Posts Tagged ‘thieves’
Saving Money On Bike Insurance
The savings one make on bike insurance can add up to bit money over years. So, it is generally worth all the effort involved to save money on the bike insurance. It is not just while driving a bike that you might require the bike insurance. As a result of size and design of latest generation bikes, the vehicles can be stolen by the thieves more conveniently than the four wheel vehicle are some insurance firms which specialize in bike insurance plans and appreciate that bike theft is not essentially the case. So, there are some great ways to save money on the motorbike insurance.
While deciding which excess phase to go for on the bike insurance plan, the most effective thing to do is to go with the high excess as you may afford paying in event of the claim as higher the excess the less one pays. Some companies dealing in bike insurance take into consideration the credit record while deciding how much the insurance premium will be.
For people who have not purchased the bike yet, they have the option to get the insurance policy down from start by having quotes for different bikes that you are looking forward to buy to find a bike with reduced insurance costs. This is due to the bike insurance premiums may vary significantly as per the model and kind of bike that one opts for. Another advantage of doing the homework before buying the bike is that you prevent bike which you then know you cannot afford the bike insurance on. Also, in case the bike you need to insure is old and does not possess much value, you can then save money by choosing for the third party theft and fire insurance coverage rather than the comprehensive insurance policy. Avoid adding the young rider to insurance policy and keep the total number of drivers on the policy to minimum possible extent, you pay lowest amount by only having yourself on the insurance plan.
Also, it always pays shopping around the various insurance plans and finds the best possible deal. You can even go the online way to get some discount on the bike insurance. It is a great idea to just make claim when it is a big one and try not to create smaller claims because this will keep the future insurance premiums lower. One should even have guest passenger liability option on the bike insurance policy if one actually does have the guest riders on back of the bike. In case you ride alone, you can get the insurance down by not gaining the passenger liability on the bike insurance. However, you need to be aware that you need never have guest rider on back of the bike as you will not be actually insured for this. Remember to get prepared and have information one needs to hand in to offer with proper bike insurance quote different items are needed- detail of the convictions, any claims or accidents and how much to have the no claims bonus.Kwik Fit Bike Insurance have a team dedicated solely to finding the best possible deals in motorcycle cover – and have an 18-strong panel of leading insurers specialising in quality Motorbike Insurance and Motorcycle Insurance Services
You Don’t Have to be Paranoid to Save Yourself from Identity Theft Shopping for Car Insurance Online
You hear about them all the time-the paranoid wackos and government conspiracy theorists that the media loves to hate! But what about all the ordinary people out there that are worried about having their identity stolen when they’re shopping online? You don’t have to be paranoid to protect yourself from identity theft when you make the decision to buy car insurance online. You just have to know what you’re looking for!
Statistics show that in 2008 over 10 million people were the victims of identity theft. Of those 10 million 11% were the result of identity theft using the Internet. 11% doesn’t sound like very much until you consider the fact that 11% of 10 million is 1,100,000 people. It might not be much, comparatively speaking, but you can guarantee those 1,000,000+ people would see things very, very differently!
You really don’t want to have to go back to shopping for car insurance the old fashioned way though. Being able to shop for car insurance online has helped shoppers shave days off the amount of time it takes them to find the policy they’re looking for. First you have to pick up the phone. Then you have to call another car insurance company. And another. And another. And another.
The process can take weeks if you’re trying to do it without any technological intervention. On the other hand, you can collect car insurance quotes from most of the major insurers in the country in less than a day if you take advantage of the opportunities to shop for car insurance online. But it’s up to you.
That doesn’t mean you have to go out there and make yourself a sitting duck for identity thieves all over the world. As a matter of fact, any insurance provider that doesn’t take the steps they need to take to keep your personal information safe probably isn’t one you want to be doing business with! The first thing you want to do when you’re checking out car insurance companies is check the web address you’re typing into.
Does it start with http or https? Https servers have taken some extra safety precautions to keep your personal information personal, private and for your eyes only. No identity thieves allowed! Http web addresses don’t have that extra level of encryption and are much more vulnerable.
If you still aren’t comfortable with the idea of handing out your social security number when you’re shopping for car insurance quotes online, relax. You probably don’t have to. Even though your insurance company is going to need your social security number and driver’s license number to make your car insurance quotes as accurate as possible they can give you a ballpark figure using your zip code and the basic information you give them about your car, your lifestyle and your insurance needs.
Since they don’t really need your personal information until it’s time to sign on the dotted line you can shop for car insurance quotes online safe in the knowledge that you’re not going to be the next victim of identity theft.Anthony M. Peck is the Senior Developer, Software Project Manager, and Director of Business Development for QuoteScout.com. For more information on keeping your identity safe while shopping for car insurance online visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.
Avoid the Credit Crunch Crime Wave
Hopefully you will have been lucky enough to escape a burglary in the past, however, recent statistics have shown that the chances of a burglary happening are increasing due to the current economic climate.
A Home Office report showed that the number of domestic break-ins rose by 4% between July and September 2008, which the Government is linking, to the recent economic downturn.
Whether you are a landlord or homeowner this problem could affect you especially if your property is unoccupied at present.
Here is a list of pointers to stop this happening to you:
Make sure the final exit doors of your property have secure locks preferably British standard 5 lever mortice deadlocks, and window locks fitted. Ensuring that the hinges, frames and glass panels are in good condition is also a good idea.
In addition to this it is important to make sure that these locks are used when you leave the property or retire for the night, a surprising amount of burglaries occur from the opportunist thief, who does not need to use force to gain entry. Crucially this will often mean that you will not be able to claim on your homeowner insurance or landlords insurance, as there is usually a condition that requires violent and forcible entry has to be made for a theft claim to be valid.
The above would also apply in the growing number of cases whereby thieves have gained access to a property by using hooks or magnets through letterboxes to get keys located near a door or window. Make sure keys are secure placed away from any easily accessible areas.
If you take a few simple precautions to protect your property it will make it harder for thieves to target you especially in these times of economic downturn.
If the worst should happen and you do become a victim of burglary you will have to make a detailed insurance claim. This is easier if you have a record of your possessions which enables you to list all your treasured belongings online so that you can access the information even if your computer is damaged or stolen.
Ensuring your property is adequately insured in the first place is also an important point. Making sure you have the appropriate insurance for your needs is key in making sure that should you have to make a claim, your insurance will be valid.
If your property is let to tenants or is unoccupied at present, this will usually mean that standard homeowner insurance will not be suitable for this type of property. It is important to have either landlord insurance, unoccupied property insurance or homeowner insurance on all your properties, depending on their status.Click4Quote offers landlord insurance and buy to let property insurance quotes including UK home property & holiday homes, annual travel insurance and policies for sailing & yachting.
The Problems Of Moped And Scooter Insurance
One of the more expensive types of motorbike insurances are scooter and moped insurance. They come in all shapes and sizes but range between 49cc and 125cc engines. They are defined as having a step through frame and come with an automatic twist and go gearbox.
Scooters and Mopeds can be ridden on a Full car licence passed before 31st January 2001 up to 50cc, and on a CBT for everything up to a 125cc engine.
To ride a Moped or Scooter you will normally first need to pass the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT), a simple day course teaching you all you need to know to ride your moped or scooter. You can normally obtain moped insurance to insure yourself on your own vehicle to pass this training, but normally use the test centres own scooters and mopeds.
The main problem with scooter and moped insurance, are thieves; these types of bike are the most likely to be stolen, which in turn increases the cost of insurance for everyone. Security on bikes can only do so much, but when the vehicle is lifted into a van, an alarm has no effect. In addition, a large majority of these vehicles have alternative starters, such as kick-starts, making the job for thieves even easier. This strengthens the importance of a brick built garage, and the discounts associated with your insurance.
Modifications can affect your insurance hugely due to the vehicles already being a high theft risk, a modified bike to either improve its looks or performance is only going to stand out to thieves even more than normal. A common modification is to de-restrict the bike, increasing its top speed from the manufacturers’ original design; this can have large effects on your moped insurance, even causing many insurers to refuse cover.
Mopeds and scooters tend to appeal to the younger riders aged 16 and upwards, mainly as it is a cheap form of transport for them, that does not require any training and is a good road experience for when they move on to a car. However, due to their age, this increases the cost of their insurance. This is why many young riders opt for Third party only cover to reduce the cost.
Another common use for these vehicles are riders who are looking to complete the knowledge on London roads. This is due to the traffic conditions in London, using a scooter can make getting around a lot faster. Your insurance may be affected slightly due to the increased mileage on the policy but not for using the vehicle for that purpose. Moreover, these vehicles are very economical, making the cost of the miles for the knowledge a lot cheaper than in a car, even with the increasing fuel costs.
Since the London congestion charge came into force on 17th February 2003, there has been an increase in all motorcycle insurance as these types of vehicle are exempt from the congestion charge, saving you on average 40 pounds a week. These vehicles are also excellent for commuting to and from work, whether it is city or country riding, they cut out the traffic and are very easy to park.
Although insurance seems cheaper due to the engine size of the scooter or moped, the risk of theft increases the insurance enough to make the policy more expensive than a normal motorcycle that may be faster on the road. However, the appeal comes from the fact that the training to ride a scooter is so cheap, and a lot quicker than a full test.Anna Stenning loves to ride motorbikes and has had plenty of past experience with moped insurance prices. For more information on motibike insurance click on to http://www.insureyourbike.com/
Why the Credit Crunch Has Made a Rise in Fraud
The credit crunch is a terrible time for anyone; a lot of people no longer feel secure in their homes, cars or jobs because it could all come crashing down in an instant. But things will get better and as time goes by we will see a much better economy un fold between our eyes.
But what a lot of people are doing is that they are panicking so much that they begin to look at ways of making quick money and doing things that are highly illegal. Recent research has shown us that the recession has caused an overwhelming rise in insurance fraud. Fraudulent claims are costing companies and economies millions of pounds, so what people are in fact doing is making things a whole lot worse. People believe that they can make a false claim and get reimbursed for it, but besides from being illegal the next time dishonest people go to do this you should think about the downsides, which are:
1) People make fraudulent claims because they believe they are going to get something for nothing, this is not the case, fraudulent household claims alone cost the industry over five hundred million pounds, and once you have milked these companies who do you think is going to bail them out? The government of course, with the tax payers and your money, so in the long run it is causing you a lot more hassle.
2) Again besides from being illegal there is the matter of actually living with the guilt when you have done it. Can you really sit there and watch your favourite TV program or drive a car that has been fraudulently claimed for?
3) Why lower your self just to get nice stuff? Has the world become that materialistic? The way you should live is if you can’t afford something then don’t buy it until you can.
Fraud is costing tax payers a huge amount of money and whoever is looking at committing these terrible acts should really think again. Especially now as fraud thieves are at their highest because of the credit crunch. So this mean insurers are cracking down on it a lot more as well. According to the ABI’s figures, the UK insurance industry pays out 59 million pounds a day in general insurance claims. This is a huge amount of money which can instead be used to be pumped back into an economy that is on its knees.For great Beach Resorts, Barbados Holidays and Honeymoons in Barbados
Moped, Insurance, License, They All Belong Together
The first thing you should do when you even start to think about buying a moped is start by checking the local laws. The next thing, after really buying the moped, is to go and license it as well. The money should not really be an issue because the insurance costs for mopeds is really low. And except for the cost the insurance doesn’t differ that much from a motorcycle one. You should check online, there you can find some good insurance deals for mopeds. Mopeds are liked by thieves as well as something they can sell very easily but for just a fraction of the cost you can insure yourself against it.
Getting some discount
You should have a good look around before you pick your moped insurance there are a lot of companies that are offering discounts and promos. Another thing to look for are insurances that will insure your accessories like saddlebags and other stuff for just a bit more per year. Being insured will give you a good feeling when you are cruising down the road. The money you pay for this kind of insurance is nothing compares to your car. And for such a low premium you get the best coverage.
Nowadays you can go online on the internet and ask for a quote at different companies. You will just have to fill out an online form to get a quote in you e-mail inbox or even directly on the web page. From the comfort of your own home as they say.
When you take out an insurance on your moped you will have to license it and that means you will have to pay that as well. But the thought of driving down the route without having to worry if what you do is legal or not should make up for that. There are some states where a teenager has to have insurance to even drive on the road. You can find insurances for as low as $100 so the price should not keep you from doing so.
When you are looking at companies that you can use you should be aware of the fact that there can be hidden costs, so always ask if the quote is covering everything and that there will not be any extra charges afterwards. Maybe ask your friends and family if they have any experience with the company you have an eye on or if they know any firm where they have their mopeds insured.
In the end it is always the best thing you could do, having a moped insurance. You never know what can happen on those roads these days and the thought that you are covered for any thing is a pleasant one. If you are ever involved in an accident there is a company you can fall back upon to handle all the legal affairs.
The best thing of course is to drive safely and to never have any cause or need to make use of your insurance.Frank Strider loves to talk about motorcycles and all the things related to it. Visit his website if you want to find out more about a very cheap bike insurance or maybe insurance for motor scooter.
Liverpool Loses Out With Car Insurance
Insurance broker, the AA, say rural areas, for example, the Scottish Highlands and Perth are the cheapest areas in which to insure a family car, and , the most expensive area now is Anfield in Liverpool; this title having been won from the M23 area of Manchester which was where the most expensive premiums were paid last year.
Specifically, it is the streets close to Everton and Liverpool football grounds that have postcodes starting with L6, which have seen car insurance premiums pushed up quite substantially. This will not come as a surprise to football supporters who have to park their cars in the area to go to matches. The opportunistic, local youngsters try and cash in on the situation and actually demand a minimum of 2 to keep an eye on a vehicle parked in the street during a match. But, if there services are declined the chances are the car will end up with a smashed window anyway when the supporter returns to it.
Merseyside police, however, are not totally in agreement with this. Car crime in the area was reported to have fallen by 41 percent and was not obviously any worse than any other urban areas.
The Director of the AA Neale Phillips says, “Cars are most likely to be stolen in parts of Liverpool, Manchester, London, Cardiff and Bristol and premiums reflect this, but stolen cars represent only about 12 percent of claims that insurers deal with.
He went on to say that in the more densely populated areas it is very likely that more cars are parked out in the streets and that alone increases risk to the vehicles, leaving them open to vandalism and attracting car thieves. There are a higher percentage of claims made in these areas but there is a huge variation in premiums in different postal areas even ones that are adjacent or not very far away from each other. One area where this is the case is in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne postal area. It has the highest and the lowest individual premiums throughout the UK.
Mr Phillips continued, Some inner-city postal sectors command premiums of 782 (also shared with parts of Leeds and Sunderland), four times more than the 192 in the Kielder Forest, which is only 40 miles away.
In a survey carried out by the AA it was found that to insure a Ford Focus in any part of the UK, not including Northern Ireland, that the average car insurance premium increased by 9 pounds to around 369 pounds this has been the lowest increase for 8 years. However, London proved to be the most expensive average geographic area for car premiums at 522 pounds, up 26 pounds on the previous year.
On the whole people who live in the inner-cities, pay on average, up to three times more to insure a standard family car than those living in rural areas and in Scotland they pay the lowest premiums of all.
The AA said that last year in East Anglia, the South East, the Midlands and Wales, premiums were less than the previous year.Get great deals on Car insurance from The Car insurance Store. Please visit our site for helpful articles on Car Insurance. Visit Brokers Online to benefit from its extensive article library covering most areas of uk finance.They also offer Car Insurance Quotes, Life Insurance Quotes and much much more all online.
Are You Really the Patient? Medical Identity Theft Facts You Didn’t Know
The public has become more armed against the threats of identity theft. While identity thieves can steal individuals money, ruin their good credit and cause years of aggravation and stress, an alternative form of identity theft, medical identity theft, can actually threaten lives.
Medical identity thieves steal and misuse other peoples personal information including their name and insurance card account numbers without the persons consent and usually without their knowledge.
The Scary Truth about Medical Identity Theft
Your medical and insurance records follow you and when false information is added to your medical records, you can be at risk when you are treated in the future. Doctors may make decisions about your treatment and medications based on a fictitious medical history and this can put your health at risk. Not to mention that the insurance companies will have noted false pre-existing conditions.
As more and more medical communities rely on electronic records, the information is more likely to follow you on a larger scale and some believe this trend makes it easier more medical records to be compromised.
What can a thief do with your medical identity?
Medical identity thieves may use other peoples information to obtain medical care, prescription items or to make fraudulent medical claims.
A medical identity thief without insurance who wants a surgery or prescription drugs can use your information, get what they want and leave knowing you and your insurance company will get the bills.
Some medical identity thieves are motivated purely by money. Thieves can collect large amounts of money, even millions of dollars, by making these false medical claims.
Dont Ignore a Medical Billing or Insurance Statements
Dont assume a medical bill or insurance statement for services you didnt get is just a mistake. It could be the first sign that someone has stolen your medical identity.
Joe Ryan, a Colorado resident, got a hospital bill for over $40,000 for surgeries and treatments he never received. This wasnt a billing error. An ex-con had used Ryans medical identity to check into the hospital and obtain extensive medical care. Two years later, Ryan was still trying to undo the damage to his medical records.
You may not learn about a medical identity theft from a bill. Brandon Reagan, who stationed in California, learned that his medical identity had been stolen and used in South Carolina when his mother called and told him he was the lead suspect in a car theft. Reagan had lost his wallet in South Carolina and a thief used his military i.d. and license to test drive cars and then steal them. In addition to getting Ryan on a wanted list, the thief also used Ryans medical identity to go the hospital on several occasions to get treatment for injuries and kidney stones. The medical bills were close to $20,000.
Even though the identity thief was finally arrested, Reagan was left with a nightmare. His medical records in South Carolina were full of false information and his tax refund check was withheld due to the unpaid hospital bills still in his name.
Sketchy Law and Statistics on Medical Identity Theft:
Laws dealing with medical identity theft are still not thorough or consistent from state to state. Many Federal laws that were intended to protect confidentiality actually make it more difficult for you to access and correct your own medical records. Wide scale investigations into medical identity theft are just beginning but in 2005 there were over 8 million victims of identity theft and three percent, 249,000 of those involved medical identity theft.
Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum warns, “Medical identity theft causes terrible harm, both financial and physical.”
How can you protect yourself from medical identity theft?
- Get a copy of your medical records for comparison in case they are compromised in the future.
- Annually request a list of payments made for your medical services from your insurance company.
- Review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) as they are provided by your insurance carrier to determine their accuracy.
- Check your credit report at least once a year for any unusual unpaid charges.
- Research and report any suspicious medical bill or insurance statements.
Protecting your identity is more important than ever. Its not just your money, time and credit that could be at risk if your medical identity is stolen, your health could be at risk as well.Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and protection. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog.
How To Reduce The Amount You Spend On Insurance
In the present economic climate people are looking to cut back on their monthly outgoings and one of those that may be over-looked is unnecessary insurance.
By law we must have motor insurance but that is the only compulsory insurance and ideally it is wise to be insured for all eventualities, but, when times are hard they are not essential.
Firstly, think about losing mobile phone cover as a cheap replacement will cost little more than a monthly payment on a premium. Also, it may be covered on your home contents insurance, however, separate mobile phone insurance will cover any extortionate bills run up by thieves, but this could be considered a small risk. If you put the cost of the premium into a savings account you would be better off.
If you are single and have no spouse or dependants Life insurance is not relevant. A spokesman from Evolve Financial Planning says, ‘I come across clients all the time who have been sold life insurance alongside their mortgage when they don’t need it. If they die, the house will just be sold by the mortgage lender. Even if you like the idea of leaving something to a brother or sister, for example, most employers offer death-in-service benefits of four times’ salary (saving you the bother of life cover). The trouble is these free death-in-service benefits are often very poorly communicated.’
Life insurance for a young, fit person would cost about 10 pounds per month for 100 – 200 thousand pounds worth of cover and over the term of a 25 year mortgage this amounts to 3,000 pounds which could have worked hard in a high-interest savings account. For couples without children it is worth considering just covering the highest earner or a cheaper joint policy which will pay out on the first death.
It is more likely that a person would be unable to work temporarily due to accident, illness or job loss which is why Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI) is popular. Typically, it is priced per 100 pounds worth of cover; generally around 5 pounds per 100 pounds making a modest 1,000 pound per month mortgage cost 50 pounds per month in MPPI insurance.
Be warned – mortgage cover and Payment Protection Insurance (PPI), which is similar but covers other debts like HP and loan payments, are notorious for not paying out due to small exclusions including pre-existing conditions and back or stress-related problems (the most common reasons for absence from work). They tend to defer payment initially so you have to find the money in the first 30 – 60 days and then pay out for 12 months.
It is said that, if you are young and healthy, income protection is usually cheaper than MPPI as well as more comprehensive and will potentially pay out until you retire, as opposed to just between one or two years.
The spokesman from Evolve Financial Planning, says many people qualify for income protection through their employer for up to 75 per cent of their salary less state benefits until they retire or go back to work but it is taxable.
At any time of life it is wise to protect against terminal illness but critical illness policies are expensive and most people do not need both income protection and critical illness cover.
One type of cover that should never be compromised on is home contents; it is far too risky and you could face financial ruin if your house is destroyed by subsidence, flooding or fire.Brokers Online Life Assurance is a fantastic financial web site, offering information and articles about Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance , Income Protection Insurance, Redundancy Insurance and many many more Insurance products
Is Cheaper Home Insurance Better?
Your home at some point during its lifetime will experience some kind of damage, whether it is from the natural elements or vandalism are capable of straining your finances to the limit.
With life’s unpredictability we are taught that we should be prepared for anything. Your home may not always be under the threat of natural disaster but willful damage from thieves or fire. Protecting your property simply involves organizing a homeowners insurance policy with an insurance company which in return for your regular commitment will pay out a promised amount per your policy agreement.
House insurance can help safeguard against many unforeseeable circumstances including; fire, flooding, willful damage to property and burglary to the more routine things like the freezer breaking and spoiling all the food it holds. Almost every home insurance policy will hold a deductible which you need to remember but should you ever need completely rebuild or re-place your home or its contents is only a small sacrifice to make.
The internet has given way to a whole new class of insurers that can supply homeowners insurance to cover damage or loss of personal property even though they are not tied to a physical office which cuts down the time it takes to approve your home insurance policy.
Getting as many quotes as you can simple and easy and afford you the opportunity to get as many quotes to compare as you like, a luxury not available in the past.
Shopping for the best insurance policy has never been more within your reach and it is a great way to truly ensure you get the best deal for your situation. The cost of cover should not be your sole focus because if you were to base the best deal you can get upon price alone you are not going to be insured for everything you hope to be, for example being fully insured for house is only half your goal, you also want to be insured for contents as well. So make you know exactly what your policy covers. The last thing you want to be faced with is having to rebuild your home
and finding yourself having to re furnish you home with your own money because you were not covered for contents as well.
Read the fine print before you commit to a home insurance policy or upgrade your current one to include contents if you have not done so already.
There is no grounds why you should not be able to get a plan that suits your budget and if budget is an issue for you, you can reduce your monthly insurance premiums by raising your deductible limit, often by as much as two or three times the amount on the policy so is definitely worth considering.
Replacing personal and household possessions requires a policy that will pay for new replacements and not pay out on the original cost of the products.
If you do not want to shop for replacements at your local thrift shop at the value you were paid out at, you will need to consider having a ‘replacement value’ policy.
The value of each persons home is not just the building replacement but also the possessions, or contents and other important pieces that may have taken years to accumulate. It’s advisable to get as many of your possessions covered as possible in your homeowners insurance policy so quite simply, whatever is precious should be insured.To get the best quote available to you, make sure you know exactly what you are being covered for. If you would like to get cost comparative quotes that suit your situation, then please go here to get: Best Quote For You