Our clients may be interested to read that insurers here in the UK continue to pay out huge sums of money in respect of domestic claims for damage caused by water escape. In fact, it may come as a surprise to you to hear that such claims involve the biggest payouts for insurance companies providing this type of cover.
According to information provided by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), some £483 million was paid out by insurers for claims relating to the escape of water from domestic properties in the nine months from the 1st January to 30 September of this year. Unfortunately, that is a rise of 1% when compared with the first nine months of 2016. The average amount paid out by insurance companies for escaped domestic water damage is £2,638 per claim.
Such claims will no doubt include damage caused by people leaving taps on whilst filling up a bath thus leading to it overflowing and damaging both the upstairs and downstairs of a property. There will probably be numerous claims for water leakage from the likes of washing machines and dishwashers. As more homes have central heating systems fitted these days, damage caused by leakages from them is a factor as is greater use being made by the building industry of materials that are not as water resistant. More properties now have the likes of cloakrooms and en-suite bathrooms and en-suite shower rooms included in the design.
So, what can you do to reduce the likelihood of suffering such damage? Well, apart from making sure that taps are turned off after use, there are many things you can look at such as you should check the hoses on appliances such as washing machines to make sure that they are not leaking. If you have a hot water cylinder in your airing cupboard make sure that it is not leaking. Check that the toilet basins are not cracked. Make sure that radiators are not dripping water from the pipes that enter and come out of them as well as at the end of the top of the radiators where you occasionally let out the air. Also check the main stopcock that allows cold water into your home to establish that there are no drips coming from it. If you feel it is safe to do so, go up into the loft and make sure that the water tanks are not close to overflowing.
Do make sure that you have adequate buildings and contents cover in place so that, should you suffer water damage, you have the peace of mind of knowing that your claim will be speedily dealt with. In this respect, it is worth noting that here at AIB Insurance we have an extensive panel of insurers who are renowned for providing quality cover but also have an enviable reputation for processing claims. So, if you would like to receive a competitive quotation why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a knowledgeable member of our team.
A number of our high net worth clients will be aware that Hiscox has been a member of AIB Insurance’s panel of insurers for quite some time having benefitted from their excellent range of bespoke products such as motor and home insurance. Our decision to include them on our panel has proved to be an excellent one with this being borne out by them winning a number of awards.
The latest accolade to come their way was to win the HNW (High Net Worth) Personal Lines Team of the Year award at the Insurance Post event known as Underwriting Service Awards 2017 at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London on the 16th November 2017. This was the 7th year that this event has taken place.
Awards are made for excellent underwriting as well as providing outstanding service with nominations being put forward by many brokers. The event is extremely popular with in excess of 250 of the top underwriters being in attendance. The evening started with a drinks reception followed by a wonderful dinner after which the awards were presented with plenty of opportunity also being available for networking. The evening was compared by the comedian Tom Ward who has also won a number of awards. A good evening was had by all.
The high net worth sector of the personal lines insurance industry is very competitive so for Hiscox to win such a prestigious award is admirable and they are to be congratulated. Here at AIB Insurance, we have to say that our dealings with the underwriting team at Hiscox as well as their other departments has been nothing short of outstanding and it does not surprise us that they have won this award to add to the many others that they already hold. We look forward to working with Hiscox for many years to come for the benefit of our highly valued clients.
Other winners on the night included Zurich winning Product Innovation of the Year and Allianz, who have recently announced merging with LV= scooping both Small Commercial & General Liability Team of the Year.
ARAG picked up the Legal Expenses Team of the Year award with Aviva scooping the Major Commercial Combined Team of the Year. The Cyber and Technolgy award went to CFC Underwriting, Chubb collected the Commercial Property award and the PI & D&O saw Tokio Marine take the silverware.
NMU were the overall night winners though. Initially picking up both Transport/Freight Team, Construction & Engineering Team of the Year and then winning Overall Underwriting Team of the Year.
If you happen to be a fan of the Beatles who you may well remember had a few number one hits many years ago and you also have a keen interest in classic cars then you might wish to consider getting along to The Bond Street Sale at Bonhams on the 2nd December 2017. This is because a couple of classic vehicles once owned by two members of the pop group are being auctioned.
One of these is a 1966 Mini Cooper “S” Radford Conversion once owned by Ringo Starr between June 1967 and December 1968. Whilst all 4 Beatles had Minis this one is believed to have been converted to allow Ringo Starr to get his drums in it.
This delightful iconic vehicle has appeared at numerous locations over the years. For instance, in February 1984 it was on the Blue Peter television show and in 2001 it appeared on Top Gear. It was restored in 1991 and has been owned by the same family for a period of 40 years.
The car has several unique things about it such as a rear seat that folds down, electric windows, walnut dashboard, Manx alloy wheels and door warning lights to name but a few. Interestingly, the logbook has been signed by Richard Starkey – the real name of Ringo Starr.
You will need a deep pocket if you are interested in bidding for this classic car as it has an estimated price of £90,000 to £120,000.
The other classic car once owned by another of the Beatles is a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 4.2-litre Sports Saloon. Sir Paul McCartney was the original owner. It has also been owned by the radio presenter Chris Evans who is a keen fan of classic cars –in particular Ferraris.
This wonderful sports car was originally purchased for circa £4,593. Sir Paul McCartney retained ownership of the car for 6 years. Restoration work was carried out in both 2002 and a further four-year period of restoration was completed in 2017 to the standard of concours. Apparently, the vehicle even had a record player.
To purchase this pristine classic sports car you will need even deeper pockets as the estimated price is between £1,250.000 to £1,500,000.
Whilst at the auction, you may want to cast your eyes over a 1959 Bentley S1 Continental Sport Saloon. Only 431 of these luxury vehicles were built but the added attraction of this one is that it was owned by the singer and pianist Sir Elton John and was then purchased by Lord Alan Sugar. In its heyday, this was a powerful car getting from 0mph to 50mph in just over 9 seconds and was capable of cruising at a top speed of 120mph. Sir Elton John owned the vehicle for 25 years from 1976 to 2001 before being bought by Alan Sugar who kept it until 2007.
If you are looking to purchase a classic car then why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 to obtain a competitive quotation for classic car insurance from our extensive panel of insurers.
That’s right folks, it’s competition time again and this year we are giving away a state of the art Go Pro!
It’s easy to enter. All you have to do is call us for a quotation between now and the 17th December and you will automatically be entered into our prize draw. Obtaining the quotation couldn’t be easier, just call 02380 268351 or visit www.aib.co.uk and one of our friendly insurance consultants will call you back.
Here at AIB, we pride ourselves on providing competitive insurance to suit all your specialist needs. We have particular schemes with our insurer partners to provide you with a price and cover that you simply can’t get on the comparison websites.
Unlimited in every sense, the new series production Exige Cup 430 is Lotus’ wildest incarnation of its fire-breathing, point-to-point two-seater sports car.
New to the Exige, the Cup 430 sees the introduction of a savage, high-performance engine installation, mated to a new supercharger and chargecooler, designed specifically for the unique demands of this vehicle. A development of the powertrain recently used on the phenomenal Lotus Evora GT430, it’s perfectly paired with a newly-designed body, which delivers enhanced aerodynamic performance to reveal the model’s true potential. The result is a strikingly different beast of pure performance, that’s not for the faint of heart.
• New engine installation, delivering 430 hp and 440 Nm
• New design generating 220 kg of downforce
• 407 hp per tonne provides unrivalled performance
• 0-60 mph in 3.2 secs, dry weight from 1,056 kg
With 55 hp, or 13%, more power than the limited production Exige Cup 380 model it succeeds, and 220 kg of downforce, it’s a monster of a car. Compared to the Exige Sport 350, it has 24% more power and generates the same downforce at 100 mph as the Exige Sport 350 does at its maximum speed of 170 mph.
Lotus’ expertise in lightweight design has played its part in reducing the overall dry weight by 12 kg to 1,059 kg, with the vehicle down to 1,056 kg in its lightest configuration. This, combined with the dramatic jump in raw power, raises the Cup’s power to weight from 355 hp / tonne (Cup 380) to 407 hp / tonne.
With 430 hp at 7,000 rpm and 440 Nm (325 lbft) of torque from 4,000 rpm, 0-60mph is dispatched in 3.2 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds) with a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h). Helping to harness all that power, the Cup 430 benefits from a comprehensive range of new aero elements. A new ultra-lightweight front clam with unique carbon fibre ducts has wider radiator apertures and a new mesh pattern grille to provide a more combative aspect and to allow for a new front splitter and air curtain mechanism to reduce drag. The lightweight rear clam panel supports the larger, straight motorsport wing to increase downforce without impacting upon the car’s overall drag coefficient. The new design front and rear clam panels are 6.8 kg lighter than those on any other Exige.
Focused fairly and squarely on aggressive track performance and point-to-point supremacy, the new Lotus Exige Cup 430 is capable of covering the Hethel circuit in 1 minute 24.8 seconds – the fastest production car to lap the famous circuit – 1.2 seconds faster than the Lotus 3-Eleven (Road).
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said, “This is the car that we have always wanted to build, and I am sure that all Lotus enthusiasts will be delighted with the end product. As well as a significant power hike, the Cup 430 has benefited from extensive development in areas essential to Lotus’ DNA, in order to ensure that the full potential of the Exige’s incredible chassis can be exploited. This car has no rivals – inside or outside of its price bracket – and it’s no exaggeration when we say that nothing can keep up with this Exige on the road or track.”
Lotus’ most extreme Exige packs the company’s most potent powertrain into its smaller vehicle architecture to provide a level of performance that is a step beyond what most drivers can exploit. The car’s distinctive and aggressive new styling perfectly matches the character of the new Exige Cup 430.
Signalling the most motorsport focused models in Lotus’ range, the Cup variants are centered on only the essential. Extending this philosophy to its limit, the new Cup 430 is at the apex of the Exige line-up – with only a track-only racer capable of exceeding the car’s abilities.
With the Exige already regarded as the standard for purity of purpose, Lotus’ engineers have built upon this benchmark, ensuring that the application of more power is complemented by a class-leading handling balance, characterised by precision and tactility.
At the heart of the car lies Lotus’ most formidable engine, a 3.5-litre supercharged and charge cooled V6 producing 430 hp and 440 Nm.
Unapologetically aggressive, the Exige Cup 430’s 220 kg of downforce is developed through the careful management of airflow under and over the car. Vital in keeping the Cup at the top of timing sheets, it’s designed to make the most of 440 Nm (325 lbft) of torque delivered from 4,000 rpm, and delivering the lowest of lap times not matter the track. This not only includes the new front clam panel, incorporating a new design of splitter and carbon fibre air blades, but also the high mounted rear wing. The new body introductions combine form and function, with the new hybrid carbon composite panels not only saving weight, but also delivering the car’s distinctive new styling and aerodynamic set up.
Balancing downforce over the entire car was a priority with, when compared to the Exige Cup 380, a greater percentage of downforce allocated to the front to ensure accurate high-speed turn in (36% increased to 45%). The new front splitter with trailing lip helps separate and speed airflow under the car and the inclusion of new air curtain elements into the front clam panel efficiently moves air though to the front wheel cavities to help reduce turbulence and drag generated by the front wheels. The front louvers reduce the pressure within the front wheel arches, increasing downforce. The cut-out sections behind the rear wheels, also reduce wheel arch pressure, whilst the new lightweight aluminium diffuser is 1 kg lighter. Crowning all of this is the carbon fibre straight rear wing, raised higher to further boost downforce, clearly signaling the car’s aggressive intent and pursuit of aerodynamic excellence.
As you would expect, the intense use of ultra-lightweight carbon fibre only adds to the overall performance, as well as reinforcing the Exige Cup 430’s physical presence. The hand-made composite components include front splitter, front access panel, roof, diffuser surround, large aperture air-intake side pods, one-piece tailgate and the race derived rear wing.
Scratch the surface of the Cup’s capabilities, and you’ll find its motorsport-derived credentials. In addition to revised steering arm geometry, to increase bump steer, the car’s handling characteristics can be altered via the introduction of new Nitron three-way adjustable dampers (adjustable for rebound and low and high-speed compression, giving the ability to fine tune the damping) and Eibach adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, both as standard.
The substantial Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (215/45 ZR17 front and 285/30 ZR18 rear) are fitted to ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels, available in red, black or silver as standard.
The faster the car, the better the brakes need to be, and the Exige Cup 430 uses some of the largest calipers and rotors of any Lotus road car. With forged, four-piston AP Racing brake calipers and new performance two-piece, J-hook brake discs (with higher thermal capacity) front and back, the system is designed to give improved bite and debris clearance and reduce distortion and vibration and to deliver consistent pedal feel and stopping power lap after lap.
The Cup 430 also comes with a tremendously strong, yet light, T45 steel roll over bar, new seatbelt anchorage frame (saving 1.2 kg), a Lithium-Ion battery and front towing eye as standard, as well as a host of options including, a dealer fit FIA compliant roll cage, electrical cut-off and fire extinguisher controls, airbag deletion and a non-airbag steering wheel.
Key to the Cup’s potency is the Exige’s newly-developed powertrain. Based on the benchmark engine from the recently launched Evora GT430, it features an Edelbrock supercharger and water to air charge cooler to generate more power through cooling the higher pressure charged intake air. Specifically developed for the Exige, the engine’s calibration allows for a redline of 7,000rpm, helped in part by a new intake system and larger throttle body. In order to handle the extra power, a new oil cooler configuration and uprated clutch are required.
Available as standard with a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission, the Exige range features Lotus’ acclaimed open-gate manual gearbox design. Precisely aligned for fast and seamless shifts, it has recently established itself as a favourite of Lotus customers. To transfer the increased power and torque from the engine to the gearbox, a new 240 mm diameter clutch has been fitted (up 12 mm compared to the Exige Cup 380) which increases the clutch surface area by 11%.
Engine note and tone also play big parts in the Cup’s repertoire. With the new induction and supercharger configuration, and a high-flow titanium exhaust system as standard, the Cup 430 sounds like no other Exige at speed. In addition, the titanium exhaust removes 10 kg from beyond the rear axle.
The Lotus Exige Cup 430 includes a variable traction control function, linked directly to the ECU. The six-position rotary switch is located on the steering column, and only active with ESP switched to off, with five pre-set traction levels (1%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% slip) as well as “off”, displayed via the instrument cluster.
The composite concept continues into the Cup’s cabin with visible-weave, handmade sections including a new lightweight carbon fibre binnacle surround, Lotus’ bespoke carbon race seats, with new lightweight seat runners, and carbon door sills. Colour keyed inserts for the revised lightweight sports seats, transmission console, HVAC surround and window switches are also standard, along with a centre console, door cards and dashboard trimmed in Alcantara®, with leather or tartan as a no cost option, along with contrast stitching and an Alcantara® steering wheel. In total, the lightweight interior of the Exige Cup 430 is 2.5 kg lighter than on the Cup 380.
All the lightweight standard items help reduce the total mass by 29 kg which more than offsets the increase in weight from the chargecooler and cooling system (+15 kg), new higher rated clutch (+0.8 kg) and wider brake discs (+1.2 kg) resulting in an unladen weight of 1,093 kg and 1,059 kg dry. By selecting the airbag deletion option, the customer can take the lightest possible dry weight of the Exige Cup 430 to 1,056 kg.
For owners wanting to brand the new Exige their own, the Cup 430 can be personalised through Lotus’ Exclusive programme. Combining traditional British craftsmanship with modern design, the service inspires customers to spend time tailoring the character of their Lotus with a comprehensive array of options. Since its introduction this has proved increasingly popular, with over 25% of all new cars undergoing some form of personalisation.
Launching the new Lotus, Jean-Marc Gales said, “The Exige continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of performance, agility, aerodynamics and rapid covering of ground from A to B in a production road car. There isn’t another car on sale that can match the new Exige Cup 430; it will go down as a ground-breaking car in the history of Lotus.”
The Exige Cup 430 is available as a series production car and can be ordered now, priced £99,800 including VAT (UK) and €127,500 (Germany) and €128,600 (France).
Here at AIB we offer exceptional bespoke insurance cover for Lotus owners and understands that owning and driving a Lotus is a unique experience and deserves one-of-a-kind insurance call us now on 02380 268351 for your Lotus insurance!
Those of you who participate in airborne sports will be interested and no doubt pleased to read that a world record has been broken by a gentleman here in the UK for travelling the fastest in a jet engine powered suit that is controlled by a person’s body. The record was set on the 9th November as part of Guinness World Records Day 2017.
It was as recently as March 2017 that Richard Browning set up a technology company by the name of Gravity Industries Limited with the intention of coming up with innovative ways for humans to fly through the air with this suit no doubt being one of them Guinness World Records.
It was Richard Browning himself who donned the suit and set a new Guinness World Record of 32.02 mph flying vertically a few feet above the surface of the water at Lagoona Park, Reading, Berkshire that only opened to the public this year. He has been nicknamed the “Iron Man” no doubt in view of the look of the suit he was wearing. It took him three attempts to achieve the record but Mr Browning is confident that he can travel faster than the above speed and break the record again on another occasion. Apparently, it was an exhilarating flight.
The suit has six gas turbines attached to it and weighs in the region of 45 kg so it is quite a weight. Mr Browning uses his body to control his flight so there is no doubt that he must have to be very fit.
We are sure that our clients would wish to share with us here at AIB Insurance in congratulating Richard Browning on his wonderful achievement. We look forward to updating you on any other projects he becomes involved in that we feel may be of interest to you.
Here at AIB Insurance we have many years experience in arranging quality and bespoke, cover for many airborne sports. So, why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with one of the team to discuss your requirements and obtain a free, no-obligation quotation.
We are pleased to inform you, our valued customers, that we have added Chubb Insurance to our bespoke panel of insurance companies. It has built an enviable reputation for the products and services it provides.
Chubb has been established for many years and is part of the biggest property and casualty insurer in the world. Here in the UK, the business focuses on a number of insurances including motor, home, accident and health, travel, aviation, the biogas and solar industry, commercial insurance, cyber risk, the construction industry, the marine industry and liability cover.
The company has been involved in providing motor insurance to high net worth individuals for over 20 years and household insurance to such customers for over 40 years.
In a very short period of time we have built up an excellent working relationship with Chubb. It prides itself on its quality of service right throughout the process of arranging tailor-made cover but also the company responds rapidly in the event of a claim being made by one of its policyholders providing unrivalled support during what is often a traumatic period.
In fact, in respect of household insurance, since 2000, Chubb has won the Insurance Times Industry Awards for Best Personal Insurer on no less than 8 occasions. It was the winner of the Insurance Times Broker Survey for Best Claims Service on 6 occasions since 2006. Furthermore, Chubb won the Best High –Net Worth Insurer award at the 2015 Private Asset Management Awards. In respect of motor insurance, Chubb has been the winner of the Insurance Times UK Broker Survey for the quality of its claims service and cover since 2014.
You can find out more about the products it provides by visiting the www2.chubb.com/uk-en website but below we have provided extracts from Chubb’s Home and Contents Insurance, Jewellery and Fine Art and Motor Insurance brochures highlighting some of the features and benefits of both products.
“ Chubb Masterpiece Home and Contents Insurance
What does it cover?
• All of your homes, UK and abroad are covered on the same policy as your main residence.
• With our agreed value approach for valuables and cars, the result is accuracy and a speedy claims payment.
• Following a Chubb appraisal, we will agree on the buildings and contents sum insured, including automatic cover for gardens and outbuildings.
• For most homes, we guarantee that, whatever the cost, we will rebuild your home exactly as it was. In effect, giving you unlimited cover.
• We let you choose the craftsmen for any repairs and refurbishments.
• We also agree the contents sum insured. Then, for most homes, if this sum is insufficient to replace the contents, we will automatically increase it by up to 25% without charging you more.
5 key benefits of Masterpiece
1) Your choice of contractor
We encourage you to choose your own contractors and craftsmen to repair your property following a claim.
2) Unique home and contents appraisal service
We don’t make underinsurance your problem. Our in-house experts will help establish the value of your property and contents to ensure you have the right amount of cover.
3) No restrictive conditions or warranties
We won’t limit your cover or restrict your lifestyle with onerous clauses. We rely on your natural concern to care for your possessions
4) We settle on a ‘new for old’ basis
When replacing your contents, Chubb pays you what it costs to replace the item today up to the value agreed on your policy
5) All homes on one policy
Whether you own a country house and a city apartment or an extensive worldwide property portfolio, you can enjoy exceptional cover under the same policy as your main residence.”
Within the Chubb Masterpiece Home and Contents Insurance policy it is possible to insure Jewellery and Fine Art and below we highlight what is covered: –
“ Jewellery and Fine Art
• You have automatic worldwide cover for ‘all risks’ with almost no restrictive conditions. Our policy includes accidental loss or damage and you’re covered when travelling – eliminating the need for separate personal effects cover.
• If your jewellery is lost, stolen or damaged beyond repair, our ‘agreed value’ for specified items gives certainty about the financial consequences in the event of a claim. We’ll pay you the full sum insured (not a depreciated ‘market value’) with no deduction for excess. There’s also a lower premium rate for specified jewellery.
• If you lose or damage part of a ‘pair’ or ‘set’, we’ll offer to take the remaining parts and we’ll pay you the full agreed value of the entire set.
• If your jewellery loses value after damage we’ll compensate you for any loss in its agreed value due to the claim.
• Under our Signature policy, if you buy a new piece, we’ll cover new purchases immediately for 90 days, 60 days under our Initial and Masterpiece policies. After the 60 or 90 day period, we must be instructed to add the items to the policy to avoid underinsurance.
• No valuations are necessary for jewellery under £50,000 and we can insure collectables separately.
• Similar generous terms apply to art, antiques, guns, wine, instruments, handbag collections and other collectibles.
Chubb’s Masterpiece Motor Insurance
What does it cover?
If your car is written-off or stolen:
• With our ‘agreed value’ approach, we’ll pay you the full sum insured with no excess, not a depreciated ‘market value’.
• If the car is under 15 years old and its replacement cost exceeds your agreed value, we will pay more than the sum insured to help you buy a like-for-like replacement.
• If the car is over 15 years old, subject to a limit of £100,000, we will pay 25% more than the sum insured to repair your cherished vehicle and get it back on the road.
• All courtesy cars are immediately dispatched after fire, theft or accident. We provide up to £4,000 for you to rent a car of a similar specification to your own, in the unlikely event that the courtesy car is unsatisfactory to you.
• We’ll replace your sound system for the full cost, with our unlimited audio/stereo cover.
As well as for driving your own cars, you’ll be comprehensively insured for:
• Driving any car you don’t own (applies to all named drivers).
• Lending your car to anyone not living with you.
• Business trips (except hiring your car for a fee).
• Driving in Europe at any time. Insurers will often limit this to 30 days.
If you break down:
• You’ll have Europe-wide breakdown cover for you and your family, including HomeStart.
In addition to this, you can also expect:
• Solicitor’s fees when pursuing a claim for personal injury or uninsured losses of up to £100,000.
• Child seat replacement after an accident, even if there’s no visible sign of damage.
• No premium increase or loss counted against you when the loss isn’t your fault, for instance due to vandalism or if your car is hit when parked.
The key benefits of Masterpiece
1) Diminution In Value cover Diminution In Value (DIV) is a pioneering new cover that pays the policyholder the difference between their car’s market value before and after a repair, as well as the repair costs. The cover applies to cars over 15 years old and will be paid out if the car has been valued or purchased at least 24 months before the loss.
2) We pay the agreed insured value
Most insurers settle total loss and theft claims based on the market value of a vehicle at the time of loss. Chubb provides “agreed value” cover, so the value of your car is locked in for the entire policy term. If you need to make a claim to replace your vehicle, you’ll receive 100% of the value we agreed whether it’s Day 1 or Day 365 of the policy.
3) Automatic comprehensive cover on borrowed vehicles
Insurers often only provide third party cover when you borrow another vehicle. With Chubb, you and other named drivers enjoy fully comprehensive cover on any vehicle you rent or borrow. And anyone driving your insured car is fully covered.
4) You choose the most suitable repairer
Most insurers stipulate where your vehicle should be repaired. Chubb allows you to select the most suitable garage, dealer, upholsterer or coachbuilder, or we can help you select one from our approved repairer network and we’ll guarantee the use of original manufacturer’s parts. “
Here at AIB Insurance, we look forward to a long and successful working relationship with Chubb Insurance that will no doubt be of great benefit to many of our high net worth customers. So, if you wish to discuss any of the above insurances and require a quotation, why not give us a call.
Apparently, until recently, no person has ever been fortunate enough to fly within a flock of birds. Well, that all changed quite recently when a paraglider by the name of Horacio Llorens who just happens to be a world champion in this exiting aviation sport was able to fulfill one of his ambitions and took to the skies to fly amongst a flock of starlings.
He was able to do this in Denmark where each year thousands of starlings gather and fly through the air in huge flocks. It is known as the “Black Sun” and it is a spectacular sight.
Mr Llorens who is 35 years of age and is from Spain has been paragliding for 17 years and has always wanted to experience flying with birds. In order to do so, he was able to gain the permission of the Ministry of the Environment in Denmark.
Of course there are no doubt many paragliders who have been able to fly in close proximity to a small number of birds but it is believed that nobody has been able to fly amongst thousands of birds. He must have felt like he was one of them as he flew his electric powered paraglider as dusk was happening.
The starlings fly from Norway to Denmark where the climate is warmer and where, when they fly around in a flock, there are so many of them that they make the sky darker. There are no doubt many people who make special trips to witness the “Black Sun” from the ground. However, those people were probably very envious of Mr Llorens as he flew amongst the starlings. There was even an ornithologist present to make sure that the starlings were safe when Mr Llorens took to the sky.
Congratulations to this paraglider for achieving one of his life-long ambitions.
If you are in need of airsports insurance why not give us a call at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 and speak with a member of our friendly staff who will happily arrange a quotation.
Every quarter, the Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index is published which looks at the average cost of fully comprehensive car insurance across the UK. The latest index covering the third quarter of 2017 provides some interesting data some of which we mention below.
Unfortunately, car insurance premiums have risen by an average of 14% per annum in the 12 months to the end of September 2017. In monetary terms this is an increase of £101 per annum from £737 per annum in the third quarter of 2016 to £838 per annum in the same quarter of this year. This is despite a small fall in premiums of 1% when comparing the second and third quarters of 2017.
It is no secret and not surprising that it is the young drivers who have to pay more for insuring their vehicles than the more mature, experienced motorist. For instance, a 17 year old is paying an average of £2,272 per annum whereas a 34 year old is paying an average of £705 per annum. It is interesting that a 51 year old driver is paying slightly more – an average of £717 per annum. A motorist who is 68 years of age is paying an average of £566 per annum to insure his or her car.
Despite the EU Gender Directive of December 2012, the average premium paid by a man for motor insurance is £890 per annum yet for women it is £774 per annum – a difference of £116 per annum.
On a regional basis, the average cost of someone living in the West Midlands to insure their car has gone up by more than anywhere else in the UK in the last 10 years. There has been a staggering rise of 87% in a decade. A driver in the Borders of Scotland has seen the largest average increase on a quarterly basis with a rise to £684 per annum that equates to an increase of 12% in the space of 3 months to September 2017.
It is being forecast by some that car insurance premiums are likely to continue rising in 2018. Therefore, it is important that you shop around for your cover to try to obtain a competitive deal. In this respect, why not give us a call at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 and speak with a knowledgeable member of our staff who will do all that he or she can to obtain a competitive quotation from the extensive panel of reputable insurers we have at our disposal.
Due to continued growth the Airsports Insurance Bureau team are pleased to welcome new addition Tom Hopkins to its personal lines Executive team. Tom has been recruited as one of our Senior Insurance Consultants and will be responsible for ensuring both our new and existing clients get the very best service.
Tom has spent the last couple of years at Turners Insurance in Botley, Hampshire and has an excellent background providing insurance solutions to both commercial and personal clients, particularly property related insurance products.
Tom had this to say on his appointment:
“As soon as I spoke to AIB I knew it was the perfect opportunity for me to progress further within the insurance industry locally. I appreciate that insurance can be a ‘necessary evil’ at times and I like to assist client’s in ‘taking the pain’ out of the Insurance Purchase and making sure they get a quality product designed around their needs.”
Tom lives in Locks Heath supporting his local Premier League Football club, Southampton FC. He is a keen poker player and will often attend tournaments throughout the south of England. Tom considers himself well travelled and the three people he’d like to invite to his ‘perfect’ dinner party would be former professional boxer Carl Froch MBE, Liverpool FC legend Steven Gerrard and TV royalty, Ross Kemp.
Welcome Tom, we wish you all the very best.
Car of the Day… BMW M3 Coupe
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3...
Our clients may be interested to read that insurers here in the UK continue to pay out huge sums of money in respect of domestic claims for damage caused by water escape. In fact, it may come as a surprise to you to hear that such claims involve the biggest payouts for insurance companies providing this type of cover.
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