June 2008
Indaba 2008 has come and gone and so too has Hostex Cape Town 2008. All that is left for 2008 is Hostex Durban that takes place between 8 and 10 September and this will be the first time that Durban will be hosting the expo.
Indaba was a huge success both as an event and also from our point of view, where we had the opportunity to discuss matters affecting the B&B and guesthouse industry with several people at high levels in Government and with other interest groups. We were also thrilled to have had many of our policyholders visiting us at our stand and it was good to meet those we had not previously met and we thank them for their ideas to further enhance our product.
We also had the AA Travel Guides awards dinner during Indaba and many of our policyholders were winners in their respective categories and our hearty congratulations to all of them.
One of the highlights for BnB SURE though was the winning of a “highly commended” award for our stand at Hostex in the category “Small Stands”.
FAIS FRIENDLY
We understand that for the broker the requirements of FAIS is making it more difficult all the time and as a result we have taken a decision to help our broker friends wherever we can.
In April we introduced our Needs Analysis that can be found on our website www.bnbsure.co.za and that can be downloaded for use when seeing a client. This document is specific to BnB SURE (which as our brokers know is unique in the South African insurance market) and specifically assists brokers to point out to their clients the very wide cover that is on the policy, cover that is often overlooked when brokers use a standard needs analysis form.
We have also decided that when sending out a quote from our Quote Desk we will in future be attaching the Needs Analysis as an aid to brokers when discussing the quotation provided.
CHECKING THE STATUS OF CLAIMS
Understanding the importance to the broker of being completely up to date at all times with progress on claims and to save the broker from sending reminders for updates, we have now made available to all our brokers the claims notes on our computer system. Once the broker has been registered as a user for this facility it is simply a matter of accessing the notes to see what is happening on all the claims for that particular broker. Obviously security is in place so that information is kept confidential.
Brokers wishing to register for this service should simply send a request to Rachel Mogodi at rachel@bnbsure.co.za and this will be done. Once the Master User in a broker’s office is registered, that Master User may add or delete other users.
OPTIONAL DEBIT DATES
We have now introduced a choice of debit dates from the 1st to the 7th of any month and the insured now has a choice that best suits them. We have found that as guesthouses use of travel agents increases, payment by travel agents is often made to the insured at the end of the month and the money does not reach the insured’s account until around the 2nd or 3rd of the month and this often leads to the insured suffering the embarrassment of having the bank reject a debit.
If an insured wishes to change the debit date we will be happy to do this.
NEW QUOTE FORMAT
In an attempt to make save time for our broker friends we have changed the quote format on our website to a new Excel spreadsheet based quoting facility that now allows these to be saved as one would save a normal Excel spreadsheet, something we have not been able to do with our old quote system. This should make it substantially easier for those brokers carrying laptops when they visit their clients.
POLICY ENHANCEMENTS
We were recently asked by a policyholder what would happen if the situation arose where an insured had to deliberately damage a door to get access to the room if there was thought that the guest was in some sort of trouble, especially medically. There was some debate as to whether this deliberate damage would be covered but in order to get rid of any doubt, we have no extended the Contents section (in case we don’t insure the buildings) to provide for any damage caused in this way. Cover is in the amount of R10,000 with no excess applicable and no additional premium charged.
BUILDING ALTERATIONS
We are finding an increased number of establishments are engaged in alterations from time to time to expand or improve the establishment and insurers are not being told about this and as a result not able to give advice on security during this time. The result is that some of these establishments are doing nothing about their security and as a result finding they have no cover for items stolen from garages or workshops to which builders have access.
BnB FINDER
As we reported in our April edition of “From the Breakfast Table” we have recently introduced a car hire facility for use by any policyholder listed on www.bnbfinder.co.za Sadly though there are still many of our policyholders who are not benefiting from this facility and as a result are losing around R200 per month off their bottom line in advertising costs that is the equivalent of advertising on similar sites. We strongly recommend that if brokers have clients with BnB SURE who are not listed on this free service that we are requested to add them.
As we advised in the April edition of “From the Breakfast Table” we sent out “BnB Finder News” to all those listed on the BnB Finder website and the response has been very positive. Many insured have come back to us correcting their details for the website saying they had forgotten to let their brokers know. The success of this has prompted us to make this a regular feature and will further assist brokers in conveying the changes and good news to policyholders.
Should any broker wish to be added to the distribution of “BnB Finder News” please let us know and we will happily do this.
CHANGES AT BnB SURE
It is with pleasure that we congratulate Lana Mizen on her appointment as General Manager – Marketing, at BnB SURE. Lana has become well known in recent times for her broker training and product presentations around South Africa in the last couple of years as well as her presence at many interest group functions and exhibitions. In her new position she moves up alongside Avril Munro, who is General Manager – Operations, to substantially strengthen the management of the company.
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:
It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
J.K.Rowling
