Monthly Archives: December 2019

Insurance Claims

Stay Safe Over the Christmas Holiday

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Christmas is a time to enjoy yourself, not to think negative thoughts. However, it’s still important to take a few simple precautions, in order to ensure that you don’t look back on this holiday as a nightmare, instead of a dream. Not to mention making sure that, if anything does go wrong, your insurer’s Loss Adjuster has no reason to turn down your insurance claim.

Christmas decorations should be gleaming with light, but that needs to be managed safely. If you have electric fairy lights strewn everywhere, make sure that you get them from a reputable retailer, and that they conform to British Safety Standards. Cheap, inferior lights could give you an electric shock, or else overheat and set fire to the decorations.

That’s also a risk if you’re using candles, of course, so be sure everything’s fireproofed. And, if your idea of Christmas is to relax in front of a roaring fire, make sure sparks can’t leap out onto the carpet. Just as important, too, is to have your chimney regularly swept.

Is Your Home Secure for Christmas? 

Christmas can be a bonanza time for burglars, what with homes stuffed with new possessions and many people away for the break. Make sure your locks all comply with the British standard BS 3621 — that’s likely to be one of the first things the Loss Adjuster will look at if you have to make an insurance claim for loss of possessions.

Security is important all the time, of course, not just for Christmas. It would be well worth thinking about investing in exterior sensor lights or security cameras. They don’t cost the earth these days, and they’re often easy enough for any competent DIYer to fit. Some models will link up with your smartphone and warn you if they’ve been set off.

And lastly, as always when you’re away, don’t make it too obvious that your home is empty. If it’s going to be more than a few days, ask a friend or neighbour to take in post and open and close the curtains — or you could invest in a timer for your lights. And please, please, don’t advertise on social media that you’re away. Wait till you’re safely home to post your Christmas snaps.

Allied Claims would like to wish you a wonderful and disaster-free Christmas, Chanukah and New Year. Have a great time, and stay safe.

Insurance Claims

Don’t Fall Victim to Burglars Over the Winter

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You might not think the season has much to do with the risk of being burgled, but actually statistics show that insurance claims for burglaries increased by 35% last year during the darker months. This illustrates the vital importance of safeguarding your home — not only to foil burglars, but also to ensure that the loss adjuster can’t turn you down if you have to make an insurance claim.

Exterior sensor lights will go a long way towards putting off burglars. After all, if a light suddenly comes on as they approach your home, they’re likely to move on to easier pickings. Sensor lights are fairly cheap and easy to fit these days, so think about having them at the front, side and rear.

Smart home security cameras are also valuable — a recent survey of reformed burglars suggested that 90% would be put off breaking into homes that had smart technology. These too are now inexpensive and can be fitted by any competent DIYer. They’ll not only activate and record when they detect motion, but also notify your phone.

Good Locks and Keys Are Vital

If you skimp on your locks and install cheap ones, burglars will find it easy to pick them and get into your home. Not only will you lose your possessions, but your insurance claim will almost certainly be turned down if your locks are inadequate.

To stay safe and keep the loss adjuster happy, make sure your locks all comply with the British standard BS 3621. If you’re moving into a new home, it’s generally advisable to change the locks as soon as possible. This will not only ensure that they’re up to standard, but you can also be confident you know exactly who has a key.

Finally, it shouldn’t need to be said, but — always remember to lock your doors and windows. A staggering 5% of all burglaries involve access through an unlocked door, and if that happens to you, even Allied Claims won’t have a hope of getting your insurer to pay out.