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Insurer won't pay out for Doris the cat's dental treatment – despite my 18 years of claim-free contributions
Doris, our cat, has been insured with Petplan for the last 18 years. Recently she required dental-related treatment. We believed this was covered by the policy as we have paid the insurance every month and kept up with all her yearly health and dental checks, and booster inoculations.
However, when we called to check the dental work was covered, Petplan said the policy terms insisted on yearly health checks within 12 months of each other. And as the last health check was 13 months ago (not 12), it would not pay. I feel outraged as nowhere on the policy documents does it mention that checkups must be held within 12 months of each other for a claim to succeed.
Surely, it is the responsibility of Petplan to make this clear and to remind us? If this is the rule, the wording should be: "Health checks and boosters must be within 12 months, to the day, of each other." Had I known about this clause, I would have taken Doris to the vet a month earlier.
We pay £21.55 per month to Petplan for Doris, and this is our first claim. The cost of the current treatment is around £600 to £700. Is this fair? AB, Plymouth
This nit-picking through terms and conditions gets insurance a bad name – and has policyholders running to the Ombudsman. Petplan's initial response was that it could not comment as you had yet to submit a claim, so it cannot be rejected. This is hair-splitting.
Whether it is an animal with a pet policy or a human with private health cover, insured parties routinely phone to see if a treatment is included. If they are told it is excluded – in this case by the Petplan service team – they will most likely then fail to have treatment, or pay for it themselves.
Petplan did not make clear the need for each check to be within 12 months of the previous one. And it has failed to factor in owner illness, holidays or family problems. You religiously kept up the policy for 18 years without a single claim, so you have been an excellent customer.
But the good news is that, following our intervention, Petplan has agreed to meet the bill. But it has refused to offer you compensation for the worry you have suffered. At 18, Doris deserves better treatment.
This week Bachelor and Brignall is guest-written by Tony Levene.
We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@guardian.co.uk or write to Bachelor & Brignall, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number
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According to Autoblog.com, sales of environmentally friendly diesel vehicles, or clean diesels, are up by 27.5%, compared to sales numbers at the same point last year. The article cited a recent study by HybridCars.com and the automotive research and analysis company Baum and Associates. The study revealed that Americans have purchased 61,214 clean diesel-powered vehicles during the first six months of the year. Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that this figure does not include the sale of heavy-duty diesel pickup trucks. But while the sales numbers are significant, they still do not match the number of hybrids being sold in the U.S. According to the study, hybrid sales are up by 63.5% over 2011’s numbers, and beyond the sale of green vehicles, overall automobile sales increased by 14.9% as well.
For clean diesels, 2012 year marks the second straight year where sales have increased by double-digits. According to Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technol…
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Leading the way higher was waste management firm Shanks after saying that the Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow is no longer sending any of its waste to landfill since appointing Shanks to handle its …
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Do you feel as though you’ve had less and less disposable income every month since becoming a parent? You could be right.
If you’re a parent, you could be forking out as much as £313 per month on essentials for your little darling.
According to research from Santander, the average parent spends this amount on items such as food and drink, entertainment and babysitting. Over the course of a year, this expenditure equates to £3,762, which is more than 14% of the average Brits’ £26,100 salary.
If you already have children, you might want to stop reading now as the statistics are about to become even more alarming. During the course of 18 years, the average parent will spend £67,700 per child. Scarier still: this astronomical figure doesn’t factor in the cost of university.
Regional variations
Like almost everything else, the North/South divide comes into force with essential childcare costs. According to the data, the average parent in the South is spending £4,163 compared with a slightly more modest (though still pretty painful) £3,275 in the North.
The cost of food and drink is at its highest in the capital with typical spending of £106.30 and Londoners are also spending £50 per month on their child’s transport.
When it comes to activities, Scots are most generous and spend £52.20 per month compared with £30.90 in the North.
Cost of children essentials per month and year
| London | Rest of South | Midlands, Wales | North | Scotland | Average | |
| Food and drink | £106.30 | £89.70 | £84.70 | £89.50 | £99.00 | £91.50 |
| Entertainment | £33.50 | £29.40 | £30.30 | £30.10 | £39.10 | £31.20 |
| Toys and gifts | £23.30 | £22.90 | £21.60 | £23.10 | £24.00 | £22.90 |
| Holidays | £65.40 | £65.00 | £59.90 | £49.00 | £44.60 | £58.10 |
| Activities | £37.10 | £39.10 | £36.70 | £30.90 | £52.20 | £37.40 |
| Transportation | £50.00 | £35.40 | £32.80 | £35.60 | £44.80 | £37.10 |
| Babysitting | £17.90 | £65.40 | £36.10 | £14.70 | £47.80 | £35.30 |
| Monthly totals | £333.50 | £346.90 | £301.80 | £272.90 | £351.50 | £313.50 |
| Annual totals | £4,002 | £4,163 | £3,625 | £3,275 | £4,218 | £3,762 |
Source: Santander
So, how can parents cut costs if they’re struggling to cope with these monthly expenses?
Wise up to supermarket tricks
Wherever you live in the UK, food is the biggest expense for families and the average parent spends £91.50 on feeding their child per month.
Whenever you head to the supermarket, remember the main goal of most retailers: to tempt you to hand over as much of your money as possible.
Be wary of any two-for-one deals or other special offers, don’t be persuaded to buy more than you’ll actually use and try not to give into nagging for treats if you take your kids with you.
To learn more, check out What supermarkets don’t want you to know and Stop wasting £680 a year on food.
Check your benefits
Even if you’re working, you might still be able to claim some form of state benefits, such as tax credit or child benefit. If you believe you may be entitled to benefits you’re not already receiving, try consulting an online state benefit checker.
Teaching kids the value of money
Educating your children about money management while they’re young might help them avoid common financial pitfalls in adulthood.
According to an encouraging piece of research from Halifax, some 63% of children between the ages of eight and 15 perform household chores in order to boost their income.
As soon as your kids have put some cash aside, you could encourage them to open a savings account and explain about the benefits of earning interest.
A number of banks and building societies allow you to put parental controls on the account until the child is old enough to manage their own money, which would come in handy if you’re worried about you child blowing the whole lot in one weekend.
**This material is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly encourage our readers not to rely solely on this content, but to seek independent advice when making financial decisions.**
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According to Autoblog.com, sales of environmentally friendly diesel vehicles, or clean diesels, are up by 27.5%, compared to sales numbers at the same point last year. The article cited a recent study by HybridCars.com and the automotive research and analysis company Baum and Associates. The study revealed that Americans have purchased 61,214 clean diesel-powered vehicles during the first six months of the year. Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that this figure does not include the sale of heavy-duty diesel pickup trucks. But while the sales numbers are significant, they still do not match the number of hybrids being sold in the U.S. According to the study, hybrid sales are up by 63.5% over 2011’s numbers, and beyond the sale of green vehicles, overall automobile sales increased by 14.9% as well.
For clean diesels, 2012 year marks the second straight year where sales have increased by double-digits. According to Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technol…
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We reveal the most popular destinations for those who want to escape the UK over the festive period.
Let’s face it: Christmas in the UK isn’t all mistletoe and wine. As well as the festivities, this time of year can bring sub-zero temperatures, office party embarrassment and family tension bubbling beneath the surface.
With this in mind, you might decide to drop everything this Christmas in favour of a few days away. That only leaves one question… where to go?
According to research from discount site MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, Sydney is the most popular destination for Brits planning a break this year, followed by Dubai and New York City.
This data is based on the most searched-for terms related to Christmas breaks during the past three months.
‘Getting away for the Christmas period can be incredibly tempting, particularly given how stressful the thought of too much family time can be for many,’ said Mark Pearson, Chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.
‘It’s clear that some people want to get really far away from the annual game of Trivial Pursuit this year,’ he adds.
Most popular Christmas holiday destinations
1) Sydney
2) Dubai
3) New York City
4) Paris
5) Hong Kong
6) Venice
7) Cape Town
8) Tenerife
9) Copenhagen
10) Berlin
However tempting the idea of a Christmas break might seem, these holidays don’t come cheap – especially at a time when our budgets are already stretched.
Fortunately, Santa (well, BeatThatQuote.com) has a few tips on how to cut the cost of yuletide getaways.
Avoid rip-off credit card charges
If you’re using a credit card abroad, most lenders will load charges when you withdraw cash or make a purchase – normally between 2.5% and 3%.
To cut down on these fees, it might be wise to consider a card that allows you to make fee-free transactions abroad. For instance, Halifax’s Clarity Credit Card doesn’t charge borrowers a fee to use the card or withdraw money anywhere in the world.
Get the right travel insurance policy
Whenever you’re travelling abroad, it’s wise to consider travel insurance to protect your valuables and cover the cost of any medical treatment if something goes wrong.
When it comes to holidays over the Christmas period, it’s essential to pick the right type of policy. If you’ll be taking part in any activities such as skiing or snowboarding, you might need to add winter sports cover to your policy.
Set a strict budget for presents
If you and your other half are treating yourself to a trip away over Christmas, it might be sensible to forego presents entirely.
However, you might think this approach has tipped the balance from being frugal to Scrooge-like. If you absolutely have to give presents, try imposing a spending limit or even making your own gifts. While it might sound a bit cheesy, it could force you to get creative.
Now all that’s left to do is try not to get too nostalgic for Christmas pud and reruns of Santa Claus: The Movie come 25 December when you’re sunning yourself abroad.
For more articles like this, check out The £48,940 cost of your holidays and Holiday rip-offs revealed.
**This material is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly encourage our readers not to rely solely on this content, but to seek independent advice when making financial decisions.**
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By Aaron Crowe
Viewing corpses in a morgue as part of a four-hour course on the ramifications of drunk driving isn’t the best way to spend an afternoon, but it beats going to jail.
That and other programs that judges impose on people convicted of drunken driving or other driving offenses are meant to discourage recidivism. Lesser offenses can have sentences less imposing than looking at dead bodies, but can be just as creative.
An Ohio judge made national news last year when he sentenced a woman who was caught in a video driving on a sidewalk around a stopped school bus to wear a sign reading “Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus.”
Another Ohio judge required a drunk driver who ran a stop sign and nearly killed a couple to view bodies of car crash fatalities. He dropped the man’s jail sentence from 65 days to five days if he viewed two dead bodies from car accidents.
In California, the Hospital and Morgue Program, or HAM, does the same type of thing and is aimed at youthful offenders. At the end, offenders must write a 500-word essay on how the course has changed their life and give their opinion about driving under the influence.
“It’s a very common punishment in Los Angeles County,” says Christopher McCann, a DUI defense attorney there.
But because offenders might not see a drunken driving victim who was killed, and instead see the body of a victim from an accident where alcohol wasn’t involved, it might not have the same effect, McCann says.
“I really don’t think it does anything,” he says of not seeing a drunken driving victim.
“If it’s not someone who was killed by a drunken driver, it’s really just a theoretical in your mind anyway,” he says.
What such sentencing may not be doing, however, is having a long-term impact, says Jeffrey Reynolds, executive director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.
“Viewing corpses and other shock techniques may have a short-term impact, but the images quickly fade, especially for those struggling with alcoholism,” Reynolds wrote in an email. “Requiring multi-session educational workshops (conducted over the span of 8-12 weeks) is far more productive, especially when paired with an addiction screening and access to chemical dependency treatment where indicated.
“While not everyone who drives drunk is an alcoholic, the level of untreated addiction in our communities is significant and a trip to the morgue won’t cure that.”
Reynolds says he recently saw a TV station in his area report that a 24-year-old driver who was high and found to have heroin on him crashed head-on into a young woman who had a newborn baby in her car. Police handcuffed him and made him watch her and her baby being cut from her car for an hour.
“Not a bad idea,” Reynolds wrote, “but at the end of the day, this is a guy who in addition to being punished, needs treatment if the rest of us are going to be truly safe when he eventually gets out of jail.”
Lori Freson, a therapist in Encino, Calif., says she heard of a situation where a driver had to write a check for $1 every week to the family of the victim he killed. The idea was that he’d be reminded every week of what he did and that he hopefully wouldn’t do it again.
While HAM is common in L.A., some judges may not want to impose creative sentencing such as having an offender carry a sign around for a day because it could get them attention and the presiding judge could frown on it, McCann says. But it could also work in favor of a judge seeking re-election.
“It makes good politics,” McCann says. “People like the sound of it.”
Aaron Crowe is a personal finance freelance writer who writes about auto insurance for CheapCarInsurance.net.
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Enclosed inside a new policy released in the issue of April 2011 of Pediatric medicine, fathers and mothers are advised to keep their children within a rear-facing infant car seat up till the age of two or better still when they have gotten to the required height and also body weight for their specified seat. Also, the AAP also reminded parents about the basic requirement for their children to use booster seats that seat belt positioned until the height of 4' and 9" in height as well as reaching the ages of 8-12 years of age.
A previous policy published in 2002 also advised that it is much safer for toddlers and infants to be placed in a rear facing up position up to the limits of the car seat, also indicating age 12 months and 20 pounds as absolute minimum. Noticeably, a huge percen...
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If you were to compare car insurance rates by state you’d find that similar drivers with similar vehicles pay different rates depending on the state where they live. This is one of the curious aspects of car insurance a lot of people don’t understand. That misunderstanding comes by way of the fact that so many drivers think of cheap car insurance as a static product similar to a computer or television set. By “static” we mean a product that comes off a production line and is identical among all pieces of the same line.
The thing about car insurance is that it’s not static. For example, two different drivers may both have collision and comprehensive coverage on their vehicles but pay different rates for it. This makes complete sense when you consider one driver owns a BMW while the other driver owns a Kia. The values of their respective vehicles heavily influence the cost of their collision and comprehensive insurance.
United States of America
In terms of the various states, here are a couple of things that influence auto insurance quotes:
State Laws – Far and away the biggest influence on cheap auto insurance at the state level comes by way of insurance regulations. A state where insurance is heavily regulated to the point that it chokes out competition will see higher car insurance costs. Other regulatory conditions that contribute to annual premiums include minimum liability requirements, taxes and fees, how the state’s high risk pools are funded, and how traffic violations are dealt with.
Population Density – Population density is another big factor at the state level. States with high population densities such as California and Massachusetts have the potential for higher insurance rates because there are more drivers on the road to cause accidents.
Accident Rates – The different states experience different accident rates depending on a whole host of factors. Weather, average driver age, road conditions, and economic conditions all play a part in influencing accident rates. Like population density, a state with a higher rate of accidents per capita will see that reflected in car insurance quotes.
Job Outlook – Believe it or not insurance statistics show a greater propensity for insurance claims among specific occupations. Insurance companies can look at those statistics from one state to the next and partially determine rates of accident claims based on occupation and income levels.
Suffice it to say there are a number of things at the state level that contribute to how much you and I pay for insurance. When you’re searching for car insurance quotes, it’s best not to about worry what your cousin and his neighbor are paying two states away. Your state is what it is and that’s not likely to change. By the same token, if you’re thinking of moving to another state and you’re not restricted in your choices, taking into account the likelihood you’ll be able to find cheap car insurance may be a factor in your decision.
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Top 5 Safest and Affordable Cars for Teens
Experts agree that a teen driver should drive the safest, most reliable, and newest vehicle if at all possible. So does this mean that when it comes to your teen’s safety, less expensive or used vehicles are out of the question? No, but not surprisingly, you will need to do some research in order to find a budget-friendly vehicle with all or most of the now Federally-required safety features found in new vehicles.
Some important things to consider when purchasing a car for a teen driver include:
The five cars listed below are recommended by either Consumer Reports or Edmonds for their affordability and safety features particularly suited to teen drivers. Upon further research, you may find an even lower-priced vehicle, so consider the list below a place to begin shopping for your teen.
The post Five Safe and Affordable Cars for Teens appeared first on CarInsurance.org.
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With insurance fraud costing us all £50 a year, we reveal four of the most egregious cases uncovered by investigators.
Each week, insurance companies uncover a massive 2,670 cases of fraud worth £19 million, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
On an individual level, bogus insurance claims add £50 to the average policyholder’s annual insurance bill.
False home insurance claims are the most common type of fraud with 71,000 cases uncovered during 2011. Conversely, car insurance fraud is the most costly and the insurance industry saved £541 million in 2011 by exposing 45,000 illegitimate claims.
While insurance fraud may be alarmingly common, some cases are more shocking than others. Here are four of the more extreme cases published alongside the ABI’s research.
CASE ONE: The weakest necks in Europe
It’s not difficult to believe that one person could be liberal with the truth ­– or even two or three, but this case of fraud involved a group of 30 men.
Alleging they were on the way to a greyhound racing meeting, the fraudsters hired a coach as transport.
During the journey, they staged an accident involving the car behind and later all claimed to be afflicted with whiplash – though the driver didn’t feel the impact at all.
Upon investigation, it became apparent that the group hadn’t booked any tickets for the supposed outing and four men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud.
According to the ABI, whiplash is the largest factor accounting for the rising cost of car insurance claims. In fact, the high incidence of such claims has given rise to an industry joke that Brits have the weakest necks in Europe.
CASE TWO: The most unlucky family in the UK?
While we all have spells of misfortune, one family tested the boundaries of credibility by putting in more than 100 claims for damage to their home.
The majority of these claims involved alleged storm damage to roofs and damage to walls caused by untraceable vehicles.
Upon discovery of the fraud, the culpable family members each received 15 months in prison.
CASE THREE: The £3.2 million scam
If you thought the coach scam involving 30 people was a large, coordinated scheme, this case uncovered by Bedfordshire Police and the Insurance Fraud Bureau is even more shocking.
The investigation exposed a staged accident gang that it is believed was involved in 180 ‘crash for cash’ accidents, which were associated with 230 insurance claims, worth £3.2 million.
As a result of the investigation, 37 people were sent to prison.
CASE FOUR: Photo forgery
After cutting his thumb during a trip to the gym, one man attempted to put in a claim for a more serious injury. His proof? He attempted to substantiate his claim with a photograph he had downloaded from the internet.
Perhaps he didn’t realise that insurers are likely to require something a little more concrete before paying out.
Crackdown on fraudsters
To accompany the research, the ABI has also announced the launch of the Insurance Fraud Register, which will contain profiles of people who have made illegitimate claims.
Otto Thoresen, ABI's Director General, said: ‘The industry makes no apologies for its zero tolerance approach to insurance fraud. Honest customers are sick of footing the bill for insurance cheats, through higher insurance premiums.
‘The development of the Insurance Fraud Register […] reinforces the strong message that insurance cheats can expect difficulties in obtaining future insurance, credit and other financial products, as well as getting a criminal record.’
**This material is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly encourage our readers not to rely solely on this content, but to seek independent advice when making financial decisions.**
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Loss adjuster insists I produce receipts for items destroyed in a house fire but I don't have any
I lost almost everything when a fire destroyed my home. My RBS home insurance covered contents up to the value of £50,000, but the loss adjuster is refusing to process the claim unless I can produce receipts or photographs of the destroyed items. I simply don't have these and he is, therefore, refusing even to make a temporary offer. AS, Glasgow
Insurers do commonly require evidence to prove you haven't retrospectively upgraded your Amstrad to an iMac, but it's clearly absurd, given the circumstances, to expect you to provide proof of every possession. Shortly after I contact RBS, you contact me to report that the bank has offered you a derisory £10,000. It turns out that, in its haste to prove its good intentions to the Observer, it offered this as an interim payment to tide you over and sent out the explanatory letter afterwards. The press office tells me, in the absence of receipts, tha...
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Buying flashy cars and not planning for the future are just a couple of mistakes people make with their finances.
Unfortunately, there is quite a gap between what people would like to do with their money and what they actually do. For many, buying a house, taking trips with family or even retiring may present difficulties if drastic changes aren’t made in spending and saving habits.
Financial planning is vital for attaining realistic goals. Investing for the future should be a regular habit.
Here are some common financial mistakes that people make.
Not paying bills on time
Many people look at credit cards as a means to improve their lifestyle. So the end of the month rolls around and you receive that dreaded envelope in the post from your credit card company.
If you've ever paid a bill late, you will have probably noticed that you're charged a fine.
Brushing aside your bill or ignoring it all together could be detrimental to your credit rating and cost you more through the interest payments.
Trying to make an impression
Just because your neighbour has a flashy new TV, doesn’t mean you need to get one.
Buying for status is perhaps one of the worst financial mistakes. There is no evidence to prove that impressing others with a fancy car can make you happier. In fact, the debt you take on while acquiring these assets could prove to be costly. Never think about what others have as there are financial consequences of buying more than you need.
Overusing credit cards
Time and time again cards are used to purchase the smallest of things – from a loaf of bread to a packet of crisps.
The cost of the items you have charged becomes the purchase price plus interest. Before you know it, you’ll have filled the car up with petrol, bought a new duvet cover and have acquired the entire Monty Python DVD box set. Next time you make impulsive purchases, ask yourself if what you are buying is worth the interest.
Not planning for the future
Taking control of your spending and managing your money can help pave the way to achieving financial goals.
Failure to plan ahead can be a result of inexperience or may even be attributed to ignorance and fear. Although you may not want to face the future, it is just around the corner and without significant planning, you will find life much more difficult.
Lack of life insurance and health insurance could leave you in a difficult situation if problems were to arise. After all, life insurance is an asset for an individual.
Acting as a guarantor
Those of you with good credit may sometimes be tempted to guarantee a tenancy agreement or mortgage for a friend or family member with a history of financial problems.
But be prepared for what this implies. When you guarantee a mortgage or tenancy agreement, you’re taking on a risk that a professional lender or letting agent won’t take. If they can’t repay the debt, then you will be responsible for it. You may be better off staying away from playing the sugar daddy or a good Samaritan and keep your financial records on track.
**This material is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly encourage our readers not to rely solely on this content, but to seek independent advice when making financial decisions.**
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