Brits could collectively save a total of £396.36 million if they were prepared to haggle on the price of a new car, a new report has suggested.
Research from Sainsbury's Finance has found that 19 per cent of people that are planning to buy a new motor are not going to try and negotiate a price - even though it could lead to saving of around £1,468.
However, 60 per cent of respondents said that they would try to haggle 'hard or very hard' over the cost of a new vehicle - a move that could help people beat the credit crunch, the organisation claimed.
Steven Baillie, head of Sainsbury's loans, remarked: "In the current economic climate, fewer people are looking to buy new cars."
He added: "This is one of the best times to haggle over the price you pay."
Meanwhile, Norwich Union recently launched a new service that allows customers to compare its car insurance quotes with that of competitors.
Source
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What You Need to Know About Your Insurer
After the sudden fall of American International Group, policyholders everywhere are asking the same question: How safe is my insurance company?
We all depend on insurance, from health coverage, life insurance, protection for our house and car, to our annuity in retirement. Every facet of our lives involves insurance, and we pay a large amount to make sure we will receive help when we need it.
There are two positive things about insurers. First, they are strictly regulated to ensure companies maintain the ability to meet claims, and this regulation is overseen by state insurance commissioners. Second, in the event an insurer is unable to meet its claims, states have a guaranty arrangement where all insurers would be required to contribute funds. When there is a multi-state life and health-company failure, the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations, or NOLHGA, coordinates claims. Similar guaranty associations exist for all insurance types.
It is important to realize that AIG's insurance companies are continuing to operate as normal. The insurance companies did not fail; the problems are with the holding company. The insurance companies are considered by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC, to have sufficient liquidity to meet all claims. In fact, the NAIC has set up a special committee of commissioners overseeing AIG to ensure normal operations. Additionally, the NAIC will oversee any sale of an insurance company.
Source
We all depend on insurance, from health coverage, life insurance, protection for our house and car, to our annuity in retirement. Every facet of our lives involves insurance, and we pay a large amount to make sure we will receive help when we need it.
There are two positive things about insurers. First, they are strictly regulated to ensure companies maintain the ability to meet claims, and this regulation is overseen by state insurance commissioners. Second, in the event an insurer is unable to meet its claims, states have a guaranty arrangement where all insurers would be required to contribute funds. When there is a multi-state life and health-company failure, the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations, or NOLHGA, coordinates claims. Similar guaranty associations exist for all insurance types.
It is important to realize that AIG's insurance companies are continuing to operate as normal. The insurance companies did not fail; the problems are with the holding company. The insurance companies are considered by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC, to have sufficient liquidity to meet all claims. In fact, the NAIC has set up a special committee of commissioners overseeing AIG to ensure normal operations. Additionally, the NAIC will oversee any sale of an insurance company.
Source
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
AIG shares jump on report of shareholder plan
Shares of American International Group Inc jumped as much as 43 percent on Monday, boosted by hopes that quick asset sales might allow the struggling insurer to repay an emergency bailout loan and stay out of the clutches of the U.S. government.
It was the third day of gains for the stock, which hit its all-time low of $1.25, just before the company was bailed out by the Federal Reserve with an $85 billion loan to help it recover from massive losses it suffered on mortgage derivatives.
Under last week's deal, brokered by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the Federal Reserve would take an almost 80 percent stake in the insurer, diluting the existing shareholders' ownership.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Monday, major shareholders are looking to organize a quick sale of assets and to raise capital in order to pay off the Federal Reserve loan, thereby keeping AIG independent, citing an unnamed person it said was familiar with the matter.
It did not name any shareholders in particular, but noted that AIG investors such as Bill Miller of Legg Mason and former AIG director Eli Broad banded together earlier this year in their successful push to remove then-AIG Chief Executive Martin Sullivan.
"We heard earlier that there was a group getting together to buy some assets," said Bobby Harrington, head of block trading at UBS in Stamford, Connecticut. The company has made no comment on its situation.
AIG's large and profitable insurance underwriting units -- which are separate from AIG's disastrous derivatives operation -- should get plenty of willing buyers, industry-watchers said.
"It's a soft market in the insurance industry right now, so a lot of people would give their eye tooth to own (parts of AIG)," said Andrew Barile, an independent insurance consultant, based in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He said the sum of all the parts of AIG, which underwrites almost every type of insurance in markets around the world, could be worth as much as $180 billion.
Source
It was the third day of gains for the stock, which hit its all-time low of $1.25, just before the company was bailed out by the Federal Reserve with an $85 billion loan to help it recover from massive losses it suffered on mortgage derivatives.
Under last week's deal, brokered by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the Federal Reserve would take an almost 80 percent stake in the insurer, diluting the existing shareholders' ownership.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Monday, major shareholders are looking to organize a quick sale of assets and to raise capital in order to pay off the Federal Reserve loan, thereby keeping AIG independent, citing an unnamed person it said was familiar with the matter.
It did not name any shareholders in particular, but noted that AIG investors such as Bill Miller of Legg Mason and former AIG director Eli Broad banded together earlier this year in their successful push to remove then-AIG Chief Executive Martin Sullivan.
"We heard earlier that there was a group getting together to buy some assets," said Bobby Harrington, head of block trading at UBS in Stamford, Connecticut. The company has made no comment on its situation.
AIG's large and profitable insurance underwriting units -- which are separate from AIG's disastrous derivatives operation -- should get plenty of willing buyers, industry-watchers said.
"It's a soft market in the insurance industry right now, so a lot of people would give their eye tooth to own (parts of AIG)," said Andrew Barile, an independent insurance consultant, based in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He said the sum of all the parts of AIG, which underwrites almost every type of insurance in markets around the world, could be worth as much as $180 billion.
Source
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
AIG names Liddy as CEO, not planning liquidation
American International Group Inc, which narrowly escaped financial collapse, said it had named Edward Liddy as chairman and chief executive.
Liddy succeeds Robert Willumstad, who is leaving after three months on the job, and in the wake of AIG -- once the world's largest insurer -- agreeing to an $85 billion rescue plan from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
"My intention is not to liquidate the company," said Liddy, speaking with employees, according to a source who heard the comments.
Liddy also said AIG's insurance operations were well funded, and that the company's "mess is solvable."
AIG, at the end of 2007, had 116,000 employees in operations throughout 130 countries and territories.
As part of the federal bailout, AIG will have to repay monies borrowed from the government by selling assets or units.
Liddy said AIG had to move quickly to decide what should be sold, or risk being hurt further.
Liddy was formerly chief executive of large U.S. home and auto insurer Allstate Corp.
Source
Liddy succeeds Robert Willumstad, who is leaving after three months on the job, and in the wake of AIG -- once the world's largest insurer -- agreeing to an $85 billion rescue plan from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
"My intention is not to liquidate the company," said Liddy, speaking with employees, according to a source who heard the comments.
Liddy also said AIG's insurance operations were well funded, and that the company's "mess is solvable."
AIG, at the end of 2007, had 116,000 employees in operations throughout 130 countries and territories.
As part of the federal bailout, AIG will have to repay monies borrowed from the government by selling assets or units.
Liddy said AIG had to move quickly to decide what should be sold, or risk being hurt further.
Liddy was formerly chief executive of large U.S. home and auto insurer Allstate Corp.
Source
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