Posts Tagged ‘business;finance’
Friday, August 7th, 2009
by Amy Nutt
Car insurance companies are very strict on their insurance packages and most times, they look at your details to be able to award you the necessary insurance. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find car insurance buyers looking for ways to falsify their details in the bid to reduce their premium price and get cheaper auto insurance quotes. In fact, research has shown that in the UK alone, over 10% of all drivers have lied at a point in time about their details or records while in the US, it is estimated at a whopping 27%. Details that are mostly lied about include the age and address of the driver. In some cases, drivers have been known to leave out speeding tickets, drunken driving records and bans on driving they may have received.
Sadly, many drivers seem to think this is the norm and therefore lie about all these when they are applying for an insurance policy. And this is further influenced by the thinking that the companies are mandated to pay and reward them. Most informed drivers know that falsifying your records is seen as fraud while the uninformed drivers think it is ok to lie about their records. The truth is insurance companies are beginning to catch up with this trend and are taking steps against the frequent occurrence of such acts. One of these steps is in the installation of software that will function as a lie detector and will compare all the different data for traces of irregularities. Besides this, insurance companies now have penalties that are meted out on culprits of this act. These include:
1. Cancellation of the Insurance Policy. All culprits will lose their rights to any form of insurance with the company of they are caught. This means that all the monies paid prior to that time will not be retrieved or paid back and the driver will forfeit all attendant benefits.
2. All Claims will be lost and denied. All drivers caught in the act of falsification will be denied all claims. During accidents, most drivers and car owners resort to the insurance company to offer some form of relief. Even if the claims are genuine, the insurance company will desist from making the required payment if it detects false information.
3. Blacklisting in all car insurance companies Depending on the severity of the false information, most insurance companies will willingly blacklist the driver thus making it really hard for him to drive his car.
4. May pay Fines If the driver is found guilty of severe falsification or under the insurance act, he would be required to pay the sum of one hundred thousand dollars and another two hundred thousand dollars if there are other offences discovered. 5. Jail Terms.
In Canada, all offenders could face up to ten years in prison and may be forced to pay a sum greater than five thousand dollars if found guilty. So whatever the case may be, it is in your best interest to tell the truth at all times.
Tags: a, Ajax, b, business, business;finance, c, car, car insurance, f, family, finance, financial, h, health, home, home insurance, i, insurance, j, l, liability, life, n, o, ontario, s, society
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Thursday, July 30th, 2009
by Amy Nutt
Home insurance provides coverage for homeowners against the risk of loss that may occur from damage, fire or theft. Home insurance rates look at the probability that a loss will occur based on the claims experience of the insured, who is the homeowner.
Home insurance uses individual underwriting standards to assess risk. Risk is the potential for a reduction in value that may occur. When a number of these occurrences happen for a particular insured, the insurance company either raises the rate or drops coverage. It is the hope of the insurance company to not have to pay claims and employ assessment factors to understand better the likelihood that a homeowner is exposed to loss and rates it accordingly.
Certain factors beyond the individual homeowners claim experience include zip code ratings, type of home owned, whether any commercial activity takes place in the home, and the home’s overall value in comparison to similar homes within the area. These factors give the insurer the information needed to calculate the probability off loss and adjust rates accordingly.
Hazards are factors that can lead to a loss. There are three hazards, physical or tangible hazard, moral which is character and morale or indifference. For example homeowner A who buys home insurance policy for a home that is rented out to tenants will pay a higher rate than homeowner B buying home insurance on a similar home in which she resides. That is because homeowner A has a higher morale and physical hazard present in the home than homeowner B does. The tenants are not the owner and may not hold the same regard for the home as the homeowner does. This could lead to physical damage, deterioration or even theft.
A census or zip code assessment looks at the instances of crime and vandalism that occurs in a given area. Homeowners purchasing home insurance in high crime areas face higher premiums than homeowners who live in outlying suburbs. There is some controversy over this type of practice and was the basis of a group action lawsuit in Milwaukee in the late 1980s against American Family Insurance Company. The results of the suit led to changes in the underwriting practices in certain minority communities in the City of Milwaukee.
The likelihood that a loss occurs and the probability associated with it results in the rating factor. The rating factor may be set based on community experience or standards and may be reduced over time where individual claims experience results in better a rating.
All insurance provides an indemnity benefit to reimburse an individual for the value of their loss. An insured who believes that the purpose of insurance is to profit or get more than the fair market value of their property do not have the appropriate understanding of what insurance is for. Insurance is not for making a person rich but rather to keep them from becoming poor. To provide piece of mind risk ratings reflect experience, probability and the presence of other measurable variables that can be statistically tested.
Tags: a, auto, b, business, business;finance, c, car, car insurance, consulting, e, f, family, finance, financial, h, health, home, home insurance, i, insurance, investment counseling, l, life, o, q, quota, r, rate, u, v, vehicule
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Sunday, July 19th, 2009
by Guiscard Mathurin
This best summarizes the facts about affordable auto insurance. A lot of people think that they can get affordable auto insurance policy easily, and while this may be true, some underlying factors influence the final outcome. The key for you is to understand each of these factors to see if you qualify for a discount auto insurance plan. Remember, before you get quotes for these plans, you need to supply some information.
Needless to say, the fact that an affordable auto insurance plan could be offered to you would be sensitive to the inputs you provide. Now, that does not mean you should tamper with the inputs just for you to get discount auto insurance. Insurance companies have a stringent check mechanism, and your application for a discount auto insurance might as well get rejected, if it is found you have tampered with the information you have provided.
Worse still, some insurance companies may even offer you discount auto insurance plans. Everything may seem to go smooth for people, and when something unforeseen happens, you would rush to the company to file your claims. This is when things turn sour on the affordable auto insurance policy. You might see that the company either delays the settling of claims inordinately, or worse still, even reject the claim outright.
About 40% of people who apply for affordable auto insurance coverage do not know that their claims can get rejected if the inputs provided by them are misrepresented. Unknowing of this fact, people apply for discount auto insurance, only to find that their request has been denied.
Once you provide inputs to the best of your knowledge, it is on the discretion of the insurance company to give you a affordable auto insurance plan. Remember, insurance companies play it safe by automating the entire exercise online, so you can be sure there would be no bias at all. Importantly, what you need to judge for yourself is if the affordable auto insurance policy is really affordable for you or not. Understanding whether the discount auto insurance policy still meets your financial standings is important for you to decide!
Simply put, a combination of having a good driving history and the place where you stay in are considered the best bets for you to get an affordable auto insurance plan. Though, you cannot do much to influence the place you stay in to get a discount auto insurance, but you can definitely keep a watch on your driving record. If it is good enough, you will surely get a affordable auto insurance policy.
About the Author:
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Tags: a, auto, auto parts, automotive, b, blogs, business, business;finance, e, f, finance, financial, forex, i, insurance, investing, investment, l, m, money, n, o, online, property insurance, r, real estate
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Saturday, July 18th, 2009
by Amy Nutt
Are you thinking of getting car insurance? Are you looking for cheaper ones with the same terms as other more expensive ones? Do you know that it is possible to find cheap car insurance quotes? Have you ever thought of the fact that it is possible your neighbour is getting more ‘bang for his insurance buck’ than you are for a far lesser rate than you are currently paying? If you answered in the affirmative to one of the questions asked above, then you need to read the following tips as they will put you on the path to getting cheaper or inexpensive auto insurance quote.
1. Look Around Before making your Choice Rushing to get a car insurance is not the best idea particularly when you have not done your homework. To get the best bargain, take a look around. Call up as many car insurance companies as possible. The norm is to call three. But in your best interest, call at least 5. This will give you a wide array of choices to pick from. To do this effectively, you can check the business directory or visit the state’s insurance department. All insurance companies often have to register with them before they can become operational. The department can provide you with a list of the many companies. If you live in states like California or New Jersey, car insurance is often more expensive. When investigating the company, look for details such as popularity and capital base. This will give you an idea of their financial health.
2. Make a comparison on different quotes before buying a vehicle The kinds of cars you drive can often be responsible for higher insurance quotes. For example, new car editions, sports cars, and model cars are often easily stolen and therefore often attract higher insurance quotes. So, visit any insurance company and get their different quotes on different cars and then go buy your car. This will at least help you know what you will get when you eventually go looking for the quotes later on.
3. Accessories and Anti-theft devices If your car has more accessories that make it safer such as air bags, anti-theft devices and car alarms, gprs tracking system and other accessories, this can positively affect the insurance quotes as insurance companies are ;likely to look more favourable on any of these.
4. The Age of the car It is more expensive insuring newer cars than the older ones. If you do not really need a new car, why bother buying one. Just a thought anyways. But if you insist on buying one, know that new cars will cost you more. You could easily look up the highest value your car will attract if it is wrecked in the Kelley’s Blue Book. This will ensure you know how much your car’s worth by the insurer’s valuation.
5. Be sure to consider discounts Most insurance companies often offer discounts. Ask for it from them. Some companies offer discounts for good driving records, low mileage etc.
Tags: a, auto, b, business, business;finance, c, car, car insurance, e, f, family, finance, h, home, home insurance, i, insurance, l, legal, life, n, o, p, params, personal, r, roadside assistance, s, society, v, variables
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Thursday, July 9th, 2009
by John Fagan
If you do not feel grateful for your current home insurance policy, it is natural to feel you are being cheated out of a value-for-money proposition. In such a situation, the first step to determine whether or not your feelings are justified is to discuss with a knowledgeable person, such as a trusted neighbor (if they have a good home insurance policy - low cost, wide coverage, they can advise you about the benefits of their chosen insurance company since you share the same locality and should be eligible for similar benefits, other factors remaining constant).
You have no clue as to what reputation the company holds, how financially secure the company is and what sort of competition they are facing from other insurance companies hence you must be patient while making such a decision.
Thus, finding out about the proven ways to secure a lower premium, high coverage home insurance plan such as the strategies mentioned above are just two of the many better ways to buy home insurance.
Therefore when one does sufficient research and includes the above mentioned points you will be able to get a lower premium rate with a great coverage for your home. We will carry on to show more ways of how you can get a great deal so continue reading as you might be one of the lucky people to bargain and get a good deal on your insurance with the company.
A more profitable way to purchase insurance is contacting independent agents as well as company agents. This saves you a lot of time as you will not have to go to the company and they will give you a clear picture of the company benefits, insurance policies, modes of payments and will solve all your doubts at your home itself.
Whether you are choosing a low premium plan or a more expensive home insurance policy, the extent of coverage you get is actually what you bargain for, as today with greater awareness, most homeowners insurance policy buyers have managed to save themselves more than a few hundred dollars annually - just by shopping smart and choosing the right provider and plan.
So, research the various factors determining a good home insurance policy - low premium and good coverage being foremost aspects - and having negotiated properly with the insurer for an affordable, wide coverage home insurance policy, you will see this is a better way to buy home insurance.
Tags: a, auto insurance, b, business;finance, f, finance, h, health insurance, home insurance, i, insurance, investing, life insurance, o, u
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
by Amy Nutt
Life insurance provides a benefit in the form of it policy amount to protect against the loss that arises from premature death. It is based on the insurable interest, or the potential that a direct financial hardship will occur due to the death of the insured. The insured is the individual whose life the death benefit is based on and upon whom we rate the risk.
The variables or factors used to determine Life Insurance rates are based on the habits of the individual. A risk is the potential for loss or a reduction in value. The loss of life produces a financial hardship for those left behind and can be assigned a value. Loss is the reduction in value that in life insurance can be loss of future earning potential or expenses incurred for funeral, bereavement, readjustment and moving forward.
The extent to which a reduction in value may occur is the loss exposure. This loss exposure is enhanced by perils that are situations, which cause loss, affected by these hazards:
- Physical hazard, which is some physical characteristic in the environment that presents a peril (i.e. a banana peel on the ground in front of where you are walking); - Moral hazard that is based on an individual characteristic such as dishonesty, theft and fraud; and, - Morale hazard, which is blatant disregard for the law such as driving under the influence of alcohol or driving over the posted speed limit.
The extent to which a person manages risk influences their rates. For example, smoking can be considered a morale hazard because we know that cigarette smoking is a major contributor to lung cancer. Knowing this and still engaging in the habit means that the person understands the risk but does not care. Since we also know that cigarette smokers die sooner than non-smokers, smokers pay higher insurance premiums for life insurance than do non-smokers.
Another factor that is considered when rating life insurance is the person’s health. This is a valid risk factor because we know that people who exercise are healthier than those who do not exercise and people who make healthier eating choices live longer than those who eat junk food. These are those morale and physical hazards that are measured by the insurance company and priced, based on the probability of it occurring. The more likely an event occurs, the higher the cost to insure.
Insurance companies are not in the business of paying claims. This statement may seem profound but it is a rational one. It benefits insurers and society as a whole if people live long healthy lives. This helps lowers insurance costs and make it easier to afford. The insurer looks at the rate of death or mortality potential within a classification, such as all 35 year-old males. This is based on the law of large numbers and risk pooling. In order for an insurable risk to be ideal, it must be measurable, produce a financial loss, which is indemnity, be accidental in nature (which is why suicide is excluded), and based on a large group. Lower probabilities occur in larger population groups, such as those ages 25 to 45 and higher probabilities in smaller older populations, age 65 to 85.
Tags: a, Ajax, b, business, business;finance, c, car, f, family, finance, financial, h, health, home, home insurance, i, insurance, j, l, liability, life, n, o, s, society
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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
by Caressa Waechter
Everyone workplace carries risks of accidental injury. In some cases, the operation of the business seems normally benign, whereas other businesses are dangerous because of the nature of their operations. It’s for these reasons that employers liability insurance often is required.
Employer’s liability insurance is a kind of coverage through which employers are protected from liabilities arising from disease, fatality, or injury to employees resulting from workplace conditions or practices.
Consider this scenario: A printing employee spills some ink while filling the wells of a printing press. As he turns to get something to wipe up the spill, a co-worker slips in the liquid, falls and breaks a wrist. Even though the incident is clearly an accident, the employer could be held liable for the employee’s injury.
The employer is legally liable for the employee’s injury and any losses resulting from it, such as medical expenses or lost pay. That’s the reason for employer’s liability insurance.
Employer’s liability insurance belongs to an insurance type known as “risk financing.” For example, the now-famous firm Lloyd’s of London was founded by a group of shipping company owners who created a common fund to repay their costs when ships were lost.
The practice began when individuals or companies facing common risks banded together to create a fund to compensate any member that suffered loss. For instance, the famous insurance firm Lloyd’s of London was founded by a group of shipping company owners to repay its fund subscribers when ships were lost at sea. Today there are insurance carriers, including Lloyd’s, who specialize in liability insurance.
By paying a premium to the insurer, the insurer gains protection from what’s known as “third-party claims.” This means a claim brought by someone who’s not party to the contract between the insurer and the insured. In our scenario above, the injured employee could file a claim for lost wages and/or medical expenses against the employer’s liability insurance. In fact, the employer might even help the employee file the claim, rather than have to pay the employee’s expenses out of company revenues.
When an employee makes such a claim, however, the insurance carrier may choose to defend itself and the insured against having to pay. Lengthy legal battles can occur in regards to a liability claim, especially in cases where the responsibility for the injury or illness is complex and uncertain.
Many higher risk employees are engaged in one of the businesses that are typically required to have employer’s liability insurance. Others include building contractors, factories, counselors, physicians and other professionals. The deciding factor in all cases is whether the individual or company engages in a type of business likely to put employees at risk.
Tags: b, business, business insurance, business;finance, entrepreneur insurance, home business insurance, home insurance, i, insurance, l, liability insurance, m, n, s, small business, small business insurance
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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
by Michelle C. Forshee
Nothing focuses the mind as much as how much you are worth than buying a house. In an instant, you are responsible for an asset probably worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. This kind of responsibility leads people to think about protecting their home in case of their death with mortgage life insurance.
This is a great protection for your family in the case of your death, but in the more likely instance of your disability, neither you nor your family will have any protection.
The first place to start to shop for a disability insurance policy is an insurance broker. Normally a professional such as this will review your needs and do an analysis of your income and your mortgage and home related expenses such as property taxes, hazard insurance and maintenance as well as your other finances to find out what would best fit your needs.
Just because you already possess disability insurance from your job or a government program, don’t expect that to cover what is most likely your single largest cost, your mortgage. You have to consider all of your debt when you think about being disabled. Other consumer loans, such as your car or credit cards, as well as other insurance policies, all have to be paid. A standard insurance policy is unlikely to cover all of these besides your mortgage.
The options you need to be aware of when choosing mortgage disability insurance are the benefit period, the elimination (or waiting) period and any riders that may exist.
The simplest feature is the benefit period, which means how long you will be able to receive benefits. As a rule, the benefit period extends to age 65, but if you can shorten it because you can count on some supplementary income before then, you can save a lot of money. Perhaps a younger spouse can start collecting social security, adding to total family income, or you may be able to take out some of your tax deferred retirement funds at 59 .
The next area of interest is the elimination period, how long your disability must exist before you can receive a benefit. Extending this period is one way to lower premiums. If you are in the habit of saving for emergencies, these funds may carry you over for a length of time before a longer term benefit is required.
Many companies will offer certain riders that can be added in certain cases. One of the most usual is an inflation rider, that increases the amount of the benefit as the cost of living increases.
Viewing all of these options can be confusing, but it is important to be conscious of what exists. This will permit you to ask the right questions and get the right policy.
Tags: a, advice, b, business;finance, d, e, f, fianance, finance, h, home, i, insurance, life insurance, m, mortgage, mortgage life insurance, o, property insurance, r, real estate
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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
by A Nutt
Employer’s liability insurance comes in three different types. There is general liability, property insurance and worker’s compensation insurance.
General Liability If you have a policy for general comprehensive liability insurance, it covers you against anyone physically injury themselves or causing damage to property while on your business site.
This type of coverage is often purchased in company with property insurance (see below) for a more complete protection against any type of accident at the place where you usually operate your business or carry out business functions.
Professional Liability For some business such as retail or food services, comprehensive liability coverage is likely enough. However, professional liability coverage is vital for many, including engineers, consultants, medical professionals and accountants.
Professional liability coverage protects a professional against claims of negligence or incompetence.
Sometimes this type of insurances is called ‘errors and omissions’ coverage, since it protects a businessperson in the case of a mistake or incompetence in carrying out his or her professional duties.
This type of coverage is vital for a professional. Claims for negligence or other omissions can be much larger than general liability claims, as evidenced by medial malpractice suits.
Property Insurance Just as a homeowner must have basic property insurance, so too must a business. This kind of coverage is usually very straightforward.
With property insurance, your business is protected against theft or accident or any other loss of your business property. This coverage is in effect even if the equipment is not at your place of business when it is lost, damaged, or stolen.
Again, property insurance is similar to homeowners in that it covers in the case of fire or other disaster. You need to read your policy carefully to determine if it covers any flooding. That type of disaster is often excluded from coverage, as is water damage from sewer backup. Know your policy and add a rider if you think it is important to do so.
Usually property insurance is packaged with general liability insurance in a single package at a basic rate.
Worker’s Compensation Insurance Worker’s compensation insurance is an employer’s liability insurance that provides coverage for medical or disability claims by employees.
If an employee has an accident or a job related illness, they will file a claim under worker’s compensation.
Each state mandates that businesses with even one employee provide this coverage, and most have pools to help small businesses cope with the expense. It can be expensive to own a policy, particularly if a former employee or employee has a claim.
The amount of a company’s premium is based on a formula calculation. The formula takes into account the services offered by your company and the payroll each pay period.
Requirements vary for each state regarding how much you need to pay into the fund. Make the assumption that you will need to pay for each employee in your business, even though there are times that you as the owner and members of your family are exempted from workers comp insurance.
Depending on your state, you may be able to shop around for the best rates and service.
Tags: a, Ajax, b, business, business;finance, c, car, car insurance, e, f, family, finance, h, health, health insurance, home, home insurance, i, insurance, j, l, liability, life, life insurance, n, o
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Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
by Caressa Waechter
Workers compensation insurance is mandatory in all states nationwide. You may have heard it called ‘workers comp’ for short. It’s insurance that will provide for medical care for an employee should they get hurt on the job. This also protects the employer from being sued by the employee.
It’s not limited to just injuries sustained while on the work premises. It may cover employees who are en route to another destination, but on company business and meet with an accident. It can also cover things like illnesses. And most states require a company to have it by law.
Time lost on the job can be devastating for a family. Through this insurance, the injured party and their family can be compensated and sustain their current lifestyle. This insurance doesn’t consider blame, or who is at fault for the injury, but deals with getting treatment and protecting liabilities.
A workers comp package must be bought apart from other insurances. Many businesses carry the BOPs, or ‘business owners policy’, but that doesn’t deal with injured workers. The company must purchase their workers compensation insurance ‘outside’ of the others.
It was at the beginning of the 20th century that workers compensation arose. Public outrage at bad working conditions, and the devastation and loss due to injury on these jobs, brought it to be. Americans stood up and got the laws passed protecting the individual worker in the event of any injury suffered while on the job.
Both social security insurance and unemployment insurance are younger than workers compensation insurance. In 1910, California first put it into effect, and most off other states followed suit. This type of ‘no-fault’ insurance protected both employer and employee from harm and damages.
The benefits of workers compensation insurance is more than one might think. There are services that can be had for whatever type of injury that is incurred. There’s vocational rehabilitation services, permanent disability benefits, temporary disability, and many more supportive services that are covered through workers comp.
Any worker who gets injured on the job has a right to treatment. Workers comp will see that they get it. From hospitalization right down to physician care, it’s designed to care for the employee in whatever way is reasonable for alleviating the pain and circumstances. An employer must act within 30 days for arranging treatment.
When looking under Part One of the workers comp policy, you’ll find an agreement by the company to cover all compensation in a prompt manner. The payments are actually ‘imposed’ upon the employer by law. The law in question is ‘Workers Compensation Law’, and if not through that, then it’s done by the laws of the state listed on the policy.
Employers must purchase Workers Compensation insurance from a licensed insurance company. If not, then they must go through the State Compensation Insurance Fund, or the (SCIF). Sometimes a business may take advantage of a commercial broker-agent in order to get assistance with purchasing workers compensation insurance, and with information concerning the SCIF.
Workers Compensation insurance is a law, and a right. Anytime you choose to take a job, you should know whether or not that employer has workers compensation insurance or not. If not, you will have to work there at your own risk. It really doesn’t pay to do this, because accidents happen, and if it happens to you without workers comp, it can be a devastating experience.
Tags: b, business insurance, business;finance, e, entrepreneur insurance, h, home business insurance, home insurance, i, insurance, l, liability insurance, small business, small business insurance, w, workers comp, workers compensation insurance, workmans compensation
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