June 2007
THE INDUSTRY TALKS – WE LISTEN
We have often said that what sets us apart from others is the fact that BnB SURE is the only policy that was designed in conjunction with the B&B and guesthouse industry and most enhancements to the policy still come from the industry. A few weeks ago a phone call from the NAA and Heather Hunter expressed concern that what could happen at a guesthouse is that guests could be injured in a robbery or by some other means that may not be as a result of the negligence of the owner. In a few hours, Heather had her answer. R5000 medical expenses for guests as a result of an accident or some violent incident at the B&B are now covered. In addition, death to a paying guest, as a result of fire or thieves is now also included.
Once again NAA and BnB SURE working together to ensure the best policy available.
There are in addition extra enhancements and a separate News Flash will be sent out detailing those within the next few weeks.
GUESTS MEDICAL EVACUATION
We advised in our previous newsletter that this new section is now available on the policy. What it does is to help the insured with that potential problem that faces every B&B or guesthouse owner if a guest suddenly becomes ill and has neither the money nor the medical insurance to be taken to hospital.
There are three options to the cover at premiums to suit every insured. R10,000 will cost R50 per month, R50,000 costs R75 per month and for a mere R100 the insured can buy cover of R100,000.
The establishment owner stands to lose a great deal of money should they be faced with the prospect of a guest who cannot be moved as they are ill and have no money. The end result is that the B&B or guesthouse faces the loss of that particular room as well as potential liability claims should they administer medical assistance that is incorrect. It should be remembered that this new section does not simply assist with the evacuation of guests but actually pays for their hospital expenses up to the sum insured selected.
NEW LAWS AFFECTING GUESTHOUSE OWNERS
For almost two years, a new set of laws relating to Consumer Rights has been drafted and discussed, has culminated in the “Consumer Protection Bill”. The Bill will probably pass into law in the form of the Consumer Protection Act within the next few months.
The Act is designed to promote and protect the economic interests of consumers generally and include a number of provisions affecting the way in which guesthouse owners will be able to interact with their guests.
The most important provisions relating to guesthouse owners, deal with disclaimer notices and the use of confidential information belonging to guests.
More specifically, the Bill stipulates that disclaimer notices are of no force or effect unless they comply with a great number of stipulations relating to the form and content of such notices and the circumstances in which they may be used.
Although the new law appears at first glance to be rather strict, it does at least provide a comprehensive list of requirements for the use of such disclaimer notices which, if adhered to, will greatly enhance the effectiveness of such notices in the event that a guest’s claim rises.
The provisions of the Bill can be obtained from the website of the Department of Trade and Industry, however because the document is several hundred pages long with only a few sections affecting guesthouse owners, the relevant sections will be set out and discussed on BnB SURE’s website, www.bnbsure.co.za under the banner “Legal”
The Act also mentions the use of confidential information relating to ones clients and customers and this will also be discussed on the website.
Article written by Attorney Derek Milne of Duncan Okes Inc - Johannesburg
GUESTS EFFECTS
It seems that there is still a great many policyholders and brokers relying on the liability section to provide the cover for the personal effects of guests when in fact what the establishment wants is insurance to cover the guests’ goods whether the establishment is liable or not. There is an amount of R10,000 automatically included in terms of the Contents section for this cover but in many instances it is not enough.
Cover can be bought up from the R10,000 to R200,000 for guests’ effects and this section of the policy does not consider whether the establishment is liable or not. It is there to cover the uninsured goods belonging to a guest.
We strongly suggest that one simple question is asked to the B&B or guesthouse owner. “Are you concerned about your guests’ personal effects whether you are legally liable or not?” If the answer is “YES” then the establishment should not rely on the Liability section to provide this cover.
BnB SURE QUOTE DESK
The BnB SURE Quote Desk is up and running and is working very well and brokers are finding that we are turning around our quotes even faster than we have in the past.
Brokers may continue to send their quote requests to branches as they have been doing or may direct them straight to the Quote Desk at lindsey@bnbsure.co.za
BnB SURE LAUNCHES www.brokerfinder.co.za
Brokerfinder continues to enjoy fantastic support from our broker friends and we remind all brokers that they may let us have details of their business so that we might put these descriptions into the site and create a reciprocal link between our websites. Descriptions of the business should be no longer than 50 words.
BnB FINDER
We remind those policyholders who have not yet listed their establishment that this service – usually worth about R150 per month on other sites - is available to them at no charge. We have now exceeded 1000 listings making BnBfinder one of the biggest websites listing B&B and guesthouses in South Africa. This site is marketed at most airports and many tourism offices in South Africa and direct reservations made through the site now exceed 60 per month. We are obviously not able to monitor indirect reservations made but must assume that it is several times more than that. A real benefit to BnB SURE policyholders.
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. 086 686-8897
Managers: Johannesburg – Linda van Dijk
Cape Town - Trudy Venter
BnB SURE ASSIST TOLL FREE LINE
We remind readers that use of the services offered through the BnB Sure Assist toll free line can only be activated by calling toll free on 0800 55 66 77.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:
Success is having to worry about every damn thing in the world, except money. ~ Johnny Cash
