through our Rapid Bonus policies.

Norwich Union Comprehensive Car Insurance cover

2007-10-22T05:47:00.000+01:00

Comprehensive car insurance cover

From satellite navigation to windscreens, accidental damage to third party liability, comprehensive car insurance from Norwich Union has what you need from a car insurance company.
Additional car cover is also available to ensure all your motor insurance needs are met.

What is covered?

• Loss of, theft or damage to your car
• Accident recovery
• New car replacement
• Liability to third parties
• Injury to you or your partner
• Medical expenses
• Emergency medical treatment
• Personal belongings
• No claim discount
• Glass in windscreens, sunroofs and windows
• Replacement locks
• Suspending cover
• Foreign Use

Loss of, theft or damage to your car

If you car is lost, stolen or damaged, Norwich Union may:
• Pay for your car to be repaired;
• Replace your car; or
• Pay you a cash amount equal to the loss or damage
When Norwich Union settle claims Norwich Union may take off an amount for Norwich Unionar, tear and loss of value. The same cover also applies to your car's accessories and spare parts while they are in or on your car or in your private garage. Norwich Union will also pay for loss of, or damage to, your car's audio equipment or satellite navigation system (up to £500, unless it was fitted by the manufacturer).
If you cannot drive your car as a result of damage insured under this policy, Norwich Union will pay the reasonable costs of:
• Protecting your car and removing it to the nearest Norwich Union Direct approved repairers; and
• Delivering your car back to your address in the British Isles after the repairs have been carried out.

Accident recovery

If you are involved in an accident, your car is not safe to drive afterwards, call us and Norwich Union will arrange for the following at no extra cost.
• Someone to come out and help. If your car cannot be made roadworthy within a reasonable time, Norwich Union will take it to a Norwich Union Direct approved repairer.
• Norwich Union can take your car to a repairer of your choice if this is nearer, but this may lead to delays in arranging for repairs to your car.
Our employees and contractors will use reasonable care and skill when providing the accident recovery service.

New car replacement

Norwich Union will replace your car with a new car of the same make and specification (if one is available in the UK) if, within 12 months of you or your partner buying your car from new:
• the cost of repairing any damage covered by the policy is more than 60% of your car's UK list price (including car tax and VAT) when you bought your car; or
• your car is stolen and not recovered.
Norwich Union will only replace your car if:
• you or your partner own your car or are buying it under a hire-purchase agreement (not a leasing, contract-hire agreement, or other type of agreement);
• the hire-purchase company agrees; and
• you or your partner are the first registered keeper of your car.

Liability to third parties

Our comprehensive car insurance policy covers you for liability to third parties.
Norwich Union will insure you for all amounts which you may have to pay as a result of you being legally liable for:
• a person's death or injury
• damage to their property (subject to a maximum of £20m)
Norwich Union will also pay the following legal costs if they relate to an incident under this section:
• the fees of solicitors Norwich Union ask to represent anyone Norwich Union insure
• fees for legal representatives Norwich Union ask to defend anyone Norwich Union insure

Injury to you or your partner

Our comprehensive car insurance policy provides you with cover if you or partner suffer accidental bodily injury in connection with your car.
The most Norwich Union will pay any one person after any accident is £2,500. The most Norwich Union will pay any one person during any one period of insurance is £5,000.

Medical expenses

Norwich Union will pay up to £100 for medical expenses if you or anyone in your van are injured as a direct result of your van being involved in an accident.

Emergency medical treatment

Norwich Union will refund any person using any car covered by this policy for emergency medical treatment payments they have to make under the Road Traffic Acts.
If Norwich Union make a payment under this section, this will not affect your no-claim discount.

Personal belongings

Norwich Union will pay a maximum of £150 for any one incident for the loss or damage to personal belongings caused accidentally by fire or theft while they are in or on your car.

No claim discount

If you make a claim under your policy, Norwich Union will reduce your no-claim discount in line with our scale.
If you do not make a claim under your policy, Norwich Union will increase your no-claim discount when you renew your policy in line with the scale Norwich Union apply at that time.
Norwich Union do not grant no-claim discounts for policies running for less than 12 months.

Glass in windscreens, sunroofs and windows

Any payment Norwich Union make for repairing or replacing glass in your car's windscreen, sunroof or windows (or for any scratches on the bodywork caused directly by the broken glass) will not affect your no-claim discount.

Replacement locks

If the car keys or lock transmitter of your car are lost or stolen, Norwich Union will pay the cost of replacing:
• the affected locks
• the ignition and steering lock
• the lock transmitter and central-locking system.

Suspending cover

If your car will be out of use for a continuous period of 28 days or more, and this is not as a result of any loss or damage covered by this policy, Norwich Union may suspend your cover and refund part of your premium for the laid-up period.
Norwich Union will pay this refund when you ask for the cover to start again.

Foreign Use

Our comprehensive car insurance policy covers you for using your car abroad.
All countries in the European Union have agreed that your Norwich Union Direct certificate of motor insurance should provide enough evidence that you are keeping to the laws on the compulsory insurance of motor vehicles in any of the countries you visit.
If you pay an extra premium, your policy can be extended to provide the same level of cover in the European Union and some other European countries as you have in the Territorial Limits.

Benefits of Norwich Union Car Insurance

2007-10-19T07:18:00.000+01:00

Six great reasons to renew your Norwich Union Car Insurance

*You must have had no claims in the last 3 years. †The premium you pay will depend on individual circumstances. **Discount also available for second motor policy. Applies to the risk element of the premium only and not to any optional extras, or to the first £42 which covers administration costs. ††The Guaranteed Protected No Claims Discount is for the Life of the Policy. You must have 5 years' no claims discount and no claims in the last 3 years.

Benefits of Norwich Union car insurance

• Cover you can trust from one of the UK‘s top motor insurers

• Our free phone claims lines are open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year

• Any repairs to your car via our approved repairer network are guaranteed for 3 years

• Courtesy Car guaranteed for the duration of any repairs (if selected on your policy)

• Up to 10% discount if you buy online

• Norwich Union can get you back on the road quickly. Our claims service is available 24/7 and in 2005, we resolved approximately 660,000 motor claims worth over £500 Million.

Short Term Insurance

Looking for cover between 1-28 days? Norwich Union now offer Short Term Car Insurance. Find out more here.

Link to previous article Norwich Union Car insurance Overview

Norwich Union Car insurance Overview

2007-10-18T10:06:00.000+01:00

Norwich Union Car insurance Overview

· Up to 10% discount when you buy online and for every year that you renew with us
· Named drivers their own no claims discount with us (up tp 70%)
· Guaranteed no claims discount for the life of your policy (optional)

Third Party, Fire & Theft Car Insurance

Third Party, Fire & Theft car insurance is introduced by Norwich Union Insurance Services Limited (Registered Office: St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London, EC3P 3DQ) to Premium Search, a trading name used under licence by BDML Connect Limited.

Comprehensive Car Insurance

- Guaranteed No Claims Discount for the life of your policy:
You’ve worked hard to build up your No Claims Discount which can mean up to a 70% discount on your annual premium* - quite a lot - now we can guarantee that you need never lose it! Norwich Union are pleased to be able to offer Guaranteed Protected No Claims Discount for the life of your policy - regardless of the number of claims you need to make, we promise you won't see any increase to your premium as a direct result of any claims. To opt for a Guaranteed No Claims Discount policy, you will need to have:

· Comprehensive insurance with at least 5 years No Claims Discount
· No 'At Fault' claim's in the last 3 years
· Policyholder and all additional drivers must be aged 21 or over
· Have a minimum excess of £220 on your policy
· Guaranteed No Claims Discount is not available for policies with open driving

Click here for a comprehensive insurance quote or call us on 0800 051 2382 and one of our dedicated team will be happy to help.*Discount applies to the risk element of the premium only and not to any optional extras, or to the first £42 which covers administration costs.

- We can give your named drivers their own no claims discount:
If you are a named driver, you can earn your own no claims discount when you purchase a policy with us in you own right. If you are the spouse or partner of the policy holder you could earn up to 70% discount when you insure your own car with us. If you are purely a named driver you can earn up to 40% discount when you insure a car with us. Discounts apply to the risk element of the premium only, and not to any optional covers or to the first £42, which covers administration costs. If you are a named driver looking to purchase your own insurance, unfortunately we are unable to process your application online, please call 0800 056 2683. You will still be eligible for an online discount of up to 10%. Calls may be recorded and/or monitored.

- Child car seat replacement cover:

Did you know that if your car has been in an accident, even if there is no visible damage, it is possible that your child car seat could be weakened to such an extent that it will not provide the same level of protection in a further accident? Due to the fact ROSPA recommend that all child car seats should be replaced following an accident, Norwich Union will provide child car seat cover as standard and replace your child car seat up to the value of £100 following an accident or theft, even if there’s no apparent visible damage.

- Enhanced Courtesy car upgrade:

......great if you have a family or just for that extra comfort and space. Our enhanced courtesy car option means that should you have an accident and your car requires repair work, then you will receive a 5 door car with a 1.6 litre engine with room for up to 5 people. To select this as part of your policy features, please click on the 'Enhanced Courtesy Car' option in the 'add on' section of the online quote application form.

- New car replacement:

If your vehicle is less than 12 months old from purchase as new when you have an accident or it’s stolen and not recovered, we will give you a new car of the same make and specification.- Provided the claims cost from the accident is more than 60% of the UK list price or the car is stolen and not recovered and also that you are the first registered keeper.

- Multi-car discounts:

- The discount is allowed only where the policy meets the following criteria:» Must be Comprehensive» Insured only or Insured and Spouse/Domestic/Civil partner named on the first and second policies only, no other drivers allowed.»Conditions apply We recognise that households these days usually have more than one car and so we will give you a 5% discount on each additional car insured with us and what’s more, we will take 5% off the existing car insured with us at renewal! What’s more, if the existing car insured with us carries an NCD discount, we will match the NCD discount on each additional vehicle up to a maximum of 70%. Discounts apply to the risk element of the premium only, and not to any additional covers, or to the first £42, which covers administration costs. To take advantage of this discount, then please contact us on 0800 051 2382, quoting reference MP33.

Conditions apply - Please read Terms and Conditions in the policy wordings for further details on all of the above features.

10% of all customers buying car insurance January to June 2007 paid £213 or less.

What affects the price of Car Insurance?

2007-10-15T09:07:00.000+01:00

The price of auto insurance varies by company and by:

What you buy

• How many coverages you buy

• The deductibles

What kind of car you drive

If you are buying or selling a car, you will need to re-evaluate your auto insurance needs.
Generally, the more expensive the car, the more you pay.

Where you drive

Generally, due to higher rates of vandalism, theft and accidents, urban drivers pay more for insurance than those in small towns or rural areas.

How much you drive

People who use their car for business and long-distance commuting normally pay more than those who drive less.

Your age, sex and marital status

Accident rates are higher for all drivers under age 25, especially young males and single males. Insurance prices in most states reflect these differences.

Your driving record

Drivers who cause accidents generally must pay more than those who are accident-free for several years.

Your credit history

Studies have shown that credit history is a powerful predictor of future auto insurance losses. Many insurance companies consider certain credit characteristics in addition to many other factors when determining an individual's rate.

What can I do to save money on my auto insurance?

If you're shopping for a car, consider how your choice will affect premiums.
Some insurers increase premiums for cars more susceptible to damage or occupant injury, and lower rates for those that fare better than the norm.
Ask about discounts for good students, insuring more than one vehicle, accident-free driving, and others.
Consider joining a car or van pool, or finding other transportation to work. If you reduce your driving mileage enough, you may lower your premiums.

Link to previous article Jargon buster for Insurance Terms

Jargon buster for Insurance Terms

2007-10-12T04:24:00.000+01:00

Accident, sickness and unemployment insurance

See mortgage protection insurance and payment protection insurance.

Buildings insurance

Pays the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home if it is damaged by unforeseen events (as detailed in the insurance policy).

Contents insurance

Covers the cost of replacing possessions lost or damaged due to unforeseen events (as detailed in the insurance policy).

Cover

The protection given by insurance.

Critical illness cover

Insurance that pays a lump sum if you're diagnosed with a specified critical illness covered by your policy.

Dental insurance

A type of health cash plan that focuses specifically on dental care expenses.

Excess

The amount you agree to pay before your insurer pays the rest of the bill (for example, the first £100 of a claim).

Exclusions

Things that your insurance will not cover.

Health cash plans

Provide limited cash sums towards everyday healthcare bills.

Income protection (or permanent health insurance)

Insurance that pays you a monthly income if you're unable to work due to illness or injury, until you are able to return to work, or retirement, whichever is the sooner.

Investment-backed life insurance

Life insurance which has two roles: to protect you, and to act as an investment. These include Whole-of-Life insurance, With-profits bonds, Income and growth bonds, Endowment policies and Maximum Investment plans.

Joint life

Typically, life-cover to protect a family in the event of either or both parents dying.

Mortgage protection insurance

Accident, sickness and unemployment insurance (or payment protection insurance) used to cover your mortgage payments.

Motor insurance

Pays out if you injure someone or damage someone else's property while driving. It may also cover damage to your own car.

No claims discount

A discount if you haven't made a claim on your insurance policy within a specified period of time (for example 3 years) but it does not mean the premiums to which the discount is applied do not rise.

Payment protection insurance (or accident, sickness and unemployment cover)

Pays out a regular amount (repayments of a loan, although some cover bills as well) for a limited time – a year, say – if you can't work for health reasons or redundancy.

Policy

The details of what your insurance covers, what it doesn't, and what it costs, normally provided separately.

Premium

The amount your insurer requires you to pay for insurance.

Private medical insurance

Insurance that pays for you to receive private medical treatment.

Schedule

The specific details of what's covered, and what's excluded, by a policy.

Term insurance (or term assurance)

Life insurance giving protection for a specific amount of time (the 'term').

Travel insurance

Pays out if you unexpectedly have to cancel your holiday; are taken ill while away; accidentally injure somebody or damage somebody else's possessions; lose your own possessions; and so on...

Link to Previous article : Getting help with Travel Insurance

Getting help with Travel Insurance

2007-10-11T05:56:00.000+01:00

Getting help with Travel Insurance

Generally, firms selling insurance and those providing insurance cover (underwriting the risk) have to be regulated by us, or be the agent of a regulated firm. There are some exceptions, for example travel agents that sell travel insurance do not usually need to be regulated by us.
Regulated firms and their agents are put on our Register and have to meet certain standards. Always make sure that the firm you use is on our Register before handing over your money. If they aren't regulated by us and things go wrong, you won't have access to complaints and compensation procedures. To find out if a firm is on the FSA Register, see check the FSA site.
Your friends or family may recommend an insurance broker or insurance company or you can find one along your high street. Alternatively there are organisations that can help you – see Useful links. But remember, always check that the firm you use is on the FSA Register.

Buying without advice

You don't have to get advice before you take out an insurance policy, and UK firms that sell insurance without advice still have to follow our rules. But it is up to you to decide whether the policy is suitable for you. You may have less grounds for complaint if the product turns out to be unsuitable.

What information will you get?

When you contact an insurance broker you will get two important pieces of information – sometimes in the form of keyfacts documents:

• details of the service the broker is giving you – see Step 1; and

• a summary of the insurance policy being offered to you – see Step 2.

Getting the Key facts

Step 1

When you contact an insurance provider, they must give you details of the service they offer. It may be in a keyfacts about our service document, but doesn't have to be. They will tell you:

• whether they're offering you advice or just information about the product;

• whose insurance policies they offer – it may be from one company or many; and

• how much you'll have to pay for the service.
Use this document, or information to shop around to get the service you want at the price you're happy with.

Step 2

Once you've discussed what you need and answered all the questions about yourself and what you want to insure, the intermediary, insurance company or the firm selling you the insurance will give you a keyfacts about the policy. This sets out the essential facts. Ask questions if you don't understand anything as misunderstandings could lead to the insurance company refusing to pay out when you claim.
The keyfacts policy summary will set out:
• what the insurance policy actually covers;

• what it doesn't cover;

• any limits or restrictions; and

• other important features you need to know before you make up your mind.

Make sure you get this and that you read and understand it. Ask the provider or insurance company to explain anything you don't understand.
Use this document to shop around and compare like with like. Another policy may be cheaper but does it offer the same cover?

Important tips for travel Insurance

1. Check that the firm is on FSA Register.

2. Use the keyfacts about the policy to compare other policies.

3. Answer the questions as best you can – it will help avoid misunderstandings.

4. Ask questions if something is not clear.

Link to Previous article : Travel Insurance

Travel insurance

2007-10-10T07:07:00.000+01:00

What is Travel Insurance for?

If you are a UK resident you are entitled to free or reduced-cost, State-provided healthcare when visiting a European Union (EU) country as long as you have the necessary European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). However, in many other countries healthcare can be very expensive.

Most travel insurance plans will cover medical bills for £1m, and often more, as well as pay for an emergency air ambulance to bring you home for treatment in the UK. Travel insurance can also cover you against other mishaps while you're abroad, from lost luggage and theft to flight delays. Make sure you read the policy summary for exclusions – there are bound to be some. Also check for excess charges – some policies charge an excess per clause rather than one overall.

You could be offered travel insurance by the travel agent where you book your holiday, but you don't have to take their cover and generally travel insurance sold at the same time as a holiday, isn't covered by regulation. You can shop around and get the right cover for you. Find out whether your employer offers travel insurance as part of your benefits package.

What Travel Insurance does not cover?

You won't usually be covered for medical conditions you already have, or may have to pay extra to get them covered. Always ask if you're in doubt. Travelling against a doctor's advice may also invalidate your cover.

Important Tips for Travel Insurance
1. Read the paperwork and ask questions if you don't understand anything.

2. Make sure you check what you're covered or not covered for.

3. Tell the insurance company if you have any existing medical conditions.

4. Find out if your employer provides health insurance as part of your benefits package.

5. Don't be pressurised to take travel insurance from your travel agent – you don't have to, and other policies may be more suitable for you.

Link to Previous article : Flood Insurance - Flood damage claim options

Flood Insurance - Flood damage claim options

2007-10-09T06:15:00.000+01:00

Flood damage insurance comes to your aid in case you have lost your possessions due to a flood in your area.
If you have suffered flood damage and are intending to claim on your insurance policy, consider the following:

--You can make a claim directly to your insurer – who is obliged by FSA rules to handle your claim fairly.

--Individuals or companies who offer to notify your claim to the insurer or to negotiate it on your behalf) must:

-be regulated by FSA or

-be an exempt professional firm such as a law firm

-And as such, must handle your claim fairly.

Think about whether you need to hire a third party's help.

If you do decide you want to hire a third party, make sure you check how much it will cost you first (they may charge a share of any sum paid out by the insurer).

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has a useful list of questions and answers about flooding and insurance on their website – please refer to that for more information.

Link to Previous article : Pet Insurance

Pet Insurance

2007-10-08T06:22:00.000+01:00

What is Pet Insurance for?

There are two kinds of pet insurance:
• Life-long Pet Insurance – it will pay out for specific conditions for the life of your pet; and

• Time-limited Pet Insurance – it will only pay out for 12 months per condition.

Policies vary, but in addition to an agreed maximum payout for a vet's bills and drugs, some will pay for you to advertise if your pet has been lost; or for kennel/cattery fees if you suddenly have to go into hospital; and, in some cases, the cost of making good damage caused by your pet.

What isn't covered in Pet Insurance?

Generally, the routine maintenance items such as annual vaccinations, boosters and nail clipping, as well as spaying and neutering.

Keeping costs down for Pet Insurance

As with most insurance, the higher the excess (the amount of the claim that you agree to pay yourself), the lower the premiums. Make sure you disclose any key relevant information. Shop around and always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price. Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

Important tips for Pet Insurance

1. Read the paperwork and ask questions if you don't understand anything.

2. Make sure you check what you're covered or not covered for.

3. Shop around when it comes to renewal time to make sure you're getting the best deal.

Link to Previous article : Motor Insurance

Motor Insurance

2007-10-05T05:50:00.000+01:00

What is Motor Insurance for?

The law says you have to have motor insurance to drive a car or motorbike. Some policies cover the replacement or repair of your vehicle, depending on the circumstances of an accident. You can choose from three levels of cover:

• Third party – this is the minimum legal requirement and covers you if you injure a third party, including passengers or their property, but does not cover damage to your own vehicle.

• Third party, fire and theft – covers third party injuries and liabilities, and also fire and theft to your own vehicle, but not accidental damage to your vehicle.

• Comprehensive – as well as the above, this will cover fire, theft and accidental damage to your vehicle.

What does motor insurance cost?

You pay a premium depending on factors including the make of car, engine size, your age and your sex. If you can pay a higher excess, (for example, pay the first £50 or £100 of the claim) your premium may be lower.
You'll also tend to get lower premiums if you park your car in a garage overnight for example, or if you have a clean driving licence.

Keeping costs down for motor insurance

Shop around – there are lots of insurers out there. Use the keyfacts about this policy to see what is and isn't covered by the policy. Always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price – the keyfacts policy summary will help you do this. Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

Depending on your claims history, the insurance company may offer you a no-claims discount. Generally this ranges from 30% to 65% and your premium will reduce accordingly.

Some companies allow you to pay a sum to protect or guarantee this no-claims discount, which can mean a saving on your future premiums should you have to make a claim. Bear in mind you are paying to keep the no claims discount and not to keep your premiums at a certain level – they may still rise, for example, as a result of general increases or as a result of your claim.

Important tips for motor insurance

1. Read the paperwork and ask questions if you don't understand anything.

2. Make sure you check what you're covered or not covered for.

3. Shop around when it comes to renewal time to make sure you're getting the best deal.

Link to Previous article: Contents Insurance

Contents insurance

2007-10-04T08:53:00.000+01:00

What is Contents insurance for?

Contents insurance covers the loss of or damage to the contents of your home. This includes your furniture, electrical goods and other items within your home. But also items you take outside, for example cameras, jewellery and briefcases. Different policies offer different levels of cover but generally you'll be covered against theft and fire, and have the option to insure against damage you may cause by accident.

If not already covered by your contents insurance, you may want to consider travel insurance for loss or damage to your personal belongings whilst travelling. For more information see travel insurance.

What isn't covered in contents insurance?

Anything beyond the maximum amount your insurer says they will pay, and it may pay a maximum amount on single articles. You'll need to specify the value of the contents. Some companies have limits on the value of any one item under the general policy so you'll need to specify individual items such as expensive jewellery or camera equipment, for example. Your cover may also be affected or cancelled if you leave your home empty for a long period of time, or if you let it out. Damage to the building itself is also not covered; this needs to be covered separately with Buildings insurance – see Buildings insurance.

Keeping costs down for Contents insurance

Many insurers will offer discounts if you have a burglar alarm, window locks or if you're a member of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme. You may also get a deal if you combine contents and buildings insurance. Always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price – the keyfacts policy summary will help you do this. Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

Level of cover for Contents insurance

Some contents insurance policies offer new for old. This means they'll replace old damaged appliances and possessions with new ones when you claim.
Bear in mind that your premiums may increase the following year, or the insurance company may refuse to cover you for the same risk if it happens more than twice, for example.
Important tips for Contents insurance

1. Read the paperwork and ask questions if you don't understand anything.

2. Make sure you check what you're covered or not covered for.

3. Shop around when it comes to renewal time to make sure you're getting the best deal.

Link to Previous article: Buildings Insurance

Buildings Insurance

2007-10-03T05:39:00.000+01:00

What is Buildings Insurance for?

If you have a mortgage, your lender will insist that your mortgage property (and their security) is protected by buildings insurance. This insurance usually pays out if your property is destroyed by fire, floods or subsidence (although you will need to check if you live on a flood plain, for example).

Damage to fixed fittings such as baths and kitchens are often included, as well as sheds, greenhouses and garages.
You might be offered buildings insurance when you take out your mortgage, but you don't have to take what's on offer. You must use the keyfacts policy summary to shop around and get the best deal for you.

If you purchase a leasehold property (such as a flat in a block of flats) the freeholder may have arranged buildings insurance for the whole block, in which case you may not need your own buildings policy.

What isn't covered in Buildings insurance?

Your cover is based on what your home would cost to rebuild. You can check whether you have enough buildings insurance through the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) website. It has an online tool to help you calculate the sum you should insure your building(s) for, in case your home has to be entirely rebuilt.

You need to tell your insurer if you extend your property, for example with a loft conversion or conservatory. Your belongings are not covered – these need to be covered separately with contents insurance.

Keeping costs down for buildings insurance

As always, shop around. You may also find that you get a better deal if you buy buildings and contents insurance together. Most policies have a standard excess charge which means you agree to pay the first part of any claim, for example the first £50 or £100. If you agree to pay a higher excess you might get a cheaper policy. Always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price – the keyfacts policy summary will help you do this. Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

Important tips for buildings insurance

Read the paperwork and ask questions if you don't understand anything.

Make sure you check what you're covered or not covered for.

Shop around when it comes to renewal time to make sure you're getting the best deal.

Protecting your possessions – special insurance

2007-10-01T09:00:00.000+01:00

What would happen if your house was damaged in a storm, flood or fire; you were burgled; or a tile fell off your roof and injured a passer-by? Do you have the right level of cover?

What about your personal belongings or pets – are they covered?

There is insurance to protect your home inside and out as well as to protect your possessions.

As with all insurance, it's important that you:

• give the full facts;

• read the policy summary to check what's covered and what isn't;

• shop around to get the best deal for you; and

• always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price.

Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

You can choose from the following:

• Buildings insurance

• Contents insurance

• Motor insurance

• Pet insurance

• Flood damage claim options

In the next few articles, let's discuss how you can go about considering and taking these special types of insurance schemes to protect your posessions.

Link to previous article Travel Insurance

Travel insurance

2007-09-28T06:37:00.000+01:00

What's it for?

If you are a UK resident you are entitled to free or reduced-cost, State-provided healthcare when visiting a European Union (EU) country as long as you have the necessary European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). However, in many other countries healthcare can be very expensive.

Most travel insurance plans will cover medical bills for £1m, and often more, as well as pay for an emergency air ambulance to bring you home for treatment in the UK. Travel insurance can also cover you against other mishaps while you're abroad, from lost luggage and theft to flight delays. Make sure you read the policy summary for exclusions – there are bound to be some. Also check for excess charges – some policies charge an excess per clause rather than one overall.

You could be offered travel insurance by the travel agent where you book your holiday, but you don't have to take their cover and generally travel insurance sold at the same time as a holiday, isn't covered by regulation. You can shop around and get the right cover for you. Find out whether your employer offers travel insurance as part of your benefits package.

What isn't covered?

You won't usually be covered for medical conditions you already have, or may have to pay extra to get them covered. Always ask if you're in doubt. Travelling against a doctor's advice may also invalidate your cover.

Important tips

1. Read the paperwork and ask questions if you don't understand anything.

2. Make sure you check what you're covered or not covered for.

3. Tell the insurance company if you have any existing medical conditions.

4. Find out if your employer provides health insurance as part of your benefits package.

5. Don't be pressurised to take travel insurance from your travel agent – you don't have to, and other policies may be more suitable for you.

Link to previous article Health cash plans (including dental insurance)

Health cash plans (including dental insurance)

2007-09-27T10:26:00.000+01:00

What's it for?

Health cash plans provide limited cash sums towards everyday healthcare bills. Different policies cover one or a combination of healthcare such as dental care, optical care, physiotherapy, or stays in hospital.

So for example a policy will pay out a maximum of £100 per year towards optical care bills you have incurred, and £10 for each night you need stay in hospital (up to a maximum of say 16 nights). Most providers offer a range of covers with different levels of payouts, and the smaller the payouts the cheaper the premiums.

What isn't covered?

Some policies have age restrictions and will only cover you if you are under a certain age (often 65). If you've had health problems in the past (pre-existing conditions), the cash plan may not pay out on certain types of healthcare. Some plans also apply qualifying periods which means that they will not pay out towards any treatment undergone in the first few months of the policy, so shop around and make sure you get the cover you need.

Dental insurance

What's it for?

Dental insurance is a type of health cash plan that focuses on dental care. Most of these pay for treatments such as crowns, root canal work, bridges and dentures up to an agreed maximum each year. If your teeth are in good health you can also take out a capitation scheme: you pay a monthly fee in return for check-ups, regular treatment, X-rays and extractions.

What isn't covered?

Check your plan carefully. More serious work such as oral cancer, surgery and serious dental abscesses are often excluded. Some plans apply qualifying periods which means that they will not pay out towards any treatment undergone in the first few months of the policy, so shop around and make sure you get the cover you need.

Top tips

1. Read the paperwork and ask questions if you don't understand anything.

2. Make sure you check what you're covered or not covered for.

3. Tell the insurance company if you have any existing medical conditions.

Link to previous article Private Medical Insurance

Private medical insurance

2007-09-26T06:57:00.000+01:00

Private medical insurance covers medical treatment and usually means you can get treated quicker than going on the NHS. Like all insurance the cover you get varies – but basic private medical insurance may pick up the costs of most in–patient treatments (tests and surgery) and day–care surgery, and some extend to out–patient treatments (such as specialists and consultants).

Cover can be purchased on a full medical underwriting basis, which means you will be asked a number of questions about your health and, based on the information you provide, the insurer will decide the conditions of your cover. You can also apply for cover on a moratorium basis, which means you will not be asked any questions about your health, but if you have suffered from any health conditions in the last five years, these will automatically be excluded from cover initially.

What isn't covered?

Before jumping in to look at the advantages of the insurance scheme and buying it immediately, it is always better to know what it does NOT cover. Here is a generalized list of what is not covered under the Private Medical Insurance.

-You can't take out cover now for treatment you know you're going to need.

-If you've had health problems in the past (pre–existing conditions), your insurer may also exclude those conditions from your cover. If you are asked to disclose these when applying for the insurance you must do so, or you could invalidate your policy, which means the insurance company won't pay out if you make a claim.

-It does not cover the treatment of chronic medical conditions. There are various definitions of chronic conditions depending on the policy, but broadly it is a long–term medical condition which is likely to continue to need regular or periodic treatment.

-Some exclude certain types of treatments such as out–patient treatments, routine treatments (such as health checks), dental care or experimental treatments.

-Most also exclude routine pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, fertility treatment, mental or psychiatric conditions, and elective treatments you may choose to have, such as cosmetic surgery.

Keeping costs down

Shop around: it's a competitive market out there and both cover and costs vary from company to company. You could choose:

-to pay a larger excess, which means you agree to pay more of the bill; or
-cover that only kicks in if NHS services are not available within a certain timeframe.

Be clear about what you need. You may not want the highest level of cover. Always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price. Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

For more information see the private medical insurance guides provided by the Association of British Insurers.

Important Tips

-Read the paperwork and ask questions if you don't understand anything.
-Make sure you check what you're covered or not covered for.
-Tell the insurance company if you have any existing medical conditions.
-Find out if your employer provides health insurance as part of your benefits package.

Link to previous article Insurance for Protecting your health .

Insurance for Protecting your health

2007-09-20T07:37:00.000+01:00

Every UK resident is entitled to a free healthcare from the NHS, but it is not comprehensive and covers only few basic insurance protections. Hence, you may like to consider buying health insurance so that you can have a choice in the level of care you want and receive. You don't have to take out health insurance but think about how you'd be able to afford medical treatment if you didn't want to use the NHS.

There are many different insurance products aimed at helping you compensate for the financial blow of medical expenses that you may have to incur. Some offer medical cover while you are holidaying abroad (travel insurance), some offer access to private care treatment (private medical insurance), and some pay a limited amount towards everyday medical bills (health cash plans).

Your employer may offer some of these in your benefits package. Or you can take them out yourself.

You can choose from the following:

• Private medical insurance: Private medical insurance covers medical treatment and usually means you can get treated quicker than going on the NHS. Like all insurance the cover you get varies – but basic private medical insurance may pick up the costs of most in–patient treatments (tests and surgery) and day–care surgery, and some extend to out–patient treatments (such as specialists and consultants).

• Health cash plans (including dental insurance) : Health cash plans provide limited cash sums towards everyday healthcare bills. Different policies cover one or a combination of healthcare such as dental care, optical care, physiotherapy, or stays in hospital.

• Travel insurance: If you are a UK resident you are entitled to free or reduced-cost, State-provided healthcare when visiting a European Union (EU) country as long as you have the necessary European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). However, in many other countries healthcare can be very expensive.

In the next articles, we’ll cover elaborate details about these insurance types for your health.

Link to previous article Income protection Insurance - II.

Income protection Insurance - II

2007-09-19T04:49:00.000+01:00

This article is the second part of Income protection Insurance - I. Please read the first part before continuing with this one.

Cost of Income protection Insurance

You pay a monthly premium throughout the term of the policy. Cost depends mainly on:

• Your age – at the time you start the policy. Older people are more likely to suffer an illness, so pay more.

• Your sex – gender can have an affect on the premium you pay.

• Your health – at the time you start the policy. If you have existing health problems you might be refused cover or have to pay more.

• Your job – some jobs are more likely than others to contribute towards illness. For example, a bank clerk is deemed to have a very safe job but a deep sea diver runs high risks and so would have to pay more.

• Hobbies and lifestyle – for example, smoking makes you more likely to become ill, so you'll pay more.

• Waiting period – once you claim, there is a delay before payments start. You can choose how long this is - for example, from 4 weeks up to 104 weeks. The longer the waiting period, the less you pay.

Access

• If your health is poor or your lifestyle is considered risky, you may be refused cover or have to pay more than normal.

Terms

• Check whether you already have protection in place in case you get incapacitated, and for how long that protection would last. For example your employer may have an income protection scheme in place you can benefit from, or you may have a payment protection insurance that covers your mortgage.

• Check whether the policy reduces what it pays out if you receive state benefits or claim money under any other insurance policy.

• Some policies only pay out if you can't do any work, but you would have to be seriously incapacitated for you not to be able to work at all. Others cover being unable to do any work for which you are suited. The best pay out simply if you can't do your normal job, but premiums tend to be more expensive.

• Most policies would pay out until your reach age 65 or when you have chosen the cover to end.

• Check how different occupations are treated. Different insurers put the same job in different risk categories.

• Does the cover increase in line with inflation?
Some advisers suggest that critical illness cover (CIC) – which pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a life-threatening condition listed in the policy – is a cheaper and simpler alternative to income protection insurance. But there are lots of common situations when CIC would not pay out – for example, if you had back problems or a stress-related illness. Additionally, not all occurrences of the critical illnesses listed are covered, for example some early stages of cancer are not covered.

Link to previous article Income protection Insurance - I.

Income protection Insurance

2007-09-18T05:47:00.000+01:00

How does it work?

If you are an employee of any organization and you fall sick, your employer might pay you your full pay for a few weeks or months. By law, an employer must pay most employees statutory sick pay for up to 28 weeks, though this will probably be a lot less than your full earnings. After that, you would probably have to rely on state benefits.

However, some employers arrange group income protection insurance for their employees as an add-on perk of their job, which can pay out an income after the statutory sickness period. So check with your employer if you are entitled to get any such benefit as a part of your employment contract.

If you are self-employed, you won't have this option at all, and you’ll have to look for your own arrangements for insurance.

State benefits are not generous. You would probably see a substantial drop in your income if you were out of work for more than a few months because of illness or disability.

Insurance aims to put you back to the position you were in before you suffered a loss. But it does not allow you to make a profit out of your misfortune. So the maximum amount of income you can replace through insurance is broadly the after-tax earnings you have lost less an adjustment for State benefits you can claim. This usually translates into a maximum of, say 50% to 65% of your before-tax earnings.

Protection insurance

If you can't work because of illness or disability, income protection insurance (also called permanent health insurance) pays out a tax-free income.
Example of working out how much cover you need:

Nick is single and earns £26,000 a year before tax and other deductions. She estimates that, if she was ill for a long time, her budget would be affected as shown in the table below.

Nick's budget calculations in the event that she couldn't work	Her estimates
Income she would lose her take-home pay	£18,000
Deduct income she would gain approximate long-term incapacity benefit	£4,000
Deduct expenses Nick would save work-related costs, mortgage interest payments if covered by mortgage payment protection insurance	£3,000
Add extra expenses she would pay allowance for, say, cost of special equipment or treatment, cost of heating her home for more time	£2,000
EXTRA INCOME NEEDED	£13,000

Nick reckons she would need around £13,000 a year to maintain her lifestyle. This is half her before-tax pay of £26,000.

Nick also works out that as a perk of her job, her employer will pay her half a salary for 52 weeks after the statutory sick pay period of 28 weeks. She therefore arranges for her policy to pay out after 80 weeks of incapacity.

More details on how protection insurance works will be covered in the next article.

Link to previous article Pension Term Assurance (PTA) – Part II

Pension Term Assurance (PTA) – Part II

2007-09-17T06:09:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, we concluded the article on Pension Term Assurance (PTA). Today, we’ll continue the PTA in more fine details this article.

Points to consider if you are switching to a PTA from a term assurance:

• Make sure you don't lose out by switching. Your current term assurance policy may include cover options which are not offered under the PTA policy you are considering.
• Remember that new PTA policies will not qualify for tax relief on the premium, and so will no longer have a tax advantage over ordinary term assurance policies.

Point to consider if you are switching to a term assurance from a PTA:

• Remember that PTA policies in force before 31 July 2007 will still get tax relief on the premiums. Switching to an ordinary term assurance will mean you lose this advantage.

Remember, if you are switching either way:

• Don't cancel your current policy until you are sure you have another policy in place - you could leave yourself uninsured.
If your health has deteriorated since taking out your existing policy, this may mean that the premiums for a new policy are more expensive and you might be better off not switching.

Previous article: Pension Term Assurance (PTA).

Pension Term Assurance (PTA)

2007-09-14T05:46:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, we concluded the article on Cost of Term Insurance. Today, in this article, we’ll highlight the Pension Term Insurance or PTA, which is another good insurance plan to consider.

PTA is a type of term assurance which uses the rules for pension schemes to provide life cover. You do not have to pay any of your contributions towards an income at retirement and instead they can all be paid into life assurance cover.
Because PTA uses pension tax rules, you get tax relief or tax benefit or tax advantage on the premiums you pay into it. But it also means that the pension rules apply such as the limit on the pension contributions you can make every year, and the amount of pension pot you can accumulate over a lifetime without incurring a 40% tax charge. Therefore this type of term assurance may have an impact on any other pension arrangements you have or take out. Bear in mind PTA provides life cover - it pays out on your death and it will not give you a pension income.

What is it?

Stand-alone Pension Term Assurance (PTA) is term assurance which uses the rules for pension schemes to provide life cover. You do not have to pay any pension contributions and you can just take out life assurance cover.
But, following an announcement by the Chancellor in the March 2007 Budget you will not get tax relief on the premiums you pay on new stand-alone PTA policies. Existing PTA policies taken out before 14 December 2006 and which are in force by 31 July 2007 are not affected and will continue to enjoy tax relief on the premiums.
Stand-alone PTA pays out on your death. It will not give you an income in retirement. PTA won't necessarily be called pension term assurance; firms can use their own marketing names for it, so make sure you read the policy documents to make sure you understand what you're buying.

Tax relief

Given this change in the tax rules, stand-alone PTA will no longer have a tax advantage over ordinary term assurance products. So if you are considering PTA, you should look at ordinary term assurance too in deciding which product is cheapest and best meets your needs.

Policy options

If you have an existing policy where you can increase your cover by paying higher premiums, you will still get tax relief on those increased premiums.
However, if your policy doesn't include this option, you won't be able to increase cover and get tax relief on higher premiums.

Cost of Term Insurance

2007-09-13T06:22:00.000+01:00

Continuing further from our previous article on Term Insurance, let’s discuss some more details of term insurance in this article –especially cost and types of term insurance.

What does the term insurance cost?
This depends on several factors, such as the amount of cover you want and the length of the term. Obviously, it's also based on the likelihood of your insurer having to pay out: if you're a smoker and do a dangerous job, you'll pay more than a non-smoking office worker. Term life cover also costs more for men because, on average, they don't live as long. Always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price. Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

Whole-of-life insurance
Whole-of-life insurance pays out an agreed sum when you die, whenever that is.

What does the whole life insurance cost?
These policies will cost you more, partly because they will pay out whenever the event (death) happens, but also because of the various charges that come with them. The cost also depends on your lifestyle: if you're a smoker and do a dangerous job, you'll pay more than a non-smoking office worker. Life cover also costs more for men because, on average, they don't live as long as women. Always compare what's covered by a policy, not just the price. Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

In the next article, let’s talk about Pension term insurance in more details, and also about the tax benefit and limits that are imposed.
Link to previous article on Term Insurance

Term Insurance

2007-09-12T06:37:00.000+01:00

Continuing further from the previous article on Life Insurance, let’s today discuss about the Term Insurance.
Term insurance
Term Insurance is the simplest and cheapest type of life insurance policies available in the market, and is known as term insurance because you have the option to choose how long you want to be covered for, say, 5, 10, 15, or 20 years (this duration is known as the term).

Term insurance only pays out if you die within the term you've agreed. If you live longer than the term, you get nothing. As a couple, you can also take out term cover in both your names, with the policy paying out if either of you die during the term.

Things to look out for while buying term insurance
While it is easy for anyone to think about term insurance, it is equally important that you understand what you are buying. Consider the following questions:

• What type of policy do you buy? For example,
1. family income benefit (a policy which pays out regular income, like every month, instead of a lump sum),
2. increasing policy (where cover and premium will rise over the years),
3. decreasing policy (where cover and premium will fall over the years),
4. renewable policies (which let you renew and extend the original term).

• Check for exclusions in the policy - in other words, there may be certain conditions and situations when the policy won't pay out. For example, most do not cover death due to alcohol or drug usage or suicide cases. You might not be covered while taking part in risky sports like car racing. If your health is poor when the policy starts, some causes of death might be excluded or you might be refused cover altogether.

• Premiums shown are usually fixed for the whole term. There are also contracts where premiums are reviewable after a certain period, usually five years.

• How flexible is the contract? Can you reduce or increase cover easily as your circumstances change? Are there extra charges for doing this? Does cover stop immediately if you miss a payment or is there a period of grace?

• By paying extra, you can usually include a waiver of premium. It pays the premiums if you can't work because of a long-term illness so that your cover is not interrupted.

• If you want to change insurer, check the level of premiums for the new contract before switching (premiums may have gone up because of older age or because you have developed medical conditions). Also check the new level of cover compared to the previous one. Different benefits may be available, and different exclusions may be applied – for example you may not be covered for medical conditions that have developed before the switch even if these were covered under the previous contract. If you do decide to change, make sure you do not cancel your original cover until you are fully covered by the new contract.

• The policy can be set up under trust. This means that in the event of death, proceeds of the policy are paid directly to dependants of your choice. Provided a trust is set up properly, there may be benefits to doing this. However, using a trust may not be suitable for everyone and because of the complexities we recommend you seek financial and legal advice.

In the next article, let’s discuss some more details about Term Insurance

Life insurance

2007-09-11T05:50:00.000+01:00

Protecting your family and dependants

Today, let us begin with the introduction to Life Insurance.

We all know that life insurance is good and very useful, especially when we have to cover ourselves against the unfavourable events happening.

Life insurance is about providing some financial security for people who depend on you if you died. (So if you don't have a partner, spouse or civil partner, children, or other dependants, you may not need life cover.)

To make sure you buy the right amount of cover, with the right terms and conditions, you should consider getting some advice. The adviser assesses what your family would need, and shops around for the cover that suits you best.

Always answer questions as best you can and disclose any existing medical conditions when asked. If you don't give the full facts, you could invalidate your policy and the insurance company won't pay out.

There are two main types of life insurance: term insurance and whole-of-life insurance.

Term insurance (also called term assurance) pays out only if you die within a certain term, and whole-of-life insurance pays out whenever you die. Some whole-of-life policies also contain an investment element to them, but such investment-type policies cost a lot more than protection-only insurance.

If you want investments, consider the full range of products (not just life insurance) which might meet your circumstances and needs.

Tomorrow, in the next articles, let's discuss in detail about the term and whole life insurance!

Payment Protection Insurance - More information – Part II

2007-09-10T06:52:00.000+01:00

Continuing further from our previous article on PPI - more information, here are some common questions that can be listed as FAQ’s for PPI or Payment Protection Insurance.

What's in the small print?

Like all insurance, Payment Protection Insurance or PPI policies will generally include a number of exclusions or conditions that will prevent you from claiming on the policy. Make sure you understand which illnesses are not covered – see below. Also, you may not be eligible to take out a policy in the first place – say, if you:

-are under 18 or over 65;
-work less than 16 hours a week;
-are employed on a temporary or contract basis;
-are aware you may become unemployed;
-have an existing illness; or
-have stress or backache.

If in any doubt, ask the salesperson to explain any parts of the policy that you may not be able to claim on (the exclusions and eligibility conditions). Be sure you understand the exclusions before you buy the insurance.

I have an existing medical condition. Will I be able to take out PPI?

Yes, but you will not typically be able to make a claim for a medical condition you were aware – or should have been aware – existed at the time you took out the policy, or sometimes earlier. You would normally be able to claim for other illnesses that occur after you take out the policy. Make sure you read the exclusions to the policy.

Do I have to take out PPI and what would happen if I didn't?

No. If the firm insists on PPI cover to get the loan, you should consider whether you really want to take the loan with that lender.
Think about the cost of PPI and the amount that will be paid out if you make a claim on the policy. Check whether payments from a PPI policy would affect the benefits that could be paid from any other protection insurance that you already have.

If you don't take out PPI think about how you would pay the loan, mortgage or credit/store card payments if you were sick or had an accident and were unable to work or became unemployed.

Can I cancel the policy if I change my mind?

You can cancel the policy within either 14 or 30 days of taking it out, depending on the terms of the policy. But the firm can charge you for the time you were covered and the cost of selling the policy. Read the keyfacts Policy Summary, which explains the cancellation period.
If you have a single premium policy and you cancel after this initial cancellation period, you will usually find the refund you get is not in proportion to the remaining policy term. So you could get less back than you might expect.
Check with the salesperson or in the policy documents what refund you would get and how it would be calculated.

Will I still have to pay for PPI cover if I terminate a car loan?

On some occasions you may owe money for the PPI you bought to cover a loan, even if you repay the loan early. For example, this would apply if you take out a loan to pay for PPI at the same time as taking out a hire purchase (HP) agreement – or loan – to buy a car. If you terminate the HP agreement for the car early you may find you still owe money on the PPI.
I bought PPI with my loan or credit when I applied online, but I didn't ask for it – what should I do?Some firms offer PPI to customers when they apply for their loan or credit online – and this is sometimes selected by default on the forms. If you bought PPI in this way but didn't ask for it you should follow the complaints process below.

What should I do if I have a complaint?

If you have a complaint about the PPI you have been sold, you should first complain to the firm that sold you the policy, to give them a chance to put things right. If your complaint is about a claim, you should complain to the insurance company. If you're not happy with the outcome you may be able to take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service For more information see A guide to Payment Protection Insurance on the Association of British Insurers' website.

Payment Protection Insurance - More information – Part I

2007-09-07T13:25:00.000+01:00

Continuing further from our previous article on PPI, here are some common questions that can be listed as FAQ’s for PPI or Payment Protection Insurance.

What does PPI insurance cover?

What the insurance covers will vary depending on the sort of repayments the policy is designed to protect, and on the terms of the particular policy.

The following benefits are typical for different types of PPI cover:

Mortgage – The insurance covers your monthly mortgage repayments for a set period of time. The maximum number of monthly repayments that the insurance company will make is usually 12, but it can sometimes be 24. This means that after this period you will have to pay your monthly mortgage repayments yourself.
Credit and store cards – The insurance will generally pay off a percentage of your outstanding balance or the minimum payment each month for up to a year. Check which option is being offered. This means that you may still have to pay any balance left after this time.

The insurance typically only provides cover for the amount you owe when you make a claim, and not any balance you build up after this.
Loans – The insurance will cover your monthly repayments for the loan – generally for 12 or 24 months. After this period you will have to pay your monthly loan repayments yourself.

If the insurance for any of these products contains life insurance, then the cover will generally pay off the balance of the debt covered if you die. If the claim is for disability, the monthly repayments may be paid to the end of the life of the loan.

How will I know what I'm covered for?
You should read the Policy Summary and policy document that come with any policy you take out. We require firms to give you a Policy Summary with this sign keyfacts document.

This sets out, amongst other things, the main features and benefits of the policy as well as any significant or unusual exclusions and how long the cover lasts. If unclear ask the salesperson to go through it with you and make sure you're happy before you take it out.

How much will it cost?
Remember interest rates and APRs for loans, mortgages and credit/store cards do not usually include the cost of the PPI policy, so comparing interest rates on their own will not be helpful if you are taking out PPI.
The salesperson must tell you how much the insurance will cost you separately from the costs of the loan. You can pay by a single or regular premium. The single premium can be added to your loan, thereby increasing what you borrow. A regular premium is a set amount you pay each month.
The salesperson is likely to quote you a monthly figure for the PPI whether they're quoting for a single or regular premium. If you take out a single premium bear in mind that, as it's normally added to your loan, you're being charged interest on that as well. This example shows how much more a single premium may cost.

Loan	£2,000
Loan interest	200
Total loan cost	£2,200
PPI premium	£250
PPI interest	30
Total PPI price	£280
Total cost of loan with PPI	£2,480
Total cost of loan without PPI	£2,200

A regular premium may be cheaper because you will not be charged interest.
If in doubt, ask the salesperson to clarify what sort of premium they are quoting for.

Payment Protection Insurance-part II

2007-09-07T05:42:00.000+01:00

This is part II of the article Payment protection insurance

What should you do while planning to take Payment Protection Insurance?

• Think carefully about the risks you could face while paying back a loan, mortgage or credit/store card and whether taking out PPI would be to your advantage. If you had an accident that stopped you from working, would you have enough savings to be able to continue paying off the loan?

• Consider whether you have other insurance which already covers you (for example through your employer), or whether other types of protection insurance may be more appropriate.

• Don't be pressurised into buying it - you don't usually have to take out PPI to get a loan and you don't have to buy it from the same place you get your loan from.

• Check online forms when applying for loan or credit online. Sometimes PPI is selected by default and you will need to change this option if you don't want to buy it. You should also print out or keep copies of completed forms in case you need to complain or make a claim in the future.

• Find out whether the firm is giving you advice, if not, consider whether you need advice. Getting advice means that the firm should recommend a PPI or other policy that meets your needs.

• Find out whether the policy is a single or regular premium. If you buy a single premium policy you pay a lump sum of 3-5 years' worth of premiums in advance. This amount is added to the sum you borrow and attracts interest, so you'll be paying more over the long run.

• Think about what you would do when the claims payments stop and you are still unable to work. How would you pay the rest of your loan?

• Check to see what you will be covered for and what won't be covered – for example any exclusions relating to the nature of your employment or your medical history.

• Check what you will get back if you cancel the policy or repay the loan early.

Ask the salesperson to explain the terms and conditions of the policy and make sure you read the keyfacts Policy Summary document – especially read the exclusions carefully.

In the next article, let’s cover some fine details and more information on Payment Protection Insurance

Payment protection insurance

2007-09-06T05:48:00.001+01:00

Yesterday, in the previous article, we talked about the special case of Mortgage payment protection insurance.

Today, let us focus on the wider topic of Payment Protection Insurance Scheme.
What is it?
Payment protection insurance, or PPI, is insurance that will pay out a sum of money to help you cover your monthly repayments on mortgages, loans, credit/store cards or catalogue payments if you are unable to work. This could be because you have an accident or sickness, or become unemployed through no fault of your own.
This means that the insurance company will pay the monthly repayments (or a percentage of them) on your behalf for a fixed period of time if you become unable to work. It is sometimes known as ASU (accident, sickness and unemployment) insurance, Account Cover or Payment Cover.
PPI can provide worthwhile cover against unexpected changes in your personal circumstances, but bear in mind its limitations and exclusions.

Where might you get it from?
You're likely to be offered PPI by the company when you take out a loan or credit agreement, but you don't have to buy it from them. You can buy it yourself separately from insurance brokers, including over the internet. Shop around to get the best deal for you.
PPI is useful, but you may not always want it or be able to claim on it when you need to.

What are the main features?
• PPI is almost always optional – you should not normally be refused a loan if you decide not to buy it.
• PPI only pays out for a set period of time, generally either 12 or 24 months.
• To claim on the unemployment part of the policy typically you must have been employed continuously by the same company for the last 12 months on a permanent contract.
• You may not be able to make a claim for an illness you already have or have had before. Make sure you check this before you take out the policy.
• Stress or back complaints, and possibly other conditions, may not be covered, even if you can't work because of them. Again, it's worth checking before you take out the policy.
• You have a legal right to cancel the policy and get a refund within 14 or 30 days of taking it out.
Tomorrow, let’s talk about how and whether you should take this insurance.

UK Insurance

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Churchill Car insurance - Enhanced Courtesy Car

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Direct Line Critical Illness cover has two types of cover:

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Directline European Breakdown Cover: Travel claims

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Directline European Breakdown Cover Summary

1. Breakdown

2. Breakdown and Travel Cover

Summary of CoverBreakdown Cover

Travel Cover

You can also add Winter sports cover to your Travel cover

Directline European Breakdown Cover

Directline European Breakdown Cover: A good deal that gets even better...

Directline Tradesman Business Insurance: Assumptions made

Tradesman insurance assumptions - saving you time with your quote

Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: Claims FAQ

Frequently asked claims questions

Direct Line Tradesman Insurance: How to make a claim?

Directline is here to help you make a claim quickly, and deal with it fairly - with as little hassle as possible.

How to claim

DirectLine Business Tradesman Insurance FAQ

Your Business

Directline Business Insurance

Standard Cover

Optional Covers

Directline Life Insurance: Mortgage Life Cover

A must for mortgage protection

Directline Life Insurance: Level of Cover you need

What are my monthly general expenses?

What are my one-off expenses?

Other questions to ask

Directline Life Insurance: Tips and Advice

No time like the present

Stop smoking

Directline Life Insurance: Get Life insurance cover

Online

By phone

Directline Life Insurance: How much cover do you need?

It's tempting to put off any decision about taking out life cover but beware:-

What do you require the life cover for?

There are other considerations which you should then take into account:

Directline Life Insurance: Types of Cover

Directline has two types of covers for Life Insurance:

Fixed Term Life Cover

Mortgage Life Cover

General policy information apply to both products

Directline Life Insurance

The Directline life insurance good deal that gets even better...

Find out more about our types of cover for Directline Life Insurance

Why would I need Directline Life Insurance?

What if I'm already covered?

Direct Line Pet Insurance: Missing Pets Bureau

Summary of Cover

Breakdown Cover