Pet Insurance and Illness
By admin | December 30, 2011
Pet insurance can help if your cat is diagnosed with a debilitating condition. Knowing the early warning signs of an illness can help you to catch problems early, increasing the likelihood of your cat making a full recovery. If your vet carries out necessary investigative consultations or tests, the cost should be covered by your pet insurance.
According to a new study in the Guardian, 10.3 million cats live in the UK and with such a large feline population, people are becoming increasingly aware of how cats communicate, behave and interact.1 Pet insurance providers are no exception. They understand how small changes in a cat’s behaviour or appearance can be signs of an illness in its early stages.
As a result pet insurance policies often stipulate that if there are any signs of an illness, however slight, before your pet insurance starts or within the first few weeks of your pet insurance policy coming into effect then the cost of treatment for that illness won’t be covered by your pet insurance. It is therefore crucial to be aware of the signs that might indicate a more serious health problem and you can always check your pet insurance policy document as each one will vary. Here are a few key things to look out for:
Changes in behaviour
Perhaps you have noticed a change in your cat’s behaviour; your pet may be uncharacteristically grumpy or shy. On the other hand, your cat may be more affectionate and docile than usual or may suddenly avoid being stroked.
Changes in appearance
Whilst your cat may seem as cheerful as ever, you may notice changes in their appearance; their coat could become thinner or coarser or their weight could fluctuate despite their diet and appetite remaining the same.
Changes in appetite
A change in appetite is another possible sign of illness. Bear in mind that as well as watching your cat’s eating habits you should keep an eye on how much water they drink. Excessive drinking could indicate kidney problems or early diabetes.
As long as your pet is fit and healthy when your pet insurance cover starts then your pet insurance provider should pay all reasonable costs for your cat’s treatment up to the limit shown in your schedule of pet insurance.
Pet insurance providers often recognise the importance of catching problems early. After all, prevention is better, and often more effective, than cure.
[1] – www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/
Company Profile:
John Lewis Insurance offers a range of insurance services selected by the John Lewis Partnership. These include car, home, life, travel, wedding, event, dog and cat insurance products.
For more information about John Lewis Pet Insurance please visit the website here – www.johnlewis-insurance.com.
John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.
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How To Avoid Being Charged For Your Foreign Money Transfers
By admin | October 4, 2011
Hidden fees and bank charges often claim far too many of your precious pounds, and in the current economic climate that’s not always something you can afford. Whether it’s a result of overdraft fees, late payments or bank transfers, fees and charges can be the bane of our lives.
Some of the biggest, and most avoidable, charges are those incurred by the dreaded foreign transfer; simply sending money from an account in one country to an account in another.
If you’ve transferred money abroad in the past then there’s a good chance you were charged for it. Most banks charge between £10 and £40 per transfer! So if your bank was to charge you £25 for a monthly transfer you’d be paying £300 a year just for the privilege of moving your money around. With Barclays it could cost up to £540.
This creates a problem for all sorts of people. Studying abroad and receiving an allowance from home? That’ll cost your parents or guardians. Sending some birthday money to a relative? That’ll cost you. You have a holiday home which you rent out and you need to transfer money to and from your foreign account on a regular basis? Expect big charges.
But the worst thing about this is how unnecessary the charges are. Essentially you’re paying a lot of money so that someone in an office can press some buttons on a computer. But it’s fine because you know the charges are inevitable, so you just get on with it!
But whilst Barclays charge £25 (plus ‘overseas delivery charges’) for a standard transfer or £45 (plus ‘overseas delivery charges’) for a priority transfer, and whilst Halifax charge between £9.50 and £19.50, there are companies who’ll charge you nothing.
Companies such as Currencies Direct say that you shouldn’t have to pay for the privilege of transferring your money abroad, and we agree. All they charge is the rate of currency exchange, the same rate that you’d pay when changing your holiday money, on which they offer the best rates. Smaller transfers may be subject to tourist rates, but if you make regular payments then they’ll give you commercial exchange rates to make the most of your money. They’re a reputable company and one of the few who still offer free foreign money transfers.
It’s surprising how many people pay their banks huge fees to transfer their money abroad without realising they can avoid it. Whether you’re a student studying abroad or a holiday home owner, transfer charges can be a thing of the past.
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Using Emerging Markets to maximise the potential of your money
By admin | August 10, 2011
Maximising the potential of your money has always been important, but never more so than right now, when standard interest rates are at an all-time low and have recently been kept at 0.5% by the bank of England. Knowing what to invest in can be tricky, with so many different types of investment available such as cash ISAs, short and long term bonds, new technologies and shares. Investing in emerging markets is one of the best ways to maximise your money’s potential at a relatively low risk. Here’s how it works and what to do.
Emerging markets are a wise investment because, in the simplest of terms, they are still growing and expanding. In 2010 the UK’s annual growth in GDP was 1.5%, whilst the two biggest emerging markets, China and India, saw 10% and 8.75% respectively. It is this growth that means the markets are emerging, and as they emerge (or grow) their economies grow with them. Since the 2008 recession established markets have struggled to recover, whilst the emerging markets have recovered at a much faster rate, and are now in a period of sustained growth.
So you may be wondering whether investing in emerging markets is the right step for you. If you already have an investment portfolio then an investment in emerging markets is a good way to diversify your existing collection of investments and inject some capital into an area which could see larger growth than the equivalent investments in established countries would see.
If you’re unsure about exactly what such an investment may entail then you can check out more detailed information with the investors themselves, as you’ll need a company to invest on your behalf. You can search online for companies that offer an easy to understand service for investing in emerging markets. You can invest as little as a £500 lump sum or spread your investment over monthly instalments from £50 per month to suit your particular needs.
You should bear in mind that no investment is risk free and that an investment in emerging markets will act like an ISA, and therefore you should see such an investment as a long term thing. The potential to make good profit is there, but don’t expect to see £1 turn into £1000 overnight! And of course the investments will, as they’re abroad, be in non UK currency. This means that if the strength of the pound falls then your investment may lose value as it will be converted back to UK currency when you withdraw your final balance. Other than that the signs are exciting as emerging markets continue to grow and grow, meaning if you’re interested there really is no time like the present.
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home contents insurance
By admin | August 9, 2011
Whether you’re moving into a new home or looking to find a cheaper policy, getting home contents insurance can be a tedious process. But the easier you are to insure the cheaper your policy will be and the more your policy provider will like you! It’s simple, the lower the risk the cheaper the price. With that in mind, here are some top tips on how to keep the cost of your contents insurance down.
Specify – If you’ve got any items which are more valuable or rarer than others it’s a good idea to speak with your insurer to be clear on what exactly they’re willing to cover. Most insurers will insure artwork up to a certain value, with anything above that not covered in the event of any damage or theft. If you’re an avid art collector for example you may need to take out extra cover. Specialist sports equipment can also be attractive to thieves, so make sure you tell you insurer you have them otherwise they may not be covered under standard cover.
Secure – You can keep your policy provider, and your bank balance, happy by securing not only your home but your contents as well. Be sure to keep sheds, garages, side gates and outbuildings secured with padlocks and keep all tools out of sight. You should have a good burglar alarm and make sure all doors are securely locked, and if possible fastened them with bolts at night. Remember that the more secure you make your home the lower risk it will be, putting you in a good position when trying to get the quote down. As mentioned with the specialist items, be sure to lock anything valuable away if possible. Window alarms can also be fitted at an affordable price and give your property an extra level of security.
Excess – You can often opt to increase the amount of excess you’ll pay when making a claim if you want to bring your premium down, and you can consider this if your home security is up to date and effective.
Valuation – You can save yourself money by making sure that you value the contents of your home properly. Check out Legal & General’s website as they have a home contents insurance calculator to help your work out the value of your home. They also have advice on key features and essentials for your contents insurance, as well as an easy to understand breakdown of what is and isn’t covered by their basic and extra cover policies and are a reputable provider. If you overvalue your contents then you may well end up paying more for your insurance than you need to, especially if you have any antiques or especially valuable items. If you do have any of these you might do well to have them valued properly so that they can be fully insured for the right price.
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