What is INSURANCE AGAINST FIRE ?

Source: thefreedictionary.com

INSURANCE AGAINST FIRE. A contract by which the insurer, in consequence of a certain premium received by him, either in a gross sum or by annual *payments, undertakes to indemnify the insured against all loss or damage which he may sustain to a certain amount, in his house or other buildings, stock, goods, or merchandise, mentioned in the policy, by fire, during the time agreed upon. 2 Marsh. Ins. B. 4, p. 784; 1 Stuart's L. C. R. 174; Park. Ins. c. 23, p., 441.
2. The risks and losses insured against, are "all losses or damage by fire," during the time of the policy, to the houses or things insured.
3.-1. There must be an actual fire or ignition to entitle the insured to recover; it is not sufficient that there has been a great and injurious increase of heat, while nothing has taken fire, which ought not to be on fire. 4 Campb. R. 360.
4.-2. The loss must be within the policy, that is, within the time insured. 5 T. R. 695; 1 Bos. & P. 470; 6 East, R. 571.
5.-3. The insurers are liable not only for loss by burning, but for all damages and injuries, and reasonable charges attending the removal of articles though never touched by the fire. 1 Bell's Com. 626, 7, 5th ed.
6. Generally there is an exception in the policy, as to fire occasioned "by invasion, foreign enemy, or any military, or usurped power whatsoever," and in some there is a further exception of riot, tumult, or civil commotion. For the Construction of these provisoes, see the articles Civil Commotion and Usurped Power.

Insurance KPI

Many people think that running an insurance firm is just as easy as selling premiums and waiting for the payments to come in. Actually, there is a lot more to it than that. Oftentimes, it involves processes that test even the mightiest business strategy. Of course, there is the accounting and collection management. But above all these management processes, measuring performance is one that should not be left out. In the operation of an insurance agency or company, knowing what yardstick to use to determine current performance is good. But learning the important insurance KPI or key performance indicators is better. Below are lists of most common and possible indicators that insurance companies should focus on.

In reality though, the KPI or key performance indicators most giant insurance firms use are not that different with those used by retailers or sales oriented companies. Basically, the nature of business of an insurance company is to sell. The difference comes with the products that are being sold. See, retailers or manufacturers sell good at a one time basis, which means, after a product is sold and consumed, the seller no longer has to deal with the customer. But with an insurance company, the lifecycle type of sales occurs. Once, an insurance policy is purchased, the company is obliged or attached to cover the cost, especially in paying the benefits of the customer.

Generally, there are six most common key performance indicators used in managing an insurance firm. First, the company must measure the number of policy sales. This is the most basic and just about the most important of all. A dip in quarterly sales is not just a historical record. It is even more like a threat for the company since a decrease in number of sold policies can imply long term wounds on company sales. So, before anything gets worse, the firm must make its move accordingly. The second KPI is to determine the ratio of policies that are renewed against the accumulated number of sold policies. Knowing this will not just give managers an idea of which policy sells more. It will also help them make changes in updating old and current customers.

The third KPI is determining the number of missed payments or lapses. It is not only the performance of the company that should be tracked here but also the contribution of the customer. Oftentimes, when neglected, due payments lead to undesirable incidents, such as foreclosure. Measuring this indicator is best done when the number is identified as a percentage of the total sold policies. The fourth KPI still has something to do with lapses, only that the indicator should fall in the first 2 years of using the policy. The fifth key performance indicator is the quota. This figure usually tells the insurance company how effective collectors, agents, and sellers are in targeting desired sales. The sixth KPI for an insurance company is identifying the total paid benefits as a percentage of the premium.

These insurance KPI or key performance indicators are just actually part of the many metrics one can use. These indicators may not be used all the time, but you should be able to get the idea by now. If the company currently has a new project, it is best that agents and managers work together to achieve good results.

If you are interested in insurance kpi, check this web-site to learn more about insurance scorecard.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Miller

Travel Essentials

Source: Travel Essentials

MyTravelCash
Travel money cards are the new way for people to buy foreign currency and take it abroad. They offer better exchange rates and lower charges than taking cash or using a debit or credit card. With MyTravelCash you get a FREE card, market leading exchange rates and no charges when making purchases abroad.

GO-SIM International SIM Cards
With GO-SIM, you can save up to 85% when calling from overseas in 175 countries. That's up to six times more chat than using your usual service while travelling. You also get FREE incoming calls in more than 75 countries, and as yourglobal SIM card is a pay as you go, there's no monthly bill and great call rates are guaranteed.

Holiday Taxis
Holiday Taxis is Europe's leading provider of airport transfers in more than 2,000 resorts and cities worldwide. Private taxi transfers, group minibuses

Holiday Autos
Winners of 10 British Travel Trade Awards for best leisure car hire company. Holiday Autos provides low rates and an easy to use website.

BCP - Airport Parking
BCP is the UK's leading provider of pre-bookable airport car parking and offers the lowest rates across all UK departure airports.

Insurance Company Reviews

Source: COMPANY REVIEWS

Nationwide Insurance
Nationwide offers its car insurance customers accident forgiveness for its customers' first at-fault incident.

GMAC Insurance
GMAC Insurance is the only insurance company in the nation that evolved from the auto industry.

Travelers Auto Insurance
Travelers Auto Insurance is one of the largest publicly traded corporations in America with nearly $100 billion in assets

Unitrin Auto Insurance
Unitrin Direct Auto Insurance writes policies for Auto, Home, Condo, or Renters insurance in 25 states.

Infinity Auto Insurance
Infinity Auto Insurance Company specializes in nonstandard insurance coverage, writing the 2nd largest amount of polices for this type of coverage in the nation.

Amica Auto Insurance
Established in 1907, Amica Auto Insurance is oldest insurers of vehicles in the United States.

Budget Car Insurance
Budget Car Insurance is a insurer based in the UK, offering affordable auto policies and a feature-packed website.

The AA Insurance Company
Providing more than car insurance, The AA Insurance Company is a multi-faceted company serving the UK with auto insurance, loans, and other information and services.

Direct Line Insurance
With car insurance services available in the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, Direct Line Insurance has been in business since 1985.

Progressive Insurance
Progressive Insurance has been in business since 1927 and, with the help of its website, www.progressive.com, has become the third largest insurance company in the US.

Glossary of Travel Insurance terms

Following is a list of various terms used in a travel insurance policy. Many of us find it difficult to understand certain travel insurance terms laid down in the travel policies. It is therefoe important for insurance holders to have a complete understanding of their policies, so they will know what the policies cover and how they will be compensated on occurrence of emergencies.

Here is a list of common travel insurance terms:

Accident:
A loss sustained through an unexpected event.

Annual MultTrip Plan:
Provides coverage for all trips made within a year.

Assistance Services:
Services provided by the 24-hour Assistance Company regarding medical matters and expenses, loss of travel documents, credit cards, luggage, etc.

Baggage and Personal Effects Coverage:
Covers a policy holder’s baggage, passport, credit cards, and personal effects.

Benefits:
The amount a beneficiary receives from the insurance provider after a claim has been filed.

Deductible:
The amount a policy holder is required to pay before the insurance provider starts making payment. It can be a yearly amount, an amount based on the duration of the policy, or amount based on incident.

Catastrophe:
Natural catastrophe causing disruption to your trip (including hurricane, fire, lightning, explosion, earthquake, storm, tempest, flood)

Co-Insurance or Co-Pay:
Refers to the amount paid by the policy holder after payment of the deductible is completed.

Common Law Partner:
Any couple (including same sex) in a common law relationship who have cohabited for at least six months

Date of Issue:
The date shown on your policy showing when it was issued / purchased

Emergency Benefits:
Provides coverage for expenses incurred when a person is transported to a place where they receive immediate medical attention.

Emergency Evacuation:
Coverage that provides medical evacuation of a policy holder to a medical facility or their own country

Exclusions:
Expenses the insurance provider will not cover, and they usually include expenses that result from participation in high-risk sports or recreational activities.

Emergency Repatriation:
Return to the UK or Ireland by air ambulance if necessary and an accompanying doctor or nurse if required.

Family Plans:
Plans that cover every member of a family who is traveling, and they usually come with discounted rates.

Hazardous Sports and Activities Coverage:
Refers to coverage of medical expenses incurred to treat a policy holder who becomes injured because of participation in hazardous sports and activities, such as: sky diving, scuba diving, or rock climbing

Insured:
The individual who is covered by the travel insurance policy.

Incidental Basis:
Participation in a hazardous activity on a casual, fortuitous, occasional or minor basis. Sports tours and/or activity holidays would be considered to include participation in hazardous activities on a non-incidental basis.

Individual Plans:
Plans that provide coverage for only one person.

Level of Cover:
The amount covered under each Section of the Policy

Lost Luggage:
Secondary coverage that is paid when a policy holder’s checked luggage is permanently lost.

Maximum Policy Coverage:
Refers to the maximum compensation that will be paid for expenses covered by a policy.

Mugging Benefit:
Inpatient hospital treatment following a violent, threatening attack by a third party causing actual bodily harm.

Non-Refundable Travel Expenses:
These are expenses paid for a trip that cannot be reimbursed, and they include accommodation deposits and airline tickets.

Personal Money:
Cash and travellers cheques

Pre-Existing Conditions:
Refers to medical conditions of policy holders that existed before the insurance policies were purchased: Usually, insurance providers will only provide minimal or no coverage for expenses related to such conditions.

Primary Coverage:
Form of coverage provides insurance for the policy holder even though you have other coverage.

Rental Car Insurance:
Covers theft or damage of a car rented by a policy holder during their trip. It also covers the damage and injury sustained by other people if the policy holder causes an accident.

Reasonable Care:
Insured must take reasonable care to prevent illness, injury, loss or damage to self or property as if uninsured.

Scheduled Airline:
Cover for sums paid in advance in event of insolvency of scheduled airline Failure provider.

Secondary Coverage:
Only offers insurance for expenses not included in the primary coverage.

Single Trip Plan:
A policy that provides coverage for only one trip

Travel Assistance Services:
Refers to assistance available to a policy holder when they experiences difficulty in a foreign location. It includes: 24-hour emergency phone services, legal assistance, visa and passport assistance, and others.

Travel Documents:
Passport, green card, travel tickets, visas, accommodation vouchers and petrol coupons which are lost or stolen.

Trip Interruption Insurance:
Provides coverage for policy holders who interrupt or cancel their trips because of acceptable reasons such as injury, illness, death of a relative, flight problem, and others.

Usual, Customary, and Reasonable Charges:
Average amounts charged by travel insurance providers for certain services, treatments, or procedures in the same locality.

Withdrawal of Services :
Facilities withdrawn by your pre-booked hotel due to strike or industrial action following purchase of insurance

Bon Voyage !

Buying Travel Insurance

Where to buy travel insurance ???

The 2 best places to buy travel insurance:

The best option is to buy a policy direct from the insurance company website. This is a good choice if you already have a good idea of the type of policy you need, a specific plan, or a specific company based on their rating.

Buying direct from the company ensures you are choosing from their full selection of products, and you will have full customer support for those products.

All travel insurance companies sell their products online, and most have developed very user-friendly websites. You can get an instant price quote, buy with a credit card, and get immediate email confirmation of coverage.

The second option is to use a comparison website to compare quotes from several companies at the same time. This is similar to using Expedia.com for buying an airline ticket, as opposed to visiting each individual airlines website. You simply enter some trip & travel information, and get instant comparative quotes from many companies and for many products.

The main benefit in using a comparison website is getting to analyze different plans, side-by-side, and seeing how the different coverages and prices compare to each other.

However, this can also be overwhelming, since you’re comparing up to 100 plans from 20 different companies.

Only buy from reputable companies

Purchase your travel insurance plan from a reputable company with a good rating. A.M. Best is a company that rates insurance companies based on many factors. They assign a grade rating (A+, B-, etc.) for each company, and provide other details like financial stability and size.

The following link goes to a chart with all A.M. Best ratings for the different travel insurance companies. They are all reputable; earning scores of A- and higher.

View A.M.Best ratings at http://www.ambest.co.uk/.

Buying direct vs. through a comparison site

As far as price, there is no difference between buying direct or using a comparison site. The price of your policy is the same whether you purchase direct from the company, or if you use a comparison site. A comparison site is simply an agent, and they earn a commission from the policies they sell, just like your regular insurance agent. It doesn’t cost you extra; it simply means the insurance company pays a portion of the premium to the agent for selling the plan.

Do not buy from travel agents or cruise lines

Buy from the insurance company or an insurance agent, but do not buy from a travel agent or cruise line. Over the years, travel agencies have seen the potential profit in selling insurance to their clients and it has become very popular.

Travel agents are not insurance agents, and they will not know the products thoroughly enough to make a good recommendation. They might make more commission on certain products, and direct you towards them. Oftentimes, the insurance coverage offered by a cruise line is very limited, it doesn’t provide adequate protection, and it is priced too high. Always buy travel insurance from a third party such as an agent or the company itself.

Do not shop based on price alone

It is surprisingly common for travelers to seek out “cheap” travel insurance, even though they are attempting to protect their health, well-being, and finances. If you are looking to save some money on your trip, look for ways to save without risking your health and finances.

Instead of shopping based on price alone, decide what coverage is important to you and your trip, then compare policies that provide this coverage. Adter you have narrowed the selection down to a few, then consider price. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples; don’t pick the cheapest policy only to find out it lacks an important coverage.

The best time to purchase your policy

It is best to purchase travel insurance as early as possible, meaning as close to the time of booking as possible. There are several benefits to purchasing your plan right away.

First, you take advantage of insurance coverage for the longest possible amount of time. If you book your trip and buy the travel insurance at the same time, you are covered for trip cancellation immediately.

So, for a trip in 10 months, you would enjoy 10 months of coverage. On the other hand, if you booked a trip now and decided to wait to buy insurance, something could happen between now and then.

Furthermore, many policies include extra benefits if the plan is purchased within a certain numbers of day of booking. For example, some policies provide supplier default/bankruptcy coverage under this condition.

Also, most policies have a grace period for purchasing where you can still take advantage of these additional coverages. For example: a company might cover financial default if you purchased your plan within 14 days of the initial trip deposit.

Source: www.travelinsurancereview.net

One Day Car Insurance

Some helpful notes on why you should buy a "One Day Car Insurance"

Opting for a cheap car insurance policy wouldn't be a wise decision, as well, purchasing a pricey policy too wouldn't fetch you all the benefits. Don't just rate the companies based on the insurance premium. It is better to gather all the company details and insurance benefits offered by the insurer, you are planning to deal with. And, the best way to assess the companies is through the consumer reviews, which would certainly be unbiased and definite.

When will you need One day Car Insurance?
There are many instances when you find that one day car insurance is a better option than Regular Insurance. In most cases you can plan your insurance cover but this is a convenient option in case an emergency arises and you need insurance cover immediately.

Best Uses of One Day Car Insurance.
Many people today opt for this kind of insurance for a number of reasons. They may be taking a long road trip and plan to take turns driving or you may want to lend your car to a friend or borrow a car from a friend. In most cases this occurs because your friend’s car might have features your car doesn’t or is better suited for long journeys, a large number of people, capacity to carry loads of luggage or you want to drive a car better suited for a holiday abroad.

You may also need to borrow a minivan or a moving van in case you’re moving your home from one place to another and you wish to drive yourself there without the addition cost of a moving company. You may need a big car to fit in all your baggage and your furniture along with your family.

Another popular reason is if you wish to test drive a car you plan on buying or when you’ve bought a car at an auction or from a private owner, you would need insurance to drive the car home immediately.

When students come back home from their university during their mid-term breaks, they don’t have a car to drive! One day car insurance allows them to get protected under an insurance plan for a limited stipulated period of time. When you have friends or family coming to stay with you from abroad, they only need a UK or an EEC license to apply for one day car insurance. This gives them flexibility while on holiday and saves them a lot of money avoiding the high rates of car hire and you wouldn’t need to spend hours a day driving them around either. One day car insurance is an easy way of allowing your family and friends to drive your car without going through the formalities of adding them to your yearly insurance policy.

One Day Car Insurance is handy in an emergency situation.
In an emergency situation one day car insurance can be a life saver. What if your car breaks down and you find yourself in a fix having to borrow a car to get to work on time? Or what if your spouse has borrowed your car and a medical situation creeps up? In a crisis situation like that one day car investment can ease the pressure of the situation and allow you to be mobile.

Source : http://carinsurance1.co.uk/

Few things to consider while booking Cheap Hotels in London

Traveling to the place like London is the most happening event of your life. This city is the hub of culture, history, business, art and music of European countries. London hosts millions of visitors’ whole through out the year. Due to its great number of tourist that comes every year, the dare requirement of hotel accommodations is present there. People come to London for a few days or for months but before they start doing anything, fixing a hotel room is London is must. However, London is the city of grand luxury hotels but there are also many hotels which are of cheap rate.

The wise travelers prefer to check the Cheap Hotels In London before they decide to book for sometimes such hotels do not keep the promises they made while booking the hotel rooms. In fact, you can fine some of the Budget Hotels In London are not so clean and its services are very poor. One more thing a traveler should keep in mind while choosing cheap hotels is the locality of the hotel. Fortunately, all the motels of these categories are not fraud. So, mindfully you can search out the hotel of your choice.

Follow the reliable sources like someone who had settled in London and known to you, take advice about the accommodations. On the other hand take help from the travel agents and hotel websites as well. In fact, finding a cheap but safe and comfortable hotel is a great matter. You cannot search such hotels like a vagabond randomly. The deep enquiry of the hotel details will let you know about the room facilities and hotel facilities. Step by step you can find out the hotel that gives sufficient facilities to its guests. The rooms may be small but it is quite fine for staying a few days. Further, your purpose to visit London is not only confined to staying at good hotel and consuming foods. So, after occupying one hotel room of Discount Hotels In London, go ahead for the further interesting quest that lies in front of you.

The city offers a wonderful and vibrant atmosphere through its natural ambiance, pleasant weather, and exiting tourist destinations. The must visit places in London are Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Royal residence, the House of Parliament, the Westminster Abbey, etc. Your personal visit will confirm you the greatness of the cultural beauty of the European society which London city reflects beautifully. So, give your curiosity an opportunity of full freedom to explore London city.

Source: Few Things to Consider While Booking Cheap Hotels in London

Cheap and comfortable Hotels in London

Beautiful City London hosts endless travelers and to accommodate the travelers the city has also wide and well arrangement of accommodations which include both cheap and luxury hotel. Have a nice planning over the London tour which includes sightseeing, shopping, recreational activities like visiting to pubs, clubs and theaters. There are lots of popular locations which offer hotels and these hotels are located near the attractive places and at the center or the heart of the city. The hotels are expensive but proffer lots of facilities and entertainment within the hotels. Also the restaurants of such hotels serve various mouthwatering British dishes. Sometimes during Christmas or New Year or during off season these luxury grand hotels offer discount rates to its travelers. So check out the availability of discount offer when ever you want to afford the room rents. If the room charges do not suite your pocket then go can opt for London Cheap Hotels which are suited just a short distance from the main city. However, due to good transportation system it is advisable to opt for such cheap hotels in London.

During searching Budget London Hotels over internet you can also search the options how to get around the whole city to explore its attractions and breathtaking sightseeing. Traveling the whole London city on a double-decker bus is a great idea for it can be done in minimum expenses. The best attractions of London include Buckingham Palace, Victoria Hall, London Eye, London Tower, Westminster Abbey, and so on.

Before finally booking a room in London hotels, never forget to check out the hotel facilities and room facilities. Further you can also see its safety and security arrangements and front desk service which helps travelers for further tour in the city. Most of the renowned hotels arrange transportation for the travelers who wish to see the whole city. Due to availability of safe deposit box, people can roam around the city leaving the cares behind. The hospitality and the attentive service of the staff of such hotels are awe-inspiring. The guest can have a great holiday time by staying in one of the Cheap Hotels In London.

Source : Comfortable Yet Cheap Hotels in London