Product & Services News
2007 Archive
Fire Safety Booklet released
Wide Bay Australia together with our general insurance providers,
Allianz Australia Insurance Limited, welcomes the launch by Chris Pearce MP,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, of a national public awareness initiative
by the Australian Government and the Fire Protection Association of Australia
that is aimed at educating the public about ways to safeguard their home from
fire.
A key feature of the campaign is a booklet, 'Fire safety at home:
be prepared', which has been produced by the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) and the Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPAA).
"With winter now upon us, the booklet contains timely and
useful information on fire alarms, fire blankets, fire extinguishers and escape
plans, but of significant value is information on how people can prepare their
home to prevent fire," according to Nicholas Scofield, Allianz's General
Manager Corporate Affairs.
"One of the tips in the booklet is that householders should
ensure that electrical equipment has sufficient air circulation to avoid heat
build up. This is consistent with Allianz's own research on house fires. In
particular, Allianz has found that televisions are one of the most frequent
causes of domestic fires and ensuring adequate air circulation is an important
fire prevention measure," Mr Scofield said.
According to Mr Scofield, more specific tips relating to TV's
identified by Allianz's research include:
- having at least 15 cm of space at the sides and 20 cm at the top between
the TV and the next piece of furniture;
- mats or flowerpots should never be put on top of a TV set;
- TV's should be switched off completely and not left on stand-by when not
in operation; and
- during thunderstorms and while on holiday, both aerial and power cables
should be unplugged.
Other electrical appliances can cause fires as well. Washing
machines, driers and refrigerators also need sufficient ventilation and fire
experts generally advise against the use of electric blankets as they can set
off fires due to improper use or malfunction.
Mr Scofield concluded "through long experience, Allianz
knows that with the commencement of winter, so will follow with greater frequency
the tragedy of house fires. Allianz encourages all householders to obtain the
ACCC/FPAA booklet on home fire safety and incorporate the valuable information
it contains into their household fire prevention and protection strategy. The
life you save might not only be your own, it may be one of your family's.
Allianz home
building and contents insurance is available from Wide Bay Australia
Ltd branches.
Obtain
a copy of Allianz Australia Fire Safety Booklet (PDF, 1.71MB)
Home Building and Contents is available through Wide Bay
Australia Ltd ABN 40 087 652 060 AFSL No: 239686 ("Wide Bay") Allianz
Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence 234708 ("Allianz")
is the issuer of this insurance. In arranging this insurance Wide Bay acts
as an agent of Allianz, not as your agent. Please consider the Product Disclosure
Statement before making any decision in respect to this product. Contact
us for a copy.
More Bang For Your Overseas Buck
Whether it's a family trip to Disneyland or a romantic getaway
across the Pacific, now is the perfect time to cash in on the rise of the Aussie
Dollar.
With the Australian Dollar reaching a 17-year high against the
US Dollar, this converts to a better bang for the overseas buck for the Aussie
traveller.
In practical terms, the rise of the Aussie Dollar means that
in most destinations every aspect of your holiday, from a coffee to a cab fare,
will cost less than it would have at the start of the year.
And it doesn't matter if your trip is next week or next year,
now is a great time to be capitalising on the rise of our currency because,
at the end of the day, it means more money in your wallet.
Travelex's prepaid "Cash Passport" travel money card
is an ideal way to take advantage of the rise. Holiday funds are simply pre-loaded
onto a US Dollar, Pounds Sterling or Euro card, at the current exchange rate.
We can supply Cash Passport on-the-spot, and the card can be topped-up either
in person, by phone or internet at any time and from anywhere in the world.
And when you do eventually head overseas, Cash Passport gives you access to
your cash at more than one million Visa ATMs worldwide.
Aside from a fixed exchange rate, Cash Passport comes with a free second back-up
card and access to free, year round emergency assistance.
To help put more cash in your holiday wallet - and to take the
stress out of travelling - it's worth looking at what needs to be considered
and when. Planning a trip properly could translate to a couple of extra days
at Disneyland or a dinner to remember.
So for now, put aside thoughts of riding the teacups with the
kids or that Venetian gondola ride and start considering everything from passports
to travel money:
- Flights & accommodation: Typically one of the first steps in organising
an overseas itinerary. To ensure greater access to more options and availability,
look around some eight to nine months before travelling time. Generally speaking,
the further out the booking is made, the cheaper the fare.
- Travel insurance:
We can arrange this before you book flights, which may provide protection
in the event of cancellation.
- Passports: Ensure your passport is in order.
Once a passport application is ready to be lodged, it will take between two
to four weeks to receive the completed passport in the mail. (Ensure you
meet the standard timeframes to avoid a fast tracking fee.)
- Visas: Check
the length of time it takes to source the necessary visa applications, which
will need to be submitted to the relevant embassy.
- Travel Money: Consider
buying a Cash Passport straight away, and top up whenever you have additional
funds available. Just ask us for details!
Wide Bay Australia acts as an agent of Travelex Limited
(ABN 36 004 179 953 AFS Licence No. 222444) You can purchase Travelex products
at Wide Bay Australia Ltd branches.
This information has been supplied by Travelex- before acting on this information
you should consider your own individual situation or needs.
11 May 2007 Young drivers to get cheaper insurance premiums
Car insurance has just become more affordable for under 25 year-olds, which is great news for younger members of the family.
Allianz, one of Australia's largest insurers, has introduced a new insurance solution for young drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 years who have a good driving record.
Traditionally, younger drivers have found it expensive to get car insurance due to the overall accident rate among that age group. This can unfairly penalise young drivers, who have a good driving history, with higher insurance premiums.
Allianz has addressed this concern with its new insurance initiative, the Young Drivers Solution for Under 25s.
Young driver's who have a good driving history, had their license for a few years and who want to insure their small to medium passenger vehicle now have a competitively priced insurance solution.
To find out if you qualify or to get a free quote for Allianz car insurance, call Wide Bay Australia Widecover Insurance on 1800 673 799 or call into a Wide Bay Australia branch.
You may also be eligible for a discount if you already have Home or Contents Insurance through Wide Bay Australia Widecover.
This insurance is available through Wide Bay Australia Ltd ABN 40 087 652 060 AFSL No: 239686 ("Wide Bay") Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence 234708 ("Allianz") is the issuer of this insurance. In arranging this insurance Wide Bay acts as an agent of Allianz, not as your agent. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision in respect to this product. Contact us for a copy. Minimum premiums may apply.
