Can You Be Denied Auto Insurance if Convicted of a Moving Violation?

A moving violation can be a serious mistake or a minor one. In many situations, your auto insurance provider is there to help you through mistakes you might make. However, there are some situations where it can become difficult to obtain auto insurance. If you are labeled a high risk driver, it may be hard to obtain car insurance or affordable plans. There are several things to keep in mind in this situation.

Can You Be Denied?

Most states have requirements that those who operate a motor vehicle (or own one) must have auto insurance in place. This is required for nearly all drivers. However, car insurance providers are able to deny individuals coverage if the driver is too high of a risk to insure. It can be hard to obtain insurance if you have such a label because the risk of another mistake, accident or moving violation is high.

By definition, a high risk driver is someone who has a higher potential of filing a claim at some time in the future. Insurers view these individuals as high risk and costly, therefore charging a significant amount more to cover individuals, or simply denying coverage altogether. There are many reasons for this outcome, including a DUI/DWI conviction, illegal street racing, excessive speeding, reckless driving, driving without licensing and traffic violations in which a person died or got seriously injured.

What Should You Do?

If you are a high risk driver, you will need to work to minimize such risks going forward. More so, if you find a policy that offers coverage to you, be sure to do everything you can to reduce your points. In some cases, you may be able to take a driving course to reduce your points. You may need to obtain an SR-22 as well, which generally is a requirement by the department of motor vehicles. Most people can find a policy available to them, though it can be expensive and hard to do without the help of an independent insurance agent. The right auto insurance provider is likely available even for high risk drivers.

Wal-Mart and Insurance: How Can The Local Agency Compete?

Owning an independent insurance agency isn�t what it used to be; you already have to compete with major carriers like Allstate and Progressive, but some recent news indicates that the competition is going to heat up even more.

 
Walmart, already the world�s biggest retailer by a huge margin, has plans to get into the auto insurance business, through an alliance with autoinsurance.com. 200 stores already have a partnership with Metlife selling term life policies, and they want to expand their insurance interests. But this could only be the beginning as new research shows that this may soon become a trend for big business. According to a study published earlier this year by Accenture, 67 percent of insurance customers are open to buying insurance from places other than insurers, and 23 percent say they would seriously consider buying from a non-traditional source like Google or Amazon.
With these new developments, it�s become more important than ever to highlight the advantages of your independent agency. Here are some tips to retain current clients and garner new business.

1. Highlight the personal touch- This seems like an obvious thing, but it�s one of the things that sets you apart!  It�s simple, but remember to always answer the phone or respond to email requests promptly. An independent agency is the only place you can talk to a real person about insurance that�s not in a call center.
2. Explain the difference an independent provider can make � chances are corporate giants like Walmart and Amazon don�t have the choice of providers that your agency does. You can find different combinations of coverage and price and save customers money, so let them know!
3. Review your customer�s coverage from time to time. When a few years have gone by, many of your customers may need an update, so periodically go through and make sure everyone is up �to-date. This will show your customers that you�re constantly looking out for their best interests.
4. Make the most of every interaction. Think of everyone you talk to as a potential new client and share your experience with them. Everyone who walks in should be able to experience the difference made by an independent agency.

With huge corporations controlling more and more of the business landscape, it�s going to be increasingly more difficult for companies without billions of dollars behind them. As an independent agency, you�ve got to recognize the added competition and prepare for it. There are still lots of consumers out there who want the personalized service and local feel that you have to offer, so it�s time to show them what you can do!

This Is What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Garlic And Honey On An Empty Stomach

A standout amongst the most broadly used fixings in almost every food around the globe is garlic. It�s so famous because of its fantastic taste, it offers flavor to each dish and it is wellbeing valuable.
Eating crude garlic can help you with a considerable measure of wellbeing conditions and even specialists incline toward it. It can help you diminish hypertension and cholesterol, anticipate coronary illness and heart assault.
It�s likewise extremely compelling in limiting the impacts of atherosclerosis.
Just a single garlic clove can help you with ordinary medical problems like roughage fever, explorer�s looseness of the bowels, icy, influenza, bug nibbles and parasitic contaminations. Garlic can likewise be advantageous for side effects, for example, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and an amplified prostate. It�s an astonishing resistant framework enhancer and can give you a full body detox. Besides, in the event that you join it with onion and ginger it can facilitate the chemo reactions.

Under-25s are more likely to be defrauded on the phone than older generations � here's how to stay safe and the scams to watch out for

Under 25s are 75 per cent more likely to have been scammed in 2017 than those aged over 55, according to figures from call-blocking firm Truecaller.

Younger generations tend to trust technology more than their elders, making them particularly susceptible to fraud. Furthermore scammers are increasingly turning from targeting landlines - more commonly used by older generations - to mobiles - used by younger people.

The true scale of financial fraud is also hard to nail down as the research shows that as many as two-thirds of people who have been stung are too embarrassed to report it.

As a result, This is Money � which launched its Beat the Scammers page in 2016 � along with Truecaller have come together to offer hints and tips for millennials to watch out for when it comes to fraud.

It is a must read for a generation who have grown up trusting technology and at time when the typical Briton receives seven nuisance calls and three spam texts a month, according to its research of more than 2,000 people.

Truecaller say that nuisance calls and scams have traditionally targeted the elderly, with pension pots plundered by fraudsters preying on so-called easy targets, but now younger people are increasingly in their sights.

In the wake of a ban on cold calls targeting pensioners, Truecaller say the Government has missed one of the scammers' main targets - tech-loving youngsters.

Furthermore, its research shows that of those who have been defrauded, 25�34 year olds lose the most amount of money from phone scams compared with over 55s who lose the least.

Fraudsters are moving from direct cold calls on landlines to robocalls, texts and WhatsApp messages via mobile and tablet devices.

In 2018 this is set to get worse, especially as only 54 per cent of people are savvy enough to never answer calls or text messages if they do not recognise the sender.

Nick Larsson, head of growth and partnerships at Truecaller, said: 'Millennials trust technology from an early age.

'From conversing with friends and family to using their smartphones for mobile banking, 18-24 year olds explicitly put trust in their pocket.

'But with our research showing that they are the most targeted group when it comes to scams and spam � this trust and familiarity with technology can sometimes be misplaced.

'The elderly therefore aren't necessarily the priority for educating on scams and spam.

'In fact it is the younger generation who use smartphones all day, every day, who need to wake up to the dangers of being so well connected by technology - even if it is just answering an unknown number.'

HOW TO STAY SAFE

Mobile phones stand as much more than a platform for social media apps, texts, calls and e-mails - they are sadly now a hunting ground for identity thieves.

The information people unwittingly put online can be used by scammers in fraud attempts to steal money or identities.

Truecaller and This is Money have compiled the below top tips for staying safe when using your mobile phone:

1. Think twice

Always be cautious when receiving text messages from unknown numbers.

Pay extra attention to if the country code is from abroad.

However, caution is required even when text messages appear to be from known senders.

Fraudsters can make texts appear as if they have come from banks, even appearing in genuine text message threads. 

These can contain links to malware or include phone numbers of fraudsters.

2. Ask for verification

If you receive a suspicious call or text message, always ask the person to verify themselves and get them to send more details over e-mail.

You can also contact an official representative of the company to verify the information.

It is better to be safe than sorry - do not be pressured on the telephone.

Remember that fraudsters may try to make you panic or flustered on the phone to increase the chance of you making a mistake.

3. Keep up to date

Ensure you regularly update your apps and phone software as they have the latest security features.

It may also be worth considering installing anti-virus software onto your mobile phone. Many will do this with their laptop, but not think there is a need for a phone.

Think twice about what you share and who you answer too, and avoid posting information that makes it easier for fraudsters to replicate your data and online persona.

4. Online dating

Beware of who you are speaking with when using popular dating websites and apps.

Scammers use the platform to groom victims into long-distance relationships using e-mails, instant messaging, texting and phone calls.

Once they've gained your trust, they are able to gain information that allows them to answer security questions as you.

5. Never share sensitive information

Your bank will never require you to share sensitive information like account details or passwords over the phone.

If in doubt, hang-up and ring the number on the back of your debit card from a different phone - fraudsters can stay on the line.

You can also pop into your local branch with any concerns (if it hasn't been closed).


6. Suspect a phone scam?

Hang up and never ring back the number.

There's a type of scam that is called one-ring scam where fraudsters play on your curiosity and give you a missed call - and when you call back you'll be charged a crazy amount of money.

Suspect an e-mail scam? Same rules apply, don't reply to it or click on any of the links, pictures or attachments.

7. Wi-fi warning

Increasing numbers of locations offer complimentary wi-fi.

However, be warned the next time you online shop, bank and enter passwords, a wi-fi attack on an open network can take less than two seconds.

Keep wi-fi activity to surfing the net and leave the important stuff to when you're home on a secure network.

8. False job listings

As the largest generation in the workforce, young people can be easy prey for fraudsters.

False job listings can appear as seemingly legit job posts and recruiter messages.

Before accepting a LinkedIn request, or messaging back a recruiter, dig a little deeper and look for warning signs such as an incomplete profile, low connections and foreign email addresses.

Research the sender's name to ensure they exist and are who they say they are.

9. Use strong secure passwords

Use a password that's strong and secure - something like the first letters of a line of your favourite song, just make sure you include a mix of cases and numbers.

Always use a different password for each platform. If you use the same for a number of different accounts, fraudsters can quickly attack in a variety of ways.

10. Don't suffer in silence

Speak out to spread awareness of scams. The more it's spoken about the more we can protect against fraudsters.

If you have fallen victim to fraud, you can get in touch with This is Money: lee.boyce@thisismoney.co.uk

You should also log it with Action Fraud UK - any trends that can be spotted may help prevent future victims from making the same mistake. 

Money Pit Stop: We are high risk investors who want to retire at 50 on �50,000 a year - can we make it?

In our series Money Pit Stop, we ask an investing expert to give our readers a free portfolio makeover.

Merchant seamen Fiona and Greig, both aged 35, want to retire at 50 but have reached a crossroads on how best to invest their retirement savings.

Between them the Glasgow couple currently have a combined pension investment pot of �240,000 plus their own mortgaged home and a buy-to-let, and hope to be able to retire with a �50,000 joint income in just 15 years' time.

To do that they plan to pursue their high-risk Asian growth-focused investing strategy and take advantage of one of their pension schemes being an international plan, which lets them access funds at 50 rather than 55 - the earliest age UK savers can usually tap pensions without getting hit with a massive tax penalty.

But this more flexible scheme has just undergone a revamp, throwing them out of the Asia fund they used to invest in and offering a different small choice of funds.

They want to know whether they should stick with this limited range of investment funds for the sake of getting early access to their money, or move it to a Sipp where they could pick other funds they feel have more growth potential.

Should they decide to transfer out, they would like to know what kind of pension investment portfolio might best achieve their goals, given they have a high risk appetite and want to retire in 15 years' time on around �50,000 a year.

They are also considering selling the buy-to-let, which has �80,000 worth of equity, and investing the money in Isas, which they plan to make more use of with their regular saving.

Are their early retirement dreams achievable? We ask a financial planner.

Travel firm charges couple a �35 premium for an airline window seat... without a window

Britain's biggest travel firm TUI is reviewing its airline seat booking policy after a passenger paid for a window seat that didn't have a window next to it.

John Heslam, 66, and his wife Annette, 61, from Foxton, Cambridgeshire, had booked a two-week Caribbean cruise in March last year, starting in Barbados.

They'd paid �70 to guarantee seats together on the nine-hour flight from Gatwick and the return trip � �35 each.

John had deliberately chosen a window seat for himself, as he enjoys the view during take-off and landing.

But when the couple boarded, they discovered they were seated in a row on the plane with no window, and so John was sat next to a blank wall.

It was the same on the way back.

When they got home, the couple complained and asked for a �70 refund to cover the cost of booking the seat, but TUI refused.

John, who used to work in sales, says: 'It's so easily avoidable. Just make a note on the seating plan that row 37 doesn't have a window.

Then I could have chosen a different one.' TUI has since agreed to refund the �70 seat booking fee.

Retired businessman John Eddom's nest egg was raided without him realising

A man who expected to retire with a pension pot worth �100,000 has been left with just �3,000 because his provider sold all his shares to cover unpaid fees � without his permission or knowledge.

Retired businessman John Eddom, 65, fears he will be left struggling in his old age after his nest egg was raided without him realising.

His pot was worth �50,000 when he stopped saving in 2000 and if his investments had been left alone he would be sitting on a fund worth more than �100,000 today.

But without his knowledge, his pension company sold all his shares in 2005, raising �17,000 to pay the annual fees for his plan. John only found out late last year.

Money Mail research found most pension plans contain hidden small print that lets investment firms raid your retirement nest egg for unpaid fees.

Major firms including Aviva, Prudential and Hargreaves Lansdown include clauses in savers' contracts that allow the company to sell your investments to claw back fees they are owed for managing funds.

These draconian terms are usually enacted only as a last resort.

But when they are used, the clauses can deprive savers of lucrative returns. And in the most extreme cases, the practice can empty entire savings pots.

Most at risk are workers who have stopped contributing to their pension or who have moved home without notifying their pension company.

In some cases, they may not realise their investments have been sold until it is too late.

John only discovered last year, just months away from retirement, that his pension firm Rowanmoor had sold his investments years earlier.

He had started saving into the plan in the early Eighties, when he was earning good money from his own haulage business, Eddom.

By 2000 his money was invested in shares such as Amazon, U.S. technology company Qualcomm and blue chips such as United Utilities.