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| Unique Visitors: 0 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 14385 |
| Visitors Out: 775 |
| Total Visitors Out: 4958 |
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| Cruise control: From insurance to packing tips |
| 2009-04-30 10:07:00 |
If you're taking a cruise, here are some ways to ensure smooth sailing.Insurance: Trip cancellation and travel insurance is a small price to pay if you must cancel a cruise because of a crisis, especially now when losing a job looms large for many. Also with medical evacuation costs often running into the tens of thousands of dollars, travel insurance could be a smart investment if, for nothing else, peace of mind.Packing: Never pack anything in your luggage you couldn't stand losing forever, and, to save space, don't pack anything you don't intend to wear at least twice or that isn't readily washable. Most ships (especially mega-vessels) provide self-service laundry facilities onboard, so don't be afraid to pack on the light side.Tape your name, address, phone and cell numbers inside your...
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| Beware of roofing scam and claims of hail damage |
| 2009-04-29 10:06:00 |
By Bill GarwoodFor the Journal-ConstitutionSunday, April 26, 2009Most of us are familiar with the old proverb: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” This proverb appears to be playing out in metro Atlanta and now in North Georgia.Less than scrupulous roofing companies —- some local, some from out of state —- are currently going door to door offering free assessments of roofs for potential hail damage. Not surprisingly they are finding it. In many cases, these companies will even facilitate the homeowner’s claim with his or her insurance company.The attraction to this scheme is natural. New roofs cost thousands of dollars. Who wouldn’t want their insurance to cover this cost? Unfortunately, the truth is that hail damage is much less common and destructive than these...
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| Baucus' huge challenge: health-care reform |
| 2009-04-28 10:05:00 |
WASHINGTON >> Sixteen years after President Bill Clinton called for universal health care, Congress is once again taking up the thorny task of reforming health care in America.The point man this time is Democrat Max Baucus, an unassuming, neighborly lawyer from Helena, Mont., who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.For the past year, Baucus has been holding hearings and meeting with various interests to cobble together consensus on what he says is the most difficult legislative challenge of his career.Baucus, 67, has set broad parameters on what he wants accomplished: It must be bipartisan, it must include a combination of public and private resources, and it must be delivered to President Barack Obama's desk by the end of the year. Everything else, he said, is pretty much negotiable."I do...
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| Manufacturer should pay for towing of new car |
| 2009-04-27 10:04:00 |
April 26, 2009 DEAR BRUCE: My husband and I purchased our first new automobile. We were thrilled. We have had so many used cars, and we finally decided that we could afford a new car. You can imagine how unhappy we have been since the car has had to be towed four times. Yes, that's right, four times in the first six weeks that we have owned it. It just keeps quitting. I have to say that the dealer has been very, very accommodating in terms of loaning us automobiles and is sympathetic, telling us that there will be no cost other than the towing. They pay for the first towing but they say that's the only one that they will pay for. Is this reasonable? — G.P. in PennsylvaniaDEAR G.P.: I don't find that reasonable at all. I am assuming that you don't carry towing ins...
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| Consider hidden costs before buying a new car |
| 2009-04-26 10:04:00 |
These are interesting times for potential car buyers. Because so many people have become wary of the faltering economy and are avoiding auto showrooms, nervous car manufacturers have been slashing prices, issuing rebates and offering extremely competitive financing terms - at least to people with sound credit - to lure in business. But for many folks, the temptation to take advantage of those great offers is tempered by fears that government bailouts for automakers won't necessarily ensure their long-term solvency. That uncertainty, in turn, casts doubt on the viability of their long-term product warranties. If you are thinking about trading in your old car for a newer model, keep these financial factors in mind: l Depreciation. New cars typically lose 20 percent or more in value onc...
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| GM to Cut Health Care, Insurance Coverage |
| 2009-02-25 06:36:00 |
Retirees who were paid salaries will take a hit, as the Detroit-based automaker will cut health care benefits and reduce life-insurance coverage for some who are under 65, according to an internal document obtained by TheStreet.com. GM, which is straining under employee obligations and corporate debt, spent $103 billion to fund so-called legacy pensions and retiree health care costs from 1993 to 2007 alone. GM, the largest U.S. carmaker, said Feb. 10 it plans to slash 10,000 salaried jobs and lower pay by as much as 10%. The company will withdraw health care benefits for salaried retirees, surviving spouses and eligible dependents under age 65 who may receive Medicare. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2010. Starting May 1, 2009, life-insurance coverage provided by GM at two times a worker'...
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| 9 ways to lower your auto insurance costs |
| 2009-02-22 06:34:00 |
1. Ask for higher deductibles Request higher deductibles on collision and comprehensive (fire and theft) coverage and lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive cost by 15 percent to 30 percent. 2. Drop collision and/or comprehensive coverages on older cars It may not be cost effective to have collision or comprehensive coverage on cars worth less than $1,000 because any claim you make would not substantially exceed annual cost and deductible amounts. Auto dealers and banks can tell you your car’s worth. 3. Buy a “low profile” car Before you buy, check insurance costs because fast and expensive cars that cost more to repair and are a favorite target for thieves have much higher insur...
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| Co-op joins pay-as-you-go car insurance market |
| 2009-02-18 06:35:00 |
Car insurers are launching a second wave of pay-as-you-drive schemes, offering the chance of cheaper premiums not only to the under-25s but to more mature drivers who rarely travel in the rush hour or late at night.The motoring technology uses a global positioning system, and includes an anti-theft tracking device, to record the mileage and hours of use of a vehicle, and is more advanced than previous schemes.Co-operative Insurance has launched a new policy based on the technology, which it claims could reduce insurance costs for young drivers from the equivalent of 5p a mile to 1p. Three other insurers are working on similar schemes.At least 2 million (5%) UK drivers are thought to be uninsured, according to the Motor Insurers' Bureau, an organisation which compensates victims of uninsure...
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| So You've Got a Fast Car...That Don't Impress Me Much |
| 2009-02-15 06:33:00 |
The car you drive says masses about your personality, age, wealth and fashion sense, research by Saga Car Insurance (http://www.saga.co.uk/insurance/car-insurance/)* has revealed. Although owners of luxury cars and supercars, such as Rolls Royce's and Ferrari's, may be hoping to demonstrate great taste, they are more likely to be seen as 'flashy' (21% and 22%), particularly by women (23% and 24%). Although convertibles like the Mazda MX-5 were only given a-thumbs-up from just one in ten (10%), it was enough to secure it as the car of choice for the fashion conscious. By comparison, the research suggested that the cars with the least fashionable owners are city cars e.g. Smart, family saloons e.g. Ford Mondeo and estates e.g. Volvo (3%). As far as money is concerned, two thirds (66%) of...
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| AIG may sell US auto insurance unit to Zurich |
| 2009-02-15 06:31:00 |
Feb 13, 2009 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- AIG | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- American International Group, or AIG, which was rescued by the government's funds, is reportedly in advanced talks with Swiss insurer Zurich to sell its US auto insurance unit.The auto insurance unit, which is part of AIG's personal lines unit, is expected to be sold for approximately $2 billion. The unit being sold includes the 21st Century Insurance Group Business.Previously, the American insurer had announced its intentions to sell parts of its personal lines property/casualty businesses and life insurance operations. Zurich said that it plans to expand its North American personal lines and global life insurance businesses with new deals. http://www.datamonitor.com Republication or redistributio...
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