These days our lives are rich with data downloaded from the internet. No longer is your home overrun with a CD’s, DVD and paperbacks but instead all stored on various gadgets including laptops, computers and mobile phones.
Research done by swiftcover.com has discovered that 42% percent of all digital content in the UK is uninsured. Spending an average of £453 each on gadgets and downloads, there a huge £300 million worth of music, video and video games that goes uninsured each year.
James Barclay, home underwriting manager at swiftcover.com, said: “It’s staggering that we take downloading content for granted these days without a second thought for its monetary worth. Clearly it’s important to recognise how much gadgets such as PCs, laptops and MP3s are worth however people should not ignore digital assets such as music, videos or even e-books, as they often have a substantial value.”
With all this digital content now being downloaded and stored on PCs, Laptops and Mobile phones, it would be beneficial for anybody spending a lot of time and money on downloads to think about insuring their digital content. Even though some download sites may let you re-download a certain amount of content, the cost of replacing your entire collection could prove to be an unnecessary expense.
With swiftcover.com home insurance you get £500 cover free for your digital downloads.
November 18th, 2010
New research has revealed that more than half (54%) of motor insurance policy holders in the UK feel less safe when driving in the winter.
Despite this, research from Tyresafe found that almost a fifth of Brits don’t make any changes to their vehicle in order to help them cope with adverse driving conditions during the winter months.
There are many ways to make your journey a safe and pleasant one but by applying just a few simple changes, you can avoid being stranded by the roadside.
Firstly make sure your vehicle is up-to-date with its service and that you have antifreeze in the radiator. Antifreeze costs only a few pounds but can save you hundreds of pounds by stopping your engine from freezing. Try a mixture of half antifreeze and half water and this should give you protection down to very low temperatures.
Make sure your battery is reliable. If its not, change it. The average car battery lasts around five years but with an increased need for heating and windscreen wipers, your battery will have to work a lot harder. If you don’t need to use your electrics then try not to and be sure to turn off the rear window heating as soon as your rear window is clear.
Check your lights are clean and that they are all working. It’s always worth having a few spare bulbs in the car, just in case.
It’s important to make sure your tyres are in good condition too with at least 3mm of tread. Check your tyre pressure and make sure you have a car jack and a wheel brace in the car. It would also be worth learning how to change a wheel if you don’t already know how.
It’s not always possible, but by leaving 5 minutes to get the car prepared for your journey can be a real benefit. Giving your car a chance to warm up will not only make it run better but will also help clear your windscreen of any ice or snow, giving you good visibility on the road.
Don’t forget to keep your mobile phone fully charged and make sure you stay up-to-date with travel and weather news so you know exactly what to expect.
Highways Agency has loads more tips and advice on driving safely this winter.
November 12th, 2010
Ministers are considering plans to introduce a ‘graduate licence’ scheme under which learner drivers will need to drive under supervision for at least 12 months, and they could be restricted from driving at night. swiftcover.com has said that if this scheme was introduced we could see insurance premiums for younger drivers reduce by at least 10%.
Younger drivers tend to pay higher premiums for their car insurance as they are the riskiest drivers on the road. The Daily Mail recently reported that 1000 people a year are killed in crashes involving drivers aged 17 – 25
Craig Staniland, underwriting director for swiftcover.com “Introducing a scheme that would limit the time young and newly qualified drivers spend on the road, particular during potentially dangerous periods such as at night, would enable teenaged drivers to get valuable road experience under safer conditions and help instil a great sense of responsibility and safety. If this also cuts the number of road accidents involving young people, not only would it save lives it would also bring down the cost of insurance premiums for younger drivers.”
November 9th, 2010
A father and son recently launched an iphone and an HD video camera into space using a weather balloon. After months of research and testing, they launched the balloon from Newburgh, New York and it floated up into the upper stratosphere, where they were able to film the earth below. It survived winds of 100mph and temperatures of -60 degrees, and when it eventually burst a parachute was deployed and it sank back down to earth. They then used the iPhone to track where it had landed and they found it only 30 miles from where they launched it.
Click here to take a look at the breathtaking video of their quest.
October 21st, 2010
People lying about their claims history when buying insurance costs up to £1 million each year in lost premiums, and many of those who lie will go on and attempt to make fraudulent claims. The unfairness of it all is that law abiding drivers are the ones who end up paying higher premiums to subsidise people who lie.
But swiftcover.com is now using a new system which will automatically check the claims history of motor insurance applicants. The system will be able to compare the claims disclosed with a database holding the details of 22 million drivers, so if the amount of claims disclosed does not match the details on the database then they will be asked to check that their application is correct.
Steve Gaywood, swiftcover.com’s Counter Fraud and Compliance Manager, explained
“It is not fair that safe, law-abiding drivers should pay higher premiums to subsidise people who lie about their previous claims to get cheaper insurance. swiftcover.com’s new check will help us identify people that have not fully disclosed their claims history and ensure that they are charged the appropriate price for their insurance.”
This new system will help keep insurance costs lower for drivers who are open and truthful about their claims history.
October 4th, 2010
Research from car manufacturer SEAT, has found that on average couples start arguing just 22 minutes into a car journey. Directions and getting lost are the biggest causes of disagreements followed by finding a parking spot, driving too quickly and driving too close to other cars.
Some arguments are so bad that one in ten people say they have led to them separating. Some stop the car and refuse to drive further with their partner in the car, and some partners get out of the car and choose to walk home. A SEAT spokesman said:
Many journeys can be stressful if you get caught up in traffic or can’t find your way. But it seems much of the stress is caused by our own partner when we are behind the wheel. An agitated driver is much more likely to lose concentration and have a prang.
September 29th, 2010
The number of car insurance scams is on the rise. The insurance fraud bureau estimated that around 30000 accidents were staged last year, costing insurance companies millions.
According to the Guardian, Birmingham is now the UK’s top fraud hotspot. Fraudsters usually brake suddenly on a clear road or on a roundabout causing the driver behind them to crash into the back of their car. The fraudster ends up claiming for personal injury and for the car damage, and it often looks like the innocent person who crashed into the back of them is at fault. The fraudsters tend to target single mums or the elderly who are less likely to cause any issues.
Police and insurance companies are continually investigating insurance scams and aiming to cut down the amount of fraudulent claims.
Click here to watch BBC’s recent documentary on crash for cash claims.
September 10th, 2010
There is now a new way to help slow down speeding motorists and it’s an environmentally friendly way too.
A scheme in the village of Martham recently revealed that speeding can be reduced by planting trees. Rows of trees and hedges were planted along side the road in the village to create a more crowded effect, and as a result the average speed of drivers reduced by two or three miles per hour.
Mike Huke, Chairman of Martham Parish Council said:
I would say the whole thing is first class and has been a double bonus for Martham. Not only has it reduced speeding it has softened the landscape and has attracted more wildlife.
September 9th, 2010
These days you can save time and make life easier by using the latest technologies such as the internet. According to swiftcover.com seven out of ten people are now doing their banking and setting up their insurance online, whilst four out of ten people are doing their shopping via the internet. However there are still those things which people find a waste of time.
According to car insurer swiftcover.com these are the UK’s biggest wastes of time:
• 29% of people said commuting to and from work
• 26% of people said telephone sales callers
• 25% said doing chores or the housework
• 23% said long queues in shops were the biggest waste of time
• 16% said doing paperwork, i.e. banking, filling out forms etc
• 14% cited slow drivers as the biggest waste of time
Tina Shortle, marketing director for swiftcover.com, said:
We live in a fast-paced world where we want things to happen immediately and demand instant gratification, which is why the growth of online retailing has been so quick – the internet is fast, simple and convenient, letting us decide what we want to buy and when we want to buy it.
August 4th, 2010
swiftcover.com won the Marketing Initiative of the year award at the 2010 British insurance awards for the success of the Iggy Pop marketing campaign. The awards were held at the Royal Albert Hall.
The innovative, multi-strand marketing campaign incorporating both digital and traditional strategies helped increase sales by 38.5% in 2009 and increase brand awareness by 90%.
Marketing director Tina Shortle explained how great it was to win the award:
It is great to win such a coveted award, particularly one that is chosen by our peers and key figures in the insurance industry. We are also pleased that the award acknowledges the work we are doing to engage with the public, both our existing policy holders and potential customers. swiftcover.com believes that building stronger relationships with consumers is vital for a successful insurance market.
August 2nd, 2010
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