Insurance problems after flooding in Boscastle

Ian Cook an insurance broker, from the Specialist Risks Department at Equity and General Insurance Services Ltd sent us this letter from a client.
Hello Neil,
As requested a few lines regarding insurance renewal premium from A.... Insurance.

It was a feeling of total disbelief that I experienced when noting the renewal premium for my building and contents insurance policy, with A.... Insurance, for my two bedroomed cottage in Boscastle North Cornwall.

From a figure of £429 in 2009, the premium had been increased to £2,729.98 in 2010. The figure was confirmed by the broker at the time, C.... D...
C.... D.... were unable to place the cover with any other company on their data base due to my flood claim in 2004.

I then contacted several well known companies direct but to no avail. A visit to an insurance broker in person also failed to yield any success.

Searching the internet I eventually found a link to you at Equity Gi company details, which provided cover for £374.

This process finding you took considerable time and effort to complete with real concern and associated stress, that I was going to have to find a considerable sum of money to meet a totally unexpected bill from a 'reputable' insurance company!

I think it would be helpful if the alternatives to the likes of A... were more visible, to ensure people are aware that their are options available.

I thank you for your assistance. Kind regards, Ian

If you are looking for insurance for your property and are experiencing problems because you have claimed on it because you suffered flood damage or live an area that could have flods, follow this link to contact Neil Cook.

Insurance broker Neil Cook still helping flood insurance victims

Just over a year ago on the 19th November 2009 the flooding in Keswick in Cumbria took place.

On the 28th November Nick Starling of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Neil Cook (in left hand picture) Insurance Broker who works for the Specialist Risks Department of Equity and General Insurance Services Ltd took part in a BCC News studio interview that can be viewed here


One year on people still risk problems of flooding and only last Wednesday 17th November there was severe flooding in Cornwall.


The picture above on the right is of a lady in Keswick. She is badly disabled and was flooded twice the NFF (National Flood Forum) referred her to Neil Cook of Equity and General Insurance Services. Unfortunately she did not have money to buy flood defences. He arranged the insurance and a flood defence company gave the flood barrier free !
The lady wrote to Neil Cook




"I was flooded put in 2004 and the 2009 floods. Both times I lost everything all my memories, pictures, possessions my whole life. Its awful to be flooded its like someone has wiped out your life and existence.


To top it all my insurance company would not cover me any more for flood! Despite the promise insurance companies had made to help flood victims.



I tried everyone and everywhere but could not get anyone to insure me. I was feeling very low by this time with many sleepless nights like so many people across the country in the same position as me, just imagine my shock & horror when I found the out that the flood forum held a meeting at the Keswick hotel to sell flood defences at exaggerated prices they were quoting £3-4000 for defences I knew after I checked several suppliers, were only worth nearer £1000 and wondered why our local flood group leader was not recommending flood defence that are more beneficial to people who need them BUT wondered were the markup on the companies they recommended was going ?!!! It is a total rip off that a charity was behind .
For ordinary people on low wage or benefits what chance do they have the flood group should be for everyone not just the "FAT CATS" who can afford to pay inflated prices but also the cream on top of the prices should not be milked off by the flood group or should the people who in government who fund some of the flood defence grants be ripped off too.



To this end I would like other people to no the real issues



But most importantly I would say a huge thanks to Neil Cook the insurance broker who helped me get flood cover again along with a flood barrier at a premium less than I Paid before because he has a great heart and soul so did not treat me like a real person not just another policy number .



Also I want to give hope to other flood victims or those living in flood plains I hope the flood groups are found out too.



Was stressed but NOW very happy of Keswick


For more information on Flood insurance, visit the Equity and General Insurance Services advertisement page HERE

More flooding in the south of France

Heavy rain has hit the south of France again this weekend as illustrated in the picture on the left. The occupants of the car were able to procced through this flood because they had a 4X4.
Today 1st November, Nice Matin reported that 50 inhabitants at Villeneuve-Loubet were evacuated because of the risk of flooding. Part of Cagnes sur Mer was also affected.

The A8 exit for Villeneuve Loubet (47) has had to be closed.

According to the Riviera Radio website "Authorities are surveying the banks of the rivers Loup and Cagne. In the Grasse area, six properties have been cut off on the chemin du Pilon de la Malle by a landslide. Several hundred tonnes of mud have fallen onto the road and residents have no landline telephones.

The official Meteo France Orange Weather Alert passed at 6 am this morning but more rain is forecast for this evening and tomorrow across the Alpes Maritimes and the Var. Meanwhile, the torrential rainfall on the coast over the past 24 hours has been accompanied by abundant snowfall inland."

The area has had a lot of flood and sea storm damage this year starting on the 1st January, then later on the 4th May and June when flash floods killed at least 19 people.


If you own a property in the south of France do make sure you have proper insurance cover. A policy written in English is a bonus if you are not fluent in French and you can find out more about insurance from Andrew Copeland International and Intasure by visiting this site Here

Of course flooding also occurs on a regular basis in England. If you need to contact a specialist insurance company contact Equity and General Insurance by following this link here

The implications of using mobile payments in a retail environment

Most of the spectacular successes of mobile money initiatives were built on person to person (P2P) payments. This is a transaction were money is "pushed" from one wallet to another in an instant. The recipient of the money is informed immediately that he/she received a payment. Of course, nothing stops one utilising this kind of transaction in a retail environment. One may as well just send money to a shopkeeper's mobile phone to complete a payment.

So what is the relevance of the recent mPesa announcement that mPesa can now also be used in supermarkets? (Read here). Well, it is because using mobile payments in supermarkets (or formal retail environments) are much more complex and difficult. Much more have to be catered for that does not just exist in P2P payments. Below is a sample of some of the things that one has to consider:

• The system will have to cater for multiple roles in relationship to a retail account. For instance, one would not want the receiver of funds (the till operator) to also have the ability to pay from this account. Some roles will have more functions while others may have to restricted.
• In order to support the way that a retailer works (and when fully integrated with the store automation), one may want the system to support a "pull" payment, rather than a "push" payment as is the case with P2P. This is much more complex to implement.
• The system will have to cater for other types of transactions, like for instance: refund or reversal transactions.
• The owner of the supermarket typically requires more comprehensive management information and the data stored and displayed will have to be developed in such a way that the information available caters for the need of the retailer. For instance, data may have to carry information related to the types of goods purchased.
• Furthermore, if the system is really advanced and architected well, it would already position the automation for future functionality like NFC for instance.