Returning home to find that you have been burgled is extremely distressing, especially if major damage has been inflicted to your property and valuable and sentimental possessions have been stolen.

The first thing to do if you ever find yourself in such an unfortunate position is to call the police. You may be tempted to look around the property and immediately try to assess what has been taken; however, try to avoid that natural instinct as you may unintentionally disturb some critical evidence that could lead to the apprehension of the burglar.

Once in contact with the police they will guide you through a list explaining what you should do, particularly if they cannot get an officer to you immediately. Take care not to disturb the likely entry and/or exit point/s to the property that the thief took, as the police team at the scene of the crime may wish to dust for fingerprints.

At the time you report the burglary, making an insurance claim may be the last thing on your mind, but ensure that you make a note of the crime reference issued by the police – that is vital information for your insurer when you eventually get around to submitting your claim. The person you initially report the crime to may give you a reference number, however that may not be the full crime reference but merely the incident reference number.

However, it is normal for the police to subsequently send the full crime reference by post and it is that reference insurance companies require for processing a claim.

# By following some useful home insurance tips you could substantially cut down the threat of theft occurring at your property in the first place; avoiding the necessity of having to make an insurance claim. The most important of these include: Never leave house keys under a plant pot or anywhere outside the property. Not only are burglars aware of this trick but doing so may also invalidate your insurance.
# It may be a condition of your insurance, or perhaps an incentive to obtain reduced premiums to fit mortise deadlocks and alarms. It will also make it much more difficult for burglars to access your home. Similarly, fit locking devices to all your windows and when you leave the premises make sure all doors and windows are closed and locked.
# Ensure that the exterior of your property is well lit, especially to the rear. Burglars like the cover of darkness in which to do their work, so make it hard for them by brightly illuminating their potential ‘workplace’.

It can prove beneficial to take such tips into consideration; after all it is in your best interests to ensure that you never need to make a claim.

by Daniel Collins

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Insurance companies have historically used demographic data on the gender and age of their consumers to determine insurance rates. In some cases, using this data places a burden on certain drivers to pay more for insurance than others. A common misconception held that men were better drivers than women resulting in higher premium car insurance for women.

This misconception is largely a fabled part of the past especially since the insurance industry is well-informed and more competitive regarding the differences in women and men drivers, showing women are, in most cases, just as safe as their male counterparts.

The old adage that men are better drivers than women has made many to believe that car insurance for women is higher. The physical evidence provided through a study, proved otherwise in the debate of which gender is the better driver. The study showed that men were twice as likely to die in a traffic accident than women were.

Further evidence from the insurance industry revealed that while 70% of women have no traffic violations, men who have never received a traffic violation is only 64%. Men also are more likely to have multiple citations than women, as a further question revealed that of those who do have citations, women had 10% less violations than men.

An attempt to level out the premium differences between men and women has prompted several insurance providers to cater specifically to car insurance for women. This eliminates the possibility that a woman will pay a higher rate than a man will simply because of her gender. These insurance companies have set up special individual companies to provide and underwrite car insurance for women only.

Regardless of the popular opinion being car insurance for women is more costly, through research and practical studies, the insurance industry has determined the riskiest of drivers are the 18-25 year old male population. Finding out how you fare in comparison to other types of drivers is easy by getting a free online quote from any insurance provider. Comparing car insurance quotes will reveal the fact that car insurance for women is actually lower than that same policy for men.

Although the general perception may be that women are worse drivers than men are, the insurance companies that underwrite car insurance for women do not necessarily reflect this. Although insurance providers use demographics and gender as a consideration, the mere fact that one is a man or woman is only one factor in determining the amount of that person’s premium.

by Obinna Heche

Popularity: 1% [?]