• Protect What Matters Most to You

    Protect What Matters Most to You

    This article was published on Tue 21 May 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    Protect what matters most to you

    We know how important it is to protect the things that matter most. What’s more, getting car and home insurance that is right for you with the right level of cover can be a minefield.

    The car and home insurance market is one area where you really need to keep your eyes peeled. At Police Mutual we believe in making it easy for our members, providing great protection as standard with no hidden costs.

    It’s important to remember when making a decision on your insurance sometimes you have to look behind the headline policy cost.

    We take a different approach compared to many insurers in the marketplace. There’s no charge for the convenience of paying by monthly instalments or admin fees for making policy changes. Plus, to make it even easier for you to look after your prized possessions we pay the cancellation fee that might be charged by your current provider, up to the value of £125. This means you can change insurers before your current policy expires.

    Understanding what matters to our customers

    We know home, and family time spent at home is hugely important for everyone. Last year we commissioned a survey to find out what makes a house a home for the Police family, with the aim to better understand what matters.

    When asked ‘Which items would you save if your home was on fire?’ responses ranged from:

    • The Essentials – family, pets, photos, phones and computers;
    • The Practicals – cash, bank card, car keys, contact lenses, important documents, passport and insulin pump;
    • The Sentimentals – Grandfather’s First World War medals, photos of deceased family members, daughter’s cuddly toy rabbit; and
    • The Matters to Me – bed, fridge and sofa, my password list, the books I’m writing, my financial paperwork, penguin shaped vase, piece of Elvis’ hair, (full) wine rack and action figure collectibles!

    It’s really interesting, but not surprising, to see how much importance people put on their personal belongings and the contents of their home, from key pieces of furniture to electricals and technology. This ties into the claims data we see, which shows that the most frequent claims we receive relate to accidental damage to contents in the home and loss and damage to personal belongings.

    Not surprisingly, the research demonstrated the huge range of items that people apply sentimental value to. We know we can’t bring back the sentimental value, however we can ensure that we are there to help our members when they really need us.

    What we are most proud of is our friendly Liverpool team and the service we offer, making people want to stay with us as they know they are in safe hands.

    Not only that it’s the little things we believe are important, doing more to help look after your car and home – we want to ensure our members get a better policy as standard without the need to take out multiple optional extras:

    • Up to £500 in Home Emergency Cover as standard on our home insurance product, providing you with immediate assistance in the event of a domestic emergency.
    • If you are buying a brand new car, we offer new car replacement cover as standard for the first 2 years of ownership.
    • An extra £5,000 in contents cover around religious festivals such as Christmas.
    • Cover when driving a courtesy car when your car is in for a service.
    • Low compulsory excesses so you don’t get stung when it comes to claiming.
    • Longer cover when driving abroad, with us you are covered for 6 months compared to 3 months with many competitors.

    Terms and conditions apply.

    It’s no wonder on average someone insures with Police Mutual every 4 minutes*

    Our car and home insurance is provided by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc. PMGI Limited, trading as Police Mutual, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England & Wales No. 1073408. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS. Calls to 0800 numbers are free from UK landlines and mobiles. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.

    *Calculation is based on 135,179 live policies which includes new business and renewals as at 3 May 2018

    Chris Morey

    ,

  • Young Driver Car Insurance: Things to Consider

    Young Driver Car Insurance: Things to Consider

    This article was published on Fri 03 May 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    A pivotal moment in most young adults’ lives is the day you pass your driving test. All your hard work has paid off and you’ve got more freedom than ever before. But if paying for all the lessons wasn’t expensive enough, once you pass you’ve got the cost of your car insurance to deal with.

    The cost of insurance is based on the level of risk there’s expected to be. The perceived higher risk results in a higher price. Younger drivers are seen to be high risk because of their lack of experience. Statistics from THINK! do show that a fifth of newly-qualified drivers suffer an accident within the first year of passing their test [1]. Other factors that can impact the cost of young drivers’ insurance includes:

    The car you drive

    A car’s age, value, engine size, and potential cost and time of repairs all contribute to the calculation of premiums. Newer, more powerful cars will typically be more expensive to insure.

    Who are you

    Where you live, your age, your occupation and if you’ve got a no claims free driving history can all affect how much you can end up paying.

    Your level of cover 

    Reduced cover doesn’t always mean a reduced price. In reality, third-party cover is generally more expensive. Research shows that this is because people who take out third-party policies are more likely to make a claim than those on fully comprehensive cover [2].

    Opting for comprehensive cover shows your insurer that you are more responsible, so it can be cheaper after all.

    Your excess

    Excess is the amount of money you must pay towards a claim made on your policy before the insurance company picks up the bill. The larger the amount you are prepared to pay in the event of a claim will reduce the cost of your premium. Make sure you choose an excess that you’re sure you can afford to pay if it calls for it.

    Reducing the cost of your insurance

    Research shows that for the average young driver as much as 10% of your whole yearly salary can be swallowed up by the cost of your car insurance. [3] That’s money that could be better spent on enjoying being able to drive. So what could you do to keep down the price?

    Your car

    After all those years of waiting to drive your own car it can be really tempting to get something fast and flamboyant. But what you gain for looking good, you’ll have to pay more for to insure. Again it all goes back to perceived risk. Cars with more power are seen as a risk and more likely to be involved in an accident or as a target for thieves. A more modest vehicle might not be as impressive but will be much cheaper to insure.

    Make safety a priority

    There’s a few things you can do to keep your car secure that will help ease your car insurance price and give you peace of mind too. Park your car in your garage if you can, or at least off the road overnight. It could also make a difference if you invest in some security devices like an alarm, tracker and immobiliser.

    Add mum or dad to your policy

    Including a more experienced driver to your policy could lead to cheaper insurance. Even if they don’t drive your car very often, adding someone older with a claim free history and no points on their licence could help! Be aware of ‘fronting’ though. Putting them as the main driver instead of a named driver is illegal and will mean an insurer could reject any claims you make.

    Get a black box

    Young people are stereotyped as a risk and therefore more costly to cover. Black boxes allow for young drivers to be judged on their own driving ability instead. Once installed in your car the box would monitor your driving and the results will be used to determine your price at renewal. If you drive safely it could save you money.

    All part of the service

    At Police Mutual we agree that it’s only fair that younger drivers are judged on how safe they are behind the wheel and not their age. That’s why we’ve carefully chosen to work with More Th>n and their Smart Wheels telematics black box technology to offer Young Driver Insurance. More Th>n’s black box technology offers younger drivers the chance to get a lower premium and to build a no claim discount in claim free years. Find out more and how to get your quote here:

    Young Driver Car Insurance is provided by More Th>n. Visit our legal page for further details.

    Sources:

    1 https://www.think.gov.uk/campaign/road-whisperer/

    2 https://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/third-party-only/

    3  https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2018/02/cost-of-car-insurance-now-gobbles-up-10-percent-of-a-young-drivers-average-salary/

    Chris Morey

    ,

  • Telephone Number Change

    Telephone Number Change

    We’re making some changes to our telephone numbers and we wanted to keep you updated on what’s happening and how it could affect you.

    This article was published on Fri 05 Apr 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    We’re replacing our non-geographic telephone numbers (i.e. those starting 08 and 03) with our regional numbers.

    Using regional numbers provides an opportunity for us to save costs without impacting the services that you will receive. We also want to reduce the telephone numbers we use, to make things more efficient to manage, and more straightforward for you.

    We recently conducted a review of our telephony usage overall and the decision to make the changes was made to ensure we are managing our business in the best possible way for our members. This ensures we can continue to support our affinities for the long-term.

    Unfortunately this means now that depending on whether you are calling from a landline or a mobile and the call plan you are on, it could now cost you to call us. Geographic UK numbers cost up to 13p per minute from a landline and from 3p to 15p per minute from a mobile. You can read more about call charges here.

    Our numbers will begin to switch over from Saturday 6 April 2019, but don’t worry it shouldn’t impact our services to you. For the next 12 months, if you do call one of our old numbers they will still work but there will be a message advising you of our new numbers that you will need to use in the future.

    Here are the new phone numbers you will now need to contact us:

    Insurance0151 242 7640
    Savings & Investments
    Including Options ISA, Regular Savings Plans, Guaranteed ISA top-up and Savings for Children    		01543 441630
    NARPO0151 242 7645
    Mortgages01543 441630
    Healthcare01543 441630
    Complaints01543 305318
    IFA0151 242 7829

    To find out about the other ways you can speak to us visit our Contact Us page

    Chris Morey

  • 5 Golden Rules When Choosing an Investment in 2019

    5 Golden Rules When Choosing an Investment in 2019

    This article was published on Fri 05 Apr 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    Looking to invest? Check out these important things to consider.

    If you have made the decision to start investing, it’s important to take the time to research the market and find the right product for you. Below are some golden rules to follow to help you through the process.

    1. Higher returns = higher risks
    If you don’t want to or can’t take any risks with your money then investing may not be right for you. The basic rule is that to improve your chances of better returns you will have to accept more risk. When you are selecting your investment product always consider the level of risk you are willing or able to take. Try looking for investment products that can help you manage risks by offering some guarantees to protect your growth.

    2. Be diversified
    Putting all of your money in one type of investment can be risky, a bit like putting all of your eggs in one basket. You can reduce this risk by choosing a product that spreads your money across a mix of investment types and sectors. This is called diversifying and works on the basis that when prices in one investment area may be falling they could be rising in another. This can help to balance out the risk and return on your investment.

    3. Think long term
    The longer your money is invested the better chance it has to grow in value and produce a favourable return. There are of course no guarantees but keeping your investment for at least 5 years, or ideally 10 or more years, increases the potential for better returns. This is because there’s more time for your investment to recover from any short-term drops in value. If you think you may want access to your money in the short term you might want to consider a cash savings product instead.

    4. Let the experts help
    Investing does not need to be complex or time consuming. You can of course choose to manage your investments yourself but this does take time and takes a certain level of expertise. If you are new to investing or short on time, consider looking for an investment product where the fund and your money is managed for you by experts. If you’re unsure about which type of investment is right for you, think about contacting a financial adviser for help and support.

    5. Keep an eye on your investments
    You should take time to review your investments on an annual basis to make sure they are on track. This will allow you to monitor how they are performing and make any necessary adjustments to help you reach your savings goals. Remember the value of investments can vary all the time as the markets fall and rise, investing over the long term can help minimise the impact of this. If you are constantly worrying about how your investments are performing then it might be time to review whether this level of risk is right for you.


    Police Mutual offer a range of savings and investments products. Whether you want to save regularly or invest a larger amount our products could help meet your needs. To find out more about our range click here or call the team on 0345 88 22 999.

    Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited is an incorporated friendly society. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6QS.

    Chris Morey

  • Spring Statement 2019 – What it Means for You

    Spring Statement 2019 – What it Means for You

    This article was published on Mon 01 Apr 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    The Spring Statement is the first of the Treasury’s annual updates on the country’s economic health, and this year it has the added complication of coming just two weeks before the date the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union.

    The Chancellor opened his statement by referring to the Brexit vote of the 12th March 2019, saying it “leaves a cloud of uncertainty hanging over our economy” but he insisted the economy is “remarkably robust”. He pledged £26.6 billion to boost the economy if the UK leaves the European Union with a deal but warned that a disorderly Brexit could deal a “significant” blow to UK economic activity over the short term.

    Amongst the reports on public finances, growth forecasts and government borrowing the Chancellor announced the following plans and initiatives:

    UK – Open for Business

    • In a bid to improve the flow of passengers and the overall experience at the UK border, from June 2019, citizens of the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea will be permitted to use e-gates at UK airports and Eurostar terminals
    • From June 2019, landing cards at UK airports will begin to be abolished to reduce bureaucracy and speed up the processing of passengers in arrival in the UK

    The environment

    • To ensure that new homes are better for the environment and to help keep consumer energy bills low, the government will introduce a Future Homes Standard by 2025. This will support the future proofing of new build homes with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency

    Schools

    • To help tackle period poverty, free sanitary products will be available in secondary schools and colleges in the next school year

    Knife Crime Funding

    • £100 million will be made available over the next year to Police forces in England and Wales to help tackle knife crime. This has been ring-fenced to pay for Police overtime and to fund new ‘Violent Crime Reduction Units’

    Spending Review

    • The Chancellor announced plans to launch a full three-year spending review this summer, assuming that the UK leaves the EU with a deal. This will set departmental budgets for resource spending on such things as social care with a focus on “high-growth economy with public services that work for everyone”

    Chris Morey

  • Top Tips for Buying a New Car

    Top Tips for Buying a New Car

    This article was published on Fri 01 Mar 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    If you are thinking about buying a new car it’s important that you make the right choice and get the best possible deal available. A new car represents a considerable investment, so before you part with your hard earned cash, check out our tips on buying a new car.

    The best time to buy: buying at the right time can help you get a great deal. Most dealers have targets to meet and these are generally based on quarterly sales. Meaning that the end of March, June, September and December could be a good time to buy as dealers may be more willing to negotiate.

    Get a final price: some dealers display prices which do not include the additional costs associated with buying and registering a new car such as delivery and number plates. Ask the dealer for a full and final breakdown of ‘on the road’ costs for the car before committing to any purchase.

    Consider optional extras carefully: when looking at optional extras for your car think carefully about whether you really need them and what difference they are making to the purchase price – especially if you are paying for your car with finance. Try to stick to added extras that could add to the resale value of your car such as parking sensors or built in sat nav.

    Look at pre-registered options: to help meet their sales quotas, dealers sometimes buy new cars themselves. These cars are classed as ‘pre-registered’ and can be offered for sale with significant discounts. If you are considering this option, remember that the cars records will show the dealer as the first registered owner of the car. Choosing this option could mean that you get all the benefits of a new car at a discounted price.

    Take a test drive: there is no better way to get the feel of a new car than taking for a test drive. If you are considering different cars from different manufacturers then this can be a great way to compare them. As well as how the car drives, remember to check what the passenger space is like and if children’s car seats can easily be fitted.

    Check out the warranty before signing: your new car will usually come with a warranty from the manufacturer. The period and terms of cover differ between dealers so make sure that you review this before committing to the car purchase. Some dealers offer extended warranties at additional cost, don’t be pressured into buying this until you have checked out exactly what’s covered and for how long.

    Part-exchanging? Do your research: if you’re planning to part exchange your current car, go online and get an idea of your car’s value based on its age, condition and mileage. This will give you a benchmark to compare against the price offered by the dealer. You may be able to get more by selling your car privately but this can be time consuming and stressful when compared to part exchanging.

    Car Insurance: car insurance can be expensive so remember to shop around for the best deal.

    Ensure that you also review the benefits of the policy to ensure that it meets your personal needs – e.g. that it includes business insurance if you require it for business travel.  

    Don’t forget to check the amount of voluntary and compulsory excess that apply to the policy as this is the amount you agree to pay upfront if you make a claim. It’s wise to make sure these are affordable should the worse happen.

    To find out more about Police Mutual car insurance and to get a quote click here.

    Research your finance options: most dealers will offer a number of finance options which may include hire purchase loans and lease agreements. When considering car finance be aware of any fees and charges that apply and remember to compare the rate of interest as these can vary widely.

    Alternatively, arranging a personal loan from an independent provider separately from your car purchase could allow you to shop around for the most favourable terms available to you.

    We’ve teamed up with Neyber, our trusted partner to offer loans to the Police family.

    So if you’re looking to purchase a new car – Neyber may be able to help with a personal loan.

    Rates from 3.9% to 18.9%

    All loans are subject to status and acceptance by Neyber

    • Simple online application
    • Money could be in your account within one working day of loan approval
    • Fixed monthly repayments by direct debit
    • Make overpayments or early repayment of the loan free of charge
    • Neyber rated ‘excellent’ on Trustpilot

    Representative example

    You could borrow a loan amount of £9,000 with a monthly repayment of £222.07 over a term of 48 months at a 8.9% (fixed) rate of interest per annum. Administrative fees are £0. Total amount repayable is £10,659.56. This is equivalent to 8.9% APR Representative.

    Important things you need to know

    Police Mutual is acting as a credit broker. Neyber Limited is acting as lender for purposes of entering into a consumer credit agreement. Rates depend on loan amount, term and your individual circumstances and may differ from the Representative APR.

    All loans are subject to status and acceptance by Neyber.

    Please note, loans are not currently available for PSNI members and their families.

    PMGI Limited, trading as Police Mutual, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England & Wales No. 1073408. Registered office Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6QS. Neyber Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register number 718709. Registered address: 1st Floor, 3 Finsbury Avenue, London, EC2M 2AR. Company registered number: 08806631

    Chris Morey

    ,

  • Buying a Used Car: How to Make the Most of Your Budget

    Buying a Used Car: How to Make the Most of Your Budget

    This article was published on Fri 01 Mar 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    One of the benefits of buying a used car is that sellers and dealers are often fairly flexible on price.

    Remember to do your research before you buy as the more knowledge you have about the car the better your negotiating position will be.

    1. Get expert advice: use one of the motor industry publications such as What Car or Parkers to check the market rate for the model of car you’re purchasing. You can also compare the pros and cons of various car models such as fuel economy, ride quality and fixtures and fittings.

    Consider using the DVLA’s vehicle enquiry service to see what details they hold on the car and the Government’s MOT history check tool to make sure everything is as you expected.

    Once you have decided on a car to buy, it’s advisable to order a HPI check to make sure it’s not stolen or has any outstanding finance on it.

    2. Consider the costs of running your car: before you buy a car it’s wise to get an idea of what it’ll cost to keep on the road.

    3. MOT: cars over 3 years old need to pass an MOT each year at an authorised test centre. The cost of the test varies dependant on the vehicle, up to a maximum cost of £54.85*. Remember to shop around as you can often get a cheaper test price deal.

    4. Car Tax: most UK drivers need to pay car tax, however some cars and electric cars are exempt. You can find out how much it’ll cost and about any exemptions on the gov.uk website.

    5. Car Insurance: car insurance can be expensive so remember to shop around for the best deal.

    Ensure that you also review the benefits of the policy to ensure that it meets your personal needs – e.g. that it includes business insurance if you require it for business travel.

    Don’t forget to check the amount of voluntary and compulsory excess that apply to the policy as this is the amount you agree to pay upfront if you make a claim. It’s wise to make sure these are affordable should the worse happen. To find out more about Police Mutual car insurance and to get a quote click here.

    6. Breakdown cover: this will provide you with cover should the car breakdown. Some policies also include roadside assistance and recovery. You may already have this cover with your car insurance or packaged bank account, so remember to check before you buy.

    7. Fuel: fuel is not cheap so it’s worth considering buying a car with low fuel consumption.

    8. Servicing & repairs: getting a car serviced regularly can save you money in the long run and make sure that the car runs efficiently. When you are looking for your new car remember to check out the service history before you buy.

    9. Explore your finance options: it’s important to stay within your budget, so work out what you can afford each month and how long you want to be making monthly repayments. If you are thinking about taking out a loan there are a number of different options available. If you are buying from a dealership, you may be offered finance direct from them. Alternatively, arranging credit from an independent provider separately from your car purchase could allow you to shop around to find a loan with the most favourable terms for you and negotiate on the price of your car.

    Remember:

    • Make sure you find out the total cost of the debt when comparing different loans and methods of car finance
    • Find out if there are any restrictions for paying off the debt early and what charges will apply
    • Check how flexible it is. For example if you want to sell the car before the end of the loan term

    We’ve teamed up with Neyber, our trusted partner to offer loans to the Police family.

    So if you’re looking to purchase a used car – Neyber may be able to help with a personal loan.

    Rates from 3.9% to 18.9%

    All loans are subject to status and acceptance by Neyber

    • Simple online application
    • Money could be in your account within one working day of loan approval
    • Fixed monthly repayments by direct debit
    • Make overpayments or early repayment of the loan free of charge
    • Neyber rated ‘excellent’ on Trustpilot

    Representative example

    You could borrow a loan amount of £9,000 with a monthly repayment of £222.07 over a term of 48 months at a 8.9% (fixed) rate of interest per annum. Administrative fees are £0. Total amount repayable is £10,659.56. This is equivalent to 8.9% APR Representative.

    Important things you need to know

    Police Mutual is acting as a credit broker. Neyber Limited is acting as lender for purposes of entering into a consumer credit agreement. Rates depend on loan amount, term and your individual circumstances and may differ from the Representative APR.

    All loans are subject to status and acceptance by Neyber.

    Please note, loans are not currently available for PSNI members and their families.

    *correct as at March 2018 – https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/how-much-does-an-average-MOT-cost

    PMGI Limited, trading as Police Mutual, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England & Wales No. 1073408. Registered office Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6QS. Neyber Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register number 718709. Registered address: 1st Floor, 3 Finsbury Avenue, London, EC2M 2AR. Company registered number: 08806631

    Chris Morey

    ,

  • Brexit No Deal Green Card

    Brexit No Deal Green Card

    This article was published on Fri 01 Mar 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    Anyone planning to take their vehicle to Europe after 29 March (the date the UK is due to leave the EU) is being urged to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.

    Drivers are being encouraged to ensure they have the correct documents in place. Until new agreements with EU countries are finalised, drivers risk breaking the law without them.

    Do I need a Green Card?

    A Green Card is a document that proves a driver is insured when driving in any EU country, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Serbia, Andorra or Liechtenstein.In the event of a no-deal, EU regulations state motorists need to carry proof of insurance with them in the form of a Green Card.

    A Green Card is a document that proves a driver is insured when driving in any EU country, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Serbia, Andorra or Liechtenstein.

    Drivers should obtain a Green Card from their insurer one month before they travel, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has warned.

    If you’re a Police Mutual Car Insurance policy holder and are planning to drive in Europe, make sure you contact us at least two weeks before you travel so we can get your Green Card issued in time.

    The best way to get in touch is to call us on 0151 236 4511.

    Those who travel without a Green Card may be breaking the law so it’s always best to check with your car insurance provider before you travel.

    You can find out more about Green Cards at the below links.

    Association of British Insurers Motor Insurers Bureau

    Will I need an International Driving Permit?

    If you travel before 29 March 2019, you can use your UK driving licence to drive within the EU/EEA. If you drive outside of this area, or are travelling after the UK leaves the EU, you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP).

    It’s a recognised multi-language translation of your driving licence.

    It costs £5.50 and you can buy it from the Post Office. You have to be over 18 and own a full driving licence to be able to apply for an IDP.

    Although the minimum age for driving a car in the UK is 17, other countries may have their own rules so it’s worth checking.

    Driving without an IDP could result in you being fined or prosecuted. In addition you must carry your UK licence too.

    You can find out more about IDPs at the below link.

    International Driving Permits

    Don’t forget, you get a 10% discount when you buy your car insurance with us online. Visit our Car Insurance page to find out more and get a quote today.

    Chris Morey

    ,

  • Keeping Children Safe Online

    Keeping Children Safe Online

    This article was published on Fri 01 Feb 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    Safer Internet Day 2019 takes place on 5 February 2019 and creates a wide range of activities to promote the safe and responsible use of technology by children and young people. With many children now using tablet devices, phones and laptops, it’s important to remind children of how they can stay safe online as well as ensuring that the latest security updates are installed on all their devices.

    Many children use the internet to play games, watch videos (YouTube Kids is a well-known favourite!), use social media and research topics to help with their homework. So, teaching them lessons about the risks could prove to be very valuable in the long term. If you haven’t thought about it already, maybe take a few minutes to brush up on your knowledge by reading our checklist below.

    Teaching children to stay safe online – checklist

    1) General risks

    Children need to be made aware that using the internet comes with a range of risks – their actions are directly linked to their online safety and can even have an impact on your wallet. Talking openly and regularly to your child, sharing time on the internet together and setting family rules about using the internet are some of the best ways to help keep your children safe online. They need to know that the internet is a useful tool but that actions online can have repercussions. If you make this clear to them, in language they can understand, it’s an important first lesson. Most social media platforms will have age restrictions to protect children, so it’s worth checking that your child is only accessing sites suitable for their age.

    2) Don’t trust that people are who they say they are

    It’s easy for someone to create a false identity online. And, sadly, not everyone has good intentions. Have a rule with your children that they should never arrange to meet someone they have ‘met’ on the internet and to tell you immediately if they’re worried about something (or someone) they encounter online.

    3) Keep personal contact details private

    Make sure your child understands never to give out personal details to anyone online, including phone numbers, email addresses, their home address, or anything relating to their age, school, friends or family.

    4) Be careful when posting or sharing content

    If you let your children post in chat rooms then it’s a good idea to check that the chat room is moderated. This means that a comment will be approved by an administrator before it’s posted for the world to see.

    Encourage them to think about what they choose to post, reminding them that whatever they say could be around for a long time. The internet doesn’t easily forget – show them examples of recent celebrities whose old social media posts have come back to haunt them!

    5) Friend requests

    It’s important for children to understand that online security is more important than popularity contests, so they should keep their social media accounts private and only accept friend requests from people they know.

    If possible, it’s also a good idea for you to become ‘friends’ with your child on social media, so you can see what they’re posting and who they’re connected to. This is a particularly good idea if you’re worried about who they’re speaking to or notice a change in behaviour.

    6) Parental control settings

    Parental controls are an important way to keep your child safe online. They can be used to block upsetting or harmful content, control in-app purchases or manage how long your child spends online.
    Some even allow you to set up regular reports for your peace of mind. And the good news is that parental controls are really easy to set up. Innocent searches sometimes reveal results that are not so innocent. So if you’re worried about what your child is searching for online, who they’re talking to or what they’re seeing, use parental controls. Most devices have some inbuilt control features and you can search for more tools online.

    What to do if they’ve got any problems…

    Make sure your children know to tell you if they have any issues online. You can then choose the right course of action to take, whether that’s just a case of reassuring them or checking for more information. In extremely rare cases, you may need to seek advice from Action Fraud, the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command), or by calling 101 to speak to the Police for non-emergency guidance.

    It’s also worth checking with your children’s school to see what ‘internet security’ teaching they cover as part of the curriculum.

    For more information on Safer Internet Day visit www.saferinternetday.org.uk

    Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited, trading as Police Mutual, is an incorporated friendly society. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6QS. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority

    Want to learn more? Access our wellbeing hub here.

    Chris Morey

    ,

  • What Affects Your Car Insurance Price?

    What Affects Your Car Insurance Price?

    This article was published on Fri 01 Feb 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

    If you’re a regular reader of newspaper money pages or online articles, you’ll have no doubt come across the topic of rising car insurance prices making an appearance now and then. Recently there has been frequent mentions that prices are on the rise, with Brexit, rising fraudulent claims and increased technology, amongst others.

    Although car insurance prices can vary due to a number of reasons, we thought it would be handy for you to know some of the factors that could affect the price you receive – from age and driving experience to where you live and your claims history – we give you the lowdown on what could drive your price.

    We take a look the factors that affect the price that you’re quoted:

    Your age and driving experience

    As you get older and you’ve held your driving licence for longer, you’re considered to be more experienced on the roads. Some believe that statistically you’re less likely to be involved in an accident so you can expect to pay a lower price.

    Younger drivers, aged between 17 and 25, typically face paying the highest premiums. All is not lost; if you have a careful young driver in your family then MORE TH>N SM>RT WHEELS might be just the ticket!

    Older drivers are seen to be a higher risk because the chance of you being involved in an accident increases in later life.

    Your job

    Your career might mean that you spend more time driving your car for business use or you use it to commute to work during the week. It’s important you select the right level of cover and that you provide an accurate estimated annual mileage.

    Two similar job titles can provide two very different prices so make sure to be as accurate as you can when entering your job title.

    Where you live

    If you live in a built-up area where the risk of accidents is generally greater, then you’ll pay more for your car insurance. It might be a well-known accident blackspot or have a dangerous road junction in your town, or you could live near a road with high levels of vehicle crime.

    It can vary between nearby postcodes. A car owner who lives on a busy main road may have to pay higher prices because more accidents have been reported there than in the cul-de-sac round the corner.

    Your claims history

    If you’ve made a claim within the last five years this will have an impact on the price quoted.

    Your car

    A little run about is not only cheaper to run but also cheaper to insure for most people. A larger engine or newer car is typically more expensive to repair. They are also more attractive to car thieves so you can expect to pay more to insure it.

    Alarms, immobilisers and other built-in security devices may help reduce your premium. Thatcham Research, the motor insurers’ automotive search centre, has some handy tips on their website.

    Points on your driving licence

    If you have points on your driving licence, this will have an affect on the price quoted.

    The type of cover

    You’d think that the higher the level of cover you go for, the more you’ll pay but this isn’t always the case. It’s worth checking the price for each level of cover on offer as well as making sure the one you select meets your needs.

    Increase your excess

    You can reduce your premium by increasing the voluntary excess to an amount you’re able to pay on top of the compulsory excess if you need to make a claim.

    Your gender

    This used to be a factor, but in 2012 the EU ruled that companies could no longer consider your gender when providing a quote for a product or service so this no longer affects your price.

    It’s not all about you…

    It’s also important to remember that your insurance policy doesn’t just provide cover for your car – it’s also there to protect other road users against accidents you might cause.

    Police Mutual offers car insurance for serving or retired Police Officers and Staff, Specials and their families. For more information about our car insurance and how you could benefit, click here or call 0151 242 7640

    Police Mutual Car Insurance is provided by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc.

    PMGI Limited, trading as Police Mutual, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England & Wales No. 1073408. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.

    MORE TH>N SM>RT WHEELS Young Driver Car Insurance: via an introduction by PMGI Limited to MORE TH>N. MORE TH>N is a trading name of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Plc.

    Royal & Sun Alliance plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered office: St Mark’s Court, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1XL. Financial Services Register No. 202323.

    Chris Morey

    ,