Comprehensive Travel Insurance and Fraudulent Claims

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The world and its people are constantly on the move. Greater access to transportation options has opened up the idea and the reality of travelling for many people. As our travelling habits grow and evolve, so do the good and bad elements of the experience.
Once it was fairly rare to bother with taking out comprehensive travel insurance for your trip, whereas now it is a standard part of the booking practice. As this has become a more common expense for travellers, the industry has had to become more vigilant against fraudulent claims which, in the end, raise the rates for all of us. Some fraudsters are fairly clever with their false claims – some are not.

A Growing Industry

As comprehensive travel insurance has become more of a necessity rather than a luxury for travellers, the industry has had to respond with greater coverage in anticipation of any variety of incidents. So much can go wrong when people leave the reliable comfort of their own home and venture out into the exciting unknown. The purpose of travel insurance is to allay these fears and not let the ‘what ifs’ stop people from exploring the world. However, foreign surroundings can raise the likelihood of bizarre incidents, and some people chose to take advantage of this probability.

The Weird and Wonderful

Even some legitimate claims made against travellers’ comprehensive travel insurance can sound completely made up! One claim, recently submitted, was for medical expenses incurred after a rather nasty falling-coconut-induced head injury. Another claim came from a disgruntled skier whose holiday was ruined by the complete lack of snow at her destination – amazingly, the insurance paid out!

Other claims have originated from unfortunate encounters with wild animals, miscalculating fitness levels, or impulse decisions which led to plain old poor judgement. The travel insurance industry has had to keep up as claims become more and more farfetched while also keeping an open mind, as very little is completely beyond the realm of possibility.

With the rise in claims (both genuine and fraudulent), travel insurance companies have had to become literal investigators, sometimes travelling to the country where a claim originated from, and/or having to gather witness statements to back up claims. Comprehensive travel insurance tries very hard to honour the ‘comprehensive’ element of the service they offer.

Not So Smart

People who make fraudulent travel insurance claims seem to underestimate the amount of proof that is needed to back up their claim. Previously a travel insurance claim could simply be made, submitted and believed via a conversation or written statement to your insurance agent.

A common claim is for the coverage of lost or stolen items. Travellers these days bring more expensive electronic equipment, such as digital cameras, phones or laptops on holiday with them, as well as other valuable belongings, like jewellery. Fortunately our digital age is on the side of the insurance investigators who will ask for proof or purchase, photographic evidence of ownership, and even possibly witnesses to the incident where the item was lost.

For example, after claiming that a very expensive ring was lost while on holiday, a claimant was asked to produce photographic evidence of ownership of this ring. Once the photo was submitted it did not take too much investigative talent to spot the time/date stamp on the photo, which only served to prove that the claimant did indeed still have the ring in her possession after she had submitted her claim. Nice try!

Safety Net

It is understandable that travellers might not want to spend extra money on insurance that they might never use. However, the peace of mind that comprehensive travel insurance pays for is simply priceless. Those who attempt to ‘work the system’ rarely achieve their goals and only end up raising rates for the rest of us. Fraudulent insurance claims are a still a crime, and crime never pays (literally).

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Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of InsureMore, an award-winning team of specialists in annual, family, single trip and all other kinds of comprehensive travel insurance. Besides offering great deals on travel insurance, Patrick also collects and shares the best free travel competitions to help his clients get the most out of their holidays.

Wetsuits and Wildlife: Diving Around the World

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Thanks to ever-improving technology we know more about the underwater world than ever before. Beautifully filmed fish flit across our screens in stunning Sunday evening documentaries. However, if watching from the sofa isn’t your jam, pack your wetsuit and take out dive insurance because it’s time to uncover what the seas and oceans have to offer – first hand.
Chills and Thrills in Norway

When people imagine a diving holiday they usually picture turquoise, sun-warmed seas, but true explorers know that cold seas have just as much to offer.

Imagine: a sleek black shape passes beneath you, flashes of white catch your eye and you glimpse that iconic, pointed fin. A thrill of terror runs through you – it’s a killer whale. Known to prey on seals, dolphins, and sometimes even adult whales, thankfully these beasts are not interested in humans. What would you do to swim alongside the undisputed kings of the sea? If the answer is “anything”, grab a decent wetsuit and head to the freezing coasts of Norway – the hunting ground of hundreds of killer whales.

Ma Tai Anyone?

If plunging into icy water isn’t for you then head to the warmer coast of Hawaii. Here you’ll find an equally fascinating example of marine life – the spectacular manta ray!

The distinctive shape of these rays is well known to any nature lover. However, until you get up close and personal, it’s hard to comprehend their size. At Garden Eel Cove, Hawaii you get a chance to do just that. At dusk, a strong light box is placed in the water, attracting plankton and providing an all-you-can-eat buffet for hungry manta rays. So close you could touch them, you’ll experience manta rays in a unique way. And you’ll have time for a celebratory cocktail afterwards!

Hissy Fits in Brazil

Whether we are terrified of them or have three as pets, slithering and silent snakes are endlessly fascinating.

Safe to say, this holiday suggestion is probably not for those who struggle to watch the snake-scenes in Harry Potter without closing their eyes. However, if you’re the fearless type I cannot recommended this Brazilian trip enough. The beautiful green anaconda can be found lurking in the wetlands of the Bonito region and, trust me, is the stuff of nightmares. The ginormous anaconda can grow to a length of 20ft! Wouldn’t you like to touch one?

What Big Teeth You’ve Got Mr Wolf!

Staying with serpentine creatures, the Wolf Eel makes its home in the seas of British Columbia. This funny-looking, wolf fish can easily grow to 10ft but see if you can spot a young one – they are a striking orange colour.

The name Wolf Eel should be taken seriously: these ocean dwellers have sharp teeth and have been known to give humans painful bites! However, they are rarely aggressive and you’ll soon find yourself feeling oddly fond of these ugly fellows.

If, like me, you want to experience as much of the world as possible, don’t forget to take out appropriate insurance to keep you covered wherever you go. Let’s Go Insure’s dive insurance is ideal for the trips when you’ll be spending more time under the waves than relaxing on a sun lounger!

Ethan Bailey is an experienced adventure traveller and insurance expert with the team at Let’s Go Insure. Ethan’s passion is to inspire his clients to go just that little bit further, deeper and higher on their travels and his expertise in providing the ideal insurance cover allows them to do just that. If you’re looking for the best dive insurance Let’s Go works with the most experienced underwriters, intermediaries and insurers to offer a range of competitive insurance without compromising on cover.

Home Grown Adventure: The Best UK Driving Routes

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America may be known for its long, empty highways and cross-country routes, but you don’t have to make the trek all the way across the pond for an adventure on the open road. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the British Isles. Some of the best driving routes in the world are right here in the UK. So, if you’ve got the need for speed, read on – here are the best British journeys for motor junkies.
Lake District

Looking for a challenge or a chance to put your motoring skills to the test? Look no further than Hardknott Pass, a route located in the Lake District that will bring you from Eskdale in the west to Wrynose Pass in the east. This road is definitely not for the faint of heart and contains hairpin bends, steep gradients and warning signs a-plenty. As it’s a tricky drive even at the best of times, the ideal time to tackle it is in the middle of summer – the rain, fog, ice and snow that comes with the colder months can make conditions unsafe.

Top Tip: Bring your camera along to snap a few pictures. The views here are absolutely breath taking.

Coastal Devon

If you love driving but prefer to travel on your motorbike, this 120-mile ride from the teeny yet bustling town of Topsham to Moretonhampstead is a dream come true. The bendy roads you’ll speed down will take you by all sorts of natural beauty such as cliffs, bays and moors, as well as through historic and picturesque villages you might never visit otherwise.

Top Tip: The small roads in the Dartmoor area can slow you down a bit. Consider breaking your trip up by booking a stay for a night at a local hotel.

Northern Ireland

Follow the rugged coast of Northern Ireland on this beautiful 130-mile drive. You’ll drive north from Belfast, through gorgeous green countryside and eventually down the coastline. You’ll keep the sea to your right, as hills and dramatic, wild landscapes fly by on your left. This route is chock-full of geological wonders, mountains and quaint towns – perfect for anyone who likes a drive with a view.

Top Tip: Keep your eyes peeled for places to stop off at such as Glenariff Forest Park, the ruins of Dunluce Castle and Giant’s Causeway.

A Final Top Tip: Purchase Car Rental Excess Insurance

Every experienced road tripper knows one thing: expect the unexpected. Or, at the very least, prepare for it – and this is especially true if the vehicle you’re taking on your adventure has been hired. The best way to protect yourself is to invest in car rental excess insurance. It’s cheaper and more comprehensive than what the car rental companies offer, and ensures a peace of mind that’s invaluable. Don’t let theft or an accident run your trip off the road – purchase your protection before you get behind the wheel!

What are you waiting for? Put on your driving gloves, invest in some car rental excess insurance and get out on the open road – adventure is right on your doorstep!

Author Plate

Ethan Bailey is an experienced adventure traveller and insurance expert with the team at Let’s Go Insure. Ethan’s passion is to inspire his clients to go just that little bit further, deeper and higher on their travels and his expertise in providing the ideal insurance cover allows them to do just that. If you’re looking for the best car rental excess insurance Let’s Go works with the most experienced underwriters, intermediaries and insurers to offer a range of competitive insurance without compromising on cover.

Know the Assessed Value of Your Building Efficiency Rate

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The BER cert can be used for both the residential and commercial purposes of the business. Obtaining a BER will help you measure the efficiency rate of your facilities. It will also entitle you to conserve energy by a proper implementation and execution of the procedures in managing your utility services.
A better gauge in computing for the efficiency and effective rate of your facilities is through the assistance of the BER assessors. They have the relevant knowledge in measuring the energy rate that your facilities can utilize within the day.

In this way, the owner will have a pre-assumption of how much will it cost to supply the entire facilities with electricity and water system. This is an important matter for the construction workers, architects, and owners on how they will go to plan the utility system around the facilities.

What is the essence of having a BER Cert?

It is a documentary proof that pertains to the energy efficiency and effectivity of the entire building whether residential or commercial. It has the same kind of rating which was used in measuring electrical units. The scale of the rating starts from A to G in which A1 indicates highly efficient energy gadget while G pertains to the lowest efficient energy gadget.

As other explanatory notes, it denotes that some gadgets can be operated with the least amount of energy for a longer period of time in contrast with those units that operates in a maximum percentage of energy.

Why is it important to verify the assessed value of your building?

1. Get the Standard Benchmark Rate

Setting up the sales price or lease of your facility requires the extensive calculations of the expenses incurred versus the profit that you must be receiving to compensate for the expenses at the same time; the price can attract clients to take the offer. With the aid of the BER Cert, you will have an assessment of your facility and you can able to track down your future expenses.

2. Compute for the Mark-Up

Using the BER Certificate, you will have the permit to conduct your operation and manage the utility system of your facility. Also, you can able to compute for the markup of the premises and plan ahead of the expenses. You can have the current rate of your properties whether for sale or lease.

3. Project Your Prospective Profits

The BER can help you project prospective profits by measuring the efficiency energy rate of your facility prior to occupancy. A BER evidences the estimates to be performed in order to meet the future profits.