Security Delay Insurance (SDI)
General Press Release
19-03-08Thousands of people will be going away this Easter to shake off the winter blues. Many of them will have travel insurance but almost certainly none of these policies will offer cover for delays incurred as result of security or terrorist related incidents. The reason for this is up until now no such insurance has existed. Now, thanks to Hampshire based Totally Insured Group (TIG), holiday makers can get an innovative travel insurance product which covers them for such delays.
Cover includes additional travel, overnight accommodation, subsistence, alternative re-ticketing, and excess car parking charges as long as the delay is for more than 6 hours. The cost for this additional cover starts from as little as £5.00.
Ron Moonesinghe, Managing Director of TIG, said
“The product was developed after a friend of mine Lawrence Sale was going on holiday with his family to Spain and got caught up in the massive security delays at Heathrow in August 2006. Hundreds of flights were cancelled over a number of days. When he telephoned his insurance company from the airport, he was told that security/terrorist incidents were excluded. Had he and his family been covered, along with the thousands who spent days sleeping in the departure lounges, they could have been reimbursed for the additional expenses incurred such as hotel, meals, even a new ticket!”
Lawrence Sale’s pivotal words to Ron Moonesinghe were:
“I wish I could have purchased a top up to my existing policy that covered me for this sort of terrorist delay.”
The government is aware that the travelling public are not sufficiently aware of the exclusions on policy. The House of Commons Treasury Committee published a report on travel and tourism last year stating there is “…insufficient awareness of exclusions in the areas such as terrorist acts…all too often, exclusions are buried in the small print of policies.”
This travel product therefore goes a considerable way towards easing a traveller’s misery. Getting cover is also quick and simple taking a matter of minutes when visiting www.securitydelayinsurance.com.
END
For more information contact:
Lena Samuels
Marketing Manager
Totally Insured Travel Ltd
Phone: 0870 240 8892 or 0751 9974023
Fax: 01794 524091
Email: info@totallyinsuredtravel.com
Totally Insured Travel Ltd
Suite 4a, Abbey Walk, Church Street, Romsey, SO51 8JQ
www.securitydelayinsurance.com
Notes to editors
1. ABOUT THE TOTALLY INSURED GROUP
Totally Insured Group (TIG) is an independent financial advisor specialising in providing financial services for people with pre-existing medical conditions in addition to helping those fortunate enough to enjoy full health. Specialising in life insurance, mortgage protection insurance and critical illness, it can provide cover for individuals suffering from a range of conditions that are typically not covered by the leading insurance companies.
www.theinsurancehelpline.co.uk
TIG was a finalist in the “best protection advisor 2008” category at the Money Marketing Awards, recently held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London 5th March 2008.
www.totallyinsuredgroup.co.uk
Totally Insured Travel Ltd is an appointed representative of Totally Insured Group Ltd which is Authorised and Regulated by The Financial Services Authority.
2. STATISTICS ABOUT THE FLYING PUBLIC
There were over 60 million visits out of the UK in 2005.
Around 42 million of these visits were for leisure.
Some 20 million consumers purchase travel insurance each year.
Market value over £600m per year
ONGOING TERROR THREAT ASSESSMENT
*There is a serious and sustained threat from international terrorism to the UK and UK interests overseas. The current threat level is assessed as “Severe”.
The most significant terrorist threat comes from Al Qaida and associated networks. Information on Al Qaida's typical methods of attack and targets and the current threat to the UK has been prepared by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC).
* MI5 Website February 2008.