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Your Money > Family Finances Articles > Avoid these winter...
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By Sarah Modlock
Aah, where do I start with winter nightmares? Credit card bills we know about. Ditto the long month until payday and the massive heating bills. Then there is the winter vomiting bug and the joy of the self assessment tax deadline at the end of last month. And, just to cheer you up even more, we have found a few other nasty winter worries and scams which are avoidable.... Your home... We are not over the coldest weather yet and although winter-proofing your home may be a chore, it's an essential way to avoid and minimise damage and additional costs. Last year Halifax Home Insurance handled almost 30,000 windstorm damage claims totalling over £17 million pounds to fix. Burst and frozen pipes alone accounted for more than 20,000 claims which cost over £43 million to put right. A case study In January 2007 Mr Desmond Dufty of Keston in Kent received a phone call from his neighbour to tell him a large beech tree had blown down in a windstorm and caught the side of his house, causing extensive damage. Heavy rainfall was compounding the problem as water was pouring in to the family home. Mr Dufty called Halifax Home Insurance and the insurer had a team of people working hard to weatherproof the house almost immediately. They also had to make the home secure as the electric garage door had been destroyed along with the home's alarm system. The roof of the house was repaired and the gable end rebuilt, as well as replastering work, a new bathroom suite, repairs to the ceiling and redecorating. Removal of the tree was in itself a very big job and part of the tree had to remain where it was temporarily as it was holding up the gable end of the house. Rainwater had caused the house to develop damp and also the central heating was no longer working so the family opted to move into alternative accommodation with costs covered by their insurer. The moral of this story is to check that your insurance is in order. But prevention is better than cure. Halifax Home Insurance recommends.... Outside:
Inside:
In an emergency:
Your fire.... As if all that wasn't enough, you also need to think about any increased use of heaters and fires or candles in winter months and extra care is needed. Apart from installing and checking smoke alarms and never leaving appliances or candles unattended, rural insurer NFU Mutual is urging homeowners to check that their chimney is swept and in good condition to avoid chimney fires. Your boiler.... This time of year is also when over-worked and under-serviced boilers tend to pack up. If this happens to you, make sure you get it looked at by a Corgi registered expert and check their ID and credentials on www.trustcorgi.com. Because it is lucrative, some fraudsters are stealing registrations from legitimate installers. Did you know it is an criminal offence to even remove the cover of a boiler (if this opens the combustion chamber, as it does in most cases) and carry out gas work unless you are Corgi registered? Last year 2,642 illegal gas workers were reported to Corgi and, once these were investigated, 844 were then reported to the Health and Safety Executive for prosecution. If you suspect illegal gas work then call the Corgi 'dobbing line' on 0800 915 0491. Your car... Insurance is mandatory but this is the time of year where many people reap the benefits of breakdown services. Shop around and look out for special offers each year rather than just renewing. Sainsbury's Car Insurance is warning motorists to be on their guard against 'frosting' car crime, where opportunist thieves take advantage of drivers who leave their cars unattended whilst warming up the engine. The bank's research suggests that up to 15,000 households could fall victim to 'frosting' this year. The insurer also offers the following cold weather motoring tips:
Your winter holiday... Or even a weekend away could be ruined if you don't have travel insurance. Shop around and consider getting an annual rather than single trip policy if you plan to be away more than once or twice in 12 months. If you're skiing then make sure your insurance covers you properly, especially in countries such as the US or Canada where medical bills and injury to third parties can cost a fortune. If you're in Europe there is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) but this should not be an alternative to travel insurance - it's best to have both. The EHIC will only provide you with access to the same state-provided healthcare as a resident of the country you are visiting so it should not be solely relied upon. You need travel insurance to pay for any private medical treatment or for example to be airlifted from the slopes or repatriated back home. An air ambulance alone can cost up to £20,000 in Europe and as much as £60,000 in The USA and Canada. Injuries and claims are increasing. Sainsbury's Travel Insurance says that medical expenses paid on winter sports related insurance claims reveals that they increased by 25% between 2006 and 2007 and by 11% between 2007 and 2008. Last year, the average value of a winter sports injury related claim from America and Canada was £2,991, the highest received, compared to £604 in Bulgaria, for example. The insurer says the most common travel insurance claim related to winter sport activity is knee ligament injuries (30%) followed by fractured legs (12%) and shoulder injuries (10%). Accidents and injuries are not the only things that can make you feel ill abroad. Your mobile phone bill could give you a nasty shock, too. James Parker, manager of mobiles at moneysupermarket.com, says: "Whether you're flying off to Lapland or hitting the ski slopes, the cost of using your mobile abroad can be significant. Before going away this winter you should always check with your operator how much calls, texts and data will cost and if there's a cheaper international tariff available while you're away. For frequent travellers, global SIM cards can be a cost effective option, allowing you to roam almost anywhere in the world with a single SIM, ideal for anyone travelling to several countries. If you regularly travel to one destination, it's worthwhile considering a local SIM card - they can help save a lot of money on your mobile bill." With roaming caps in place in Europe, mobile users are getting a better deal than ever before, but texts and data charges are still significantly higher when using a phone overseas, including Europe. It's not just calls or texts that can be expensive outside the UK, the cost of downloading files or content can be significant. Just spending a little time finding out what the best option is when using your phone abroad can save you a fair amount of money." Useful links: |
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