Fair Weather for Fun Run?

Here at Chalfont Hall we are all hoping that this 'Fair Weather' will continue or a least ressurect itself for the GX Fun Run on the 20th May

The GX Fun Run is a charity event which is being held to support the work of Kids in Sport, a local charity which aims to help children participate in sport who would otherwise not have the opportunity. In addition, and for the first time this year, the event will be supporting Padstones, another local charity which provides accommodation, support and advice for young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless, vulnerable and at risk. 

We are once again extending our support in the local community as we are the main sponsor of the run, something we are particularly excited about. Not only are we supporting the event through sponsorship but some of us are even entering the run. 

We are however stuck for a team name so feel free to get your thinking caps on and comment below if you have any good (non-embarrassing) team names.......

  

If you would like to find out more information about the Run please visit the website – www.gxfunrun.co.uk.

Alistair

Living to Excess? AXA Research Shows 1/3 of Motorists Cannot Afford Their Excess.

According to research by AXA reported in the Insurance Times a significant amount of clients cannot afford the policy excess in the event of an accident. AXA are warning motorists against inflated 'voluntary' excesses which are sometimes requested in order to bring the premium down. We all dread the time when it comes to make a claim but it is what we get insurance for (not just because we have to). Its not when you take out the policy that it really counts but when you have to make a claim - perhaps following impact from a giant football?

Research suggests that 48% of the population have readily available savings of less than £500 and 34% have as little as £200 or even less. According to AXA's research 62% of motorists are aware that a portion of their excess is 'voluntary' and have selected the limit themselves to benefit from a premium saving however whilst it might make the premium affordable the excess is not. This worries insurers and motoring bodies alike as it means there are likely to be many unrepaired vehicles on the road. 

Perhaps more worrying is AXA's claim that 17% of motorists don't know what type or value of excess they have. 

Often these comparison websites are misleading and at the very least do not go far enough to explain the benefits and drawbacks of higher excesses. We understand that not everyone is on a footballers salary and so our priority is to ensure that you have a policy that is reasonably and appropriately priced but that you can be sure will respond as expected in the event of a claim. This is why a Broker can be of invaluable service getting you the cover you need at the most reasonable price.

Alistair

Laughter is the best medicine.... (unless you've got a headache where paracetamol works better. )

Whilst having to make a claim is sometimes necessary we do appreciate its not always going to be ranked in your top ten life events. We aim to make each claim as painless as possible and our claims staff will always be on hand to manage the process. Whilst putting together some information about our claims service I came across a website listing a number of amusing entries which people have put on claim forms. Here, for your delectation are my top 5 (in no particular order).

1)   "Windscreen broken. Cause unknown. Probably Voodoo."

2)   "I started to slow down but the traffic was more stationary than I thought."

3)   "Going to work at 7am this morning I drove out of my drive straight into a bus. The bus was 5 minutes early”

4)   Claim Form Question: Could either driver have done anything to avoid the accident? Answer: Travelled by bus?

5)   "I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way"

'Big' Client Mentality Par for the Course? 

Many times I have been to insurance events or networking meetings where people talk about their 'big' client... "oh I took my 'big' client out for golf the other day' they would say, or at least something like that. I heard a similar story this week. So what is a 'big' client? To me the amount of premium a client pays doesn't necessarily mean that they are any bigger or need more attention than a client who might pay less for their insurances. Indeed some risks are extremely high risk but because they are a well managed company require less interaction than a lower risk case who might need assistance with their Health and Safety etcetera. So do I need to take the High Risk client to the Grove Golf / Spa resort and fob the lower risk client with a free pen and a voucher for pitch and putt? Of course not. 

It is important as an insurance broker to recognise the requirements of all clients and then to meet these requirements with relevant solutions. Some of these requirements might be obvious and easily solved and some might be hidden but just as essential. Sometimes the most challenging and interesting cases are the lowest of premiums but for me the knowledge that a client has their business properly protected is satisfaction enough. 

I would however point out that I am not disregarding the golf altogether and am happy to negotiate green fees (as long as I get to drive the buggy). 

Alistair