Cruise control: From insurance to packing tips

If you're taking a cruise, here are some ways to ensure smooth sailing.

Insurance: Trip cancellation and travel insurance is a small price to pay if you must cancel a cruise because of a crisis, especially now when losing a job looms large for many. Also with medical evacuation costs often running into the tens of thousands of dollars, travel insurance could be a smart investment if, for nothing else, peace of mind.

Packing: Never pack anything in your luggage you couldn't stand losing forever, and, to save space, don't pack anything you don't intend to wear at least twice or that isn't readily washable. Most ships (especially mega-vessels) provide self-service laundry facilities onboard, so don't be afraid to pack on the light side.

Tape your name, address, phone and cell numbers inside your luggage. Outside labels are as abused as the suitcases themselves and might not survive the journey. Inside, they will.

Stuff an extra collapsible duffel bag or two into your suitcase. At the end of your vacation, you'll be glad to have additional luggage to store your dirty laundry or those never-thought-you'd-buy mementos.

Before your trip, take a snapshot of your luggage inside and out. This will make it easier for airline or cruise personnel to identify your belongings if they are lost. The photos also might prove useful for insurance purposes.

Documents: Always carry your cruise and airline documents on your person and not in your luggage or carry-on bag, which might easily be misplaced or lost in the confusion and hurry of travel.

Food to go: In these tight times, penny-pinching makes sense. For instance, before heading off to the beach or excursion, consider packing a lunch. Either ask your ship's waiter or room service to prepare something for you, or head to the buffet and pile on your own favorites for the day's outing. Not only will this save you money and time in scouting for a place to eat, but, in a foreign country, also dealing with currency exchanges.

Sodas: Are you or the kids hooked on sodas? Instead of running up a large tab for pop, consider purchasing the cruise line's all-you-can-drink sales. Prices vary, but anticipate anything from around $35 and up for a week's worth of never-ending fizzy beverages.

The right cabin: Hate noise and prefer a calm cabin? Avoid staterooms next to triple and quad cabins, especially during summer and holiday sailings, when you're more likely to find your neighbors are not singles or couples but families with kids.

Also keep away from rooms near elevators and utility rooms (such as the laundry) or those above or below the show lounge, casino or pool deck.

Not all private balconies are private. Check out the printed deck plan in the line's brochure to see if your neighbor above has a bird's-eye view of you and your veranda.

Staying healthy: Norwalk virus has ruined many a passenger's cruise, and the best way to avoid a few days confined to your cabin is to soap your hands meticulously. Just as important, when you dine at the buffet, either wear gloves or use a napkin to ladle your food into your plate. Don't be embarrassed. Your neighbor on line might smirk inside, but you'll have the last laugh if others wind up catching the highly contagious virus.

Shopping bargains: One shrewd shopper we know never buys any mementos from the ship's gift shop until the last day of the cruise, when many T-shirts and novelty items are mostly half off.

You might find cheaper excursion bargains ashore than onboard. Lots of savvy cruisers simply step off the gangway and sign up for excursions with the myriad tour operators that typically line the pier.

Sightseeing: If you want to sightsee during a Caribbean cruise, consider renting a car or hiring a taxi for a guided tour of the island. You'll probably save a bunch over the ship's shore excursions and have a lot more say on how long you want to stay at the beach or linger over lunch.

If you are the go-it-alone type, you might find a cruise guidebook, a book on ports of call and, of course, the Internet invaluable in planning your own adventures.

Onboard art auctions: You might want to think twice before you shell out hard-earned money for a print or other painting or lithograph at the ship's onboard auction. You can attend the auctions just for the entertainment. No purchases are necessary.

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Beware of roofing scam and claims of hail damage

By Bill Garwood

For the Journal-Constitution

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Most of us are familiar with the old proverb: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” This proverb appears to be playing out in metro Atlanta and now in North Georgia.

Less than scrupulous roofing companies —- some local, some from out of state —- are currently going door to door offering free assessments of roofs for potential hail damage. Not surprisingly they are finding it. In many cases, these companies will even facilitate the homeowner’s claim with his or her insurance company.

The attraction to this scheme is natural. New roofs cost thousands of dollars. Who wouldn’t want their insurance to cover this cost? Unfortunately, the truth is that hail damage is much less common and destructive than these roofing companies would like you to believe.

Some facts

To understand why hail damage is not so destructive it’s helpful to know a little about how common asphalt composition shingles are made. Trying to keep it simple, the base mat of asphalt composition shingles is made of either paper or glass fiber. The base mats are coated with an asphalt mixture including some mineral stabilizers.

On top of this, granules are applied. The granules are usually crushed stone coated with a ceramic material. It is the granules that give the shingles their color. The granules also help protect the shingles from the effects of the sun.

It is the loss of the granules and the subsequent exposure of the asphaltic mat that can result in real damage to the shingles. Because shingles begin losing granules the day they are manufactured, shingle manufacturers typically install excess granules. In most cases hail does not remove enough granules to compromise the shingles.

The scam

If your car tires fail and you make a claim against the tire manufacturer’s warranty, the manufacturer will prorate the value of the existing tires based upon their age. The same is true of a warranty from a shingle manufacturer.

The warranty will pay out less on a 15-year-old shingle than on a 5-year-old shingle. This is not true, however, for the insurance coverage on a hail-damaged roof.

The insurance company will pay the same amount for replacement of a 15-year-old roof as they would for replacement of a 5-year-old roof. This makes insurance claims for hail damage extremely tempting. The insurance companies will send out an adjuster to determine if the damage is real. In many cases the adjusters do not get on the roof and actually count on a roofer’s eyes to make their assessment.

The problem

You may ask: “If my insurance company says they will pay why should I care?” Insurance companies are not in the business of losing money. If enough of these claims are paid out, we will all eventually suffer in the form of higher insurance premiums.

In addition to this longer- term problem, there are numerous reports of the “hail chasers” doing substandard or incomplete work.

Avoiding the scam

The following is a simple list of precautions that, if followed, should minimize your chances of having a bad roofing experience.

> Always get assessments and estimates from several roofing contractors. Have roofers give you references you can call.

> Carefully read any document that you are asked to sign. Even better, have it reviewed by an attorney.

> Have the roofer you choose provide you with receipts from the roofing supply company ensuring that they have paid for the shingles and call to verify that the bill has been paid.

> Have the roofer you choose provide you with a waiver of lien for themselves and any sub-contractors they may use.

> Consider hiring an independent roofing consultant or home inspector to assess your roof.

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Baucus' huge challenge: health-care reform

WASHINGTON >> Sixteen years after President Bill Clinton called for universal health care, Congress is once again taking up the thorny task of reforming health care in America.
The point man this time is Democrat Max Baucus, an unassuming, neighborly lawyer from Helena, Mont., who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

For the past year, Baucus has been holding hearings and meeting with various interests to cobble together consensus on what he says is the most difficult legislative challenge of his career.

Baucus, 67, has set broad parameters on what he wants accomplished: It must be bipartisan, it must include a combination of public and private resources, and it must be delivered to President Barack Obama's desk by the end of the year. Everything else, he said, is pretty much negotiable.

"I don't have an ideology," he said.

Comprehensive health-care reform hasn't been tackled in Congress since Clinton's efforts spawned a national backlash that helped cost the Democrats control of Congress 15 years ago.

But advocates say the issue has to be addressed — as unemployment rises, health costs increase and about one in four Americans are either underinsured or have no coverage. With a popular president who wants health-care reform, Baucus knows this may be the only window for action.

Gannett Washington Bureau sat down with the Montana Democrat to talk about the issue and his expectations:

You've called health care a moral and economic imperative. What do you mean?

We can't keep going on like this. Costs are going to go through the roof. American companies will not be able to compete with other countries' companies. Look at GM. They're in a world of hurt in many respects because of their health-care bills. They signed new contracts with employees and retirees to give Cadillac coverage. Holy mackerel, that's expensive. When you buy a car, close to $1,500 of that car is health-care costs in this country. In Japan, it's about $400. If these costs keep going up in America, this make it very, very hard to compete.


It's the right thing to do. People should have health insurance. The United States should have a system where you get access to good, affordable quality health care.
What's the problem with the current system?

We don't have a health-care system in America today. It's a hodgepodge, a collection of many different groups, each providing health care in one way or another: doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceuticals. As a consequence, there's a lot of waste in the current system, and health- care quality is very uneven in some parts of America. Many people don't have health insurance, and costs are very high because of the waste.
And you think the system improperly rewards quantity over quality?

We pay doctors and hospitals based on volume. The more services a doctor provides, the more a hospital provides, the more (they) get paid. We don't reimburse on the basis of quality. If you want to buy a new car, you want to know something about the quality of the car. You go to Consumer Reports, you ask a buddy, you kick the tires, you open and close the doors, and you try to get a sense of what the quality is. You don't do that with doctors because you don't know enough about what they do to ask the right questions.
What kind of plan would you like to see in place?

We spend twice as much per capita on health care than do people in the next-most-expensive country. We're the only industrialized country without health insurance for everybody. That's incredible when you stop and think about it. So what's my perfect plan? Basically, I'd like to see a system in America where everyone knows that he or she (has) quality health insurance and will get quality care and costs are manageable, (increasing yearly) at no more than roughly inflation.
Even though Democrats control Congress, you've talked about a plan that has Republican buy-in as well. Why?

I think it's very important to have a bipartisan bill because then it's more sustainable. It will have more national support.
Will this be any different from 1993, when President Bill Clinton's proposal for universal health care went nowhere?

We've learned lessons from '93. The (Clinton) administration gave this 1,600-page bill to Congress and said: "Here it is. Pass it." Obama, on the other hand, said: "Hey Congress, here are some principles. You do it and make it better because you'll give us more buy-in and expose it to more people around the country, so we're less likely to make mistakes."
And you think the time is right?

The problems are much greater now than they were in '93. The costs are much higher. The demand for change is much greater. The stars just seem to be aligned.

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Manufacturer should pay for towing of new car

April 26, 2009

DEAR BRUCE: My husband and I purchased our first new automobile. We were thrilled. We have had so many used cars, and we finally decided that we could afford a new car. You can imagine how unhappy we have been since the car has had to be towed four times. Yes, that's right, four times in the first six weeks that we have owned it. It just keeps quitting. I have to say that the dealer has been very, very accommodating in terms of loaning us automobiles and is sympathetic, telling us that there will be no cost other than the towing. They pay for the first towing but they say that's the only one that they will pay for. Is this reasonable? — G.P. in Pennsylvania

DEAR G.P.: I don't find that reasonable at all. I am assuming that you don't carry towing insurance, either, with an organization such as AAA or on your regular liability insurance policy. You might want to consider picking up one of these coverages. They are very inexpensive. There also is a plan available with most cell companies, if you have a cell phone.

Having said that, if a brand new automobile is breaking down so many times, it seems to me that the manufacturer or the dealer or some combination thereof should pay for the towing. I would bring this to the manufacturer's attention and ask for their opinion.

DEAR BRUCE: My daughter, 25, has started selling items at craft shows. Her challenge is the financial resource needed to purchase the items initially for resale later. I am contemplating investing in this in one of two ways. I would either lend her the money as a loan, which she will repay in installments until she has enough capital to make the purchases herself, or put up the money for the inventory each time, four or five times a year, and then take a percentage of her take.

Her investment is the booth and rental time. We are estimating that she will make between $1,000 and $2,500. I thought 10 percent would be a good percentage — S.W., via e-mail

DEAR S.W.: Since the amount of money is so modest, a straight loan to your daughter, under whatever terms you two agree on, would be the easiest and cleanest way to handle this. You might wish to make it open-ended and, assuming that your daughter is a responsible person, that should work for both of you. I would not get involved in a percentage deal.

DEAR BRUCE: I backed out in my car and hit a lady who was parked across the street. I know that I am wrong. I offered to have the car fixed at my body shop. They estimated the most it would be was $400. She agreed to get it done there. Then all of a sudden she decided to get two other estimates and they wanted $700 and $1,100. Now she says that she wants me to pay her in cash the highest amount. I told her that I would settle and I would take care of this myself as I did not want to make a claim against my insurance company. She demands to know my insurance company's name. Do I have to give it to her? — Reader, via e-mail

DEAR READER: You are not obliged to tell her about your insurance. You must understand that you have no obligation to pay her anything until such time as a court of proper jurisdiction orders you to pay and then they would set the number. When someone is without question, wrong, you make a settlement but when the other side gets unreasonable and demands that you pay the higher amount you simply say you will pay this amount or she will have to go to court and have a judge order that you pay more. The likelihood is that for this kind of money she is not going to make a trip to court. The very basic understanding that you must have is that until such time as a court orders a payment you have no obligation to pay. The reality is though that when you know you are wrong, why go through all the pain of a court appearance? It's obvious she's trying to make an extra buck.

Send your questions to: Smart Money, P.O. Box 2095, Elfers, FL 34680. E-mail to: bruce@brucewilliams.com. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

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Consider hidden costs before buying a new car

These are interesting times for potential car buyers. Because so many people have become wary of the faltering economy and are avoiding auto showrooms, nervous car manufacturers have been slashing prices, issuing rebates and offering extremely competitive financing terms - at least to people with sound credit - to lure in business.

But for many folks, the temptation to take advantage of those great offers is tempered by fears that government bailouts for automakers won't necessarily ensure their long-term solvency. That uncertainty, in turn, casts doubt on the viability of their long-term product warranties.

If you are thinking about trading in your old car for a newer model, keep these financial factors in mind:

l Depreciation. New cars typically lose 20 percent or more in value once driven off the lot. Thus, on a $25,000 loan with 10 percent down, you would automatically owe $22,500 for a car that might only be worth $20,000. If you had to sell it suddenly, could you come up with an extra $2,500 to pay off the loan?

l Insurance. Insuring a new car is often much more expensive than with older vehicles. Before purchasing, ask your carrier for estimates on a few different models for comparison's sake. And ask for a quote on gap coverage, which will pay the difference between the car's actual cash value (factoring in depreciation) and your outstanding loan or lease balance, should the car be stolen or totaled in an accident.

l Taxes and fees. When calculating how much car can you afford, don't forget about sales tax and fees for title, registration and license plates that could add anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars to the purchase price. Ask the Department of Motor Vehicles for current fee rates.

l Your credit rating. A strong credit rating will qualify you for the best interest rates from auto manufacturers' financing arms, banks and credit unions. But with only fair or mediocre credit, you'll likely pay higher rates and qualify for lower loan limits - if you're eligible for a loan at all.

Review your credit reports before seeking financing so you can correct any errors, omissions and fraudulent activities that could seriously impact your credit score. You're allowed to order one free report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus at www.annual
creditreport.com.

You can purchase your credit scores for about $15 each at www.myfico.com. Or, to estimate your credit score for free, visit What's My Score, a financial literacy program run by Visa Inc. (www.whatsmyscore.org/estimator.) The site also features tips on repairing damaged or unestablished credit scores.

l Do research. Find out in advance the invoice price (dealer's cost, minus incentives) and bargain up from that, rather than down from the manufacturer's recommended "sticker price." Research invoice amounts online at sites like Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com), www.edmunds.com, and www.cars.com.

l Trade-ins vs. separate sale. You may prefer the convenience of trading in your old car with the dealer, although you can probably get more selling it on your own. Just be sure to treat it as a separate transaction after you've settled on a sales price and loan terms.

Remember, there are many car-buying considerations besides color and option packages that will impact your financial bottom line. For a comprehensive guide to buying or leasing a car, including financing considerations, visit Visa's free personal financial management site, Practical Money Skills for Life (www.practi
calmoneyskills.com/car).

Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. To participate in a free, online Financial Literacy and Education Summit go to www.practicalmoneyskills.com/summit2009.

GM to Cut Health Care, Insurance Coverage

Retirees who were paid salaries will take a hit, as the Detroit-based automaker will cut health care benefits and reduce life-insurance coverage for some who are under 65, according to an internal document obtained by TheStreet.com. GM, which is straining under employee obligations and corporate debt, spent $103 billion to fund so-called legacy pensions and retiree health care costs from 1993 to 2007 alone.

GM, the largest U.S. carmaker, said Feb. 10 it plans to slash 10,000 salaried jobs and lower pay by as much as 10%.

The company will withdraw health care benefits for salaried retirees, surviving spouses and eligible dependents under age 65 who may receive Medicare. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2010. Starting May 1, 2009, life-insurance coverage provided by GM at two times a worker's salary will be cut to 75% of the salary upon retirement. After 10 years, the rate will be reduced by an additional 25%. Current retirees also will be affected.

GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said the company would establish a company-funded health reimbursement account, called an HRA. GM will make a $260 tax-free monthly contribution to an HRA for affected retirees or surviving spouses. When a retiree reaches age 65, an additional monthly pension payment of $300, announced last summer, will be paid.

P.S. OPTR Price Nearly Doubles Overnight!
Profitable, big-cap biotech stocks will lead any recovery, says Adam Feuerstein. Case in point: His Optimer Pharmaceuticals pick for the Biotech Select model portfolio, which closed at $4.60 on 11/10 and shot up to $9.18 the next day. See the rest of his picks— get a free trial today.

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9 ways to lower your auto insurance costs

1. Ask for higher deductibles

Request higher deductibles on collision and comprehensive (fire and theft) coverage and lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive cost by 15 percent to 30 percent.

2. Drop collision and/or comprehensive coverages on older cars

It may not be cost effective to have collision or comprehensive coverage on cars worth less than $1,000 because any claim you make would not substantially exceed annual cost and deductible amounts. Auto dealers and banks can tell you your car’s worth.

3. Buy a “low profile” car

Before you buy, check insurance costs because fast and expensive cars that cost more to repair and are a favorite target for thieves have much higher insurance costs.

4. Take advantage of low mileage discounts

Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive a limited number of miles a year.

5. Consider insurance cost in your neighborhood

Costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest in cities where there is more traffic congestion.

6. Discount possibility: automatic seat belt or air bag

You may be able to take advantage of discounts on some coverage if you have automatic seat belts and/or air bags.

7. Discount possibility: anti-lock brakes

Anti-lock brakes improve steering control and stability when a car is brought to a stop, thus reducing accidents. Some states, including Florida, New Jersey and New York, require insurers to give discounts for cars equipped with the brakes and some insurers have a nationwide discount in place.

8. Comparison shop

Prices for the same coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars, so it pays to shop around. Look online, ask friends or call your state insurance department. But don’t shop price alone.

The insurer you select should offer both fair prices and excellent service. Quality personal service may cost a bit more, but provides added conveniences. Ask companies what they would do to lower your costs and check the financial ratings of the companies with an online search engine to make sure they’re financially sound.

Once you’ve narrowed the field to three insurers, get price quotes.

9. Discount possibility: “other” discounts

Some insurers offer discounts for more than one car, no accidents in three years, drivers over 50 years of age, driver training courses, anti-theft devices, and good grades for students.

Source: Insurance Information Network of California

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Co-op joins pay-as-you-go car insurance market

Car insurers are launching a second wave of pay-as-you-drive schemes, offering the chance of cheaper premiums not only to the under-25s but to more mature drivers who rarely travel in the rush hour or late at night.

The motoring technology uses a global positioning system, and includes an anti-theft tracking device, to record the mileage and hours of use of a vehicle, and is more advanced than previous schemes.

Co-operative Insurance has launched a new policy based on the technology, which it claims could reduce insurance costs for young drivers from the equivalent of 5p a mile to 1p. Three other insurers are working on similar schemes.

At least 2 million (5%) UK drivers are thought to be uninsured, according to the Motor Insurers' Bureau, an organisation which compensates victims of uninsured driver-related accidents and pays out more than £500m a year from funds levied from the industry.

The Co-op says the average cost of cover for young drivers rose by nearly four times the rate of inflation last year, with premiums soaring to levels that could lead to an "uninsurable generation".

Its analysis of industry figures suggests under-25s typically pay £1,463 a year, with young drivers last year suffering premium rises of 11.5% compared with an inflation rate of 3.1%.

"With this continuing trend, which directly reflects the increased risk posed by young drivers, a whole generation could become uninsurable, adding to the already growing problem in the UK," said David Neave, director of general insurance at the Co-op.

"As long as young drivers are properly educated about the risks of the road and drive responsibly, there is no reason why they should be priced out of the market. Knowledge is a powerful tool to cut the number of young driver deaths on the road, which currently runs at a shocking 13 a week."

The Co-op is working with Coverbox, a web-based brokerage company, to develop the technology alongside Allianz Insurance, Equity Red Star and Groupama Insurances.

A black box is placed in a car, usually under the dashboard. Premiums are then calculated on an individual's actual risk depending on whether the car is used in off-peak, peak or "super-peak" times.

Before young drivers can apply for the Co-op scheme they must answer a series of questions on the dangers of speeding, drink-driving, driving while tired, not wearing a seat belt, and vehicle insurance, under a scheme run with road safety charity Brake.

Penny Searles, commercial director of Coverbox, said: "The big problem for insurers is the cost of the hardware which has to be put into vehicles. You can't add them to insurers' premiums, otherwise you would never sell them anything." But a deal with manufacturers in Italy meant Coverbox would pay for the equipment, which would normally set drivers back at least £300. Its partner companies are expected to meet installation costs or include them in their premiums. The Co-op claims comprehensive cover can cost as little as 1p a mile.

Changing driver habits

The scheme had been trialled on around 50 customers over six months, and drivers have already said they are changing their driving habits by making fewer journeys as a result of the information they gleaned.

Standard insurance quotes are based on a driver's age, marital status, home area, employment status and estimates of mileage each year, and Searles said a more sophisticated system based on true mileage and the times at which you drive could be cheaper for many drivers.

Retired drivers or second car drivers who used their car during the day outside rush hour might be among those who could benefit from pay-as-you-drive schemes, she added.

Norwich Union, the first insurer to offer pay-as-you-drive cover, dropped the product for new customers at the end of 2007 because it did not get the expected take-up and, it said, the motor industry showed little inclination to install equipment as standard.

Only More Than is thought to remain from the first generation of such schemes. It has offered the technology since 2006, saying it cuts its standard rate by 40% for 18-25-year-olds driving between 6am and 11pm. Driving the car outside those hours, when the chances of a car crash are highest, brings an additional fee of £25 a time.

So You've Got a Fast Car...That Don't Impress Me Much

The car you drive says masses about your personality, age, wealth and fashion sense, research by Saga Car Insurance (http://www.saga.co.uk/insurance/car-insurance/)* has revealed. Although owners of luxury cars and supercars, such as Rolls Royce's and Ferrari's, may be hoping to demonstrate great taste, they are more likely to be seen as 'flashy' (21% and 22%), particularly by women (23% and 24%).

Although convertibles like the Mazda MX-5 were only given a-thumbs-up from just one in ten (10%), it was enough to secure it as the car of choice for the fashion conscious. By comparison, the research suggested that the cars with the least fashionable owners are city cars e.g. Smart, family saloons e.g. Ford Mondeo and estates e.g. Volvo (3%).

As far as money is concerned, two thirds (66%) of the population assume that owners of luxury cars are the wealthiest, closely followed by drivers of executive saloons (65%) like the Mercedes E-class. Surprisingly, men seem to correlate wealth with style of car more than women, as 68% think luxury car drivers are well off vs. 64% women. Owners of supercars trail behind in spending power, with just over half (53%) perceiving them as wealthy, despite the average selling price of a Ferrari topping £100,000. Owners of MPV's (multi purpose vehicles e.g. Renault Espace) are bottom of the wealth stakes, receiving just 1% of the vote.

The perceived age of the person behind the wheel is also directly related to the wheels in question. The research suggests owners of luxury cars are thought of as being the oldest drivers, with the average age believed to be over 50. In comparison, if you want to appear young then hatchbacks are advised, as drivers are considered to be in their mid 30s.

If you are over 50 and want to benefit from car insurance (http://www.saga.co.uk/insurance/car-insurance/) tailored specifically for the over 50's get a quote from saga today.

Typically perceived ages of drivers by car type:

1. Luxury = 52 years old

2. Estate = 48 years old

3. Executive Saloon = 46 years old

4. 4x4 = 44 years old

5. Family Saloon = 44 years old

6. MPV = 41 years old

7. Supercar = 40 years old

8. City car = 40 years old

9. Coupe = 39 years old

10. Convertible = 37 years old

11. Hatchback = 36 years old

Estate and MPV drivers are those most welcome on the roads, with half the public believing that they are the safest drivers (50%). By comparison owners of convertibles, coupes and supercars are regarded by almost two thirds (63%) as being 'fast' drivers.

It's clear that cars, once deemed the ultimate in desirability, are now held in lower regard because of the lack of 'green' credentials and the increase in running costs. While almost a third (30%) believe city car drivers to be aware of environmental concerns, a third (33%) think the total opposite of 4x4 owners.

Roger Ramsden, Chief Executive of Saga Services, commented: "It seems drivers and pedestrians alike hold strong views on particular car types. Environmental concerns and fuel prices have contributed to a change of attitude towards motoring."

Editorial Notes:

*Survey carried out by Opinium Research for Saga Motor Insurance between the 4th and 8th September 2008 among a sample of 2,040 UK representatives.

**Car types and examples used:

• City Car - Smart, G-Whiz

• Hatchback - Honda Civic, VW Golf

• Family Saloon - Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra

• Executive Saloon - BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class

• Luxury - Rolls Royce Phantom, Bentley Continental GT

• Convertible - Mazda MX-5, MGF

• Coupe - Nissan 350Z, Jaguar XK

• 4X4 - Range Rover, Isuzu Trooper

• Estate - Volvo V70, Subaru Legacy

• Supercar - Ferrari F430, Porsche 911

• MPV - Renault Espace, Ford Galaxy

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AIG may sell US auto insurance unit to Zurich

Feb 13, 2009 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- AIG | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- American International Group, or AIG, which was rescued by the government's funds, is reportedly in advanced talks with Swiss insurer Zurich to sell its US auto insurance unit.

The auto insurance unit, which is part of AIG's personal lines unit, is expected to be sold for approximately $2 billion. The unit being sold includes the 21st Century Insurance Group Business.

Previously, the American insurer had announced its intentions to sell parts of its personal lines property/casualty businesses and life insurance operations. Zurich said that it plans to expand its North American personal lines and global life insurance businesses with new deals.

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For full details on American Internat Group (AIG) click here. American Internat Group (AIG) has Short Term PowerRatings of 7. Details on American Internat Group (AIG) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

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Insure.com Named as a 'Best List' Web Site By Kiplinger's Personal Finance for Third Year in a Row

DARIEN, Ill., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Insure.com, Inc. has been recognized by Kiplinger's Personal Finance as one of the best sites for life insurance for the third year in a row. "The Best List" appears in Kiplinger's December 2008 issue.

Insure.com was noted for revealing to consumers the "detailed criteria" that one must meet in order to have a life insurance application approved at the price shown. Life insurance shoppers at Insure.com can instantly compare rates from up to 30 leading companies, but can also view the latest financial strength ratings and see the detailed health criteria needed to qualify for the rate shown, such as maximum weights, tobacco use requirements, medical condition guidelines and traffic-violation restrictions.

"We are very pleased to have again earned this prestigious recognition from Kiplinger's Personal Finance," said Robert Bland, CEO. "Life insurance premiums are now at all-time lows, but price is only part of the equation. Our life illustrations show the latest financial stability ratings for each life insurance company and, as Kiplinger's has noted, we automatically include detailed acceptance guidelines on every life insurance quote, which makes it easy and convenient for individuals with health histories such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes to view the lowest possible life insurance rates being offered by the leading U.S. life insurance companies."

Insure.com provides complete information for a life insurance shopper to make an informed decision and get the best value for their life insurance dollar.

Insure.com gives you instant quotes from up to 30 leading life insurance companies and includes the latest financial stability ratings from A.M. Best, Fitch, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and TheStreet.com with every life insurance illustration. Life insurance shoppers wanting free quotes or advice based upon their own criteria can call 1-800-556-9393 or visit .

About Insure.com

Originally founded in 1984 as Quotesmith Corporation, Insure.com owns and operates a comprehensive consumer information service and companion insurance brokerage service that caters to the needs of self-directed insurance shoppers. Visitors to the Company's flagship Web site, , are able to obtain free, instant car insurance quotes, instant life insurance quotes, home, business and health insurance quotes from leading insurers and have the freedom to buy online or by phone from any company shown. Insure.com also plays home to over 2,000 originally authored articles on various insurance topics and also provides free insurance decision-making tools that are not available from any other single source. Insure.com generates revenues from receipt of industry-standard commissions, including back-end bonus commissions and volume-based contingent bonus commissions that are paid by participating insurance companies. We also generate advertising revenues from the sale of Web site traffic to various third parties. Shares of the Company's common stock trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol NSUR.

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Finding Cheaper Auto Insurance Quotes Online With OnlineAutoInsurance.com

		OnlineAutoInsurance.com - Auto Insurance Comparison. (PRNewsFoto/OnlineAutoInsurance.com) LOS ANGELES, CA UNITED STATES

    LOS ANGELES, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Finding cheap auto insurance
(http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/cheap/) rate quotes has been made
easier by OnlineAutoInsurance.com. With the use of the World Wide Web, a
quote comparison from multiple companies can be accomplished instantly
online with the completion of one set of basic questions. No personal
information is required for premium rates and there are no obligations to
purchase a policy online.

  (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080311/CLTU015LOGO)

  In the previous years, shopping for cheaper insurance could be a
lengthy and time consuming process; however, today's Internet technology
has allowed many insurers to provide their rates through websites such as
OnlineAutoInsurance.com with the completion of only one single form. This
benefits both the insuring companies and the consumers because it
establishes a fast connection between the two in order to expose the
possibility of a business relationship.

  Carriers benefit from the efficiency of making their quotations easily
obtainable by consumers without the need of completing unique
questionnaires or make telephone calls to multiple agents. Automated
web-based rating engines use information entered to generate estimated
premiums from an array of leading insurers.

  Consumers benefit from the fast access to different auto insurance
quotes (http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/) and options from many
carriers, allowing users to compare and choose to purchase a policy from
the cheapest automobile insurance company. Within minutes, visitors may
insure their vehicles via electronic applications and signatures to print
out evidence of coverage.

  Operated by a brokerage, OnlineAutoInsurance.com was launched as an
online extension to their multiple brick and mortar locations, not only to
offer the ability to find cheap rates online, but to also provide answers
to frequently asked questions, educative articles with RSS feeds, tips,
guides and helpful tools available at no expense through their Learning
Center. Licensed agents are also available for assistance and to provide
additional information.

  A wave of United State consumers are turning to the Internet for their
insuring needs due to the time-cutting ability to instantly compare and
research financial products and be knowledgeable prior to committing to
policy purchase.

  United States consumers may visit http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/
for fast, free car insurance quotation comparisons with no obligation of
purchase.

SOURCE OnlineAutoInsurance.com

No Pressure Insurance Quotes Shopping Through InsuranceQuotesUS.com

03.11.2008 12:23:19 With increased feedback from satisfied consumers, InsuranceQuotesUS.com has created a faster, more efficient way to compare insurance quotes.

(live-PR.com) - North Hollywood, CA ( Live-pr ) September 23, 2008 — With increased feedback from satisfied consumers, InsuranceQuotesUS.com has created a faster, more efficient way to (www.insurancequotesus.com) compare insurance quotes. Consumers looking for auto insurance quotes, health insurance quotes, life insurance quotes, long term care insurance quotes and more, can find them in all one place.

Using one form can gain an individual access to thousands of insurance companies in the (www.insurancequotesus.com) InsuranceQuotesUS.com database. With such a large database, consumers are sure to find the most inexpensive insurance quotes anywhere. Within a few minutes shoppers will have a maximum of three competitive insurance quotes to compare at their leisure.

Consumers looking for auto insurance quotes, health insurance quotes, life insurance quotes, long term care insurance quotes and more, can find them in all one place.

Find out more about this time saving way to shop for insurance quotes by visiting (www.insurancequotesus.com) InsuranceQuotesUS.com.

www.insurancequotesus.com
6400 Laurel Canyon Blvd Suite 460
North Hollywood, CA 91606

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Instant Car Insurance Quote: Try Online For The Best Deal

Insuring your car can make you keep it as beautiful as it is while buying. If you love your car and do not want to loose it then get a car insurance because nothing can be as best as this. However, before taking up any insurance policy you should go through all instant car insurance quotes and then choose one for you.

When you do not have time to go for the insurance agencies and consult with the experts then you should browse through the internet. The online insurance agents will never dissatisfy you. All the facilities offered by the lenders are being provided and you will even be able to make comparison between all the available deals.

There are two forms of car insurances and these are known as comprehensive and collision. In the comprehensive car insurance coverage you will get assistance when your car faces any accident, theft, damage, engine breakdowns or technical faults. However, when there is direct and accidental damage by your car caused by upset or accident with any another vehicle then you will be helped by the collision coverage. So, you would always have to be very careful while selecting a car insurance policy. You should go for only that policy which assures you of providing full coverage when it is required.

The type and cost of your car matters a lot while getting it insured. The more luxurious and costly the car is, the highly valued the insurance policy will be. In case of sports cars and classic cars the risk of being theft is more prominent and in such incidents the cost for the insurance policy is high. A clean driving record too plays a key role in deciding the price. The probability of accidents is less in such cases and therefore, the premium too will be low. Thus, based on these things you can go for an instant car insurance quote and choose something best suitable for you.

About The Author:
Henry Bell is an author who can certainly identify the kind of insurance that you will need. He is proficient in the insurance world; he is an MBA(finance) from University of Oxford. Car Van Insurance endeavors to find the best possible deals for its customers. To find car insurance, van insurance, cheap car insurance visit http://www.carvaninsurance.co.uk/

» by henry.rbell

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Rates up for auto insurance

Trend follows Georgia’s passage of law that lets companies increase charges without state permission.

By James Salzer

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Many Georgia motorists have seen auto insurance rates rise this year, and the increases have accelerated since a new state law went into effect allowing companies to raise premiums without first getting state approval.

Auto insurance rates increased 6.8 percent in Georgia through September, according to a consumer watchdog group. Across the country, premiums increased 7.5 percent.

Since the Georgia law went into effect Oct. 1, many companies have filed to raise rates 5 percent to 10 percent. A few drivers considered more risky could see their bills jump as much as 81 percent.

The new law allows insurers to change rates on many types of coverage before getting state regulators’ approval. Previously, the state Insurance Commissioner’s Office had to approve rate increases first. The law allows the commissioner to review the rate change but makes it harder to reject or change an increase after it has been put in place, state officials said.

In the two months since the law took effect, more companies raised rates than had done so during the previous nine months. The consumer group Georgia Watch reviewed filings in mid-October and found that 18 companies had raised rates through Oct. 14. Since then, an additional 21 have filed for increases.

Allison Wall, executive director of Georgia Watch, said car insurance rates were going up even before the new law took effect.

“With the economic downturn, the credit crunch, the foreclosure crisis and record job losses in Georgia, there couldn’t be a worse time to raise the cost of mandatory insurance coverage,” Wall said.

According to Wall’s group, the lowest average car insurance quotes in Georgia increased for three straight quarters, from $1,572 at the end of 2007 to $1,681 a year at the end of the third quarter in 2008.

In 2007, Georgia premiums had declined 4.8 percent, according to insurance.com.

Insurers said rates were increased to keep up with claims.

Six companies owned by mega-insurer AIG, which has received about $150 billion in federal assistance to stay afloat, were among those that raised rates after the new law kicked in. AIG officials said the rate increases would have occurred even if the company had not been forced to ask for federal help.

Joe Norton, a spokesman for AIG in New York, said insurers affiliated with his company made rate filings before and after the Georgia law took effect.

“Those filings were made only after considering various risk factors, profitability and our ability to compete for business in Georgia’s highly sensitive rate environment,” Norton said. “Our rate filings, which are never initiated lightly and are always a matter of public record, follow our objectives to maintain reasonable profit levels, to operate efficiently and to be financially sound.

“By doing so, AIG will have the funds to repay the loan from the Fed and to earn a return for the stakeholders in AIG, including the American taxpayer.”

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine said some companies may have felt pressure to raise rates because their investments in the markets have plummeted in recent months.

Whatever the cause, many Georgians are feeling the pinch.

Eddie Baker, director of building services at a Macon hospital, said he was surprised when his auto insurance came up for renewal earlier this year and his company raised the rate 27 percent. So he shopped around and switched companies.

“I’ve never had any accidents, no speeding tickets, no nothing,” Baker said. “I was upset about it. I didn’t think it was fair.”

Hubert Welborn, a Warner Robins retiree on a fixed income, said his rates almost doubled this year when he turned 75.

“I thought, hell, this is crazy,” he said. “They put me in the same [rating] group as a teenager.”

Welborn couldn’t find a better deal elsewhere, so he increased his deductibles —- the amount he would pay out of pocket in case of an accident —- and stayed with the same company. That cut the cost of his coverage.

Since the new law took effect in October, rate increase notifications have been coming in steadily to Oxendine’s office.

Wall’s consumer group sided with insurers and Republican legislative leaders when they pushed the bill through the General Assembly earlier this year.

Supporters said it would increase competition and more easily allow companies to raise and lower rates based on the market.

During the 1980s, the state allowed insurers to charge new rates before the commissioner approved them, but rising premiums brought a political backlash and it became an issue in 1990 political campaigns. Insurance Commissioner Warren Evans was ousted by voters that year in a one-sided election. In 1991, Gov. Zell Miller and the new commissioner, Tim Ryles, pushed through legislation requiring prior approval for rate increases.

Insurers have been trying to get the law changed back for years. The new law allows increases without state approval on everything above the legal minimum coverage. Officials say most drivers have more than the minimum coverage.

Oxendine, who lost some power when the law passed, said at the time it would lead to rate increases for drivers.

Over the first few months, he has been proved right, at least for some Georgians.

Through Tuesday, more than 30 companies had filed new rates, with 24 asking for average increases.

Companies file for rate changes that include an average —- what all changes average out to —- and a maximum —- the biggest increase a group of drivers would pay. The maximum can be for any group of drivers the company determines is paying too low a rate, not just the worst drivers, according to Oxendine’s office.

The state’s biggest auto insurer, State Farm, with 1.46 million policies, filed for an average decrease of 0.1 percent. The maximum increase —- the highest increase to any group of drivers based on factors such as age, driving record, etc. —- was 1 percent.

Some other companies set maximum rate increases between 20 percent and 80 percent.

The companies increasing average rates since the new law took effect write about 230,000 policies in Georgia, according to the Insurance Commissioner’s Office. That’s about 3.5 percent of all policies in the state.

Affected Georgians will see the higher rates when they renew their coverage.

Robert Klein, director of the Risk Management and Insurance Department at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, said the new law is a good idea, despite the recent increases. He said competition among insurance companies will keep rates down over the long haul.

The idea is that more companies would enter the market and be better able to battle for customers if they could change prices easily, depending on market conditions.

“I have been involved in insurance regulation for 30 years,” Klein said. “I really have not seen any benefits to requiring prior [state] approval of rates. Competition in these markets is relatively fierce. That’s going to, by itself, regulate a company’s pricing.”

When companies have to get the approval of a state regulator to make rate changes, he said, they are less likely to lower them for competitive reasons because they are afraid they might not be able to bring the rates back up if necessary in the future.

Asked about the recent rate increases, Klein said, “If most of the companies filed rate increases after the law change, they felt the [insurance] department kept them from raising rates to adequate levels.”

Oxendine said it’s too early to predict what will happen based on increases in the past two months. But he added, “I think you will ultimately see more increased rates.”

He noted that one of the AIG companies was granted a rate increase by his office in August, then filed for another in October when the new law kicked in.

Oxendine doesn’t buy the argument that allowing companies to freely change rates will mean cheaper insurance because there will be more companies competing.

“There is no way to increase competition in Georgia when everybody is already here,” he said. “There is no one else to come into the state.

“I think what you are seeing already is there are not going to be a lot of decreases.”

RATE FILINGS SINCE OCT. 1

Company name ………………………………average….maximum

…………………………………………percent

…………………………………………change ….change

21st Century Insurance Co. ………………….8.9……..20

AIG Centennial Insurance Co. ………………..9.9……..23.1

AIG National Insurance Co. ………………….2.4……..10

AIU Insurance Co……………………………8.1……..27.9

Allmerica Financial Alliance Insurance Co. ……8.5……..32.1

AMCO Insurance Co………………………….-1.3……..10

American Home Assurance Co…………………..8.2……..28.2

American International Insurance Co. …………9……….24.5

American Security Insurance Co. …………….11.1……..29.3

The Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford ….3.53 ……15

Central Mutual Insurance Co…………………-0.24 ……81.2

Cotton States Mutual Insurance Co……………-2.5……..15

Country Casualty Insurance Co. ………………1.3……..15

Depositors Insurance Co. ……………………7.6……..47.8

Geico General Insurance Co. ………………..-0.9 ……..0

Government Employees Insurance Co……………-0.9 ……..0

Grange Mutual Casualty Co. ………………….2.45……..6.9

Grange Property & Casualty Insurance Co. ……..7.4……..41.8

Infinity Auto Insurance Co…………………-11.5 ……..0

Infinity General Insurance Co. ………………5.59……..7.57

Infinity Safeguard Insurance Co. …………….8.2 ……..9.3

Infinity Select Insurance Co…………………5.56……..7.88

Infinity Standard Insurance Co……………….8.56……..9.53

Lincoln General Insurance Co……………….-10.1 ……..N/A

National General Assurance Co……………….-6 ……….9.9

Nationwide Property & Casualty Insurance Co. ….1.1……..10

Peerless Insurance Co. ……………………..7……….14

Shield Insurance Co………………………..-5.1……..15

The Standard Fire Insurance Co……………….3.32 ……15

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance……….-0.1 ……..1

Trustgard Insurance Co………………………9.98 ……14

Unitrin Auto and Home Insurance Co……………7.5……..14.6

Victoria Select Insurance Co…………………3.6 ……..5.69

Source: Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office

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Cheap Car Insurance UK: Insurance Can Save Your Car

Insuring your car is must because you never know when what damage can occur to your new car. Everybody should practice the insuring system; the moment one buys a car. This not only helps in protecting the car, in fact, it will provide you a kind of mental relaxation too. As the latest model cars are being crowded in the market and these are highly valued, everybody today desires to have one such car. In that case, your brand new car too can be stolen. So, by being cautious and getting the cheap car insurance UK you can prevent your car from being theft.

Moreover, the car insurances are good for getting the value of the car back even if it gets damaged due to accidents or fire. Also, car insurance papers help in proving your ownership if ever you get involved in some accidents. In getting medical services too such papers will help. In other word, such insurances are like a financial backing for you. But that will be useful only if you go for the best deal with cheap charges.

Going for the insurance policies with low premiums will a best thing. While paying the premiums each month, you will at least feel no burden. Moreover, the price of the policy should also be less. However, that price depends on the size and model of your car. The driving record of the driver too decides this price. If you have been a safe driver without any records of accidents or with few such records, then the premiums and the price of the policy would not be much.

For availing the best and cheap car insurance UK you can try your hands on the online loan services. Finding the best deal out will just be a matter of minutes. By comparing the quotes made by the insurance agencies you can select one and then apply for it through the online services. Without meeting the lender you will be able to do all such things quite easily.

Amy Gordon is associated with Cheap Car Insurance UK. She holds a Master's in finance from Cambridge University. To know more about cheap car insurance UK, Car insurance, Cheap car insurance, Online cheap car insurance uk Please visit http://www.cheapcarinsuranceuk.net

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Alberta auto insurance premiums increase according to kanetix.ca study

31.10.2008 10:53:13 Intended as a tool to spot and highlight the pricing trends of car insurance, the kanetix Alberta car insurance rate study is released quarterly.

(live-PR.com) - Toronto, October 31, 2008 -- Today, kanetix (www.kanetix.ca), Canada's insurance shopping marketplace, released the results of their quarterly Alberta auto insurance premium study. The study, designed to spot and highlight the pricing trends of car insurance in Alberta identified an increase in Q3 2008 of 7.5 per cent in the average of the lowest premiums quoted compared to the same period the previous year.


“The kanetix quarterly study, we believe, is a great tool for consumers to anticipate auto insurance trends,” explains George Small, Co-founder of kanetix.ca. “And should consumers see the cost of their current policy going up, it is important they know there are potentially money-saving options available like comparing rates from several companies before they renew.”

A number of potential factors were identified to possibly explain the noted increase: first, a few, but not all, insurers implemented approved increases; and secondly the vehicles Albertans were shopping for were not as old this year. Typically, with older cars, drivers start to drop optional coverages like comprehensive and collision. As a result, the cost of their auto insurance premiums lowers. With fewer older cars in the mix this year, naturally, the resulting quotes were higher, as drivers insuring newer vehicles typically have these coverages.

With the announcement by the Alberta Auto Insurance Rate Board of an approved five per cent increase in the mandatory auto insurance premiums coming into effect on November 1st, kanetix anticipates the year-end study to show a similar trend.

“Now, more than ever, drivers should ‘comparison shop’ their auto insurance policy before they renew,” added Mr. Small. “This will be most important in the months ahead, and it’s really the only way to make certain you’re getting the best rate available.”

As an online auto insurance shopping service that provides real-time quotes from many well-known competing insurers, kanetix is in a unique position to empower insurance consumers with the tools needed to not only anticipate car insurance trends, but also to compare auto insurance quotes to find the best rate for the car insurance coverage they need.

About the study
Intended as a tool to spot and highlight the pricing trends of car insurance, the kanetix Alberta car insurance rate study is released quarterly. kanetix believes this study to be an accurate reflection of what Alberta auto insurance consumers are seeing when they get their renewal notice from their current insurer, as well as when they shop around for coverage. The study includes all drivers, regardless of their driving or insurance history, and includes the lowest rate quoted, no matter which company provided it (e.g. direct writing companies or broker-based insurers).

The results of the study are determined by comparing the average of the lowest auto insurance premiums quoted online for Alberta shoppers at www.kanetix.ca/auto-insurance completed in Q3 2008 (i.e. July, August, and September) with the average from the same period in 2007. The results, and resulting interpretations, are based on the profile information as it is entered by the shopper and may not represent their accurate driving profile or vehicle data. As such, kanetix can make no representation or warranty, either expressed or implied, as to accuracy of the information.

About kanetix
Launched in October 1999, kanetix is Canada's leading national, online insurance marketplace. The kanetix insurance information and shopping service brings consumers and insurance companies together in a one-stop shopping environment. Each day, thousands of consumers visit the kanetix website to compare insurance quotes from a variety of Canadian insurance companies. kanetix visitors can select the insurance quote of their choice and where available, choose to complete the application for coverage online or purchase their policy over the phone.

In addition to the insurance marketplace, kanetix is a leading provider of online insurance quotation technology and develops online quotation systems and websites for some of Canada's leading insurance providers.
Press Release Submission By PressReleasePoint(www.pressreleasepoint.com)

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