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06/07/2017

If you are looking for insurance for car home owners house contents you can contact me on 0828534977

24/08/2015

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
Toeing the line on tow truck assistance
24 AUG 2015 09:42
Having your car towed can be a very negative experience if you end up dealing with a dubious tow truck company. On the scene of an accident, emotion can run high and it's easy to be misled by a tow truck driver who seems kind and wants to help. However, choosing the wrong tow truck driver can lead to confusion and tedious administration when trying to retrieve your car.
Image: www.freedigitalphotos.netImage: www.freedigitalphotos.net
Bertus Visser, Chief Executive of Distribution at PSG Insure share some tips to help you keep safe on the roads and assist you in making the right decisions if you get into an accident.

Stick to your plan

First and foremost, you should have a 'DO NOT TOW' sticker from the AA (if you are a member) or from your insurance company or adviser that is placed on the window of your vehicle. This will become particularly important if you are incapacitated in an accident. It will make sure that authorities know to call your insurer to get the right tow truck to assist you.

Make the call

Once you have had an accident, the first thing to do is to call on reliable sources for assistance. You should have either your insurance company, adviser or the AA's contact details on both the back of your 'DO NOT TOW' sticker as well as stored in your cellphone contact list. You could also keep the contact details on hand for UTASA and SATRA. If you are unconscious, having the right contact details on the back of your sticker or on your cellphone will assist authorities in getting you the right help.

Choose carefully

Many independent tow truck drivers are quite happy to bend the truth, convincing you to use their services. Never feel obligated to choose the first tow truck driver who arrives on the scene and be aware that not every one of them has your best interests at heart. Make sure to use a tow truck company you can trust, such as those registered with the United Towing Association of South Africa (UTASA) or the South African Towing and Recovery Association (SATRA). Keep in mind that using a tow truck driver that isn't registered could be very costly, and could even put you at risk to become a victim of crime. The police have identified some tow truck drivers as part of a scam to steal cars.

Keep a clear record

When making use of any tow truck company (even if they are seen to be reputable), take down all details of the towing operator, including the:
name of the company
name of the driver
registration number
telephone number
address

In line with correct procedure, the towing operator needs to compile a list of all the accessories fitted on the vehicle and has to note all damage before towing it away. You will be given documents to sign and you must insist on copies of these. Take caution to review and verify all terms and conditions before you sign.

Before your vehicle is towed, take your own photos of the accident and remove any valuable personal belongings from your car. Keep in mind that the cost of towing your vehicle may not be covered by your insurer unless you utilise a reputable, approved tow truck company.

To tow or not to tow

Do not allow the vehicle to be moved from the scene unless it is for the purpose of allowing traffic to pass. Authorities such as the police may be involved if the accident is serious, and will advise on moving the vehicle accordingly.

If, however, the vehicle is drivable (such as when you have a fender bender), you may drive away from the scene without tow truck assistance. But be cautious and thoroughly check that there are no fluids leaking from the vehicle before attempting to drive it. Above all, be safe.

17/08/2015

7 biggest insurance mistakes made by South Africans

13 August 2015
Christelle Fourie, MUA
Christelle Fourie - Managing Director of MUA Insurance Acceptances.
Christelle Fourie - Managing Director of MUA Insurance Acceptances.

The 2014 Short-Term Insurance Ombudsman Report released in June this year revealed that a total of 10 253 formal complaints were received over the past year – with the majority of the complaints being related to home and motor insurance. The report also revealed that only 31% of the complaints submitted were overturned by the ombud’s office.

According to Christelle Fourie - Managing Director of MUA Insurance Acceptances, many of the complaints that weren’t overturned were largely as a result of policyholders not fully understanding the terms and conditions of their home and motor insurance policies. “Policyholders need to realise that failing to abide by the stipulations of the insurance contract can result in claims being rejected by the insurer.”

Fourie says that by understanding the level of cover provided by their insurance policy, as well as the circumstances required for the claim to be accepted, consumers will be able to avoid insurance claim rejections.

Fourie provides the seven most common reasons why insurance claims could be rejected by most insurance providers:

1. Home contents underinsurance

A big problem that many homeowners face when insuring the contents of their home is failing to insure the contents for the correct and updated replacement value. Most people tend to take out a home contents insurance policy and simply renew it every year, without taking the necessary steps to update their level of cover, despite having purchased new contents for their home.

2. Poor Maintenance

Homeowners who fail to properly maintain their homes face an increased risk of insurance claim repudiations. Most homeowner insurance policies will only cover damage caused by unforeseen events and regard home maintenance as the responsibility of the homeowner, thus any claims determined as a result of poor maintenance, or neglect, are most likely to be rejected.

3. Defective alarm systems

It is vital for homeowners to ensure that the home’s alarm system is tested on a regular basis to ensure it is in working order. All homeowners insurance policies will stipulate that it is the policy holder’s responsibility to keep the alarm system in full working condition because if theft takes place as a result of a faulty alarm, then the claim is likely to be repudiated. This includes the alarm battery being flat. With the current loadshedding in South Africa, this becomes absolutely critical.

4. Unlawful driving

Should a motorist be caught driving under the influence of alcohol and/or narcotic substances, or the driver does not have a valid driver’s licence, they are considered to be partaking in a criminal offence and their motor insurance cover could be invalidated immediately. In addition, if the driver is caught driving in a reckless and negligent manner or speeding excessively, which resulted in damage or destruction to the vehicle, the related insurance claim(s) are likely to be repudiated.

5. Unroadworthy condition of the vehicle

Windscreen wipers that are not working properly, or a tyre tread below the legal limit of 1.6mm, are common examples of vehicle conditions which can significantly increase the likelihood of an accident occurring. Should a motorist be involved in an accident and further investigation reveals that any aspect of the vehicle was not in a fully working condition and contributed to the cause of accident, the insurance claim can be rejected on the basis of the vehicle not being in a roadworthy state.

6. Secure overnight parking

Requirements for securing a motor vehicle in a garage will differ between insurers; some will accept an off-street parking as acceptable while others may stipulate that the vehicle must be kept behind an automatic garage door. Therefore, motor vehicle owners must ensure that the suggested method of security stipulated by the insurance policy is in place. If a motorist parks in an unsecured driveway or on the road, it is essential that they notify their insurance provider in order to confirm they are covered in the event of the car being broken into or stolen.

7. Driver not listed as the regular driver

When a motor insurance policy stipulates that cover is only provided for a specific named driver, an insurance claim will only be successful if this driver was behind the wheel at the time of the incident. Should an accident occur while another person is driving the car, the claim may be rejected as the policy only covers the named driver.

A situation that often occurs is parents listing themselves as the regular driver for their children’s cars due to the fact that motorists under the age of 27 typically pay a higher premium because of their higher risk profile. However, despite saving through lower premiums, they could lose out when it comes time to claim, as their claim may be rejected if their child was driving when an accident occurred.

“By bearing the above in mind and properly reading through insurance policies, consumers can educate themselves in an effort to face a lower risk of common insurance claim rejections,” concludes Fouri

11/08/2015

Utmost Good Faith
In many business deals, the rule is "let the buyer beware." Insurance operates by the principle of "utmost good faith" instead. When you take out a policy, you have an obligation to be truthful with your agent about the value of what you're insuring and the risks of losing or damaging it. She has an obligation to tell you any restrictions or rules that might reduce the value of your coverage.

Insurable Interest
You can't insure something unless you have a vested interest in it. For example, you can insure your house, but you can't take out a policy on a stranger's home if the damage doesn't cause you a financial loss. Legally, taking out insurance on something you don't own is closer to gambling than insurance -- you're making a bet on something happening to the house.

Indemnity
The insurer's job is to pay you enough to compensate for your loss -- but no more. If your house suffers $5,000 of damage, the insurer will indemnify you up to that amount so that you're in exactly the same position as you were pre-damage. This principle has several exceptions: for example, when you die, life-insurance coverage isn't limited to the immediate financial loss this causes your spouse.

Proximate Cause
Insurance protects against some perils -- types of damage -- but not others. If your home is caught in a hurricane, for instance, your homeowners insurance protects against wind damage but not flooding: If the proximate or primary cause of damage was floodwater, your insurer will refuse to pay. If you prove the proximate cause of the damage was the wind, you can collect.

Subrogation
If a third party damages your property -- ramming your car, for instance -- and you collect from your insurer, your insurer can then sue the other driver. Subrogation says when you accept an insurance settlement, the insurer gets your right to sue the third party. That prevents you collecting twice for the same damage and gives the insurer a way to recoup its losses.

Contribution
The contribution principle states that if you can hold more than one insurer liable for your losses, they have to share the loss. If you take out two polices on your car, you can't collect from both insurers. One company would pay you and then collect from the second, or both companies could cut you a check for part of the loss.

25/06/2015

Thought for Thursday!!

24/06/2015

IT’S SARDINE TIME!
After an absence of two years, the famed Sardine Run made its appearance this week with netting taking place along the KZN coastline. While most economists were unable to put a value to the economic boom during sardine season, a study by doctoral students at the Durban University of Technology in 2010 put the value to the community at around ZAR18 million.

Source:eBlitzbiz

22/06/2015

This seems extreme, guess that what passion is........ going the extra mile.

Fact of the day: Because China's bee population is in a downward spiral, apple farmers have had to resort to hand-pollinating every single flower in their orchards. Excessive pesticides and dwindling natural habitats in China have led to the practice.
Source:maverick

20/06/2015

What Is A Dad?

A dad is someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail...

- Unknown

17/06/2015

Thought for Tuesday.

03/06/2015

Can you live below your means?

Former US president Calvin Coolidge once said that “there is no dignity quite so impressive, no independence quite so important, as living within your means.”

This is a big difference between those who are rich and those who are comfortable being middle class. The rich don’t spend their money on liabilities like cars and lavish homes but on assets that grow. The rich live below their means.

Remember: even if you earn R1 million a year and you spend R1 million a year, you are still broke.

01/06/2015

Have you kept your goals so far? For those who have become despondent make the last 6 months incredible. Time to evaluate and relook at goals set for