Spain Top Theft Hotspot.

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Contingency fund – make sure you leave yourself saving in place should the building go over budget, 10-15 per cent is the recommended amount. Not obtaining planning permission or ensuring that building regulations are complied with may make a property unsaleable and, more seriously, structurally unsound. A good move is to ask an estimator to do this for you, such as www.estimators-online.com. Top five unapproved projects discovered by homebuyers. Unapproved Building Work BRITS WASTE 313MILLION ON UNAPPROVED BUILDING WORK. Read more...

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05/04/2006 Direct Line has launched a new benefit that will allow motorists to match their NCD on subsequent cars that are insured with the company. Direct Line has already launched a range of new benefits this year including a unique Named Driver NCD that enables named drivers to build up their own NCD if they are driving someone else’s car and a 10% discount for anyone who has a car stored at the same address as another Direct Line policyholder. Read more..

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Spain Top Theft Hotspot.

Spain Top Theft Hotspot.

13/09/2005

More than one in 10 British holidaymakers (12 per cent) have experienced petty theft overseas and a further 27 per cent know someone who has fallen victim to this crime, according to new research from Direct Line Travel Insurance.

1Spain has the highest number of thefts overall, as 38 per cent of Britons who have experienced this crime abroad recently have done so in Spain, followed by France (14 per cent), Italy (seven per cent) and Greece (five per cent).

Money (41 per cent) is the most frequently stolen possession, followed by purses and wallets (34 per cent) and cameras (18 per cent). Jewellery (16 per cent) and clothes (12 per cent) are also among the top targets.

According to respondents, theft from empty hotel rooms is the most common method employed by thieves (30 per cent), although 13 per cent of victims have faced the ordeal of being mugged or pick pocketed on the street.

Homeowners to fork out
The leakiest gutters were in the West Midlands, with almost 40 per cent of homes dripping when it rains, with 15.6 per cent happy to let them continue dripping. A third of people have had to repair their roofs over the winter, with more than one in ten of them spending up to £250 to sort it out. Yorkshire and Humber homes were worst off from the winter winds, with 40 per cent of homes suffering roof damage costing up to £5,000, compared to just 24.1 per cent in the South East. Read more...

A further five per cent have had their possessions stolen while enjoying themselves in a bar or restaurant.

And the financial cost of petty theft can be considerable, with more than a third of losses (34 per cent) in excess of £200, and one in 10 costing the victim more than £500.

But it also has an emotional impact with one in six (15 per cent) saying their holiday was ruined as a result of the theft. Almost a fifth of victims of petty theft questioned (18 per cent) found themselves unable to relax and enjoy themselves and close to a quarter (22 per cent) said they felt vulnerable afterwards.

However, British holidaymakers are taking steps to protect themselves against such crimes. 84 per cent take out travel insurance and more than half (51 per cent) secure their valuables by locking them away in the hotel safe.

A further 22 per cent take travellers’ cheques away with them rather than cash.

Chris Price, Head of Direct Line Travel Insurance, said:

“For many people the summer holiday is their largest annual purchase, but it can be ruined by the theft of comparatively small sums or items.

“People can fall prey to petty theft in their everyday lives, but when it happens on holiday, in an unfamiliar environment and when people are looking to relax, the event can be all the more traumatic.

“We would advise all holidaymakers to protect themselves by taking simple, sensible precautions and by making sure they are insured against any loses in case the worst happens.”

Tips to avoid petty theft abroad:

1. Take out comprehensive travel insurance.

2. Use switch/credit card/travellers cheques instead of carrying cash around.

3. Keep valuables and important documents in the room or hotel safe.

4.

Dognapping epidemic
The lengths dog owners would go to reflect the bond they have with their four-legged friends. Awareness of this pet crime is at an all time high, particularly following the recent suspected theft of Liz Hurley's puppy, Emily, and Engelbert Humperdink's German Shepherd, Charnie. More than two thirds (68 per cent) said they would be devastated if they didn't have their pet, with 61 per cent comparing the loss to losing a friend. We would strongly advise all dog owners to have their pets microchipped - obviously this won't prevent them being stolen but it will help owners track them down. Read more...

Report theft to the local police and get a police statement to validate the claim.

5. Don’t flaunt expensive jewellery or technology e.g. digital cameras.

6. Keep belongings close by at all times.

7. Never leave belongings on the beach when swimming.

8. Beware of pickpockets in crowded areas.

Notes

1The highest number of thefts take place in Spain as this country has one of the highest number of UK visitors per year.

Research was conducted between 18th and 20th April 2005 by YouGov, who interviewed a sample of 2,017 individuals. The survey was carried out online. Results were weighted to be representative of the GB population.

Direct Line Insurance plc, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

The information contained in this press release should not be relied upon by private investors or any other persons to make financial decisions.

Brits fork out 1.7 billion
The desire to escape irritating relatives was one of the main reasons for marrying abroad, with more than a quarter (27 per cent) saying this is why they fled our shores. This compares with the one in ten (nine per cent) who headed off to foreign shores to get hitched between 1996 and 2001. However, for some these happy occasions have a downside. “Affordable airfares, a sense of adventure and the drudgery of British weather mean that overseas weddings are more popular than they have ever been. Therefore the total spent on overseas weddings in 2005 was 4,356 x 405,132 = £1,764,754,992. direct insurance insurance line travel uk Read more..

Dog owners drastic action.
A fifth have forgone purchases including clothes and DVDs, and five per cent have cancelled or decided not to book holidays. 06/10/2005 Rising vet costs are forcing British dog owners to take drastic action leaving seven per cent with no option but to put down their sick dog according to new research from Direct Line Pet Insurance. One in 10 have put off paying bills, while six per cent have got into difficulties by borrowing money. Britain’s dog owners spend over £800 million on vet fees each year, with the average cost of treatment standing at £154 a year. Read more...

Sales spending spree
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