Starting Your Own Courier Business

A courier business is one of the fastest growing businesses these days. It is not hard for a courier business to grow from a small or medium enterprise to a large corporation within several years, especially with good planning and management. However, starting your own courier business can be tricky. You will need to invest a relatively large sum of money to start, and then survive the first year before being able to gradually stabilise and eventually expand. There are several crucial aspects of this business that must be properly understood in order to start your own courier business correctly and earn profits from your investments.

The first thing you would have to pay close attention to is vehicles. You will need to purchase vehicles for your courier business: trucks, vans, or any other suitable vehicles will do. Most starting courier companies would opt for second hand vehicles to reduce their investments, which is fine if you do it carefully. Make sure the vehicles you are buying are in good shape and have good maintenance records. You will need to make sure you have valid vehicle insurances for every vehicle you purchase as well; vehicle insurance is a must. Accidents may happen, and it would be in your best interests to have insurances covering your investments.

When talking about insurance, it would be best to also get courier insurance. Courier insurance will cover items and merchandise shipped through your courier business. Customer's goods in transit are subjects to accidents as well, and having courier insurance covering your customers' interest is the best policy. You will most likely be able to get a courier insurance quote from the same company that provides you with your vehicle insurance. You can get relatively lower quotes on your insurance payments by doing so. Courier insurance is definitely crucial to your business operations, and it would be optimal to ensure you get the best possible courier insurance deals before you go on to the next step of setting up your courier business.

Once you have finished dealing with vehicle as well as courier insurance, it is all about setting up your operations. You can have representative offices to pick up customers' orders, have advertisements through the local media, and of course do your best to satisfy your customers. You are getting proper protection from both your vehicle insurance and your courier insurance, so no accident will be catastrophic to your business operations. Survive the first year, and it will be even easier from that point on.

Now that you know the basics of setting up your own courier business, it is time for you to take the plunge into this profitable business, and begin earning revenues from your investments. Remember, plan carefully, and make sure you get the best protection from your vehicle and courier insurance, and you will do just fine. Should anything go wrong, courier insurance will minimise your risks and keep your business operational. It will be well worth your investments for sure, and it will save you a couple of unnecessary headaches in the future too.

Staveley Head is an established insurance company in the UK offering well rounded courier insurance policies to cover the costs for your courier business in a variety of unexpected situations.

Types of Courier Insurance Policies

Courier businesses can appear to be extremely easy and interesting when seen from the right side. But it also possesses threatening conflicts on the other hand. No doubt, a courier business can yield good results and productive finances. But one has to keep an eye on the negative aspects as well. The best advantage that one can see with a courier business are the 'quick profits'. But this, at the same time, poses dangers.

There are several things to keep in mind before one is going to start a courier business on their own. The reason why courier businesses are considered essential is that they guard you if things take a turn for the worse.

The first and the foremost thing that one needs in their courier business is a courier vehicle. It is impossible to run a courier business smoothly without a vehicle. Owning or acquiring a vehicle doesn't promise a smooth running for your business. You still need another safety measure to keep things on the safe side.

'Courier Insurance' is the term that describes this safety measure. Courier insurance is what is required the most by any individual who carries out any courier business. This is generally focused on a single set of people who normally make deliveries of goods within a particular area or locality. A courier business can be of any type and with any standards. Similarly, not all courier insurance policies are same. Each comes with a set of options of its own, based on the needs and demands of the courier services. There are three popular kinds of courier insurance policies that one can rely upon.

Vehicle Insurance is the most popular kind of courier insurance policy that the majority of courier businesses choose. This kind of insurance covers both the goods involved in the vehicle and the courier vehicle itself. It is imperative that any vehicle running on the road holds vehicle insurance. However specific coverage for couriers need to be sought apart from regular vehicle insurance.

'Goods in transit insurance' is another popular kind of courier insurance that concentrates solely on the goods involved in the courier vehicle while in transit. Public liability is another kind of courier insurance policy that is currently in demand by the major courier service providers. As the courier service involves dealing with the goods that are the public's property, any problem and complication that arises in case of the public is taken care by this kind of courier insurance policy. For example, if you crash your courier vehicle and it damages a valuable item (such as an expensive breed of animal) then you're covered by public liability insurance.

Often courier insurance services come in expensive packages. Though this might seem intolerable and completely beyond one's ability, it is still worth to pay for the insurance to keep oneself safely covered. Less expensive insurance packages can be found, however, by conducting online searches and comparing quotes - so there is no excuse not to cover your business!

Quote Me Today provides courier insurance policies to courier businesses interested in obtaining financial compensation and coverage in the event of an accident or damaged parcels.

A Look at Commercial Real Estate Insurance For Those in Property Management

Property management experts need to have specialized commercial real estate insurance to ensure that all of their losses are covered in the event something happens to their buildings. This insurance will provide you with the means to repair or rebuild the building. It should also compensate you for all of the financial losses incurred when renting an apartment complex is no longer possible due to circumstances beyond your control.

Protection For The Building

If something would ever happen to the building you are renting an apartment out of, you need to know you are able to repair or replace it. Commercial real estate insurance providers do this in one of two ways. They will pay the property management the actual cash value of the building or the current replacement cost. The contents and equipment in the building are covered through the plan even if they are off the property at the time they are damaged or lost.

Make sure the provider you work with will cover you for the lost value of the undamaged portion. They should pay to have the good section demolished, or for the additional construction expense when joining the original segments of the building with the new portions. Your policy should cover the miscellaneous expenses and occurrences as well. This includes earthquakes, fire coverage that pays for the fire department and equipment, equipment breakdown, pollution and debris removal, and the outdoor property and items.

Financial And Crime Protection

When renting an apartment is no longer possible, the effects of this problem can cut deep into the property management's pockets. There is tons of money going out to fix the building, but at the same time, there is no money coming in. A good commercial real estate insurance plan will cover the loss of income and the expenses associated with the loss of a building. In many cases, it will even cover all of the costs associated with bringing the tenants back after the repairs or replacements have been made. Your accounts receivables and other valuable papers are also included.

Crime and dishonesty can cripple a property management expert. This type of policy should cover you for losses caused by an employee, forgery, fraud, money orders, and counterfeit currency if these issues were to arise. It also covers a loss of money and securities from inside or outside your investment.

Liability

Without the proper coverage, someone who gets hurt while on your property can come after you for the bills. With a good commercial real estate insurance plan, you will be protected against these types of losses. It will cover anyone in your employment, contractors, and yourself. It might also include auto liability for vehicles, even if they are rented, personal, parking lot liability, operations, and advertising injury liability. This doesn't relieve your responsibility to those renting an apartment, but it will help with the financial end of an accident.

By purchasing commercial real estate insurance, property management is covered financially in several areas. Those who fail to purchase this kind of protection could very well end up paying for their mistake for the rest of their lives.

About the Author: Christine O'Kelly is an author for a top property management company, Beal Property in Chicago. For more than 80 years, Beal Properties, LLC has been renting an apartment in many of Chicago's historic neighborhoods.

The Development of Industrial Insurance

In the life insurance industry it became less and less true that only the lower income groups were industrial policyholders. Industrial insurance, far from providing only burial funds, became more generally part of a larger family program. In the late 1940's, a white male industrial policyholder who died in his late 30's, left his family on the average close to $615 from his industrial insurance alone.

Moreover, the average payment rises to about $1,000 when the benefits payable from other Metropolitan life insurance rates were included. While the average amounts paid on the lives of white women were less-and properly so- the benefits were considerable, reaching a total of $585 for all Metropolitan policies when death occurred between the ages of 35 to 39. In addition to the funds that were provided in case of death, industrial insurance provided valuable benefits to living policyholders through endowments and through the availability of cash surrender values.

After some 60 years of development, industrial insurance became deeply rooted as an American institution. It grew because it served the needs of the people at that time and it served them well. There is no doubt that, in the beginning, industrial insurance was a crude instrument; but as time went on it was forged and refined in the crucible of experience.

The New York Insurance Department stated in the 1940's, in reference to Industrial: "Certain it is that at no other time in its history has the business been on a sounder or more equitable basis." It became an essential means by which the majority of the American people protected their families. During the pioneer days much of the ground was uncharted and the founders of the business had to proceed cautiously, lest some false move bring the entire enterprise to economic disaster.

But as experience accumulated and the business developed, more and more substantial benefits accrued to policyholders. Industrial insurance became an important financial mechanism which helped to stabilize the finances of wage earners families during critical periods. It is an institution which proved to continue to serve the American people all the way up into the future of insurance, with policies ranging from basic life insurance to no medical online life insurance quotes.

In the years to follow it continued to be the form of life insurance for people who could pay only weekly or monthly premiums, who could afford to pay only small amounts, and who needed an agent to service their insurance. Industrial insurance, as so many of our other established institutions, has not always been beyond criticism; but in its effort to serve the people it went through many changes which resulted in improvement of its service.

From an enterprise originally operated for profit it has become very largely a mutual institution conducted for the benefit of the policyholders. In the Metropolitan this development went even further. There, the concept of life insurance as an instrument for social good expanded to include extensive activities in the fields of welfare and public health. Symbolic and expressive of this attitude was the company's extensive welfare program, the largest ever launched by a private agency, developed primarily for industrial policyholders. The viewpoint of social responsibility permeated the entire organization.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in finance, business, and life insurance rates. For no medical online life insurance quotes, please visit http://www.equote.com/.

Commercial Insurance For Country Clubs Considered

Running a Golf Course and Country Club is no easy matter. Customer service is an understatement and the clientele are more than just customers, as many have resources and wealth far beyond the average citizen and they bring with them demands for excellence. It is for all of these reasons that insurance considerations for these country club golf courses are no simple situation.

When a manager or CEO of such a facility they must consider things that other commercial insurance clientele do not have to worry about. Things such as: is the insurance carrier able to handle extraordinary losses, and how financially strong is it? What is company's rating and how does the insurance carrier's claim services work?

Most large insurance companies that handle country clubs, sports facilities and large recreation companies have special underwriters and departments that handle this specific niche. There are about 12 commercial insurance carriers in the United States that have special departments only for this category.

A country club must protect its members, guests, assets and reputation. Often they use insurance as a financial vehicle to do just that. The golf club must insure the professional liability of its servers, golf and tennis pros, trainers and spa employees. They also should have medical insurance for sport's injuries. There ought to be insurance for the property of members and guests as well.

It's not easy to protect the reputation of such an establishment and many insurance carriers insure for crisis management, food poisoning, sexual harassment and predators. And although rare, just one such issue can trash a company's reputation. Golf Facilities should also insure the course itself, employees, wine collections and buildings.

Also of consideration would be "hole in one" coverage for major fundraising events or golf course policy. Large tournament cancellations due to weather or other disruptions are indeed a smart move to cover too, including promotional and marketing re-imbursement to start a new. Please consider all this when shopping for insurance for your country club.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Benefits of Claim Management For Business Interruption Claims

What are business interruption claims?

In case your business has suffered a calamity like a flood, fire or any other insured disaster, the insurance claimed on such properties is known as business interruption claim. However, if your business is faced with such a situation, there are two major points that you need to be concerned about:

1. Optimising your insurance claim.
2. Making your business work efficiently again at the earliest opportunity possible.

In order to be able to do this effectively you are most likely to need the help of an expert and significant co-operation from your insurer. This is exactly where insurance claim management companies come in to the picture. When a calamity happens, it is an accident and it is quite obvious that you were not ready for it. Under such a situation, consulting a reputed insurance claim management company is the best thing to do. These companies have a great deal of experience in helping their customers with insurance claims related to business interruptions and provide you with complete claim management services.

Such insurance claim management companies completely understand the problem you are faced with and take full initiative to help you counter your problems offering you valuable support, professional advice and aid at the time of crisis.

There are several benefits of availing the services of an insurance claim management company when your business has just suffered a big disaster.

These benefits include the following:

* Such companies employ their skilled professionals to deal with the entire situation. These professional evaluate the situation and handle them accordingly.
* They manage flood and fire restoration specialist and take care of emergency repairs.
* They arrange for crisis funds along with provisional accommodation, vehicles and equipments.
* They determine the necessary and immediate building work that needs to be done urgently and ensure that they are carried out properly.
* Thorough evaluation of the contents claim.
* Bargaining the kind of settlement you are looking for, be it diminution, cash or reinstatement.

The aim of such companies is to take all the possible responsibilities relating to insurance claims, so that you have enough time to think about the other aspects of your business that you need to work on, in order to get it working at the earliest. There are several options available to you in the way of insurance claim management companies. Choosing the right one can prove to be quite a task. In case your business undergoes a disaster, then you are less likely to have enough time to research on the companies as to which one to opt for. Therefore, it is always advisable to do your necessary research before hand and keep it as a backup plan, which you can consider using at the time of a crisis.

So, to conclude, if you have a business running and have not yet thought about an insurance claim management company; I, along with many others, would suggest that you do it right away as you never know what the future may have in store for you.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For Business Interruption Claims, he recommends Morgan Clark.

Errors and Omissions Insurance - A Vital Component in Protecting Against the Unexpected

Many business owners have taken proper steps to insure against property loss and injury claims, the more traditional forms of commercial insurance coverage. However, they may have overlooked protecting themselves against claims of professional negligence.

Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance, also known as Professional Liability insurance, protects organizations or individuals against claims of financial loss due to negligence in the delivery of professional services. Professional liability related to errors or omissions, whether actual or merely perceived are not covered by General Liability insurance. (General Liability essentially covers claims of bodily injury or property damage.)

As the business climate grows more complex, so do the insurance needs of business owners, regardless of whether they employ hundreds of consultants or operate as a sole proprietorship out of their home. Errors and omissions insurance coverage is critical and it protects businesses in two vital areas: legal defense fees and settlement expenses.

Most E&O policies will cover defense costs, which, even if the allegations are found invalid, can cost tens of thousands of dollars. For many small businesses and individuals, high legal defense costs could lead to serious financial strain or even bankruptcy.

Who's at risk?

Professionals who most commonly need E&O insurance include doctors, lawyers, engineers and consultants. However, there are a handful of businesses in which E&O coverage is often overlooked, these include advertising agencies, Web hosting companies, service providers, Web and graphic designers, and other Internet-based service companies. Nearly every organization that provides a professional service to a client for a fee has E&O exposure, and because professional requirements are typically undefined in legal terms, Professional Liability insurance shields businesses from the unforeseen.

In some cases, subcontractors may be required by the client to provide proof of General and Professional Liability insurance. Any business that provides specialized service or performs work on a project that is critically important to the client's business, will want to insure themselves against E&O claims. This risk opens the contracted business to potential litigation. If a client perceives a task was not carried out as promised, they can file claims on several issues, including:

* Software or system failures that cause a client to lose profits
* Failure to perform duties
* Loss of client data
* Copyright infringement on Web site and software development
* Failure to meet pre-determined benchmarks on specific projects

While quality control can reduce the risk of errors and omissions, no company has complete immunity to it. Even with the best and brightest employees serving on the frontline, mistakes will happen and if the client feels the service was not completed as promised, if it costs the client money, or damages their reputation, then the company could be at risk of E&O litigation.

Ensuring the policy meets the company's needs

Costs for errors and omissions insurance coverage vary significantly. Many factors are taken into account such as, the type of business, the type of services provided, the location, claim history, and size of the business. The competition among insurance providers, however, works to the business owner's advantage, and the process for receiving an E&O insurance quote, cost comparison and detailed policy information should be fairly simple.

While the process will vary, some insurance company underwriters will ask for copies of contracts and descriptions of quality control procedures, while other underwriters may simply request an application be completed. When searching for an E&O insurance quote or reviewing a policy there are several key features to be mindful of:

* Coverage should include legal defense costs.

* Both W2 employees and 1099 subcontractors should be covered - the company should be protected against claims from work performed by 1099 subcontractors on the company's behalf. In many cases, however, 1099 personnel are not covered and would need their own errors and omissions insurance coverage.

* Optional coverage for allegations of copyright and intellectual property infringement - this protects the company from claims alleging copyright infraction. Intellectual property infringement coverage is particularly important for software, systems or processes, as they are the most widely known "intellectual properties."

* Personal injury coverage such as claims of libel, slander and invasion of privacy

* Worldwide coverage - this covers incidents regardless of where they originate.

Defending a claim

In the event a claim is filed, E&O insurance will adequately prepare the company to defend its case. It will pay for a strong legal defense and potentially save a small business or individual from severe debt. Unfortunately, laws and legal precedents that govern the technology industry are still under development, which often puts IT professionals in unknown legal territory.

However, while mistakes are bound to happen, there are a few steps businesses can take to mitigate claims:

* Have a written contract detailing what service will be provided, what is not included and the fees for delivering that service

* Communicate throughout the entire job; give the client realistic expectations upfront and provide regular status updates

* Implement quality control procedures, and regularly conduct audits to ensure the procedures are being adequately executed

Once the contract is written, be sure it contains very specific information, including:

* Limits of liability - the dollar amount per occurrence of liability

* A section detailing the services the company will be providing

A written contract is one way businesses and individuals can protect themselves, however E&O insurance will provide an extra layer of protection against the unknown and unexpected. Defending a claim is costly and time consuming. Regardless of whether a suit is deemed unreasonable, attorney fees will still need to be paid. In some instances, costs for defending a case can exceed the cost of a resulting settlement. E&O insurance covers attorney fees, any settlement costs that may result, and allows the business owner to continue operating without fear of potentially having to face bankruptcy or a mountain of debt.

James Cochran is the founder of Techinsurance. Since 1997, Techihsurance.com has been providing high quality professional liability insurance at a reasonable price to IT firms across the nation. They quickly became a leader in providing business liability insurance, and have since maintained their position as one of the top IT business insurance providers.

Liability Insurance Could Save Your Business From Financial Disaster

Company liability insurance safeguards businesses from various allegations of negligence, but it may also protect them from having to absorb the fees associated with defending a frivolous lawsuit.

While attention to quality control and seamless risk management procedures can reduce the risk of lawsuits, no organization can completely eliminate the possibility that a claim will arise. Litigations, even the most ludicrous pursuits, can lead a company down a path of financial disaster.

Businesses can prevent this financial pitfall by arming themselves with company liability insurance. In fact, operating a business without coverage, particularly in the information technology industry, can create a highly volatile situation for the organization. Still many businesses and individuals go without liability insurance to cut down on operating costs, but it only takes one claim to wipe out what took years to build. Without liability insurance, the business can take a major hit from the litigation process and the owner's personal assets can become vulnerable.

In 2007 alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 335,000 cases of employees injured on the job due to contact with objects and equipment. Employer's Liability insurance protects companies from an employee's claim that their illness or injury was caused by the company's alleged negligence or failure to provide a safe workplace. This coverage will not only pay for damages resulting from a lawsuit, but also for the defense costs including, attorney fees, research fees, court reporting fees and witness fees, to name a few. In some instances, legal defense costs can substantially surpass the actual damages.

General Liability insurance is typically the first line of defense against common claims. It protects businesses against claims of bodily or other physical injury as well as property damage. A General Liability insurance policy will most likely include:

* Personal and Advertising Injury - protects against offenses committed by the company or employee such as libel, slander, disparagement or copyright infringement in advertisements.

* Defense Costs - covers legal defense costs for liability claims regardless of who is at fault.

* Medical Expenses - covers medical expenses if someone is injured due to an accident on the business's property.

* Premises and Operations Liability - covers the business on claims of bodily injury and property damage inflicted by others on the business's property or as a result of the business's operations.

Premiums on General Liability insurance are typically low, and usually are not enough to dissuade a business from purchasing it. The cost, however, of operating without liability insurance can prove to be much more extreme. Legal fees alone, regardless of whether the claim is deemed valid or not, can damage a company financially. Company liability insurance can preserve a business's assets and allow them to continue operations even during a lawsuit.

James Cochran is the founder of Techinsurance, which has been providing high quality business liability insurance at a reasonable price to IT firms across the nation since 1997. They quickly became a leader in the online insurance industry, and have since maintained their position as one of the top IT insurance providers

Marine Insurance - Charterer's Liability Insurance News

International trade in some specialised and bulk commodities is often conducted using chartered (hired) vessels which allows for greater flexibility and control of the trade chain to both seller and buyer.

Most vessels will be chartered by one of three principle methods:

* "Voyage" - hire of the vessel for a particular voyage.
* "Time" - hire of a vessel for a specified period
* "Bareboat" or "Demise" hire - taking over and running the vessel as if owned.

This bulletin introduces some of the insurance issues relating to Voyage and Time Charters Liability and also highlights the principal difference to Bareboat Charters.

Voyage and Time Charters

Chartering a vessel for a voyage, series of voyages or a specified period of time is a common practice in some of the specialised (e.g. Project Cargo) and bulk cargo trades (e.g. Grain, Fertiliser and Minerals). Vessel chartering allows flexibility in the type and size of vessel to be used, timing and availability, and the variety of ports which may be accessed.

The exposure of a charterer will usually be that of liability under the contractual relationship with the shipowner. This contractual liability is established by the mutual agreement of the parties under a document called a Charter-party (A charter-party is a contract by which all or part of a ship is let for a specified voyage or a specified time). The Charter-party will set out the responsibilities of charterer and vessel owner and will often take the form of a standard document established for a specific trade by a Trade Association. Examples of these are:

HeavyCon - a voyage contract for heavy lift cargo.

GenTime - a time contract for general cargo.

Typical risks faced by a charterer will include:

Damage to the vessel caused by cargo handling (stevedores), unsafe berths/ports and bad bunkers (fuel).

Loss or damage to third party cargo or property

Oil pollution

Third party bodily injury

The charter-party document and any additional clauses (riders) or amendments are critical components in the risk assessment process for all Charterers Liability Risks.

Bareboat Charters

This type of charter can differ from Voyage/Time charters because the charterer usually takes over the complete control of the vessel as opposed to hiring the vessel with the owners crew.

A Bareboat charter can entail significant changes to the operations of the vessel including altering the flag and classification, and embarking the charterers crew to man the vessel. With this added responsibility will come the need to insure the vessel as if it was owned by the charterer - policies covering physical damage and operating liability (P&I

Professional Indemnity Insurance is Needed For All Consultants

The number of people starting businesses in the UK has been growing for the past few years. An increasing trend is to start a consultancy business offering expertise to those who need it.

Offering advice as a consultant comes with risks. If a client makes a financial loss because of the advice you have given they may make a claim against you for the loss they have suffered.

If the loss is significant you could face having to make a large payout. The safest option is to make sure you have Professional Indemnity Insurance. This will insure you for the cost of the claim due to your client's financial loss.

Professional Indemnity Insurance can offer peace of mind for both you and the client. The client will be happier that if any of your advice causes them a loss they can make a claim and it will be paid by your insurance company. Obviously you have the knowledge that if for any unforeseen circumstance your advice is wrong, your insurance will be able to pay the claim made against you.

Professional Indemnity Insurance is usually offered as part of a business insurance policy. The cover will form the core of your insurance cover and you will usually be able to add extra cover if you think that you need it. For example you may need business equipment insurance or business buildings insurance.

When you buy your Professional Indemnity Insurance it is a good idea to shop around for the best deal. Comparing quotes is a great way to find the best price for your insurance. By doing this you are able to look at what different competitors offer side by side and choose the price and the type of cover that is right for your business.

A great way to get the best cover for yourself is to do your own research. If you get to know what is available from different providers in the market you are able to know if you are getting a good deal or not.

Decision Finance allows you to compare quotes for you Professional Indemnity Insurance and buy your insurance online quickly. You receive your policy documents online within seconds of buying your policy.

Does Your Business Insurance Cover You For the Extras?

As a business owner, it is imperative you do everything you can to protect your assets. From employees and merchandise to the physical premises themselves, it is your responsibility to ensure everything is on top form and adequately protected.

Indeed, your business is your livelihood and whilst driving profits is your primary goal, it is essential that you understand the associated risks involved. Therefore, carrying out an accurate risk assessment is an intelligent way to protect both yourself and the other components of your business.

In doing so, you will be able to form a comprehensive strategy, capable of dealing with any arising issues. Not only that, but you will also be in the best possible position to determine the most appropriate insurance package for your needs.

There are certain types of business insurance that are required by law. For instance, if you have employees working for you, it is compulsory for you to take out employer's liability insurance. The same goes for any company vehicles you own, although you do have the option to take third party or comprehensive cover.

But, what about the other types of business insurance? What should you have and is it really worth paying out for them?

Considering the premises where you operate from forms an important part of your business' activities, it makes sense to get them covered. Issues to consider here include: damage or destruction towards the physical building(s); insurance for the full cost of rebuilding said premises; and any relevant legal/professional fees associated with reparation or rebuilding.

The experts also advise that it is essential to protect your contents. There are standard insurance packages to choose from, but many will only provide basic cover. Here it is important to think about the specifics of what your insurance offers you. For example, are you covered for loss or damage to any extra stock or gifts that you may have?

This is especially pertinent for businesses selling products, due to the fact it is likely they will have additional stock and/or gifts on the premises at certain times of the year, such as Christmas. Consequently, it pays to find an insurer who will build this factor into your insurance policy.

It is also important when taking cover out to precisely calculate the amount of stock you do have and to immediately inform your insurer of any extra stock as and when it comes in. As with all types of insurance, you must also ensure that you comply with your insurer's security precautions.

As it goes, running your own business can be extremely rewarding. However, it definitely pays to make sure you're protected for the right things. So, always be aware of what could happen, as well as taking into account issues like seasonal fluctuations. The key issue to remember when taking out business insurance is to match the nature of your business with the right deal.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Liability Insurance For Offices & Business Services

Everyone operating a business must have Business Liability Insurance Coverage to protect against unforeseen circumstances. Even if you have a small home-based business things can happen that you were not expecting. Most people cannot afford to go for very long without a source of income.

Perhaps you feel that since you are only providing accounting or office services to a small number of clients you don't need separate coverage for your business. How would you recover all your files and equipment if there were a fire or theft in your home? Regular home insurance will not cover any losses that were used to conduct business. In fact if your insurance agent did not know that you were operating a business out of your home you take the chance of not being covered for any of your losses. Most of us could not cope financially in such a situation. You can easily avoid such a disaster by simply taking a few minutes to go online and research Small Business Liability Insurance Coverage.

You take pride in providing the services you have been contracted to perform and your clients depend on you. You also depend the on the income derived from these services. Don't put your clients or your source of income in jeopardy by not being adequately covered. Take a little time now to investigate Small Business Liability Insurance and be confident that you can continue your operation even in the case of an accident.

When your small business offers a product of service to the public you are also open to lawsuits by clients or a staff person who might be working for you even on a part time basis. Lawsuits even if settled in your favour are costly and could mean having to close your doors. Perhaps you need to stop providing services just on a temporary basis due to fire or theft. How will you handle an interruption in loss of wages? It may take some time to re-build your clientele with little or no income in the meantime.

If equipment or data has been lost there will very like be a period of time waiting for the new equipment to arrive. You may also have the expense of hiring someone to help input data that was lost. Even one part time employee may have personal belongings at their work station that have been destroyed or lost. Make sure time spent on your business is productive and not on stressful situations that could have been avoided by having the right coverage. It's as easy as firing up your laptop with your morning coffee to find the Small Business Liability Insurance that best suits your needs.

Whether you plan to keep your home based business at its current level or plan to expand it at some point choosing the right Small Business Liability Insurance coverage will enable to concentrate on what is important - your business. Take a few minutes now and protect your future.

Matthew Bowes - http://www.degreeprogramsonline.info

Marine Insurance - Exchange Rates Insurance News

Large amounts of international trade and many limits and sums insured for Marine insurance contracts are negotiated in a currency other than Australian Dollars (A$).

Fluctuating rates of exchange between currencies are common with most entities exposed to this area implementing forms of hedging or risk management to reduce the likely impact on their business.

Where rapid and significant variances occur together, the best laid hedging and risk management plans may not be sufficient to completely eliminate impact on a business.

This bulletin highlights some of the exchange rate issues which may impact Marine insurance covers.

Currency and Trade

The currency of the United States of America (US$) is recognised as the international currency of trade, shipping and to a lesser extent,aviation. Some other currencies, notably the Euro have a showing in trade contracts however, the US$ is predominant.

Sale and purchase agreements will often impose the trade currency of choice as US$ which eventually leads most non-USA domiciled traders, sellers or buyers into a foreign currency transaction and exposure to exchange rate fluctuation.

Business plans, projects and actual transactions which establish profit or transaction margins on an expected exchange rate level can be eroded or extinguished where rapid exchange rate fluctuation occurs.

Likely Marine Impact

(where exposed to foreign currency or overseas supply)

Hulls - revaluations may be desirable as machinery/parts cost increase.

Cargo - Limits of liability may need review and a watch put on turnover and sendings to ensure a blowout in figures does not give the insured a surprise at time of adjustment.

Liability Limits - may need review.

Claims Impact

Claims requiring payment in foreign currency will need conversion from A$ with resultant monitory impact to the claims record of the insured. The replacement of components and parts sourced from overseas may attract inflationary influences due to exchange rate fluctuation.

Insurer Capacity

Insurer per risk capacities will often be established on an annual basis following renewal of treaty reinsurance. Rapid and significant variations in exchange rates can lead to short term capacity constraints on risks with large limits or sums insured in foreign currency.

Where rapid and significant exchange rate variations occur, care should be taken to accurately assess and react to any adverse impact on insurance coverage.

Disclaimer: This bulletin is for information purposes only and is not legal advice.

Please contact me via email enquiry@marine-insurance.com.au or visit our website http://www.marine-insurance.com.au for further information.

No Bailout For the Insurance Industry

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I don't spend a lot of time analyzing cause and effect relationships in the stock market. Lately, however, I have noticed one fairly predictable correlation. Every time Treasury Secretary Paulson opens his mouth my retirement portfolio declines by another couple of percentage points.

Since Congress passed the bailout bill most Americans have assumed that Secretary Paulson now has the tools he needs to stabilize our financial system. Unfortunately, as if to undermine the very confidence we've reluctantly placed in him, he keeps dredging up new things to worry about.

The Wall Street Journal reported this past weekend that Secretary Paulson may now extend the bailout to the insurance industry. To which I ask, WHY? The insurance industry neither deserves nor requires any taxpayer assistance.

The corporations most of us regard as large insurers are actually anything but insurance companies. They are holding companies that operate one or more insurance companies (and often other types of businesses too) as subsidiaries. These holding companies frequently pursue complicated investment strategies funded by dividends extracted from their insurance company subsidiaries. It's not about writing policies and paying claims at all. It's about generating a cheap source of cash to finance fancy investment activities. Warren Buffett loves GEICO, but do not think for a minute that he gets his kicks from repairing damaged automobiles?

Owing to the high flying ways of AIG, Wall Street became enamored with insurance holding companies. For a while their exotic investment strategies produced an earnings stream that seemingly exceeded the sum of their parts. They weaved and weaseled their way into the fabric of our financial system. They chased ever higher returns to keep Wall Street happy. They became mortgage lenders and hedge fund operators and owners of aircraft leasing companies. Then it all blew up; or so it seems to Secretary Paulson.

Actually it hasn't. Unlike banks, insurance holding companies own very healthy and reasonably marketable assets in the form of their insurance company subsidiaries. If all else fails a holding company can raise cash by selling its subsidiaries. In AIG's case, an orderly sale of its entire portfolio of insurance companies (many with valuable brand names) could very well have generated more cash than it received via the taxpayer loan. Heck, at the end of the day even the shareholders might have walked away with something.

As it stands, the quest to keep AIG intact has placed taxpayers at risk for some $90+ billion and counting. We do not need to repeat this mistake industry wide. I know this crowd. Those insurance CEOs now whispering in Secretary Paulson's ear care more about their corporate jets than they do about the financial system or the taxpayers. Let the private sector sort this mess out.

Hey! The Dow closed up 900 points today. Secretary Paulson must have cancelled his press conference.

Thanks for checking in...

Ed, III

http://www.1stguard.com
http://www.thetruckinsuranceextremist.blogspot.com/

Type of Business Insurance For Small and Home Business

I have consulted with hundreds of small business owners, including home business owners, and I know that they do not like to spend a lot of time figuring out what sort of coverage they need. These people are very hard working, and of course, they are experts in their field. But insurance is hardly ever an exciting topic for them. And yet, they know that the lack of proper coverage can ruin their company. That's why they wanted a quick and easy way to determine the coverage they would need.

Types of Business Insurance

* Business Property - This is coverage against loss or damage to the property or contents of a business.
* Business Liability - This protects a company against claims that their products or services damaged a customer.
* Professional Liability - Example of this would be malpractice insurance for doctors, or Errors and Omissions for financial professionals.
* Business Owners Policy - A combination policy which includes more than one time of coverage that is bundled together.
* Commercial Auto Insurance - Much like a personal auto insurance policy, this covers cars that are used to conduct business.
* Workers Compensation - A workers comp policy protects the employees in case of on the job injuries. Some companies are required to carry it, and some are not.
* Group Health - A group medical plan that employees join. While this is more of an employee benefit than a plan to protect the company, it can help attract and retain qualify workers. Not all small businesses will need a group plan, and those that have one, usually expect the employees to contribute some of the premiums.
* Group LIfe - Like group health, this can be an employee benefit. However, some company life insurance plans, like key man policies, actually do protect the company in case one of the most important employees or owners should pass away, and the company would suffer a financial loss because they have to do without that person's services.


The list above is very brief, and is certainly not a list of all possible types of insurance that small companies may consider. In addition, the descriptions are brief, and are not intended to replace the detailed advice a decision maker would need before actually buying a policy. Many types of specialized plans exist, and in some cases, a plan can be developed for the unique needs of a particular business. For instance, I have heard of movie or television stars getting their smiles or body parts insured.

Learn more about the types of business insurance to protect your company.

We also provide free business insurance rates with a list of the most competitive commercial insurance providers online. Find Low Cost Business Insurance Rates.

The Importance of Owners Title Insurance

There are two types of title insurance, lender's coverage and owner's coverage. Lender's coverage protects the lender in the event their interest in the property is jeopardized by an unpaid lien or encumbrance or by a challenge to the owner's title. Lender's coverage is mandatory on most mortgage loans.

Owner's title insurance is optional. Owner's coverage is the cheapest insurance a buyer will ever purchase. It protects the buyer's interest in the property for as long as he owns it. If someone challenges the buyer's title or if there are any liens that should have been paid off before closing, the title insurance company will defend the buyer's title at no cost to the buyer.

Sometimes at closing, buyers will be tempted to opt out of purchasing the owner's title portioin in order to save a few hundred dollars. Many times, the loan officer or real estate agent will even encourage a buyer to forgo purchasing this vital one time payment insurance.

We've all heard the saying "penny wise and pound foolish". It means that some people will do anything to save a few dollars today only to end up paying a whole lot more down the line. Any buyer who chooses not to purchase owner's coverage is being penny wise and pound foolish. Owner's coverage, unlike most other insurance, involves a one-time premium. The amount of the premium is based on the value of the property and may vary slightly among title companies. As mentioned previously, the coverage is good for as long as the buyer owns the property.

Most title insurance companies have a simultaneous issue option. If a buyer opts to purchase the insurance on the day of closing, he will receive a discount on the lender's policy. So, buyers should make sure to ask the closing company or attorney what the simultaneous issue rate is for the title insurance company through which they write their policies. Keep in mind that if a buyer chooses not to purchase owner's coverage, he will be required to pay the full premium for the lender's policy.

Title insurance companies also offer reissue rates for refinances. Reissue rates allow a borrower to pay for coverage on the difference between the value of the original lender's policy and their current loan amount.

Depending on the internal procedures of the title company or closing attorney, a buyer will either receive his owner's policy at the closing table or via U.S. mail a few weeks after closing. The owner's policy should be kept in a safe place along with the deed to the property as it is the only original. In most states, attorneys and title companies are only required to keep files for seven to ten years. So, if an issue arises years later, a copy of the title insurance policy may not be available from the attorney or title company because they may have already disposed of the closing file.

If it becomes necessary to file a claim, the title insurance company contains the information needed to begin that process. Be prepared to provide the title company with a detailed explanation of the claim and any supporting documentation.

Copyright © 2008 Bishop Realty Services All Rights Reserved.

Statistics Show That For Millions of Americans, Insurance is More Than Worth the Cost

Today, many small businesses operate without liability insurance - with the exception of the workers' compensation insurance, which is required by law. In many cases, business owners simply want to cut down on operating costs, but in today's climate in which worker compensation claims have skyrocketed, operating without any liability coverage is a highly volatile practice.

With just one claim, what took years to build can be wiped out. Without liability insurance, the business can take a major hit from the litigation process and the owner's personal assets can become vulnerable. Consider that in 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 335,000 cases of employees injured on the job due to contact with objects and equipment.

Workers' compensation, which is required by law in all 50 states, protects employers from liability for an accident involving an employee. This coverage will pay medical expenses and lost wages on injured employees. In cases of disability, it will provide a lump sum or annuities. It is increasingly important employers review their general liability insurance policies to ensure the coverage protects the business against claims made for bodily injury or property damage. Coverage should include medical expenses, defending the lawsuit, settlements and in appeal procedures, bonds or judgments.

Premiums on General and Professional Liability insurance can be costly, and often the cost alone dissuades businesses from purchasing it. The cost, however, of operating without liability insurance can prove to be much more extreme. The out-of-pocket costs of filing a claim alone can escalate quickly and the number of damages that can occur such as fire or theft could nudge a business towards severe debt. If a worker is harmed on the job, the employer will face medical and legal fees. Workman's comp insurance, which is required at varying levels by state, will provide a safeguard to the company.

Cost of no insurance

In September 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a report detailing employee compensation. On average employers paid $28.03 per employee per hour. Of these costs, approximately $2.35 (8.4 percent) of total compensation went towards life, health and disability insurance - a nominal expenditure when compared to the cost of disputing or paying on a claim.

Lawsuit expenses alone can vary radically depending on several variables such as the type of claim and whether it was filed by a customer or an employee. Employers can count on spending a significant amount to defend the case. Typically costs and procedures include:

* A summons and complaint filed against the company, which results in several meetings and attorney fees, including consultation, transcript and research costs, all billed at an hourly rate.

* The claim will then progress to the deposition phase, which entails a settlement conference and a trial date. In addition to the billable hours and other various fees, the attorney will also bill for the deposition paperwork.

* During the trial, the attorney charges hourly and there's no telling how long the trial could last. It could go from several days to several weeks. In addition to the hourly fees, the defendant is also being billed for various legal fees.

* Legal fees can include transcript fees, witness fees, court reporter fees, consultation and deposition fees, research fees and mailing fees.

In the event the employee wins the case, the defendant - the employer - will brunt the burden of not only paying the settlement, but also any medical, attorney and other expenses the prosecuting party has incurred. For those organizations operating without insurance, this can put them at risk of going into major debt or bankruptcy.

In one 2004 workers' compensation case in California, a wood products company was ordered not only to pay its employees medical expenses, but also entitled the employee to, "...medical treatment as is reasonably required to "relieve" from the effects of his industrial injury, even if such treatment will not "cure" that injury..." In effect, the company will be paying for medical treatments indefinitely. The company did, however, have insurance coverage and did not have to foot the bill.

In a separate case, in 2006, an employee who suffered industrial injuries to the neck in the form of fibromyalgia was awarded payment of medical costs, in excess of $14,000, disability reaching nearly $100,000, plus life pension, which paid just over $45 per week.

Protecting assets

Insurance protects businesses against more than just worker-related claims. It can also cover disasters such as fires, natural disasters and theft.

According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, compensation awards to victims are now being determined for the recent Metrolink train crash in Chatsworth, Calif. and it's expected the awards could easily exceed the $200-million cap Congress implemented on railroad liability in any one accident. If the cap is removed, Metrolink will be in an extremely vulnerable position.

While most businesses will never experience a disaster of this magnitude, insurance coverage beyond workers' comp insurance may be necessary in ensuring the organization's assets are protected. A workers' compensation insurance quote should outline what coverage will include. From there the business owner can determine whether additional liability insurance is needed. Typically, liability insurance coverage includes:

* Legal costs - general liability insurance will cover litigation costs such as attorney and witness fees, as well as settlement payments.

* Medical costs - insurance will cover medical costs for individuals who may have been injured on company property, this includes employees as well as customers.

* Property damage - insurance will cover fire, theft or other incidents that damage the assets of the business. It insures the company from physical damage to the property as well as the customer's property.

* Business interruption - insurance will cover the business in cases of major disasters, such as a fire, that render the business inoperable. If the business is unable to operate, the insurance would reimburse the company for its losses and the profits that would have been made during that time.

Business operators should shop recognized, established insurance providers to find the best coverage for their needs and the best price for their budget. All companies can provide general liability and workers' compensation insurance quotes to help businesses budget for the expense.

Insurance - A Great Way To Get Protect

A contingent situation can arise at any point of time in anyone's lives. It comes without any prior notification. But we can take precautions to deal with any possible emergency smartly. This can be done by taking out an insurance policy as per your requirements. Any risk that can be quantified can potentially be insured.

There are many types of insurance available in the market such as life, auto, business, home and health insurance. Insurance companies sell various insurance plans to the consumers seeking coverage. If the insured person faces any kind of loss he can claim for the amount of coverage that he had insured for. But, it is vital to choose a right insurance coverage, from the right place.

Insurance policies can be availed through plenty insurance companies and agents but the most convenient option to apply for such policies is through extremely popular online mode. Through the online mode, you can easily understand the terms and conditions of the policy while sitting at the comfort of your home or office. You can click on several sites and can derive all the necessary information of insurance as per your requirements. A thorough research on the internet entails you to pick a perfect insurance deal at feasible premium rates. This will save your precious time as well as money, as you are not required to visit to ample of insurance companies to understand the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. Online mode provides you great chance to apply for an insurance policy in a hassle free manner.

By purchasing insurance policies, individuals and businesses can receive compensation from damages which might be arises by car accidents, theft of property and belongings, and fire and storm damage; health issues; and loss of income due to disability, redundancy or death etc.

Electronics Insurance - Are Your Electronics and Computers Covered by Your Insurance?

There is a lot of misinformation today about consumer electronics and how it is treated by insurance companies. Most people I talk to think that if they have homeowners or renters insurance, their consumer electronics are covered.

But they usually find out that their assumptions aren't true...at claims time.

Sure, some of the property is covered. But there are a bunch of limits and exclusions that will surprise you if you have a loss and file a claim.

Don't wait until claim time to learn about this important coverage. Read this article carefully and make good decisions about your coverage.

Twenty years ago, consumer computer usage and ownership was not all that common. If you owned a cell phone, you carried it in a bag the size of a small purse. There were few home fax machines. Answering machines were pretty common, but voicemail was still on the horizon. Scanners were non-existent. Printers and copiers were huge and expensive, and you didn't see them in most homes. If you were the rare person who had satellite TV, the dish was about eight feet across and sat out in the back yard. And Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and MP3 players had not been invented yet.

But today....

In our home we have:
• two desktop computers with monitors
• four laptop computers
• four printers
• one stand-alone fax machine
• one combination fax, scanner, copier
• three TVs
• two VCRs
• one digital video camera with tripod for our home recording studio
• one audio mixing board, one microphone, one amplifier, two external soundcards, and a 500GB hard drive, all for our home recording studio
• two DVD players
• two cell phones, one smartphone, each with voicemail
• one satellite TV system with a 24" dish on the roof
• two Ipods

Your home may not have that amount of electronics, but then again, you might have more. The way that consumer electronics prices have tumbled over the years makes ownership much easier for more and more people.

But...is it covered? Does your homeowners or renters insurance cover your electronics?

We run three separate businesses out of our home. Most of our electronics are used in our businesses.

Do you have a home business? There are millions of home businesses...everything from home daycare to a service business to multilevel marketing businesses. Many times, those entrepreneurs own office electronics for their home business. Do you use your computers and other electronics for any kind of home business? Even if you're answering office email on your home computer, it could be considered "business use."

Are they covered by YOUR homeowners policy?

Are they covered if they are business-related?

What happens if your desktop or laptop computer is stolen, either from home or away from home? Is the theft covered by your homeowners insurance policy?

If you're carrying your laptop through an airport anywhere in America, your laptop is at huge risk for theft. (See more below) What if your laptop is stolen while you're in the airport?

Here is the answer to those questions...

MAYBE!!!!

In the Homeowners or Renters Policy, Coverage C, Contents, there are special limits of $2,500 for "property, on the residence premises, used primarily for business purposes." The policy says there is a $500 limit for "property away from the residence premises used primarily for business purposes." Of course, you will have a deductible to pay first, so if your deductible is $500 or more, you won't get ANY money from the insurance company for this loss.

Are your personal electronics covered? Yes, but only for the following perils:

• Fire or lightning
• Windstorm or Hail
• Explosion
• Riot or Civil Commotion
• Aircraft (not in aircraft, but if aircraft fall on your stuff.)
• Vehicles (not in vehicles, but if vehicles crash into your stuff.)
• Smoke
• Vandalism or Malicious Mischief
• Theft
• Falling Objects (stuff falling onto your stuff)
• Weight of Ice, Snow or Sleet
• Accidental Discharge or Overflow of Water or Steam
• Sudden and Accidental Tearing Apart or Bursting (of a steam or hot water system).
• Freezing
• Sudden and Accidental Damage from an Artificially Generated Electrical Current
• Volcanic Eruption

As I said above, the policy limit for business electronics at the residence is $2,500.

If your laptop or other portable electronics are stolen from your car, there is no coverage under your Auto insurance for the theft.

Also remember, that under Coverage C, Contents, payment is made on an Actual Cash Value basis, not Replacement Cost Value. The only way to get RCV is to add the Contents Replacement Cost endorsement to your policy. It's not automatic, you have to request it.

How about other kinds of damage that your computer might sustain?

• Accidental damage, such as dropped equipment, falls, liquid spills and auto collisions.
• Water damage

Those kinds of damages are not covered under your homeowners or renters policy.

And what about the software and sensitive data in your computer? Is that covered, too?

Not likely. In the Homeowners and Renters policies, under the "Property Not Covered" section, "business data, including data stored in computers and related equipment" is not covered.

So, to be fully covered, you'll need to buy some additional coverage.

COMPUTER AND PERSONAL ELECTRONICS INSURANCE

The leading company in the world for computer and portable electronics insurance is Safeware Insurance. They have programs for students, individuals, small and large businesses and schools at very competitive rates.

Let me take a few minutes and tell you about their outstanding insurance product.

If you own:

• Desktop or Laptop Computers
• Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
• Smartphones
• Digital cameras
• MP3 players
• Scanners/Faxes/Copiers
• Printers
• DVD players
• Flash drives
• Servers
• External hard drives
• Digital camcorders
• Peripherals that connect to your computers through an USB port, Firewire, PCMCIA or another input

All of these electronic products need special insurance coverage not provided in Homeowners or Renters policies.

Did you know these facts about computers?

• Accidental damage is the number one cause of loss
• Theft is number two cause of loss
• Power surge is number three
• Manufacturer warranties do not protect your computer from accidental damage or theft
• Even though some manufacturers do offer special "damage only" coverage, they do not offer coverage for theft, power surges, natural disasters or vandalism.

You already know how easy it is to have electronics with replacement value in excess of $2,500. There are loaded desktops and laptops that easily exceed $2,500 EACH.

So, you have some choices:

1. Call your agent and buy a Personal Property Endorsement to add coverage to your homeowners or renters policy. Downsides to this choice are (a) many endorsements only pay the Actual Cash Value of the damaged property, not replacement cost, and (b) perils like Accidental Damage, Drops, Falls, Cracked Screens, Liquid Spills and Auto Collisions are not covered.

2. Buy a custom policy that just adds special coverage for your computers and other electronics, like:

• Desktops
• Laptops and notebooks
• Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
• Smartphones
• Digital cameras
• MP3 players
• Scanners/Faxes/Copiers
• Printers
• DVD players
• Flash drives
• Servers
• External hard drives
• Digital camcorders
• Peripherals that connect to your computers through an USB port, Firewire, PCMCIA or another input

Safeware's policies cover Accidental Damage, Drops, Falls, Cracked Screens, Liquid Spills and Auto Collisions.

Business Electronics

In May 2006, burglars stole a laptop from the home of a data analyst at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The laptop contained the sensitive personal information of over 26 million veterans and military personnel. The FBI said that the laptop was recovered after an informant "snitched," motivated by a $50,000 reward.

But it's not just organizations that deal with consumer data that are concerned about thefts. Companies whose employees have laptops are naturally concerned with the value of the computer when it is the company that owns the laptop.

The Ponemon Institute, a privacy risk management think tank, released an extensive study in June 2008 entitled "Airport Insecurity : The Case of Missing and Lost Laptops." They studied laptop security at 106 American airports and found that there is an average of 12,000 laptops lost, missing or stolen at American airports PER WEEK! The airport with the worst record is Los Angeles International, with about 1,200 per week. The nation's busiest airport, Atlanta's Hartsfield, was in eighth place with 450 per week.

Further, the study found that only 33% of the laptops within the airport's Lost and Found Departments are ever reclaimed! That means that the remaining 67% of unclaimed laptops are either sold or disposed of by airport authorities. Can you imagine the amount of sensitive personal and business data contained in those laptops? No one knows what happens to that data, but it is ALL at risk. The Identity Theft risks are astronomical.

Safeware's policy covers business electronics for the hazards the homeowners, renters or business insurance policy does not cover.

Education Coverage

Students face a higher risk of damage or theft than a normal adult user. Students can experience accidents when they're putting their stuff into their locker, or accidentally get bumped in a busy hallway, or when they're running to the bus. A soft drink could be spilled on the keyboard, or they could sit their laptop bag down somewhere and later find it missing.

This policy protects students' computers against Accidental Damage, Theft, Vandalism, Power Surge, and Natural Disasters at any location within the USA, Canada and while in transit.

Small Business Coverage is for any sized business with electronics property values up to $49,999, covering Accidental Damage, Theft, Fire, Vandalism, Power Surge and Natural Disasters.

Commercial Coverage is a group plan for organizations that have electronics property values in excess of $50,000. Coverage can be one of the following: Comprehensive (Accidental Damage, Theft, Fire, Vandalism, Power Surge, and Natural Disasters); Theft ONLY, or Accidental Damage ONLY.

The Commercial policy can benefit organizations such as:

• Schools and colleges that want to make their student's notebook computers more safe and less at risk.
• Corporations issuing notebooks and laptops to their workers, and wishing to minimize their risk of capital loss.

In these organizations, the equipment is owned by the corporation or school and used by the employee or student. Experience has shown that if an individual does not own the computer, he or she is likely to take less care of the item than if they owned it themselves. Schools and businesses need to insure their equipment against the perils that could turn their expensive equipment into unusable junk.

Safeware Insurance policies do not depreciate for age and condition of your electronics. If you have a claim that requires replacement of your equipment, they pay for like kind and quality of the equipment you had. That's a HUGE difference from the Homeowners and Renters policies, and could mean thousands more dollars to you in a claim.

Worldwide Coverage is an endorsement that adds global coverage to your policy for a very low price. Standard coverage is for the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Mobile Advantage insures PDAs and smartphones. You likely purchased your unit at a big discount when you signed up for a service plan. If your device is damaged or stolen, you'll have to pay full retail for another unit. However, with Mobile Advantage, you're only responsible for the $50 deductible per incident to get a brand new device.

For more information about Personal Electronics Insurance for your student, yourself, your business or your school, contact Safeware Insurance at: www.safeware.com

LAPTOP RECOVERY COVERAGE

Can you get your stolen laptop back?

There is a way that you can protect your laptop, and then retrieve your laptop after it's been stolen.

Three burglary suspects were arrested on February 1, 2008 by Albuquerque police, thanks to a stolen computer loaded with tracking software. The software is called LoJack for Laptops™, developed by Absolute Software. The tracking software told the police exactly where to find the suspects. The police were also able to recover thousands of dollars in other stolen property at the location.

Absolute Software is the leader in Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking™ solutions. It works this way: You install the LoJack for Laptops™ software and register it at the LoJack website. If the laptop is stolen, you notify your local police and notify the LoJack Recovery Team. The next time your computer is connected to the Internet, the laptop secretly notifies the Monitoring Center of its whereabouts. The Recovery Team can track its location, and provide police with the information they will need to get a search warrant and recover your laptop.

Pricing for LoJack for Laptops™ starts at only $39.99 per year.

My friend here in Atlanta, Cole Harrison, had his laptop stolen from his car recently. He had the Lojack system on the laptop, and notified them immediately when he discovered the theft. Lojack located the laptop the next day...in Thailand.

If you want protect your laptop so you can get it back after it's been stolen, contact Lojack for Laptops at: www.lojackforlaptops.com Lojack boasts a 90% recovery rate for stolen laptops.

CONCLUSION

For only a small price, you can have the proper coverage you need to protect all your personal and business electronics. Be the smartest person on your block with the right protection. Be the hero to your business with the best coverage. YOU CAN DO IT!!

Daytime Running Lights - Why Should Your Car Have Daytime Running Lights?

"I never saw that car. It came out of nowhere!" Have your ever said those words after an accident? Have you ever said that after a near miss of a collision with another vehicle?

I know how you feel, but that car was likely there all the time. You might have been momentarily distracted. But what can you do to make sure that the other driver is not saying that about YOU? You can make your vehicle more visible, and therefore safer! When it comes to being on the road, VISIBILITY means SAFETY!!

But how? Put a strobe light on the roof? Paint the car fluorescent orange or green? No! Use Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). When DRLs are sufficiently intense, they make your car easier to see when you're driving.

Research shows that without your headlights on during the daytime, your vehicle is visible at a distance of only 2200 ft. But with headlights on, you can be seen as far as 4700 ft away! That's more than double the distance... much more time for the oncoming driver to see your vehicle and make the driving decision that might save your life!

In 1993, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued Rule 108, which allowed auto manufacturers to add DRLs as standard equipment. GM and Ford are now featuring DRLs as original equipment. That action follows the European auto manufacturers, where DRLs have been mandatory for decades.

Tests done by the Society of Automotive Engineers showed a 38% reduction in collisions in the first year of installation. Test results by Avis Rent-a-Car showed a 64% reduction in car damages, and a 69% decrease in repair costs for cars equipped with DRLs.

My Chevrolet Corvette has Daytime Running Lights. Even though the car is white, which is the most visible car color, it's very low to the ground. I appreciate the DRLs because they help make me more visible out on the road.

You already have the ability to have DRLs on your car. Simply turn on the headlights every time you drive the car. The problem with this simple solution is our memory. We have to remember to turn the headlights on, and then remember to turn them off when we shut off the car.

So, what if you make a mistake and forget to turn on your headlights, and you have an accident because the other guy didn't see you? You don't have to rely on your memory.

There's a product available for cars that do not have DRLs as standard equipment. It's called SAV-A-LIFE DRL. The company offers a cost-effective and mistake-proof way of upgrading your vehicle to the latest safety standard. When installed, the DRL functions just like the manufacturer equipment. The lights automatically come on when you start the car, and shut off when you turn the car off.

You can call SAV-A-LIFE at 1-800-654-3337 or email at: sales@sav-a-life.com to find out if they have a model for your car's year, make and model. The units work on cars, trucks, buses, RVs, vans and pickups.

Daytime Running Lights can SAVE YOUR LIFE!!

If you are one of the unfortunate people who experience an vehicle collision, you'll need to know how to handle your insurance claim so that you maximize your recovery. You will need to know how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, check out the website shown below in the Resource Box.

© 2008 copyright www.mauhidup.blogspot.com a insurance articles

Insurance Claims - Dealing With Adjusters

Insurance adjusters' claims handling can go very well, or it can be a nightmare. But part of the responsibility is YOURS!

Have you ever thought about what kind of service you should expect from the adjuster when you file a claim?

A professional, intelligent, honest adjuster is a pleasure to work with. He treats you with respect and gives his best effort to complete his investigation as quickly as possible. He is patient, knowing that you are not familiar with the claims process. He understands how upset you might be about your claim. He senses that you have already been frightened by the loss itself, and now may be frightened about the claims process.

He explains the process to you before he begins it, and invites you to be an active participant, not a spectator. He sits down with you and reads your policy with you, and explains it as he goes. He makes sure that you have his contact phone numbers, so you can get your questions answered when he's not there. He answers his phone messages promptly.

The professional claims adjuster must have empathy for people. I'm not sure if that is a skill that can be taught with a book or a class. Some of the empathy must come from a person's upbringing. Compassion for another human being who is hurting or afraid must come from deep within a person. Even having said this, it is not unusual for a person to have his compassion and empathy stretched thin by the things that happen in life.

Haven't you heard a story from a friend or relative about how badly the insurance company treated them when they had an insurance claim? I think most people have.

In today's world, poor customer service is nearly accepted as the norm. Sadly, we are overjoyed and amazed when we get good customer service. We're astounded and tell all our friends when we get great customer service.

Most people I've met who had a loss, and filed a claim, never thought for a minute about what kind of service they would get from the adjuster that the insurance company assigned to handle their claim. But, I'm writing today to make a couple of points that will be CRUCIAL to you collecting all the claims settlement money you're entitled to collect:

1. The pool of qualified, trained adjusters is drying up.

I still read industry magazines. In the latest edition of Claims Magazine, and in the latest edition of Best's Review, there were articles stating that the insurance claims adjusters nationwide, as a group, were marching on toward retirement years. They went on to say that there is a huge concern in the insurance industry that the most capable, most experienced adjusters are leaving the industry, and that there is a growing shortage of experienced adjusters in the North American market today. The articles also said that these days, insurance companies are spending less time and money training adjusters.

If the insurance companies are worried, YOU as a consumer should be DOUBLE WORRIED!!

Why?

Because inexperienced adjusters won't be as thorough in the claims process. They won't have years of experience to fall back on. They won't know policy language and the claims process as well as the "old guys."

Have you heard the old saying, "The Devil is in the details?" I've said over and over that the claims process is where the devil hides. Most of my book is about teaching consumers that they must educate THEMSELVES about the claims process. The claims process is NOT in the policy. The insurance companies will not tell you...the consumer...about the process, because if they did, the insurance settlement amounts would skyrocket!

You want a couple examples?

First: You're in a traffic accident, and your car is damaged. The adjuster will likely tell you to go get three estimates from three different repair shops. They'll want to pick the lowest one, or the middle one as the agreed estimate. However, there's NOT ONE WORD in your policy that forces you to get three estimates. That is a waste of YOUR time. You should get an estimate from the repair shop of YOUR choice, not the insurance company's choice. Then, the adjuster should work from your estimate. By the way, if your insurance company has "approved repair facilities," you should know that they work for a huge discount, and regularly use cheap, aftermarket auto parts...which leads me to the next example.

Second: The insurance industry is totally sold on "aftermarket" parts for auto repair. These parts may fit your car, and may work on your car, but they are of inferior quality to the original equipment manufactured parts the automaker used to build your car. You should NEVER allow the insurance company to insist on aftermarket parts to repair your car. There is NOTHING in your policy that gives the insurance company permission to use cheap parts to repair your car. In fact, most policies guarantee you "like kind and quality" repairs. Aftermarket auto parts save the insurance company bunches of money, but only at your expense.

2. Knowing that the talent pool is shrinking, it's more important than EVER to make sure your adjuster is qualified to handle your claim.

In Chapter 7 of my book I wrote at length about the qualifications of an adjuster. I also wrote about what level of service you should expect from the insurance adjuster who handles your claim.

You should interview your adjuster and find out his education and claims experience. If you do not believe that your adjuster has the education and experience to handle your claim, you should call his supervisor and request that your claim be transferred to a more experienced adjuster. Further, I say in Chapter 7 that if the adjuster has less than two years' experience, ask for another adjuster. If the insurance company refuses, call your state's Department of Insurance and file a complaint.

Don't allow yourself to be bullied by the insurance companies. But, that will require YOU to take responsibility for YOUR OWN education.

If you take control of your claims, you WILL add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlements!

Full Insurance Online Guide

Insurance refers to a contract wherein a person gets financial reimbursement from an insurance company in case of losses. Insurance comes in many types such as casualty insurance, disability insurance, health insurance, life insurance, property insurance, liability insurance, credit insurance, car insurance, financial loss insurance, kidnap and ransom insurance, and purchase insurance. Believe it or not, there is even pet insurance.

Getting financial reimbursement is not that simple. Since nothing is free in this world, you have to pay a premium in order to be insured. The premium is highly based on the risk of loss. Aside from the premium, there are other factors affecting insurance. It is best if you take time understanding insurance, insurance policies, and everything in between before actually getting one.

Car insurance, to put it simply, serves as protection against losses in cases of accidents. For example, you hit another car while driving and both cars were damaged. Your car insurance will help you foot the bill. Usually, companies selling cars include car insurance in their sales. While packaged deals are great, it will not hurt you to look around.

Developed medical care, improved healthcare, enhanced diagnostic procedures... These may give you hope that life insurance is not exactly as important as advertised. However, the day when you start thinking like this is the day you are wrong. Life insurance serves a number of purposes. For one, it is a good income replacement. Another, it can be used for paying your children's college education. Also, life insurance can be a tool in wealth preservation.

Health is wealth. You have heard of this before and chances are you will still be hearing it years later. Health is of utmost importance; you should not take any chances with it. This is where heath insurance comes in. Health insurance may be the best way to get preventive car, nursing care, and other medical attention in cases of accidents and illnesses.

The Dangers of Assuming Your Insurance Policy Covers

One of the most costly errors any one of us can make is to overestimate our short term insurance cover - be it on our primary residence, our car or even our own health and well being. Many of us may well rush into covering ourselves and our valuables without considering updating the policies on a regular basis and this could prove fatal.

Even if your chosen policy does protect you from rising inflation, you may find the value of your home simply outpaces it. Plus, the fact that many of us keep on collecting valuable and often priceless possessions without increasing the short term insurance cover could mean your personal property is criminally under insured.

Review the basic elements of your short term policies regularly

It is imperative that you review the basic elements of all your insurance policies on a regular basis, especially in these economically trying times. There can be nothing worse than submitting a claim only to be told you are not adequately covered.

The vast majority of property policies generally cover losses to your home, the related property and selected personal items. The provided cover for your possessions is usually worked out as a percentage of the total coverage of the house and is normally in the range of 50%.

When taking out a policy, it is important to be aware of the acts of God, or perils, that are not included in the cover. In the United States, for instance, flood damage is often not included in the overall insurance cover and home owners are encouraged to buy separate cover.

Here in South Africa, many insurance policies will not cover damages caused by riots or political turmoil and home owners have to address it as a separate issue.

Choose replacement cost cover over actual cash value

A smart move when ensuring that your possessions are adequately covered is to negate the urge to purchase a home owner's policy with extra blanket coverage for your personal items and to rather opt to buy separate, additional cover for your valuables instead.

Remember, however, to choose replacement cost cover rather than the actual cash value. The latter, although it sounds like the better of the two options, takes depreciation into account and will only pay out the calculated market value of the item instead of the cost of replacing it.

Penny wise, pound foolish

Some brokers may suggest you try and save a little on your premiums by insuring your home for only 80% of its value. The thought process behind this startling proposition is that it is most unusual for your entire home to be destroyed in one fell swoop. But this idea has its definite snags, apart from the obvious one of losing your entire home to fire, earth quake or some other natural horror.

The problem with under insuring your home is that the cost of labour and materials could very well increase and instead of the claim covering 80% of the cost of re-building, it may only cover 73% of costs. And in these turbulent times, it may be very difficult for you to source the extra 27% needed for the job.

Quick policy pointers

• Make sure your policy automatically protects you from rising inflation

• Shop around for a policy that is tailor-made for you and your possessions

• Be aware of acts of God not covered by your policies

Every business in today's market should not be without liability insurance and risk assessment. It is very important for any type of business to take these precautions to ensure they are not at a major risk that could be detrimental to the business. There are many factors that should be considered when thinking about liability insurance and risk assessment for any company.

Liability insurance is designed to offer specific protection against third party claims, such as if payment is not typically made to the insured, but rather to someone suffering loss who is not a party in the insurance contract. Under liability insurance policies, generally damage caused intentionally and contractual liability is not covered. When a liability claim is made, the insurance carrier has the right to defend the insured.

The legal costs of this are not always affected by the policy limits, which is useful because they can be substantial when long trials are held to determine a fault or the amount of damages. Overall, liability insurance covers companies that may come into contact with claims made against them.

Risk assessment is the purpose of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a solid situation and a recognized threat. Quantitative risk assessment requires calculations of three components of risk, the magnitude of the potential loss and the probability that the loss will occur. Assumptions and uncertainties are clearly considered and presented and defined as a formalized basis for the objective evaluation of risk in mind. Risk assessment is an important, but difficult, step in the risk management process. The steps to properly deal with these risks are more formulaic, once risks have been identified and assessed.

Part of the difficulty of risk management is the measurement of both of the quantities in which risk assessment is concerned- potential loss and probability of occurrence- can be very difficult to measure. The two main categories for risk can be A risk with a large potential loss and a low probability of occurring and a low potential loss and a high likelihood of occurring. These may sound very similar, but are treated very differently as both produce very different results.

So any business that has forgotten about these two issues should start recognizing the need for them in any type of company especially with the financial climate the way it is, uncertainty may be on the cards for more than just the banks.

Is Pet Health Insurance Or Rental Insurance Right For You?

If you are considering pet insurance or rental insurance you may have a lot of unanswered questions. Is rental or pet insurance worth the cost? What do they cover? Or is it even necessary? Because pet insurance is not quite as well known as its human health insurance counterpart, you may have a lot of questions. The same may be true for rental insurance, whereas the necessities of home insurance are obvious, rental insurance isn't. We will take a look at both.

Pet insurance, as the name implies is health insurance for your pet. With the costs of veterinary care, rising as quickly as human health care, pet insurance makes a lot of sense. Essentially, pet insurance provides protection for your pet against accidents or emergencies, and illnesses. The cost of pet insurance can vary widely depending on the type of plan you choose. Just like health insurance, if you have a higher deductible, and a less comprehensive policy, you can save some money. In all actuality, when compared to human health insurance, pet insurance is rather affordable. For as little as $30 a month you can have a rather decent pet health insurance policy.

When it comes to utilizing your pet insurance policy it is quite a bit easier than the health insurance you're probably used to. You don't have to choose your pet's doctor off of an approved list. This allows you to stay with the veterinarian that you are comfortable with. After services are rendered, you pay for treatment, and then the pet insurer reimburses you. What your pet health insurance covers is based on how much insurance you have in place. If you have a comprehensive plan that covers everything from routine office visits to medications, you'll probably pay a bit more. So it's important to determine how much pet insurance you not only need but how much insurance you can afford.

Pet insurance does have some issues that you should consider before purchasing. Some insurers will provide limited coverage, which means you may be capped out at a particular amount. You may be restricted when it comes to seeing expensive specialists. Some dog breeds may be more expensive than others. If your dog's breed is more prone to a particular disease or problem, you'll pay more. If your pet is older, pet insurance will be more costly, for obvious reasons.

When buying pet insurance you will want to choose a quality insurer. Insurance companies are notorious for finding loopholes to get out of claims, when they are needed most. Not only do you want an insurer that will be around for you when you need them, but also you'll want them to cover what's needed. Saving a few bucks by going with the cheapest insurer just isn't worth the headaches.

To touch on rental insurance briefly, we'll cover a few basics. Renters insurance is much like homeowners insurance, in that it protects you when renting an apartment or a house. Many individuals go without rental insurance, thinking that it's their landlord's responsibility. This is not a very good approach. Yes, the buildings structure is insured for your landlords benefit, but not your belongings. Rental insurance protects your belongings from theft, fire and other natural disasters. And much like homeowners insurance, rental insurance also protects in the form of liability protection. This means that if a guest as an accident at your apartment or home, you won't be held responsible. For this reason, many landlords are now making rental insurance mandatory. This provides them with the liability protection that they are looking for.

Much like pet insurance, rental insurance is very affordable. We have seen rental insurance for as low as $15 a month. Now, this is for a basic policy, but in many cases, it gets the job done. Things like your deductible, whether you own a pet, and how much coverage, will affect your premium. Make sure to take an inventory prior to getting rental insurance, this will help with any ambiguity with the insurer, if you need to make a claim. Also, the importance of understanding or policies features is a must. Have your agent or insurer explain any policy features or drawbacks that you may have questions about. And go with a decent insurance company that you can rely on.