West Craven

The latest from West Craven: Brexit, Washine Machine Recall, and Business Ideas

Welcome to our February Newsletter from West Craven Insurance where we keep you updated on the latest news and guidance in the insurance industry.

This month we consider how Brexit will affect summer holidays and driving abroad by answering some key questions. We also provide an update on the Whirlpool washing machine recall, with many appliances being a fire risk! Finally we look to the business world sharing the 12 best business ideas to start in 2020!

The 12 Best Business Ideas to Start in 2020

While we can’t predict exactly what the next decade has in store for businesses, we’ve conducted extensive research and quizzed leading industry experts to bring you what we think will be the defining business trends of 2020.

Click here to read The 12 Best Business Ideas to Start in 2020.

How Brexit will affect your Summer Holidays

Europe is an extremely popular travel destination for Brits. A huge amount of people from the UK make trips to various European destinations each year; 58 million to be precise!

That’s a massive number of people left with questions surrounding future travel plans now that the UK has officially began the EU exit. What is reassuring to hear, is that no immediate changes will take effect as Britain is now in a transition period. This transition period will be in effect until the end of 2020. This means that until the end of December 2020, Brits can continue to travel as usual. Continue below for answers to the common Brexit travel queries:

Can I still use my Passport?

You do not need to apply for a new passport if yours is currently in date and valid. You can travel to any country in the EU if your return date does not exceed the end date on your Passport.

Will I need a Visa to travel?

Brits will not need to apply for a Visa to travel to the EU.

Do I need to take out a different form of Travel Insurance?

If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), this can still be used until the end of the transition period, which is the end of December 2020. However, it is important to also take out appropriate travel insurance for your trip as EHIC’s can have some restrictions. If you do not normally use one of these cards, it is advised to book your travel insurance along with the rest of your holiday components as part of a package deal. This means that the travel company is responsible for ensuring your holiday is provided as expected.

If you do not book your travel using a package deal it is advisable to check your individual travel insurance cover with your provider before you depart for your trip.

Do I need an additional license or a new type of insurance cover to drive in the EU?

No, you do not need an additional license to drive in a European country if you have a full UK valid Driving License. There is also no requirement to have a GB sticker or a green card for your car insurance.

What about other travel methods?

The travel arrangement for coaches, ferries, and cruises will remain the same as the rules under which they operate on are mostly International rather than European.

Can I still use my mobile phone in Europe?

The current arrangements for using your mobile phone data, making phone calls, or sending texts from the EU from a British phone contract will remain the same.

Rules for driving abroad now Brexit has started

With Brexit finally started, it is no surprise that we are unsure of the driving rules for our holidays. Do we need a green card? Do we need additional insurance cover? Continue reading for us to answer your questions, to keep you up-to-date and ensure your insurance remains valid.

What is a Green Card?

A Green Card is an internationally-recognised document which proves that you have valid insurance in whichever country you are driving within. Accepted in 47 countries, including all of Europe, and beyond.

Do I need a Green Card?

You need a Green Card to drive in countries outside of the EU. Currently, there is no legal requirement for a Green Card whilst travelling abroad, but should you be in accident it will prove extremely useful - some insurers also require for you to have a Green Card in order for your cover to be valid whilst travelling abroad. Whilst we are in a Brexit transition period, a green card is not required to drive in the EU.

How much is a Green Card?

Green Cards are free of charge, however individual insurers may charge a small administration fee to process the request.

What are the overseas driving rules?

Each country has their own driving laws and local speed limits. Ensure that you check for these before you travel as you may end up breaking the law and get a fine if you don't. Depending on the country you are in, you may need:

Emission stickers (permits) in some EU countries
A GB sticker
A headlight converter
equipment including a warning triangle or a reflective jacket.

Do I need to know anything else?

As we are now in a Brexit transition period the rules on international driving will continue to apply until 1 January 2021. From this date, the rules for driving abroad may change. During this transition period, you need to take your Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving license away with you on your trip to be able to drive abroad. If your license is expired or about to expire you must apply to renew your license as least a week before your travel.

If you need a Green Card or have any further queries, please contact your account handler for advice.

Insurers in Hot Water with Whirlpool Washing Machine Recall

At the beginning of the year, certain models of washing machine by Hotpoint were deemed unsafe due to a fire risk and subsequently recalled. The machines included in this are some models made by Whirlpool between 2014 and 2018. [Please check Whirlpools website for full details]. Consumers are urged to check their machines to ensure they aren’t included. The potential fire hazard is due to a door locking system overheating for cycles above 20 degrees Celsius. A staggering half a million washing machines have been recalled in the UK as a result of this.

Such a huge recall of machines has massively disrupted thousands of customers who may not be able to do any hot washes until their machines are replaced or repaired. With the high volume of faulty machines, this could take months to resolve. Some remuneration efforts by Whirlpool include a free of charge replacement machine like their previous model, or a free repair.

A number of insurance companies have confirmed that customers will still be covered by their home or contents insurance if a faulty product causes a fire. However, this is dependent on customers following the advice provided by Whirlpool to prove that best efforts have been made to prevent a fire.

Customers have been advised to register any new or existing white good appliances on the Government register. That way, in the unfortunate event of an appliance issue, customers can easily be located if they may be at risk due to a product fault. Anybody who owns one of the recalled machines that has not already been in contact with Whirlpool or Home Insurers, have been advised to unplug and stop using their machine or ensure to only do cold wash cycles under 20 degrees Celcius. Customers have also been advised to keep on top of general upkeep of their appliances. This can be done by regularly cleaning the filters, draws, and drums of machines and dryers. This can help to prevent build up and maintain efficient operating.

This is not the first time a Hotpoint appliance has caused a fire risk. The Grenfell Tower fire of 2017 is thought to have been started from a faulty Hotpoint fridge-freezer. The Whirlpool manufacturer produced a statement reiterating that the safety of their customer is their upmost importance and that no other appliances of theirs are currently affected.

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