Press Release
30 December 09
Sainsbury's Home Insurance warns of costly post-Christmas claims
• 37% more claims in first week of January than in an average week(1)
• Sainsbury’s Home Insurance offers a 10% automatic seasonal increase in cover for the festive period(2)
Sainsbury’s Home Insurance is warning of a New Year spike in home insurance claims as homeowners look to cover the cost of damage done during the festive period. In the first week of January last year the number of claims handled by Sainsbury’s was 37% higher than during a typical week. The bank estimates that the first week of January this year could see over £25.4 million worth of home insurance claims across the UK.
Research for the bank also suggests that homeowners are more likely to make costly claims in December, due to the increased value of home contents with presents as well as costly food and drink being stored for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year. Last December the average home insurance claim, at just over £1,260, was 16% higher in December than during the rest of the year. Sainsbury’s Home Insurance offers a 10% automatic seasonal increase in cover for the festive period.
Ben Tyte, Sainsbury’s Home Insurance Manager, said: “In these challenging economic times, opportunist thieves could well be on the look out for unattended homes over the festive period, while large numbers of Christmas visitors could increase your chances of accidental damage, so the chances of having to make a yuletide claim increase dramatically. Even having the fridge and freezer very well stocked could lead to a considerable claim if there was a power cut. Leading up to Christmas we’d advise homeowners to check their home insurance policies to ensure they’re automatically given extra Christmas cover.”
Sainsbury’s Home Insurance offers the following advice for avoiding calamities in the home this Christmas:
Taking care in the home:
• Remember to check your contents policy and make sure that you have got extended accidental damage cover to protect against mishaps such as spills and pet damage
• Don’t overload plug sockets, particularly around the Christmas tree
• Check your Christmas tree lights conform to British safety standards
• Never place candles near your Christmas tree or furnishings
• Most fires start in the kitchen - never leave a cooker unattended
• Move breakables and glass objects out of reach of children and pets
• If you have a party, put a guard around your fire and move valuable/delicate pieces of furniture into another room
Winter Weather:
• Find your main stopcock and make sure you can turn it off and on. If you have a water meter, the ‘off’ switch is on the meter, which is probably outside the house
• If you are away for a few days, leave the heating on a low setting as it’s advisable to maintain an air temperature of at least 10oC (50 oF)
• Make sure you have the telephone number for your home insurance company because many like Sainsbury’s Home Insurance offer a 24-hour emergency helpline which can arrange for emergency/temporary repairs
About Sainsbury’s Home Insurance:
As well as being competitively priced, the bank also offers an extensive range of cover and benefits. This includes:
• Unlimited buildings cover
• Unlike some home insurers, Sainsbury’s Bank does not apply charges for customers paying their premiums by direct debit
• Maximum no-claims discount of up to 30%(3)
• No-claims discount protection(4)
• Cover for accidental damage - even by pets(4)
Sainsbury's shoppers are rewarded with double Nectar points on their shopping in store, online and in petrol filling stations for two years when taking out Sainsbury’s Home Insurance. For example, customers who spend £50 a week with Sainsbury’s and have Sainsbury’s Home Insurance as well as a Nectar card would receive £52 worth of Nectar points a year.
To find out more about Sainsbury’s Home Insurance, call 0800 731 7978 or log onto www.sainsburysfinance.co.uk
-Ends-
For further information, please contact:
Ian Morris / Max Duddy
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
020 7282 1037/1031
Notes to Editors
(1) Analysis of Sainsbury’s Home Insurance claims data
(2) Sainsbury’s Finance is offering a 10% increase in the value of contents cover on its home insurance over the Christmas period between the 1st of December and the 15th of January.
(3) Dependent on the number of years you have remained claimed free – 30% discount for 5 or more years no claims.
(4) Terms and conditions apply - additional premium required
Sainsbury's Home Insurance is underwritten by St Andrews Insurance ltd.
Sainsbury’s Finance:
To view our latest press releases and product information, please visit the Sainsbury's Finance online media centre at www.sainsburysfinance.co.uk/media. was the first major British supermarket to open a bank, commencing trading in February 1997. Benefiting from a fantastic, trusted brand that enables us to combine the shopping experience with personal finance, Sainsbury’s Finance provides a range of quality products including insurances, credit cards, savings and loans. Our proposition is to make shopping more rewarding by offering customers great products at fair prices, while consistently rewarding shoppers for their loyalty and being easy to do business with at all times. Our products consistently top Best Buy tables and regularly win awards for quality, price and service.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Finance recent awards include Best Online Credit Card Provider / Best Direct Home Insurance Provider, Your Money 2009
Sainsbury's Finance is a joint venture between J.Sainsbury plc and Lloyds Banking Group.
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