Gongs handed out by the 2010 Moneywise Customer Service Awards included two for M&S Money which was named not only the ‘most trusted motor insurance provider’, but also the ‘best travel insurance provider for service.’

The awards for most trusted motor insurance provider and the best travel insurance provider for service were handed out in front of nearly 300 guests at a gala dinner held in the City of London.

And the awards for most trusted motor insurance provider and the best travel insurance provider for service come from, claim the organisers, the biggest customer service survey of its type held in the UK. The figures were compiled by the Moneywise magazine and their website, Moneywise.co.uk following around 10,000 responses. These were then given to CoreData research for analysis who were used to identify those companies which, according the UK public, offer not only the best service, but also those who are the most trusted.

Apart from the main awards, M&S also walked off with two highly commended, one in the ‘most trusted travel insurance provider’ and the other, ‘best motor insurance provider for service’ categories.

On opening the gold envelopes and barely holding back the tears, a triumphant M&S Money Chief Executive said about the awards, including most trusted motor insurance provider:
“All our insurance policies are designed with the M&S customer in mind, and we are delighted that M&S Car and Travel Insurance have been recognised at the Moneywise awards.”

It also gave M&S a chance to remind people about their polices, including their role as most trusted motor insurance provider. They pointed out that their M&S Premier Car Insurance protects not just their car, but the policy holder. What’s more, it also includes RAC breakdown cover, a hire car for up to 14 days and motor legal protection.

So, when it comes to looking for the most trusted motor insurance provider, and indeed, the best travel insurance provider for service, then have a look at M&S. It’s not only good underwear they sell, but also good insurance apparently.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Giant insurer Aviva will be offering a new optional volcanic ash insurance travel policy add-on from the 1 June, 2010.

Volcanic ash insurance is likely to be a big thing from the industry over the coming years as the travel companies, as well as its customers, face potential chaos as the Icelandic volcanoes do their best to ruin everyone’s travel plans.

The new optional volcanic ash insurance travel policy add-on has been created, say Aviva, to offers its customers a new form of cover should their travel plans be disrupted by a closure of UK’s airspace, airports, or ports.

Those Aviva customers with either single trip, or annual policies, will be entitled to purchase the new volcanic ash insurance cover for a fixed cost of a fiver per insured person for single trips and a tenner per insured person for those with annual insurance.

The new volcanic ash insurance deal is open to both existing customers and those buying from Aviva for the first time. But, it can only be purchased as part of the existing Aviva policy; it is not a stand-alone product.

Aviva travel manager Jerry Finch said:
“The key benefit normally associated with a standard travel policy has historically been medical emergency cover and this still remains the top reason for any claim.

“However, we appreciate the need to provide protection for additional risks that have not been previously covered by insurance. So we have broadened our insurance cover beyond the impact of volcanic ash on flights to include any reason for airspace, port or airport closure. This would include examples such as: terrorism, prevention of terrorism or even a pandemic situation, such as bird flu.

“This should help customers feel more confident of their position as they look either to go on holiday soon or plan to book one later in the year. By introducing the new option we are providing our customers with the freedom to choose the amount of cover they feel would be right for them.”

There are the normal get-out clauses and caveats of course, so it’s best to read the Aviva fine print in detail if you want to get the best from the new volcanic ash insurance.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

The Post Office says that a failure to purchase insurance has put at risk losing belongings worth a total of £12 billion.

This situation exists despite the fact that the average suitcase contains valuables worth £1,133 and a recent statistic proves that over 10% of people have experienced baggage delays in the last three years.

So the Post Office is bemused why over 20% of travellers do not take out any insurance for their holidays. So Post Office Travel Insurance has teamed up with LA stylist Neil Rodgers to give tips to those 30 million people who are worried their bags won’t arrive at their destination when they do.

The Post Office don’t elaborate why an LA stylist is an expert on baggage loss, or travel tips, but Mr Rodgers recommends ‘emergency’ items to be kept in your hand luggage should include three pairs of underwear and toothpaste. This ensures you have the essentials if luggage is delayed, or lost.

This doesn’t quite tally with a money-saving expert who recently recommended that the best way to beat the budget airlines at their own game was to forget check-in luggage and literally ‘wear’ everything you needed for a holiday. Quite what the cabin crew would make of a person wearing all their underwear, trousers and tops, plus coats, plus pockets bulging with their cosmetics, remains to be seen, but it does raise issues about passenger safety. Not only might that person suffer in a stuffy cabin, but in an emergency, trying to evacuate an aircraft packed full of Michelin-men sized passengers, doesn’t bear thinking about.

But Mr Rodgers is not shy when it comes to the matter of travel insurance, thankfully for the Post Office, who trill that:
“He says that making sure consumers have proper travel insurance is essential as many travel insurance policies will compensate for goods that go astray. He reminds that it may be necessary to purchase extra travel insurance cover if packing something particularly expensive and that most travel insurance providers will not replace old items for new.”

So there you are then. Thank goodness the travelling public have an LA stylist who’s only too happy to share his travel insurance tips.

And head of Post Office Travel Insurance, Rachael Croft, adds he advices as well:
“…if found on a holiday with nothing to wear, keep all the receipts of items bought. Post Office Travel Insurance will pay out up to £250 if your belongings are lost for more than 12 hours on the outward journey. The Post Office also provides travel insurance cover to the value of £1,500, for holiday belongings.”

So take note, heed the words of LA stylist Neil Rodgers and pack those three pairs of underpants in your hand luggage.

Guest Article by Neil Camp