Helpful hints on how to find your lost doggy or moggy.
 
An estimated 300,000 pets go missing in the UK every year – a worrying and stressful experience for any loving pet owner. It is important to be adequately prepared and know exactly what to do should the worst happen.
 
To increase the chances of finding a lost pet:
 

• Pet owners should advertise with flyers and posters in the area where their pet went missing. Tesco Pet Insurance can cover up to £1,000 towards advertising and a reward for a missing cat or dog.  
• All cats and dogs should be microchipped. This can be done at a local veterinary practice.
• Lost pets can be registered with a missing pet society such as the National Pet Register.  
• Pet owners should keep any receipts of how much they paid for their pet in case proof is needed for a claim.  
• If a dog goes missing, the loss should be reported to a local authority and welfare centre. Pet owners should record any evidence of doing so.  
• Tesco Pet Insurance will pay the purchase price of a cat or dog if it is stolen or goes missing and is not found within 45 days.

 
Rachel Cutler, Head of Tesco Pet Insurance, says, “No one likes to think about losing a pet, but it’s important to be prepared. Pet owners won’t want to be worried about reward and printing flyer costs on top of existing emotional stress, so our package of additional benefits covers up to £1,000 towards these costs.”
 
 
For further information, please contact:
Matthew Dransfield, Tesco Personal Finance, Tel: 0131 523 9001
Victoria Lomax, Tesco Personal Finance, Tel: 0131 523 5533
Alex Godwin-Brown, Haggie Hepburn, Tel: 0207 334 7777

Notes to Editors:
•    Premiums start from a few pounds a month
•    Discounts are taken off the risk based premium
•    Discounts are for customers in their first year only
•    Tesco Pet Insurance is the second largest pet insurer in the UK
•    Tesco Pet Insurance is underwritten and provided by UK Insurance Limited.
•    Tesco Pet Insurance covers for more than just veterinary bills such as up to £1,000 towards advertising and a reward if your pet goes missing, overseas travel and third party liability.

Tesco Personal Finance
Tesco Personal Finance plc, Registered in Scotland No. 173199. Registered Address: Interpoint Building, 22 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh EH12 5BH
 

To apply or for more information, log on to http://www.tescofinance.com

 

To buy over the phone call 0845 246 38 38

New Tesco Pet Insurance customers will receive a 20% online discount in their first year and a £10 Tesco gift card (policies bought before 4 March). 

560,000 van drivers don’t lock their vehicle. 35,000 drivers’ vans broken into more than once in the last 12 months. London is the worst area, with over one in three van drivers’ vehicles broken into.

The UK’s three and half million* van drivers are helping make thieves lives easier according to research** from Direct Line for Business. With 51 per cent not having an alarm fitted, 42 per cent without an immobilizer and 16 per cent not even locking their vehicle, it’s no surprise that 560,000  (16 per cent) have been broken into in the last three years.

With around 511 vans being broken into every day, thieves are finding they can be rich pickings. However, only 36 per cent of drivers empty their vehicles every night, and only seven per cent have a ‘van vault’ or similar secure chest fitted.

The research also found that some are targeted more than once by thieves with over 35,000 drivers having their vehicle broken into more than once in the last 12 months.

Simon Henrick of Direct Line for Business said: “There are over 185,000 vans being broken into a year in the UK, and many drivers are making it an easy earner for thieves. Only 33 per cent of drivers we asked had the relevant van insurance to cover their contents. The loss of your tools, or stock can have a severe impact on your business and not having them covered makes it far more costly than it needs to be.”

The loss of tools or equipment can be hard to replace according to TV presenter and former tradesman Tommy Walsh: “If you’re a tradesman and somebody steals your tools, it not only stops you working, but some tools are like old friends that you trust and have had for years. That’s without even taking into account the cost to replace them. The fact is that a thief will always have a buyer for your tools and leaving them in your vehicle is asking for trouble.”

The cost

As well as the cost of replacing stolen items, other indirect costs also add up, with 23 per cent of van drivers having to miss up to five days of work after being a victim of crime. For a small business or the self employed, this can have a substantial effect on their income.

Regional differences

London seems to be the hotbed for thieves targeting vans, with 35 per cent of drivers’ vans being broken into in the last three years compared with 16 per cent nationally. The areas least affected by van crime are Wales (five per cent) and the Midlands (six per cent)

Drivers in London, are the most security conscious as 95 per cent lock their vans, but they are the worst at emptying the contents (33 per cent). Twenty two per cent of drivers in the South East and Anglia leave their vans unlocked.

-Ends-
 

For further information please contact:
Simon Henrick
Press Office
Direct Line for Business
020 8313 5965
07833 166717
Email: simon.henrick@rbs.co.uk

Notes to editors
* In 2007 3,545,724 light commercial vehicles under 3.5t were registered on UK roads according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (Motor Industry facts 2008, page 24) www.smmt.co.uk
**Opinium Research conducted the research on behalf of Direct Line in January 2009. 337 van drivers were polled. Respondent criteria were that the person should drive a light van (under 3.5 tonnes) and to do so as weither their job or in conjunction with their job (e.g. mechanic who drives a van).


Direct Line for Business

Launched in 2007 Direct Line for Business provides a range of insurance products for the small business sector direct by phone or on-line.

Direct Line for Business is part of RBS Insurance, the second largest general insurer in the UK and is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.  Customers can find out more about Direct Line for Business products or get a quote by calling 0845 301 2911 or visiting Direct Line

Direct Line Insurance plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: 3 Edridge Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1AG. Registered in England and Wales no. 01810801. The Financial Services Authority's Register can be accessed through http://www.fsa.gov.uk

 

Visit http://www.directline.co.uk for more information on their van insurance offers or to get an online quote right away.

Householders twenty per cent more likely to smash a mirror on Friday 13th

Avoid walking under ladders and cross your fingers tomorrow, as new research reveals that householders are more likely to smash a mirror on Friday 13th - and end up with another bout of bad luck.

The research*, by insurer Churchill, analysed its home insurance data to compare accidental damage claims on Friday 13th February 2009 to the previous two Fridays. It shows that claims for accidental damage to mirrors and bathroom fittings, such as sinks and WCs, increased by a fifth (20 per cent) on Friday 13th – and could increase again this time round.

The research also reveals that accidental damage claims for cables and pipes increased by a quarter (25 per cent) on the unlucky day and claims for food damaged due to freezer breakdown increased by one hundred per cent.

Martin Scott, Head of Churchill Home Insurance, comments:

"Householders should keep hold of their lucky charms this Friday 13th as our analysis shows that it really can be unlucky for some. However, having accidental damage cover on your home insurance can go some way to minimising the stress and financial burden of having an accident in the home.”
 
Churchill Home Insurance offers accidental damage cover as an optional extra to the standard home insurance policy.

Accidental damage cover added to buildings insurance includes:

    * Accidental damage to underground drains, pipes and cables
    * Breakage to fixed glass and sanitary fittings

Accidental damage cover added to contents insurance includes:

    * Breakages to mirrors and glass
    * Protection for home entertainment equipment

 

- Ends -

 

For more information, please contact:

Abi Clark / Claire Foster                                   
Churchill Insurance Press Office
Tel: 020 8285 3276 / 020 8285 8682
Mob: 07974 161650 / 07900 217264
Email: abi.clark@churchill.com / Claire.foster@rbs.co.uk

 

Notes to editors:

* Churchill claims data comparing Friday 13th February 2009 to the previous two Fridays (30th January and 6th February 2009)

 

 

Churchill

 

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering award-winning car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.
 
Churchill is part of RBS Insurance, the second largest general insurer in the UK and is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0800 200300 or visiting http://www.churchill.com
 
Churchill Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: Churchill Court, Westmoreland Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1DP. Registered in England and Wales no.2258947. The Financial Services Authority's Register can be accessed through http://www.fsa.gov.uk/