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Posts Tagged ‘Auto Insurance’

2009 turns into 2010, the winter ice and snow has been particularly hard this year. It even affected Florida which shows how climate change is related to local weather patterns. Needless to say, the number of traffic accidents has been at an all-time high. No-one is ever ready for ice on the roads. Yet, all round the country, ice is coming through the mail boxes. The insurance companies are sending out notices chilling our desire to drive – premium rates are being hiked. And this time, it’s not just a few percent. In most states, it’s averaging at around 10%. So we are not talking peanuts. This is serious money while the US is in recession and millions of people are out of work. What’s the result? If it comes down to a choice between food on the table and an insurance policy, food wins every time. Everyone has to eat and everyone needs a vehicle – even in the bigger cities, public transport is a joke. So, when push comes to shove, more people will drive uninsured. That’s bad news for the rest of us. Our premiums will rise with fewer policy holders sharing the rising costs of claims. If only the insurers would hold the premiums steady, more people could pay, and rates would stay lower for longer. If only… Read the rest of this entry »

Stop thinking about global warming. The real danger is climate change. So, to prove the point, 2010 has started off with some of the coldest weather we’ve seen for decades. For example, look at Florida. Miami sets a new records for cold. The last time South Florida saw snow was in 1977. And what was true for the South proved equally true the further North you moved. This had an interesting effect on fuel prices. Natural gas was suddenly more expensive and homes with heating systems using oil got a nasty shock. It’s the old story of supply and demand and, guess what, the price of crude oil was lifting gently past $80 per barrel. Read the rest of this entry »

When dealing with a car insurance company or agent, never expect the whole truth. Whether they are trying to boost their commission or just sweet-talking you, it’s rarely in their interests to tell you the full story. Always remember what they don’t tell you is probably the thing that could save you money. Things like this:

1. Cancel the collision premium if your car is old.

If your car is 7/8 years old and worth less than $2,500, it’s likely your excess is close to the value of your car. So why pay for comp and collision premiums? A major collision will probably write your car off anyway so it’s wasted money. Read the rest of this entry »

Politics is endlessly surprising. The theory of democracy states the people have the power through the ballot box. The reality is slightly different with representative government. At preset intervals, the people have a say in who should represent their interests, and may vote on proposals and policy initiatives. This actually leaves them rather powerless. It’s the elected representatives who have a better control over events, in consultation with all the vested interests and power brokers who have influence behind the scenes. This is not to condemn the current system as broken or corrupt. As it stands, it does have the benefit of being very slow-moving. There is always passionate debate when big changes are proposed. This means changes are more likely to be made for the right reasons. Read the rest of this entry »