February 2008
More excitement for BnB SURE this month with the news that we have been accepted as full partners of the Southern Sun Adopt-a-Guesthouse programme. The Adopt-a-Guesthouse programme was launched in 2005 to assist in training and assisting those, mainly in the townships, to reach a level of operation and standard that will compliment the already established B&Bs and guesthouses in suburbia. The owners of these establishments have embraced the programme and already some have won awards at the annual AA Travel Guides awards where BnB SURE have been one of the sponsors for the last two years and continue to be so again in 2008.
We are delighted to be involved with this programme and look forward to a long and happy relationship with Southern Sun in this.
MORE OFFICES FOR BnB SURE
We are pleased to be able to announce that we are opening two new offices in February. The two offices are in Bloemfontein and Nelspruit. Dalene Lemmer manages our office in Bloemfontein and will be assisted by Marelize Liebenberg. The office is situated at 41B President Reitz St, and Nelspruit will be managed by Marinda Welgemoed and is assisted by Marla Nortje. The office will be found at 20 Ferreira St. Nelspruit and we invite you to "pop in" to say hello to our team in either of these offices and have a cup of coffee with them.
We now have six branches around the country plus National office and we look forward to being of assistance to you in all the areas where we have an office and to increase even further our service.
THE BROKER vs DIRECT
A week ago South African Insurance Times and Investment News, an online insurance news website ran an article about the "comparative websites" on insurance that are suddenly popping up all over the place and in their follow up article on 12 February they had this to say:
"Last week's expose of so-called comparative websites was greeted by many brokers as a clear indication of how direct insurance using the internet was duping the public.
Ironically, the failure of online platforms to assist consumers in comparing simple insurance products is actually a failure that should be greeted with much concern by consumers and brokers alike.
It has long been proved that the direct model cannot hold a candle to the broker when it comes to the many important aspects that govern the broker-client relationship. And when it comes to complex products there is simply no contest".
BnB SURE certainly falls into the category of complex by virtue of the fact that we are working in a very specialized sector of the tourism industry with a specially designed product, designed in conjunction with the B&B and guesthouse industry to its requirements and as such it is crucial that the broker plays in integral role in this.
THE NAA and BnB SURE SAVE B&Bs AND GUESTHOUSES MONEY
We reported in our October 2007 edition of "From the Breakfast Table" that the NAA had taken a decision that any member of the NAA who is insured with BnB SURE will benefit from a R50 discount off their annual fee to NAA. This fee discount applies with immediate effect for any new member to NAA and with effect from renewal in March 2008 to existing members of NAA.
This means then that a member of NAA who insures with BnB SURE enjoys a 15% premium discount off insurance premiums and now a further R50 off their NAA membership fee. That is, in most cases more than enough to pay the annual subscription to NAA.
Renewal notices will be going out to NAA members in the first week of March and they are reminded that the R50 discount applies. All that NAA needs is the member's BnB SURE policy number.
In addition to the savings this means that establishments insured with BnB SURE now not only have the correct insurances as preferred insurance supplier to NAA but they also have the muscle of the largest association in South Africa fighting their cause.
And talking about the NAA, their new website at www.naa-sa.co.za is now up and running and looks very good.
NUCLEAR GENERAL POLICY EXCEPTION
You will be aware that re-insurers worldwide have made the Nuclear Exclusion absolute and have applied the exception to all classes of business where previously it did not apply to Fidelity, Group Personal Accident and Stated Benefits sections. The only one of these sections applicable to the BnB SURE policy is the Fidelity section and in almost all cases up to R10,000. As a result we will shortly be sending out an endorsement direct to policyholders making this change. Should brokers wish to have these channeled through their office we request that we are advised of this prior to 25 February 2008 so that these arrangements may be made.
MAKING THINGS EASIER
REPORTING CLAIMS
We are now making it easier to report claims. Simply visit our website on www.bnbsure.co.za and click onto Claims Notification and when all the details have been followed and completed press "SUBMIT" and the claim will come through to the manager in the appropriate BnB SURE branch where it will be given our immediate attention. The advantage of using this is that it gives us all the information we need to correctly and speedily handle the claim saving the insured and the broker the frustration of having to run back and forth getting more information.
GLASS/WINDSCREEN CLAIMS
On 15 January 2008 we opened our easy to use windscreen facility and we remind readers that in the event of a windscreen claim they need simply to call the Toll Free number on 0800 55 66 77 switch through to "Glass Assistance" when prompted to do so and this will take them directly to the PG Glass call centre where all will be taken care of as soon as they quote their policy number. No claim forms to complete, no fuss and quick attention.
POLICY ENHANCEMENTS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
On 1 January we included at no cost an amount of R10,000 in respect of Fidelity cover. Now from 1 March we will be including - again at no cost - an amount of R10,000 for Accounts Receivable. This is as a result of an ever increasing number of establishments enjoying reservations through travel agents but that brings with it problems of its own. Even small establishments often find themselves with large amounts owing to them. It is possible that the R10,000 is not sufficient but this can be "bought up" at an annual rate of 050%
LIABILITY
In terms of the Liability section of BnB SURE we have made a few changes. The cover in terms of Defamation has been increased to R500,000 and Legal Defence Costs to R100,000.
APPLIANCE MAINTENANCE
A reminder that the basis of the Appliance Maintenance Section has changed. There is no longer any need to specify "any 10 Items" as the policy now covers any item that is described by the policy irrespective of how many items are in the establishment. The repair limit remains at R3000 any one item and is NOT restricted in terms of the number of claims in any one year.
Items covered are: Microwaves, Tumble driers, Stoves, Fridges, Freezers, Washing Machines, Dishwashers, TV sets, VCR players, Hi-Fi sets, DVD players.
Any motors such as gate motors, pool motors, etc. are not automatically covered and need to be specified seperately.
BnB SURE ASSIST TOLL FREE LINE
We remind readers that use of the Electric and Plumbing services and the Appliance Maintenance section offered through the BnB Sure Assist toll free line can be activated either by calling toll free on 0800 55 66 77 or by reporting a claim in the normal manner.
BRANCH OFFICES
Contact details of BnB SURE offices are:
Johannesburg - 011 886 6066 Fax No. 011 886 1725
Cape Town office - 021 948 0432 Fax No. 021 948 3582
Durban office - 031 561 4986 Fax No. 086 685 6509
East London - 043 721 3101 Fax No. 043 721 3112
Bloemfontein - 051 447 4080 Fax No. 051 447 4088
Nelspruit - 013 752 5599 Fax No. 013 752 4831
Managers:
Johannesburg - Debbie Smith
Cape Town - Trudy Venter
Durban - Merran Johansson
East London - Lynne Reynolds
Bloemfontein - Dalene Lemmer
Nelspruit - Marinda Welgemoed
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:
I like women. I don't understand them, but I like them.
Sean Connery |
