Your Guide To UK Home Insurance

Home owner insurance is and essential form of protection for every homeowner around the world, regardless of where they happen to live. Some countries' insurance provisions are far stronger than others though. The UK home insurance standard is higher than most and provides individuals with great property protection from the moment the home building and contents insurance UK policies come into force. There are some key pieces of information that you need to know before you take out a UK home insurance policy though.

In this day and age, high street lenders and banks have to diversify in order to keep profit margins high and ensure that they retain customers year after year. As a result, both banks and specialist insurance companies routinely provide UK home insurance. Banks that provide UK home insurance actually sell it as their own product but have specialist insurance companies behind the cover so that your bank based home owner insurance policy is just as good as those offered by said companies.

Unlike some other countries that require you to undergo a credit check before they approve your home owner insurance application, UK home insurance and finance regulations state that this is not necessary to obtain a basic home insurance policy in the UK. The Financial Services Authority, the regulating body of UK home insurance, has stated that treating customers fairly is a must for all financial institutions and that discriminating on the basis of credit history is unfair. Everyone should have the right to basic protection and therefore home building and contents insurance UK companies only take the actual address into consideration.

An address can reveal so much about the house. It is actually run through a database packed full of information about every location in the UK. The database can reveal the housing band, type of area, surrounding environmental elements and so on. Your quote is then based on that information as well as any other questions that you may be asked.

UK home insurance providers do not usually insure properties outside of the UK as a matter of principle. They cannot control factors outside of their own company and would have no way of monitoring and verifying claims. If you are purchasing property in the UK but currently reside abroad then it is possible to set up home owner insurance to commence on your arrival in your new home though. However, this does require special provisions that an insurance company can discuss further with you.

UK home insurance is a lot more comprehensive and simpler in nature than a lot of other countries' insurance. The system and its regulating body have been designed specifically to benefit the consumer as well as make a profit. The claims process is generally simpler too so there can be no excuse for not protecting your property there!

You can also find more info on file home insurance claim and Home Contents Insurance. Homeowners-insurance-help.com is a comprehensive resource to get help about home insurance.

Quick And Easy Guide To Cheap Car Insurance Quotes

Vehicle, truck, auto or car insurance is something everyone who drives a vehicle has to have but many people end up paying too much for their auto insurance and they'll never know they're doing so. Saving money on your car insurance is one of the easiest things you can do and often is one of the most overlooked ways to free up more money for your household expenses or other necessities. There are many things to consider when you're looking for free, cheap car insurance quotes online between the many car or auto insurance companies in business today. Spending a little time researching online will pay off in huge discounts and lower or cheaper car insurance quotes, rates or prices.

You also may want to consider the longevity you have with your current company, especially if you have a good driving record. It's good to know this just in case the length of your insurance coverage plays a part in the rates you have now or other variables in your policy that might be different and more valuable to you than with a new company -- even at a lower or cheaper rate. Keep in mind that insurance companies do change their rates now and then so the quote you got yesterday may not be good today. Many insurance companies will offer lower or cheaper auto insurance rates or more affordable rates than others with the same or similar type of policies.

Auto or car insurance rates and the quotes from different companies are rarely identical; there are many variables in the plans. Of course if you're already insured now you can choose to stay with your present auto insurance company but low cost or cheaper rates may be a good reason to switch to another insurance company. You will definitely want to compare insurance policy features. Make sure to compare the wide range of deductibles that are offered and compare the level of coverage they provide. This can vary a lot.

If you don't have a good driving record you may not be able to get the deductible you'd like, so make a good attempt to focus on turning your driving record around to lower your insurance costs. Several car insurance policies or plans rely on a reasonable estimation of the average annual distance that is expected to be driven. This is provided by the insured. This discount really benefits drivers who drive their cars infrequently. Most of the single line and multiple line companies offer good discounts and other great benefits to the policyholder for carrying multiple car insurance policies and other lines of insurance when in the same household.

If you've always been with the same insurance company, don't just assume you're getting the best rate. Make sure to compare features and compare the quick quotes you can get online from other companies. Generally insurance premiums tend to become cheaper at about the age of 25. You can easily visit insurance company websites and get the free cheap car insurance quotes in just minutes. You'll need to give them some basic information about your car insurance history, your current situation and what your needs are in terms of your policy.

Now if you haven't had any accidents that were your fault and you're a good driver, consider getting a higher deductible so you would pay out a larger sum of money in the event you have an accident that is your fault but still save a lot on your insurance premium. You can also find car insurance companies that offer discounts for good driving.

If you're over 50 years of age, you and your spouse, if you have one, can become members of the American Association of Retired People (AARP) for only $12.50 a year if you are US residents. They deeply discount insurance and are currently affiliated with just one insurance company, thus able to give you a good online cheap car insurance quote. You want to compare, compare and compare the cheap car insurance quotes that you do get for the cheapest; some may be similar but some quotes could be quite different.

Get as many online car insurance quotes as you can find time for and you should be able to come up with some of the best, free, online, cheap car insurance quotes available today. These are just a few of the best tips that can help you save money on your auto insurance and give you an idea what to ask and look for when you're trying to get a cheap car insurance quote.

Save money with free online cheap car insurance quotes and for finding the best auto insurance online visit http://www.Cheap-Car-Insurance-Quotes.info a popular website specializing in cheap car insurance advice, resources and auto insurance discounts including tips on how to save money on your car insurance quotes

Home Buyers Essential Guide to Home Insurance

For many of us, our home represents the single largest investment we will ever make. One of the best ways to protect that investment is through the purchase of homeowners insurance. The problem is that many of us don't truly understand how a homeowners insurance policy works and exactly what our insurance policy will cover should a disaster strike. Rest assured, the home buyers essential guide will outline the facts you need to know about insuring your home.

What am I covered for? Generally, all home insurance policies cover two main areas; Property and liability. Property insurance includes your house and any detached structure located on your premises such as a shed or garage. Your family's personal items and contents are covered whether damaged in your home, car, or temporarily away from your residence. Valuables such as art, jewelry and paintings may require additional coverage. Ask your broker if supplementary coverage is needed.

Liability insurance is the second major component of your homeowner's policy. If deemed responsible, this section will cover negligent acts you commit, anywhere in the world, which cause harm to others.

What situations am I protected against? Home insurance policies can vary slightly, but most cover damages to the structure of your home and your personal contents caused by: · Fire, Lightning or Smoke · Explosions · Lightning · Riot or civil commotion · Impact by aircraft or land vehicles · Theft or Vandalism · Falling Objects · Freezing of pipes

How do I choose the right policy for my home? The following coverage definitions of home insurance policies will help you understand and determine your current coverage:

Dwelling Building: Covers your house, attached structures, and permanent fixtures in the home, such as a dishwasher or air conditioning systems. The dollar amount of coverage listed should equal the cost to rebuild your home if a disaster occurred.

Detached Structures: Insures any structure that is not permanently attached to your main residence. Coverage extends to your fence, driveway, trees and shrubs.

Personal Property: This section provides insurance for all the personal property you and your family owns. Coverage for your personal contents is guaranteed no matter where you are in the world.

Additional Living Expenses: Should your home be unlivable due to an unforeseen event such as a fire, this section covers living expenses if you can not live in your home while repairs are undertaken.

What insurance options do I have? Home insurance policies usually come in three forms. The Basic homeowner's package is ideal for individuals looking to save a little bit of cash. This package provides coverage for your house, contents and liability. Basic home insurance provides coverage on a named perils basis.

If the basic homeowners coverage seems inadequate, you can upgrade to the Broad homeowners package. This policy provides all risk insurance coverage to your home and named perils coverage to your contents. This package is priced in the mid-level range.

The most inclusive home insurance package is titled Comprehensive homeowners. This policy provides all risk insurance coverage to your home and contents. Review the policy wordings as there are certain situations or exclusions under all risk insurance

Obtaining enough insurance coverage for your home is the only way to protect your most valuable asset. Your local broker is the best source for all your home insurance needs and questions. Make sure you understand what you are buying. It's important to know who or what is covered, exclusions and policy limitations, how much coverage is provided and how to report a loss or claim. Remember to not confuse what you paid for your house with rebuilding costs. Insurance does not cover market value or the land.

Lee Romanov is the founder and president of The InsuranceHotline.com, since 1994. InsuranceHotline.com provides a rate comparison service for auto, home, life and commercial insurance via the internet, now processing over 3,000 quotes a day, internationally. Get Instant Auto & Car Insurance Quotes here.

A Consumers Guide to Financial Advice

Financial advice in the UK is provided to you by an authorised adviser to consider your financial needs and circumstances and recommend products to meet these needs.

All regulated financial advisers are authorised to give advice by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) which includes advice and recommendations on;

Mortgages;

General insurance; and

Protection insurance

Receipt of financial advice can take many forms including telephone, e-mail and correspondence, but more often than not is in the form of a face to face interview with an adviser. Whichever of the above mediums you choose to receive your advice one common factor should be apparent and that is the gathering of sufficient detailed information to enable an accurate and relevant recommendation to be made.

In all circumstances it is the adviser's duty to only recommend a product or service that is relevant to your needs.

It is of course possible to purchase products or services without having to receive advice However, as a consequence it is up to you the customer, to decide whether the product or service you are purchasing meets your needs. It is also worth bearing in mind that your rights of complaint should you purchase financial products or services yourself are diminished should the product not turn out to be what you expected.

Different firms will give different advice on product types but broadly firms will offer products from either the whole of the market, single product provider or a grouping of product providers.

This all sounds rather complicated?

As mentioned earlier all regulated firms and advisers have to follow strict guidelines laid down by the FSA regarding the provision of advice. This is ultimately to protect you the consumer and to ensure you are given accurate, fair and relevant advice.

At the beginning of any interview you will be provided with information by the adviser to quantify his status and what products and services he or she can offer you. You will also be provided with a 'Keyfacts' document which will further detail the services provided. These items should provide you with enough information to be confident around the services provided, if you are unsure do ask.

It is always a good idea to have a think about your own financial situation prior to meeting with your adviser. Questions you can ask yourself before for example;

What are your aspirations for the future?

Do you have any borrowing under control?

Do you have any family protection in place?

Do you have funds available should an emergency arise?

How do you feel about retirement?

Following your information gathering interview with your adviser he or she will take account of your responses to the above questions and many more details obtained, to arrive at a suitable suite of recommendations to meet your identified needs.

It is then adviser's responsibility to recommend solutions in the form of policies to cater for these needs - remember though, in an ideal world we would all like to be fully protected and save lots of our hard earned cash for a rainy day or retirement but this is not always possible.

Therefore, prioritise if you have to and ask your adviser based upon your budget what are the most pressing needs which need to be addressed now. You relationship with your adviser should not be a one off but a continual progressive relationship whereby you can agree to cater for and meet your needs, on an ongoing basis.

Jonathan Grigson has been involved in the Insurance industry for over 15 years and is a respected industry commentator. He is a regular contributor of Insurance related articles and is a regular publisher at UK Insurance Information

A guide to loan payment protection insurance

Loan payment protection insurance can be taken out at the time of borrowing, lenders will in fact try to push the cover with their loans to grab back profits and make up for the cheap loan. Of course this is one of the dearest ways of protecting the money you are borrowing against the fact that you might be unable to work due to an accident or sickness. It would also provide you with an income if you should become unemployed due to redundancy.

So when taking on a loan or credit card always make sure that you choose to cover the borrowing by buying it independently. High street lenders at one point would sometimes add cover onto the borrowing without you being aware of what you were taking on. However for the most part this has changed since the intervention by the Financial Services Authority. It is always worthwhile making sure that it hasn't been added onto the loan you are taking out.

Policies taken with a standalone provider are one of the cheapest ways to protect your borrowing and in order to get the cheapest loan payment protection insurance quote you have to compare with several providers. The premium that is charged for the protection is based on the amount that you wish to cover each month up to a certain amount and your age. Age based insurance makes payment protection products affordable for all. The amount you insure against is what you would receive if you should become incapacitated or unemployed. You can protect not only your loan repayments but also any credit card debts you have. As more and more people turn to using "plastic" to get by, covering your borrowings is essential.

When the policy would payout and for how long would all depend on the provider you chose to go with. Therefore it is essential to read the small print of the policy before taking it out. Some providers will offer a policy that begins paying out a tax-free sum after just 30 days. However some will defer paying out on the policy until you have at least been out of work or unemployed for 90 days. The same applies as to how long the cover would last. There are policies that could payout for 12 months and some providers offer cover lasting up to 24 months. You also have to look at the exclusions as there are some in all policies and how many depends on the provider.

Loan payment protection insurance is valuable as if you cannot maintain your repayments and get behind and into debt then at the very least you would see your credit rating affected. In the worse cases you would be given a County Curt Judgement and bailiffs may be sent to recover what you owed through your belongings. Of course with a loan payment protection plan behind you, you would not have this worry and would be able to continue meeting your repayments. This alone would give you peace of mind and at a time when you need to be concentrating on making a recovery or going out and finding work, it is a lifeline.

Simon Burgess is Managing Director of the award-winning British Insurance, a specialist provider of loan payment protection insurance.

A Guide to Insurance Claims

The worst part about accidents is that they happen when you least expect them. Not only do you have to deal with the physical injuries and mental trauma but also you have to make sense of the complicated process of filing an insurance claim.

Golden Rule of Insurance Claims

Cases of fraudulent insurance claims are rising. To cut down on such claims, insurance companies are adopting new practices such as using lie detectors while claimants give their statements. Moreover, they will try their best to reduce the compensation amount they owe their customers by rejecting claims on flimsy grounds such as not producing the necessary documents. While filing a claim, the golden rule is to provide detailed information to insurers. Document all information related to the accident.

Before an Accident

Being prepared isn't just a scout's motto. It can help a lot while filing insurance claims. Keep a first-aid box in your car at all times. Always keep a pen and notebook in your vehicle just in case you need to jot down details of an accident such as:

* Contact information of all the people involved in the accident including witnesses, if any

* Details of the vehicles involved such as car make, registration number, etc.

* Time and date of the accident

* Damages to both vehicles (for example, broken windows)

* Details of the accident or how it happened. Draw a diagram to show what happened.

* Factors that could possibly influence the accident (street lighting, weather, visibility)

* Insurance company and policy number

Mention any other details that are relevant to the accident and may affect your claim. Use a camera to take photos of the accident site, serving as useful evidence for insurance claims.

What do I do after an accident?

* The first thing to do is don't panic. While it will be difficult to stay calm after a traumatic experience, fight the urge to run away. Running away from the accident scene is illegal and will only weaken your insurance claim even if you were not at fault.

* Call an ambulance if someone is injured. Get a doctor to examine you and document all your injuries in a medical report. If required, see a specialist.

* Call the police. NEVER assume liability for the accident until you speak to an experienced solicitor.

* Save all your bills and letters related to the accident.

* File a claim with the help of a accident solicitor.

* Be honest at all times with the insurer. Providing incorrect information can lead to rejection of your insurance claim.

Diana Joseph has an in-depth knowledge in dealing with in injury claims. She has written numerous articles on injury claims issues, particularly those involving car accident and other topics of claims. Please contact her for further information on claims related issues.