From the department of ' you couldn't make it up '
tinyurl.com/d7gavf
Why do insurers still stick to cliched views of certain professions. Do they have the figures to back them up ?
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It's entirely because of who they might have as passengers, and of the potential consequences of an accident. Maim someone that was about to do a 60 venue tour, and who was essential for that to go ahead, and the payout for the insurer could be massive. Most therefore avoid.
Saying that, it's very dodgy given Iggy advertises for them as just having got covered.
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It's entirely because of who they might have as passengers and of the potential consequences of an accident.
More to do with eratic behaviour, odd hours and access to drink etc
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They had a lucky escape of Swift Cover have something of a reputation for their Claims "Service"....
As well as the potential large injury claims from possible famous or soon to be famous passengers. Insurers have a view that some entertainers "Lead a certain life style", this may well be out of date in some cases but Insurers would rather say no to a client that has the potential to cause a very large claim than take the risk.
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The funny thing is that Michael Winner (calm down dear is only a bump) would not get insurance with e-sure because they decline to insure ac-tors (including directors)
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Mr X exactly the same thing happened when Michael Winners advert came out, all of the actors and film crew rang Esure for quotes and where turned down. They all complained to the ASA as well but I don't think they got anywhere.
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Oh I now realise who he is - frankly anyone using that imagery to advertise insurance I would avoid like the plague. On the general theme though three words spring to mind , free, market and economy.....was it the Daily Mail that came up with the phrase "you couldn't make it up" or some other rag ?
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Mr X I know you will appreciate this and no doubt the mods will tick me off for going off tangent...
Insurers often give discounts for Police Officers on car insurance as they are often highly trained drivers, have a high moral upstanding and basically the bottom line is they get less claims so law of economics they get a discount.
I had one company that actually loaded for a Police Community Officer, I cannot work out why they would as I would guess they are desperate to become police officers so would be 100% certain they do not do anything untoward. To get around this the only option was to enter them as civil servant or similar. I'm not sure if this was a simple mistake by the Insurer as they have so much data they could have simply entered it in wrong or whether they had found from their experience they get more claims but it was a shock.
So if you are a Police Community Officer try entering your occupation in slightly different (You must not deceive the Insurers) as it could save you money
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Do they still class journalists as ' vermin " and load their premiums ?
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Yes journalists are normally declined due to the drinking culture and possible famous passengers.
Most companies do not like the following some or all of the following
Professional Sports People
Entertainment Profession
Fairground or Itinerant Workers
Unemployed
General Dealers
Bookies / Casino and their staff
Foreign Armed Forces
Diplomats
Nightclub Owners and sometimes their staff
there will no doubt be some I have forgotten
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there will no doubt be some I have forgotten
It may be different for muttering rotters - no doubt HJ could wise us up - but a few years back insurance was difficult if you said you were a journalist (something to do with toping all day in El Vino I shouldn't be surprised), as were visas for some countries.
For both reasons I used to give my previous profession of 'market researcher' for some years. 'Writer' was OK too, and 'translator' is fine. If you put 'editor' though they suspected you of being a drunken hack.
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Catering, pub and hotel staff can be added to the list.
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What a list !
Is there any one insurers like ?
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A Swiftcover spokesman said musicians are excluded because they and their passengers might have high claims for loss of future earnings if they are injured.
Does that mean that they won't (wouldn't!) insure a car-load of bankers? Entrepreneurs?
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I'm a stage doorkeeper in a theatre, often found I was refused a quote on comparison sites from a surprising number of insurers, can't help but wonder if I'm somehow classed as working in showbiz!
Generally just say I'm a receptionist these days....!
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Although I used to be a journalist I am at a loss to identify the press organ named in the OP's link.
Is it one of those sheets they hand you outside tube stations in rush hour? I find those very useful in their coverage of people I have never heard of and their strangely dispiriting activities.
Where can we buy this rag, Mr X?
:o}
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xantking, you showbiz star you! My profession invariably comes under "other" which I guess means not one of their high premiums. Still it's worth ringing them up and checking that you're covered as a "receptionist" - it could be that they don't accept this if you have an accident or (if I'm a police officer) "incident".
As a graphic designer I guess the insurance company just assume I sit at my wretched PC all day eating Bombay mix and smarties. And they'd be right.
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A Swiftcover spokesman said musicians are excluded because they and their passengers might have high claims for loss of future earnings if they are injured. Does that mean that they won't (wouldn't!) insure a car-load of bankers? Entrepreneurs?
Actually if you are in financial services you get loaded as well.
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I suppose that in the end an insurer has the right to refuse anyone insurance, regardless of their reason for doing so.
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MrX - what exactly is a cliched view? Are you of the opinion that insurers have to account to the general public for how they rate a risk? Surely it is entirely up to the insurer to rate risk. They have no duty whatsoever to offer cover and may decline to do so. I can't see that they are accountable for that decision. Fortunately, they rate my occupation as one of the lowest risks; rightly so! Fast cars and low premiums for me!
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Cliched view... All musicians are drug taking, binge drink hell raisers
All journalists are alcoholics racing to their next story...
Every one who lives in this postcode xxx xxx is .....
They have no duty but as they are in the business of insuring I can't see the point in turning away as many people as possible.
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They have no duty but as they are in the business of insuring I can't see the point in turning away as many people as possible.
No they are in the business of making money by insuring, not insuring as many people as possible.
They could insure all these people if you so wish Mr X - I am sure you will happily pay increased premiums to dispel these clichéd views.
A word of warning tho
The reason we have a credit crunch is because certain people though it was a good idea to give loans to as many people as possible.
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I've been a professional musician for 35 years and insurance compaies didn't take kindly to me. When I turned to full time teaching it all changed and I am now a model citizen. Even though all that gigging never caused any insurance claims I was still viewed with suspicion.
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Having been a nightclub DJ and sound engineer for decades (part time only now), I too have found very few insurers want to take my money. Those that will insure me load the premium about 50-100%.
Many peers routinely lie about what they do for a living because of the additional fees charged. Always thought I'd rather spend a few £ more and make sure I'm covered properly, but always feel like I'm in the minority.
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Keep seeing this guy staring at me from posters on the station and the back of London buses. Didn't know who he was until I read this story on the BBC news site as part of my morning media scan!!
Looks as though PU had same reaction - does that re-inforce a cliche about those working in and around the law?
Edited by Bromptonaut on 23/02/2009 at 20:29
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On some insurance websites you can pick two professions. Picking a respectable one like teacher gives an excellent quote, but obviously you can't have it unless you're a teacher...
However, ticking "Unemployed" in the second box only pushes the price up slightly. Presumably you could be an unemployed anything (I personally like to consider myself an umemployed astronaut...).
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You can add publicans and scrap metal dealers to the list of occupations insurers love to hate
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You can add publicans and scrap metal dealers to the list of occupations insurers love to hate
rubbish - scrap metal dealers never buy insurance....
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I think you'll find Seat dealers will have a block trader's policy...
;-)
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I think you'll find Seat dealers will have a block trader's policy... ;-)
Oh very good - game set and match.
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There is a tool here to tweek your job description so that it's the cheepest to insure whilst still being accurate.
tinyurl.com/4n75a3
Didn't realy help me, told me the alternatives would put my insurance up. Might be of help to others though. Some of the sugestions are good, others are a bit bizare.
Edited by Mookfish on 23/02/2009 at 22:46
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It helps if you are married, BTW.
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Does anyone know if your living arrangements such as being a tennant or a home-owner make any difference?
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Home ownership seems to make them a bit happier I have found.
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Being a home owner can make it cheaper with some companies, so can having a credit car and even a common law wife or girlfriend as an additional driver
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According to www.onlyfinance.com
"Meanwhile a recent study by actuarial firm EMB reveals that despite consumer sentiment that car insurance premiums are high, the industry has been subsidising premiums in recent years to maintain market position while repair costs and personal injury claims have increased.
However, high levels of claims from the recent floods means such internal subsidies may not continue."
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Both my sons have found that if you are a younger driver having dad named on the insurance gets you a reduction even, in one case if he's 120 miles away.
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Just done my motorbike insurance. According to the database of recognised jobs I can't be a Swimming Teacher, the nearest available being a Fitness Instructor. Does nobody or their children go to swimming lessons nowadays ? If they do, who takes the lesson ? I could be a Water Diviner, that's listed on the mighty database; now how many Water Diviners do you know ?
Every year the darlings at the call centre tell me not to worry about my occupation. Every year I copy the insurers Statement of Fact, copy it, cross out the occupation and insert the correct one and send it off to them. Will it do me any good in the event of a claim ?
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