Funeral Service Times August 2017 October 2018 | Page 14

14 ADVERTORIAL Take me home When adopting one of our cats you’re giving him a second chance of happiness and what you’ll get back is far more than just love and affection. Did you know that owning a cat has proven benefits? Cat owners are less likely to suffer from stress, are known to relax more and have greater life satisfaction. Not only can cats keep older owners feeling young and active but learning how to care for a cat can also do wonders for a child’s self esteem, social skills and sense of responsibility to others. There are many joys and positive benefits of cat ownership and we have the perfect friend just waiting for you. All of our cats are vet checked, micro- chipped, neutered* and vaccinated. We also provide four weeks’ free insurance** giving invaluable peace of mind and reassurance as you embark upon this lifelong friendship. T: 03000 12 12 12 E: [email protected] W: www.cats.org.uk Find a Cats Protection cat looking for a home in your area. Simply scan the QR code with your smart-phone to use our new find-a-cat search tool, or visit www.cats.org.uk/find-a-cat Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland) *if old enough **terms and conditions apply ASTON LARK Agreed value for hearses and limousines and how it could benefit you - By Colin Powell, of Aston Lark Limited Hi All Following on from my introduction last month I have decided to focus my second article on agreed value insurance coverage for hearses and limousines. Hearses and limousines can take many different forms; from the conventional types to specialist conversions suited for niche areas of the market. As a customer, you want, and expect, your insurance policy to protect any business asset as best as it possibly can. In the event of a total loss of these specialist vehicles, you want to know that your policy will respond quickly and will ultimately provide you with a settlement you are happy with - here is where insuring your hearses and limousines on an agreed value basis can help. Generally speaking, insurance companies will settle a total loss claim using the ‘market value’ of the vehicle at the time of the loss occurring. The market value will take into consideration the vehicle maintenance history, the age and mileage of the vehicle with further deductions made for any pre-existing damage and generic wear and tear. Whilst this basis of settlement is perfectly acceptable and is used across the majority of motor insurance, there are scenarios whereby the valuation placed on the vehicle by insurers falls short of your personal expectations and it is therefore left for you to argue and justify an increase in valuation; a process which can be stressful and OCTOBER 2018 relatively time consuming and success is not always guaranteed. Agreed value aims to eradicate any ambiguity, personal disappointment and potential confrontation with Insurers by insuring your vehicle at an amount acceptable to all parties before a loss has even occurred. The valuation itself is determined by an independent, professional assessor and/or engineer, which, once obtained and agreed with insurers, is valid for a two year period and renewable biennially thereafter. This report will detail the same information as carried out in a market value assessment, however, will also take into consideration aspects such as rarity, which is particularly beneficial for those of you operating vintage vehicles and vehicles which are truly ‘one offs’. As part of our continuing efforts to provide the most suitable insurance arrangements for our customers, we are able to provide agreed value cover on your hearses and limousines, free of charge, should you feel that this basis of settlement better suits you and your business needs. Should you require any further information on agreed value and how it could affect you, or any other insurance matters, please do not hesitate to contact me on 0208 256 4927. Colin Powell www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk