May 02

Author : Paul HeadleyLow cost insurance is offered by many different insurance companies However, low cost does not always mean that your van courier service will be adequately or legally covered

Courier vans driving on public roads in the UK have to be covered by appropriate van courier insurance; this usually means it has to include Goods In Transit cover

Any goods which are transported or carried for payment or reward need to be insured There are three different types of Goods In Transit insurance which are offered by the majority of insurance companies

The basic level is a ’single package’ cover Meaning exactly what it says, only one packet is covered for the time it is onboard the van

The next level is cover for each individual vehicle This may be very useful for those who have a fleet of vehicles, particularly if you regularly carry dangerous goods

By restricting the transportation of dangerous goods to one vehicle means that the vehicle can be insured appropriately - While the remainder of the fleet can be insured at a lower premium If this type of scenario applies to your business it is advisable to speak with the courier van insurance company to discuss the options available

A further option of having each consignment is also available from many insurance companies The cover can be short term to provide insurance cover for the duration which the consignment is onboard Check with the insurers to see whether they offer this option

Having a 100% All Risks cover included within the Goods In Transit option will provide cover should the goods be stolen or damaged while they are in transit and cover should the goods be damaged which is caused by an accident while they are in transit

All risks options are not generally included with a Goods In Transit policy they are counted as optional extras for which additional costs will be incurred due to the higher amount of cover they provide This type of option usually comes with strict restrictions and exemptions It is therefore wise to discuss exactly what is and isn’t covered and read the schedule and policy very carefully when it arrives

In order to provide appropriate cover the insurance company will need to be informed of the type of goods you will be carrying If you have been given an undisclosed parcel, packet or consignment it is your responsibility to inform the insurance company

Failure to do so may make your insurance invalid or may mean that should you need to make a claim goods which are considered ‘target goods’, those which are a greater risk of being stolen such as electrical goods and computer parts, you will only receive 50% of their value

All goods leaving the country will have to have an export declaration There are very strict controls as to the type of goods which can be taken abroad Speak with the courier insurance consultants if you are in any doubt as to whether the goods can legally be transported out of the country Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for
courier insurance

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Apr 28

Author : Graham McKenzieInsurance is not required by law in South Africa Given this fact, most South Africans choose to save a little bit of money and go without the insurance In the long run, however, this has proven to be a very costly mistake

Financial institutions can teach us much in relation to the importance of insurance Banks normally ask for motor vehicle insurance before they grant your car loan They also demand homeowners insurance and at times even life insurance before approving a home loan This shields the banks from incurring losses in case your property is lost, stolen, or destroyed or if you happen to die You are also covered because your insurance will help to compensate the bank if you ever happen to be in the above named situations

Armed with this knowledge, wouldn’t it then make sens to protect your assets, even if the bank doesn’t require you to? The decision to not obtain insurance coverage for your assets is a big one Take a look at these common types of insurance and see if any of them would be of interest to you

A good number of South Africans do not take advantage of all their insurance options, with life insurance being the leader While many of us know that decreasing term life insurance is linked to things like home loans, it can provide more for you then paying off debt Life insurance can maintain the standard of living for your family in the event of your passing by providing your beneficiary the payout of the policy Obtaining the proper life insurance will ensure your family has security

South Africa is a leader in providing life insurance for people with HIV/AIDS Thanks to the growing success of the treatment of this disease, South Africa is now one of two countries in the world where people with HIV/AIDS can purchase insurance cover

When it comes to car insurance, South Africa does not require divers to purchase car insurance to drive, and approximately 65 percent of auto owners do not have any coverage But one hard look at the risks you take when you drive will convince a responsible driver of the necessity of car insurance cover Accidents, hijackings and thefts occur every day If you cannot afford to pay out of your own pocket to repair or replace damaged property, medical expenses or property damage caused by theft or fire, you should have car insurance A Comprehensive Cover policy will protect you in all of these situations

For Home owners, you are most likely to have the homeowners insurance cover But, if you lease, consider renters insurance which protects your belongings in case of theft, fire and other property damage You can also add voluntary excess amounts and security devices to lower your premiums for these policies For Homeowners, whatever the case, do not include the value of your land during estimation of your homes value The land will still be there no matter what happens to your home

You might think that insurance is an unnecessary expense It may seem so, but what would you do if you had to pay to have your or another person’s car replaced following an accident? Just think about how hard it would be for your family to get by if you were to die suddenly This type of thing happens to people every day, but you and your family don’t have to be among them Don’t wait any longer, start looking for the insurance you and your family need to be safe

Knowing this, doesnt it make sense to protect yourself without the bank requiring you to do it? If youve made the choice not to insure your property, or yourself, take a moment to review the most common types of insurance and their benefits Graham McKenzie is the syndication coordinator for Insurance-south-africa.co.za. South Arica’s leading Insurance portal.

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Apr 28

Author : Paul HeadleyWhether you own a single or several courier vehicles in you business, different types of courier insurance are available to meet your needs

Owner drivers can also be covered with policies which are tailored by the insurance company to meet your individual requirements

Vehicles which are under a lease agreement can be offered suitable insurance to ensure the terms and conditions of the lease are fully met

There are various different insurance options to cover all types of courier vehicles and businesses Each insurance company has its own terms, conditions and criteria when it comes to courier insurance, as such it is best to speak with several insurers before committing to a courier insurance policy

Most courier insurance has an age restriction for drivers Generally insurers require drivers to be 25 years old and over Drivers under this age can also be legible for insurance cover, however it will be necessary to speak with the insurance company and ask them to include on the policy Some insurers also have an upper age limit for drivers, again speak with the insurers who will tailor insurance to meet your needs

No claims discounts earned on non-courier vehicles can sometimes be transfer no claims bonuses from private car policies, although automatic transfer is not guaranteed and the discounts offered may not be as high

Flexible payment options are available from most courier insurance companies to help spread the cost of the premiums

Short term courier insurance is also offered by some insurers, who will arrange policies for three months only There are huge variations is this type of cover between insurers If short term cover is what you are after speak with the insurers to discuss whether this option is available

Some courier insurance does not automatically come with Goods In Transit cover If you require to have Goods In Transit cover this can be arranged to suit your business needs

Goods In Transit insurance is available for goods which you are carrying for someone else and receiving payment or reward or if you carry your own goods which need to be insured Many customers will require you to have suitable Goods In Transit insurance and may refuse to you use your courier services unless this is in place

Many customers will also require you to have appropriate Public Liability insurance as well as Goods In Transit There are different levels of each type of additional insurance, therefore it is advisable to speak with the insurers who will arrange for these to be included in the policy

Owners of several courier vehicles may find it far more cost effective to have a fleet courier insurance Fleet insurance can not only offer you savings on your courier insurance, it can also save you the time and worry of having numerous individual policies to remember to renew each year

Different types of fleet courier insurance is widely available For those who operate different types of vehicles, such as vans, cars, motor bikes and dispatch riders these can usually be included on a mixed fleet policy Speak with the insurers to find out whether fleet courier insurance will suit your business needs more effectively than individual policies Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for
courier insurance

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Apr 28

Author : Paul HeadleyPrivate hire vehicles are not the same as taxis and therefore will need a specific type of insurance Licensed taxis are the only vehicles which are legally permitted to openly ply for trade on the UK public highways Private hire vehicles have to be pre-booked in order to keep within the law when using their services

With the ever growing number of people being made redundant in the UK many are looking at various ways to boost their income by becoming private hire drivers However to be legal there are rules and regulations set down which have to be adhered to There is far more involved to private hire businesses than simply buying or using a vehicle and sitting outside of a train waiting to take people to their destinations

If you do adopt this illegal approach you may find yourself with a driving ban, penalty points on your license or a jail sentence Although this all may sound a bit harsh, legal requirements have been put in place to safeguard the public

In order to become a licensed private hire vehicle driver it will be necessary to pass local authority tests and meet the specific criteria regarding health A criminal records check will also be carried out Again, this measure has been put in place to protect the public’s best interests

Once a local authority private hire vehicle license has been successfully obtained the driver will have to wear his or her photo identity at all times while operating They will also have to keep records or a log which details the name and pick up address of their customers, along with a contact phone number Failure to wear identification or keep records may result in prosecution

The vehicle will also have to have appropriate vehicle insurance To meet local authority criteria the insurance will have to include Public Liability cover This is not generally part of an insurance policy it is an optional extra However, if you use an insurance company which specialises in private hire insurance they will be able to advise and guide you as to the best options and cover available

As with most vehicle insurance the annual cost can initially appear pretty high There are a number of different ways which insurance costs for private hire vehicles can be lowered

* Owner drivers are usually the cheapest option, particularly if the driver has a proven history of no claims The insurance companies will take this into consideration when calculating a quote Drivers who have accumulated a no claims discount or bonus over a number of years will be offered the largest savings

* Insuring the vehicle as Third Party only is another way to lower premiums, however this basic insurance does not provide cover for your vehicle if you are deemed to be the person who caused the accident Third Party gives you exactly as it says, cover for a third party and nothing more

* If you operate in a high risk area, such as large cities or towns insurance companies may not offer Third Party only cover They will offer Third Part, Fire and Theft Which provides third party cover and includes cover should your private hire vehicle be stolen or involved in a fire incident

Contact companies who specialise in Private Hire insurance to ensure your vehicle is legally and adequately covered Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for
private hire insurance

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Apr 26

Author : Ryan MoxieWith over a 2 trillion dollars business every day, Forex trading is known to be sensitive and highly complex This is why investors looking into the market would more than likely be overwhelmed There are however, certain systems in place that are geared towards helping new comers and skeptical investors to break into the market

Breaking into the market with the help of a professional

These systems are known as managed systems Through these systems you can get professional money managers to handle your dealings in the trading zone

Managed accounts are of various types including one that is automated This is a computer aided program that performs all the necessary trading functions for you But if you are looking for the middle ground that enables you to make your way into the market then a get a professional to manage your account The professional in this case would be an experienced money manager that would act as an advisor for the investor

Anyone with limited experience or no experience for that matter can really benefit from managed Forex accounts If you want to avoid the studying, learning and risking then there is no better alternative than going with a managed forex account The hired professional will play your eyes in the Forex market while you engage yourself in your occupation without having to take out time

High initial investments-low risk-big rewards

There is a minimum investment level that has to be met in order to open a managed Forex account This amount usually starts from the $10,000 mark Some of the managed accounts demand a minimum investment of up to $25,000

This high standard makes it difficult for many people to invest This is because you can only invest the amount of money that you can afford to lose and not many people would risk losing that kind of money Besides corporations and businesses, now many well to do individuals have also started investing in managed accounts as a means of earning passive income

You may find automated programs to be demanding a far lesser initial investment but they do not have an actual human being handling your account If the initial investment mark was set any lower for professionally managed Forex accounts then the investments would flow in much more than what the money managers could handle This would also open the gates for malpractice

Who would benefit most from managed forex accounts?

It is important to understand who benefits most from managed accounts Generally, managed accounts are considered to be most beneficial in the long run Investors that want to get into the Forex market in a rush and make some money off risky moves and head out will not benefit from such programs

Managed accounts have a conservative approach spearheaded under the guidance of professional money managers They follow a slow growth strategy and always play it on the safe side Investors have the freedom to withdraw from the program at any time but most professionals suggest staying with a program for a minimum of two years in order to reap the maximum benefits Ryan Moxie helps you understand how a forex investment can be done with a managed forex account.

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Apr 24

Author : Paul HeadleyAnyone who owners more than a couple of vehicles would be wise to ask insurance companies about a policy which includes more then one vehicle

The number of vehicles which constitute a fleet varies between insurance companies Some have a criteria of three or more vehicles while other stipulate five or more Therefore it is worth shopping around to see whether your number of vehicles constitute a fleet

The vehicles do not have to all be of the same type, for example if you own a car, a motorbike and a business van you may be able to take advantage of a mixed fleet policy and make huge insurance savings

If you own a fleet of heavy goods vehicles fleet cover can be a very cost effective way of saving substantial amounts of money each year Again the number of lorries required varies for each insurance company

The great advantage of fleet cover is the massive savings which can be made as opposed to insuring each vehicle separately This applies particularly if drivers are experienced and have a good driving history which can be proven Insurance companies usually use past claims history and accrued no claims bonuses to determine a good driving history before they offer discounts

If the drivers are all over the minimum age criteria further savings can be made Young drivers are deemed to be a higher risk and therefore the insurance companies demand higher premium costs, if one of your fleet drivers is young and inexperienced it may be more advantageous to insure them separately as this could potentially work out more cost effective Speak with insurance companies to discuss various options available

Other ways to make savings if you own a fleet of vehicles is to have extra security fitted to the vehicles Insurance companies look very favourably on vehicles which have alarms, immobilisers and tracking devices fitted to them Taking a proactive approach to reducing risks will provide you with further discounts

Third Party Only insurance is the least expensive option, however this does not provide any cover for your vehicles if your drivers are the cause of an accident Moving up to the next level of insurance provides Third Party cover plus insurance against theft and fire These basic levels of insurance may be useful if your vehicles do not have a high market value

Comprehensive insurance provides the maximum amount of cover for vehicles This provides cover for your vehicles irrespective of who caused the accident, as well as cover for theft, malicious damage and fire Although this is the most expensive type of cover, vehicles which have a high market value are far better protected against loosing out on replacement or repair costs Comprehensive insurance may seem a large initial outlay, however it does provide total peace of mind Most insurance companies offer various payment methods to help spread the cost throughout the year

Fleet insurance is not solely for businesses Anyone who owns two or more vehicles or combinations of various types of vehicles would be wise to discuss fleet insurance options with insurance companies who specialise in this type of policy Paul Headley is a specialist insurance article writer. Staveley Head are a leading UK insurance broker for
fleet insurance

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