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Posts Tagged ‘financial’

The End of Sex Discrimination in Insurance: What Happens Now?

Friday, April 15th, 2011

With the historic ban on gender discrimination by the ECJ in the insurance industry, it now reveals the monumental task for the UK’s insurance industry to completely change the way it works. But what does it mean for men and women across Britain?

Brought by the Belgium Consumers Association, the case challenges the EU Gender Directive’s Article 5, which allows insurers to charge men and women differently based on their sex if it is a “determining factor” in risk assessment, and where it is also based on “relevant and accurate actuarial and statistical data”.

This change has been given a lot of media attention as this evening-out of the playing field means that the cost of car insurance policies will significantly increase for women and decrease for men. But what about the rest of Britain’s insurance industry?

With substantial evidence having shown definite results over the years that women are safer drivers than men, the ruling has been met with a great deal of apprehension.

Insurers will no longer be allowed to evaluate risk based on a person’s gender at the end of 2012, and as a result, premiums for women are expected to rise noticeably, while premiums for men are set to decrease.

It’s not all good news when it comes to insurance for men however. The ruling applies not only to car insurance but across the whole insurance industry, so the ruling will carry some negative implications for them as well.

Annuities

An annuity is usually bought with a pension fund when a person approaches retirement, and with this they are guaranteed an income for life.

Statistics determine the annual income they can buy with their retirement pot, estimating how long they are likely to live. Age, gender and health are all factored into the equation.

According to the statistics, men don’t usually live as long as women, and have always generally been offered higher annuity payouts than a woman with exactly the same pension fund.

However, the new ruling has changed all this, and will inevitably see women paying less. The ABI (Association of British Insurers) estimates that men approaching retirement will see an 8% fall in annuity rates, while women will benefit from a growth of about 6%.

Additionally, joint annuities, usually purchased by men, are also set to see a price hike, so that women who rely on their husband’s pension fund will also suffer a decreased retirement income.

Fair Investment Company’s head of pensions, George Ladds, has warned that if annuities are to remain attractive, the industry will have to rethink how it prices annuities: “Either rates for men and women will be brought in line to create ‘unisex’ annuity rate, which will probably see men’s rates go down more than women’s go up - or annuity providers will have to start looking at each case individually, which is more expensive, and that cost will be passed onto the consumer.” He added: “Either way, the consumer loses out on both choice and value. Annuity rates are already low, and this could be the excuse providers need to pull them even lower.”

Life insurance

Women are likely to live longer than men according to data, paying less in premiums than men for their life insurance.

The ABI estimates that women will see their premiums increase by as much as a 20 per cent, while men are will see an estimated 10 per cent decrease on the cost of their cover.

ABI’s acting director general, Maggie Craig, warned women not to reconsider buying cover that they need. “Not all customers will be equally affected as the use of gender can vary significantly between products and different companies. Each company will have to respond to the ban in the way they feel is in their customers’ interests.”

Health insurance

Health insurances such as payment protection policies and critical illness cover, unlike life insurance, cost men less, because statistics say that they’re less likely to suffer illness and claim. This will not be the case, as of December 2012.

Car insurance

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the AA both advise that this will see women paying around a 1/4 more than they currently do for their car insurance, while younger female drivers will see an even bigger increase.

Describing the ruling as “flying in the face of common sense”, insurance group RSA argued: “It is completely disadvantageous to the very people it was intended to protect and prevents insurers from using a legitimate rating factor.”

Looking for great deals on car insurance? Then temp car insurance at Money Supermarket could be what you are after!

The School Bus Pass - Reasons Why There Are A Lot Of Arguments Because Of Them

Friday, April 15th, 2011

A while back I wrote about how much money it was plausible to save if you take public transportation. Since then, I have realized that there are a a number of varying alternatives for student bus passes throughout the country. The example I used of the pass in Winnipeg ended up being roughly average, so that’s good as far as the comparison went; however, upon checking out the various options around Canada I thought it might be interesting to note the differences.

Possibly the most debatable issue of student bus passes in Canada is the capability of a majority of students on some campuses to make the passes mandatory. Universities which includes the University of Ottawa, the University of Victoria, Saint Mary’s University, and the University of Western Ontario have organized student referendums where students elected to include bus passes together with their overall tuition and student user fees. At Ottawa this contributed to a law suit by 9 students against the University given that they felt discriminated against.

Naturally this scenario has some advantages and drawbacks. The great low cost of public transportation for those that use it is an undeniable incentive. On those campuses the rate was decreased to approximately a 100 dollars flat for the year! This is in all likelihood because of the inflated volume of sales. The fact that students are pressured to get passes would also help out the overall usage rates. This has excellent spin-off environmental effects, along with the mentioned financial ones.

Myself personally, the negative aspects are far more prevalent to me. During my time at the University of Manitoba there was a referendum on whether to put together a required package for public transportation to be supported by all students. I simply just can’t get past the fact that it should not be considered realistic for a negligible majority of students to trample the rights of a large minority and take money out of their wallets to subsidize their preferred form of transportation. If I remember correctly, there was currently a percentage of the money used from parking service fees to help counteract student bus pass costs. This is still a tough sell for me regardless of the environmental benefits. Naturally as a vehicle owner I am definitely bias.

My personal distaste for particular aspects of public transportation is probably a result of the Winnipeg pubic transit system. No matter how much money I was saving I couldn’t justify the consistent waste of time. The schedules were never correct, the constant rudeness of travellers, and the horrible weather aspect of life in Winnipeg, was enough to motivate me to get my own car.

If perhaps I had went to school in British Columbia I might have a very different view of student bus passes. After a opinion from a local regarding her public transportation experience, I looked into the Vancouver area possible choices. I was blown away by the wonderful bargain they got and the fact it was not subsidized by other students (this means it doesn’t punish the students that walk, bike, or drive to school). The U-Pass (universal pass) is readily availablefor sale to post-secondary students for the low price of $30 monthly. The great part of the deal is that this doesn’t solely cover the bus, but the Seabus and SkyTrain services as well! With such a comprehensive variety of options I would presume there is a reasonable amount of success with the program there.

In comparison, Winnipeg charges over $70 monthly for its substandard patchwork of buses. Other monthly public transportation rates for students include $89 for a metro pass in Toronto, $41 in Montreal for a merged metro and bus pass, $71 for a student bus pass in Saskatoon, and Calgary didn’t even have a student rate from the information I have been able to see on their site. The basic adult rate there for a month-to-month bus pass is $90.

One other thing people (not just students) who use bus passes should be advised of is the non-refundable tax credit available. For some people you can find a pretty good idea of how much money you should get back on your taxes by multiplying the yearly cost of your bus passes by .15 (15%). This is a great little bonus incentive for those of you who are already financially and environmentally mindful enough to use public transportation.

The student bus pass cost is always lower than the standard fee so this is a good strategy for saving money when attending university. Having different student bus pass options is significant to any university interested in make a subsidised service to their students.

The School Bus Pass - The Debates Because Of Them

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

The previous week I had written about how much money it was plausible to save by taking public transportation. Since then, I have came to the realization that there are a a number of assorted possibilities for student bus passes across the nation. The example I used of the pass in Winnipeg ended up being around average, so that’s fine as far as the comparison proceeded to go; however, upon looking at the different options around Canada I thought it may be helpful to make note of the differences.

Possibly the most debatable part of student bus passes in Canada is the possibility of a majority of students on some campuses to make the passes mandatory. Universities which includes the University of Ottawa, the University of Victoria, Saint Mary’s University, and the University of Western Ontario have held student referendums where students decided to add bus passes together with their all around tuition and student user fees. At Ottawa this resulted in a law suit by 9 students against the University felt discriminated against.

Obviously this predicament has some advantages and drawbacks. The really low cost of public transportation for people who use it is an indisputable bonus. For those campuses the cost was lowered to approximately a 100 dollars flat for the year! This is likely because of the larger volume of sales. The fact that students are compelled to get passes would definitely also help out the overall usage rates. This has terrific spin-off environmental effects, along with the previously mentioned financial ones.

Personally, the disadvantages are much more prevalent to me. During my time at the University of Manitoba we had a referendum on whether to come up with a mandatory package for public transportation to be supported by all students. I just can not get past the fact that it shouldn’t be considered fair for a negligible majority of students to trample the legal rights of a significant minority and take money out of their pockets to subsidize their chosen mode of transportation. If I remember correctly, there was presently a percentage of the money used from parking service fees to help counteract student bus pass costs. This is still a hard sell for me despite the environmental benefits. Naturally as a vehicle owner I am definitely bias.

My own distaste for particular aspects of public transportation is very likely a result of the Winnipeg pubic transit system. It doesn’t matter how much money I was saving I couldn’t rationalize the constant waste of time. The schedules were hardly ever correct, the constant disrespect of passengers, and the awful weather aspect of life in Winnipeg, was enough to inspire me to get my own vehicle.

In the instance that I had went to school in British Columbia I would possibly have a very different perspective of student bus passes. After a comment from a local regarding her public transportation experience, I researched the Vancouver area choices. I was blown away by the great deal they got and the fact it was not subsidized by other students (this means it doesn’t penalize the students that walk, bike, or drive to school). The U-Pass (universal pass) is available to post-secondary students for the low price of $30 a month. The wonderful part of the deal is that this doesn’t only just cover the bus, but the Seabus and SkyTrain services as well! With such a complete variety of options I would assume there is a great deal of success with the program there.

In contrast, Winnipeg charges over $70 monthly for its substandard patchwork of buses. Other monthly public transportation rates for students consist of $89 for a metro pass in Toronto, $41 in Montreal for a merged metro and bus pass, $71 for a student bus pass in Saskatoon, and Calgary didn’t actually have a student price from the information I was able to see on their website. The basic adult rate there for a month to month bus pass is $90.

One other thing for people (not just students) who use bus passes should be aware of is the non-refundable tax credit available. For most people you may get a pretty good idea of how much money you should get back on your taxes by multiplying the yearly rate of your bus passes by .15 (15%). This is a great little reward incentive for those of you who are already financially and environmentally conscious enough to use public transportation.

having a Student Bus Pass is a popular way to save money when going to school. cheap student transportation is highly crutial to any university aiming to make a subsidised program to their students.

Tips For Cheap Auto Insurance

Saturday, April 9th, 2011

Are you aware that auto insurance should work with you and not against you? Not a soul desires to wage a lot more than they have got to. Considering the monetary slump in play today, forking over additional for vehicle insurance is not an option.

You may use a range of preferences when it comes to slashing your auto insurance premium. A good number of these special discounts are along with the exclusive deals that companies pass out.

When you are in the market for purchasing a vehicle, be sure your vehicle comes with a laundry list of safety items. Insurance carriers like safety items since it means they are going to pay a smaller amount in the occurence of an accident.

You mustn’t depend exclusively on protection features however. Maintaining an important driving history is of principal importance. Even if you do not boast an incredible history of driving, then take into consideration picking a defensive driver curriculum. They are recognized to lower rates across the board.

The less you drive, the greater your fortune of getting cheap auto insurance quotes. The main reason folks compensate more for driving more, is that their fortune of an crash increases anytime they get on the street.

As bad as it seems, your credit story and report may perhaps play a task in the amount you pay. It isn’t a good idea to own a nasty credit file regardless, so that is something you will want to patch up. Some companies use this statistic, others do not.

If you are driving a clunker auto all-around, think about insuring the other party’s auto as a substitute. This is known as third party automobile insurance. You will be stress free knowing how the damages to a different vehicle are covered. As for your vehicle though, you will must pay the damages on your own.

As for accident protection on your aged auto, it almost certainly is not worth your time or money. For the total amount of money you would splurge for the premiums vs. what you’d get back in a declaration, it is a waste.

Do not forget to increase your deductible either. For the quantity of accidents you will have in your life span, it really is worth it to pay for a little more upfront. Why compensate plenty more every month just in case? What a waste.

And do not fail to remember that among the simple ways to lower your car insurance is to shop around just like you would for anything else. You don’t even need to divulge much personal information until you happen to be at last able to pick an insurance company.

Using these strategies should assist immensely in decreasing your vehicle cover. In particular situations, for example purchasing protection options for your car or taking defending driving courses, they’re almost certainly stuff you could have completed anyway, especially when you’ve got children you’ll be driving around. These, not to mention building your credit ranking and being as prudent a motorist as possible are going to also help you in the future by providing you with serenity of mind.

There’s not one distinct method to succeed in acquiring cheap auto insurance rates. One have to constantly compare prices over the web and read letters about organizations also. This is often how you locate the perfect value.

Drivers using mobile phones are 4 times more likely to end up in a car crash

Monday, February 28th, 2011

As reported by the Road Safety Authority in Ireland, drivers using their mobile phones are 4 times more likely to be involved in a lethal or serious injury accident. Can any text message or mobile call genuinely be worth the risk? The risks of drink driving are very well known and Irish society has developed a strong stand against any person who takes such risks. Most people would never think about driving right after having a few drinks. But when it comes to our mindset towards utilizing mobile phone devices while driving, we still have a long way to go.

Garda, supported by the Road Safety Authority are now particularly targeting motorists using mobile phones. Unpublished RSA figures from a recent Irish Independent write-up show that over the past year 41,737 drivers received penalty points for illegally utilizing their mobile phone devices while driving. This means Garda are catching on average 110 motorists each day, bringing the total number of drivers with penalty points for this offence to 96,391. This scary figure shows the Garda are taking this offence quite seriously.

In the United states, Oprah Winfrey is heading up a campaign, The No Phone Zone, to boost awareness of the hazards of driving while distracted by your mobile phone. Quite a few shows have focused entirely on telling the tales of families who’ve lost a loved one because of a driver who was too busy talking or texting to pay attention to the road ahead.

If you feel that chatting or text messaging on your mobile phone is harmless, take a look at these disturbing stats from one of Oprah’s programmes:

1. A driver chatting on a mobile is four times more likely to get into an accident

2. Should you text while you drive you’re 8 times more likely to get into a car accident

3. Seven in ten individuals aged between 17 and 49 years text or talk on the phone while driving

I don’t know about you, but it just doesn’t appear worth it. So the next time you get into your car, put your mobile phone away. That text or phone call can wait.

If you are planning on using your mobile phone in your car then you better make sure that you have full comprehensive car insurance. Get a cheap car insurance quote from AXA motor insurance in Ireland.

Why Does Car Insurance Cost Less For Women?

Monday, February 21st, 2011

When searching for car insurance, one distinguishing feature that you will notice is the difference between the costs of insuring women and men. Typically, the cost of insuring a woman driver is less than the cost of insuring a man. To understand why women generally spend less than men for their car insurance, you have to look at how insurance providers determine their rates.

Insurance companies rely on driver studies and statistics when determining their rates. This helps them assign specific driver risk factors. When assessing women drivers, it has been found that on average, women are much more careful drivers. For instance, women tend to obey traffic laws such as driving the speed limit more than men. As well, they tend to get in fewer accidents where they are found at-fault. Also, women are more likely to get in less serious accidents than men such as fender-benders, and they are more likely to use their cars for errands and such, so they do not put as much mileage on their cars. When assessing these types of statistics, the insurance companies have deemed that women drivers are at lower risk of filing an insurance claim and they are less likely to receive less traffic violations. By being assessed as a lower-risk, their premiums will be less than men’s premiums.

Although the statistics show that women are lower risk drivers, there are ways both men and women can reduce their insurance costs. If a man is married, he could have his name added to his wife’s policy which will reduce costs. Adding a woman to a man’s insurance policy can also help reduce costs. It is also essential to take advantage of discount incentives. If you complete a defensive driver’s program from an accredited driving school, you can get a discount on your insurance. Other discount incentives that may be offered by an insurance provider include discounts for the following: age, low mileage, hybrid vehicle, insuring multiple vehicles, combining home and auto insurance policy, anti-theft devices, GPS installed, and added safety features. These discounts can vary from one company to another so it is important to check with a few different companies to find out what incentives they offer.

One of the best ways to lower your insurance premiums is to use free online insurance quote comparison tools. These comparison search tools which are available on insurance sites allow you to compare a number of different insurance quotes from different providers. All that you have to do is fill out an online form, click the send button, and in a minute you will receive the best quotes. You can then read through each quote and choose the best policy that best meets your needs. It is a fast and easy way to compare insurance quotes.

Although women pay less for their insurance policies than men, there are many ways to reduce costs, whether you are a man or woman. Fortunately, now that we have online shopping, locating and purchasing affordable car insurance Toronto has never been easier.

1 Atlantic Ave #106, Toronto, ON M6K 3E7 (416) 530-0300 (416) 530-0300. Toronto Insurance agent offering the best Toronto car insurance quotes for services such as Toronto Car Insurance and State Farm Insurance. Mike Chronopoulos State Farm Insurance Agent 1 Atlantic Ave #106, Toronto, ON M6K 3E7 (416) 530-0300.

Tips To Reducing Your Car Insurance Premiums

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Car insurance must be purchased before you can legally drive your car on public roads and highways. When searching for car insurance, most people do not realize that prices will vary among companies and different companies will offer different discount incentives. Most people will often choose the first policy offered. This means they will often pay more for the policy. The good news is that people do not have to buy an expensive insurance policy as there are a number of easy ways to reducing insurance costs.

Below are a number of tips to reducing your car insurance premiums:

Determine Insurance Needs: Before you buy a policy, it is essential that you determine what kind of coverage and the amount of coverage you will need. Regarding liability, it is recommended that you acquire maximum coverage which will ensure that you are completely protected. If you own an old car that is not worth much, you may want to avoid collision coverage. Also, determine how much of a deductible you can pay because the higher the deductible that you pay the less you will pay for your premium. When determining your coverage needs, make sure you have an understanding of the types of coverage such as collision, comprehensive, and liability.

Online Savings: If you are looking for cheap insurance quotes, an effective tool you can use is an online insurance quote comparison tool. These free search tools are available on insurance sites and insurance related sites. You just have to fill out a short online form, click the submit button, and the search tool will retrieve a list of insurance quotes from different insurance companies. These quotes will be the cheapest quotes available. You will be able to review each quote and coverage details and then select the policy that meets your needs and price range. It is fast, easy, and you do not have to worry about high pressure sales tactics. There is no obligation to buy.

Discount Incentives: It is important to take advantage of as many discount incentives as possible. The result can be substantial savings. You can get discounts based on age and there are other incentives such as: low mileage, anti-theft devices installed, safety features added, combining car insurance with homeowners’ insurance, fuel-efficient car discount, completing a driver safety program, and more. It is important to inquire about all available incentive offers.

Lifestyle Improvements: You can get cheaper insurance if you make some lifestyle changes. For instance, maintain a clean driving history such as avoiding speeding tickets, keep high risk drivers off your policy, keep a clean credit history, pay bills on time, and pay off outstanding loans. These are all factors that go into assessing your risk level. The lower your risk assessment the lower premium you will pay.

Because we all need to have car insurance before we can drive, it makes sense that we would want to buy the cheapest auto insurance policy that includes the appropriate amount of coverage. Fortunately, the internet and increased competition among insurance providers have made it possible to find and buy cheap car insurance.

By visiting your local State Farm Insurance Toronto provider, you can drive your car confidently. Mike Chronopoulos State Farm Insurance Agent promises to give you the security and safety you need to drive, no matter what season it is!

Save Money on Car Insurance

Friday, January 21st, 2011

Times are challenging and every single penny counts nowadays. In the wake of one of the harshest budgets Ireland has ever seen we are all tightening our belts. You cannot move for the amount of financial ‘analysts’ offering their advice on the most effective techniques to save money.

But here are some top secret money-saving suggestions that you may not have heard about. (Bear in mind, you read it here 1st!):

- Enjoy going out for pizza? Bring your own toppings to save actual dough - Turn off the TV and all of the lights to save electricity. Tell the children it is a game of hide-and-seek - Train your pet dog to beg for food from strangers, so you won’t need to purchase dog food - Rub pine needles under your arms rather than buying deodorant - Don’t waste cash buying costly binoculars; basically stand closer to the object you wish to see

On a far more severe note, things are tough out there. AXA auto insurance provide several ways to help you lighten your load by helping you save much more by way of an array of discounts and offers on various products and services. Listed here are a number of the great savings available to AXA customers:

30% off van insurance 15% off house insurance an AXA Plus Card that gives you access to rate reductions in selected main retailers treat your self with special discounts on Leisure Breaks we give a no-claims discount as high as 75% for safe driving

Not convinced? well here is some more proof of how we can help you save a lot more. If you purchase AXA Auto insurance on-line with us between the 14th January & 28th February 2011 we shall give you 35 cash back and this is on top of our 5% online discount.

If you wantdiscount car insurance then visit AXA and get a low cost car insurance quote. AXA saves you more.

Shopping Around For Car Insurance On The Web

Sunday, December 19th, 2010

Shopping around for car insurance is unbelievably quick to accomplish on-line. There are many web pages to can get a coverage All drivers wherein own and function a car or truck must have coverage. You will see rigid fines for persons who drive devoid of one. If a driver does in fact drive without a policy, they could experience having their driver’s license revoked. The unique driving record of the individual driver will affect their rates. Exceptional drivers will get reduced prices on their policies alternatively to bad drivers with undesirable records. These types of drivers can expect to pay more for their policies.

Other components on top of that influence the costs. Your level of experience and age will also affect rates. Younger, new drivers, such as teens will have high rates quoted to them. This age group tends to get into more accidents. And if you live in an area where car theft is high, then you can also expect to pay more. All motorists really must have the right quantity of coverage. For several that have new cars or trucks and are paying and are being financed, they’re going to have to get full coverage.

You should make sure to get the right coverage at the right price. But you don’t want to sacrifice the quality of your policy just to save money. You must make sure you have the coverage that you need. Shop around until you find what you need.

The world wide web can be the quickest system of shopping for a coverage policy. There are plenty of policies that present excellent quotes on line. You will complete an online form on the site that will request important information from you that will help to put together a quote. This information must be completed. It does not take long.

An even speedier and less problematic way to buy quotes on-line. You may find over the internet auto coverage intermediaries that will have full listings the most beneficial firms and in addition quotes to suit your needs. These sites will also have an online form to fill out but this is only done once. It will run through its database and come up with several agencies for you to look into.

This is definitely a faster and more efficient way to get quotes online. These third party businesses make the process less tedious. You can simply go through the list and figure out the policy that will best suit your needs. These kinds of directories do not charge a policy providers. Rather than heading to numerous various automobile policy websites, and typing in the same information over and over again, all you need is to enter your data only once.

In spite of the truth that a web-based evaluation is usually the quickest means of shopping for any estimate, you could possibly visit the neighborhood agents within your location. Commonly, these local organizations may give noticeably discounted prices on policies. It worth a try but you probably will get better quotes online.

Motorists have many options when it comes to shopping around for car insurance online. There are a number of high quality agencies available on the internet. The process is quick and easy and you can have a quote in a matter of minutes. And all of the agencies offer really good auto insurance policies to good drivers. You can also receive discounts if you belong to certain organizations.

By visiting your local State Farm Insurance Toronto provider, you can drive your car confidently. Car Insurance Toronto promises to give you the security and safety you need to drive, no matter what season it is!

3 Problems With Purchasing Imported Cars

Sunday, December 12th, 2010

Imported cars can come into Ireland with serious problems. A recent report claims that almost 1 in every 3 cars have problems associated with them. In our constant search for the best deal we often overlook the reasons why a car might be so cheap. With the recession biting hard in Ireland more and more people are sourcing the cars abroad. These people are largely unaware of the risks involved.

A road trip across the Ireland will reveal a multitude of yellow number plates passing you by. This is because of the huge amount of people importing cars from the UK and Northern Ireland in particular. These people claim to have gotten the car for next to nothing. What they are probably not aware of it the many defects that come as standard with these imported cars. Arm yourself with the knowledge and you won’t get stung by a rotten deal.

You need to look out for 3 main problems when buying imported cars. These problems are:

1. Clocking - This problem involves the odometer of the car being tampered with to show far less mileage than what the car has done. 2. Repossessed - Many UK imports are affected by this as the cars which have originally been purchased via a finance lease deal have not been fully paid off. 3. Write-off - For all you know the car could have been in a serious accident and could now be totally unfit for driving on the road.

Cartell.ie conducted this survey. Their website helps protect car buyers against fraud. Their report sample consisted of 5,000 cars. The following statistics were reported - 9.2% were in danger of repossession, 9.1% of cars had been written off and 11.4% of cars were clocked.

A spokesperson for Cartell commented that this was “a serious risk for Irish buyers hunting for bargains in Northern Ireland.”

Get a low cost car insurance quote at AXA today and have some peace of mind. AXA also specialise in young drivers insurance.