Newsletter July/Sept 2009

Newsletter July/Sept 2009

NEW WEBSITE!!

GSInsurance is now on-line! We would like to ask you for your opinion and suggestions for our website.
The address is www.gsinsurance.com.au
We would love some feed-back from you, so that we can improve the site and make it as useable and relevant to our customers as possible.
It is still in its development stage, so there is still plenty to do. For instance, we would like to put in links to local community group’s websites.
Our web designers will review the content with us in a few weeks, so any comments and suggestions would be a big help!
You can use the “Contact Us” page on the website to let us know what you think.

CROP INSURANCE
It is time to consider insuring your crops for this year. Hail can occur at any time, so it is a good idea to insure early, as it will cost you no more to do so.
This year we have a new product available. Allianz has introduced its “After Harvest” cover, where you can elect to pay your premium based on the tonnage actually harvested.
Please contact us if you have not received a renewal and would like to insure.

UNOCCUPIED HOUSES
It may not be widely known that it is a condition of cover that the property owner must notify us if their house will be un-occupied for more than 60 days.
That is, if no-one is staying overnight in the house for that length of time.
If the company is not notified, they would be justified in declining or reducing a claim that happens while the house is unoccupied.
For example, if a water pipe bursts in an empty house, the damage could be made more severe if it is not noticed for many weeks!
The property is also more vulnerable to vandalism when it is empty for a long time.
However the company will usually hold cover if they are notified of the unoccupancy, and if the insured is taking steps to look after the property.

GOVERNMENT LEVY INCREASES
From July this year, the NSW Government has increased its Fire Services Levy to incorporate a State Emergency Services (SES) levy.
A domestic house now carries a levy of 22% on the base insurance premium. (On top of this is also 10% GST and 9% Stamp Duty).
Commercial buildings such as farm sheds or a shop carry a FSL levy of 40%.
The rates are even higher in Victoria and Tassie. Other states do not charge the levy on insurance products.
Those who adequately insure their property are subsidising everyone who uses the Fire and SES services.

All the best to Trundle and Tullamore show committees for your preparations for the shows! We look forward to August!