Insurers asked to adopt approved repairer scheme for claims

River Canal Rescue Managing Director, Stephanie Horton, is asking insurers to review their clams handling processes in order to get boaters back on the water within days of an incident.  During a presentation at the recent Crick Boat Show, Stephanie emphasised the speed at which claims can be resolved if the insurer runs an approved repairer scheme. 

When an incident occurs, insurers typically require claimants to register the claim and complete and return a notification form with a minimum of two repair/replacement quotes.  Upon approval, the claimant is left to progress and pay for the work, submit an invoice and wait for reimbursement.

River Canal Rescue estimates this process, on average, takes between two weeks and three months.

Insurers running an approved repairer scheme, however, have authorised River Canal Rescue’s subsidiary firm, Canal Contracting, to make repairs up to an agreed limit, so there’s no need to source and pay contractors up front.   The breakdown specialist says this process; from notification to repair, can take one or two days as often only a single call is needed to the insurer for the claim to be registered, authorised and progressed. 

Stephanie went on to outline common causes of claims, such as navigational errors, grounding, accidental damage and vandalism and explained how to reduce further losses.   She also put insurance jargon into plain English and advised on claimants’ responsibilities.

Stephanie comments: “Boaters, particularly recreational ones, who insure with firms without this scheme, tend to resent the amount of time it takes to get their craft repaired and one of their biggest frustrations is having to return home to complete a claim form and source quotes/failure reports in order to obtain repair authorisation.  This takes up time and can involve a fair amount of travel to locate suitable contractors – all before anything is agreed. 

“Insurers must adapt their processes and take into account the stress and trauma often faced by boaters when they make a claim and equally, claimants need to understand the requirements and limitations of their policy.”

Recent Incidents Prompt Warning

Water Pump Alert

River Canal Rescue is urging boat owners to check their water pumps and act upon any leaks, no matter how small, after responding to seven times more call-outs in May and June. 

The inland waterway assistance firm receives on average, three calls per month for broken water pumps, yet in the last two months it attended 21.  The first week in July has already seen six calls for assistance.

Managing Director, Stephanie Horton, comments: “In many cases it’s where people neglect to put right a small leak so it develops into something more serious or they fail to replace their impeller, which only has a one year warranty and should be changed every year.”

The symptoms of a broken pump, which is typically caused by a faulty impeller or seal, are; a water leak, the pump not working at all or the engine over-heating.  Stephanie continues: “It’s important to get leaks sorted as soon as possible, as the loss of water from the cooling system due to pump failure can result in engine damage if overheating is not picked up, and this can occur within 15 minutes in severe cases.”

Visit River Canal Rescue at www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk or check out Facebook.

Collidge & Partners join forces with RCR.

One of the UK’s best known Insurance underwriting agents, who’ve specialised in the marine sector for over 25 years, Collidge & Partners, have teamed up with River Canal Rescue to offer a unique breakdown service which is now on offer to their clients. The new membership is now available to both new and existing clients and means that their customers now have access to competitively priced breakdown cover for their boat.

The service, full details of which are available on Collidge and Partners website, was first discussed just under a year ago when Chris Collidge asked RCR’s MD Stephanie Horton to come up with a package to replace Collidge &; Partners existing breakdown recovery product. The brief was simple, Chris wanted something akin to the RAC’s coverage for the motorist. He also stipulated the service was to be 24/7 and it had to be competitively priced. The result is C&P’s new Inland Waterways Breakdown Cover. 

With cover now being offered and it’s popularity evident Chris Collidge commented that he “welcomes the arrangement with RCR and is more than happy to be associated with the company [RCR]” which he describes as “complimenting his own insurance business.”

As for RCR, Stephanie states “ It’s great to finally get Collidge & Partners on board, as one of the most successful inland waterways brokers we worked with them to put together a very unique membership package. This package includes the elements that C&P championed as being a top priority to their customers, and also provided them with the benefit of knowing that they have RCR cover and access to a dependable service 24/7” She added that RCR are also “the approved repairers for Navigators and General policies and as such also handle claims for Collidge and Partners; so their customers will now experience a seamless and first class service no matter what happens...we are here to help”.

For full details of the breakdown cover on offer from C&P visit www.collidgeandpartners.co.uk and click on the link to the ‘Inland Waterways Breakdown Cover’ where you will find full details and the opportunity to download the application form. Prices start from £65 which provides cover for a maximum of 3 callouts per year.

For full details of River Canal Rescue’s range of breakdown services, and their unique Canal Contracting company, visit www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk

RCR Engine Maintenance & Boat Electrical Courses (RYA accredited)

Changes have been made to two of RCR’s well-known and ever popular maintenance courses for the 2013 season. This year the electrical courses will be run by Howard Williams, and the Maintenance course by Keith Duffy. These courses were previously presented by Tony Brookes who is now retired.

Keith Duffy has also joined as a course tutor specialising in mechanical engineering. Keith maybe a familiar face to those who’ve used River Canal Rescue’s services in the past as he used to work for RCR and was one of their first employees. A former RAF trained aircraft engineer with 43 years engineering experience and blue water sailor, Keith has now retired but enjoys teaching other people how to maintain and problem solve their own mechanical problems.  He can still be found on the waterways helping boaters and also supports RCR junior engineers in their roles.

 Howard Williams was apprenticed as an electrical technician and is now an Approved Electrician and British Marine Electrical Association Marine Electrical Technician. He has a personal interest in boats and hired on many occasions before buying his first boat in 2000. Howard carries out electrical work on and around boats on a day to day basis. This includes all types of work from emergency call out to rectify faults to full wiring of new boats from scratch. Howard like to keep up to date on new developments and as a result he’s confident that he will be able to offer those attending the course an informative, educational; but most importantly an enjoyable: time, and looks forward to meeting new learners." 

 Stephanie Horton, RCR’s MD said, “The new format of the courses has taken the excellent content of our previous courses, and the RYA requirements but added in more practical and hands on activities, we have looked at the key elements that boaters want to achieve from the course and condensed it to ensure that everyone comes away with real skills that they can put in to action on their own boat”.

Details of the courses can be foudn on the RCR webpages www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk

RCR Sponser the IWA Festival Awards

Waterways Festival Awards

River Canal Rescue is urging people to enter this year’s Waterways Festival Awards which are presented during the 19-21 July get-together at Cassiobury Park, near Watford.

Described as the biggest waterway event alongside Crick – the annual Festival attracts thousands of visitors and hundreds of canal boat owners with their craft. 

The waterways breakdown and rescue firm sponsors three Awards; the AP Herbert, Robert Aikman and newly re-named River Canal Rescue trophies, recognising the longest journey in a qualifying period, most enterprising continuous journey and most enterprising non-continuous journey. 

As well as the trophies, award-winners receive free RCR membership, and a Free Service for the longest Journey.  Deadline for entries by post or email is 8 July or for those handing in their forms at the Grand Union canal Festival site, 18 July.  

To find out more visit www.waterways.org.uk or email enquiries@rivercanalrescue.co.uk

Storm and flood losses higher than reported says River Canal Rescue

The £1.9billion* paid out by insurers to people who suffered flood and storm damage following last year’s wet weather is likely to be the tip of the iceberg, according to Stephanie Horton, Managing Director of River Canal Rescue.

Stephanie says the figure should be higher as the damage and loss to canal and river boats is not included in this figure; it comprises home, business and motor claims. 

River Canal Rescue reports it attended 75%** more call-outs to emergency situations in the period from October 12 to January 13 and specialist insurers also confirm the bad weather caused an increase in claims.

Stephanie comments: “Last year’s weather caused devastation for those on water as well as land and it’s important their losses are acknowledged.  We helped retrieve 45 sunken, partially submerged or grounded vessels, and in some cases these craft are the owners’ home, business and form of transport. Over half of these were insurance claims.”

Insurers who have not given River Canal Rescue delegated authority to make repairs as part of the claims process spend more on claims settlement due to customers’ having to source repairers themselves and agree quotes.

Stephanie explains: “Insurers who give us delegated authority save a minimum of 25% on their claims costs.  Last year, however, we reduced their bill by 65%***.  By allowing us to take ownership of the claim, we can quickly source and make repairs, reduce the total loss amount and speed up the process.  This results in less hassle for the craft owner.”

She concludes: “We’ll never know the true costs incurred as a result of the terrible weather last year, but it is important to prepare for more floods and storms and have support at hand to minimise losses if damage occurs.  Even as we approached British summer time this year, the country faced freezing conditions and more weather warnings, which is unheard of towards the end of March.”

River Canal Rescue issues warnings and reminders for people to check their craft on Facebook and via email alerts to customers. To find out more, visit www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk or phone 01785 785680.

Ends

Notes to Editors

*Association of British Insurers  2012 storm and flood statistics

http://www.abi.org.uk/Media/Releases/2013/02/Over_1300_customers_helped_everyday_by_insurers_to_recover_from_extreme_weather_in_2012_.aspx

** River Canal Rescue call-outs Oct 11 to Jan 12 v Oct 12 - Jan 13

*** Based upon potential claims cost v amount paid for cases in 2012

Media Enquiries

Stephanie Horton, Managing Director, River Canal Rescue, T: 01785 785680 or E: sho@rivercanalrescue.co.uk

Francesca Breeze, Freelance Journalist/PR Consultant, T: 01273 421115, M: 07710 963838 or E: Francesca.breeze1@ntlworld.com

Breakdown Guide from Towergate Insurance and River Canal Rescue

Canal boat insurance provider, Towergate Insurance, has joined forces with breakdown and recovery specialist, River Canal Rescue, to produce a Guide listing the five most common causes of emergency call-outs and how to avoid them.

During 2012, River Canal Rescue responded to 3,100 call-outs and in 2011, 3,400.  Although slightly fewer, it still equates to 60 call-outs a week.  

Last year, the top five call-outs were; batteries and electrical malfunctions 21%, fuel issues and contamination 18%, breaking cables 9%, over-heating/cooling system breakdown 8% and alternator issues 6%.    These were closely followed by; gearbox/drive plate failures 5%, fan belts 5%, starters 4%, propellers 3% and couplings/sheared bolts 3%*.

The Guide offers breakdown advice, general preventative maintenance and tool box contents tips, discusses how to solve problems before calling out a third-party and gives a word of warning about bio-diesel.

Towergate Insurance (marine) Managing Director, Nigel Mills, comments: “We hope canal boat owners find this Guide a useful reference tool which will reduce the need for a call-out.”

River Canal Rescue Managing Director, Stephanie Horton agrees: “Many call-outs can be avoided by regular servicing/maintenance and learning about your engine.  This Guide encourages owners to develop routines that will minimise unnecessary costs and avoid a holiday or break being spoilt by an ill-timed breakdown."

Available online at www.towergateinsurance.co.uk (click on info zone and boat) and www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk (click on tips and advice). 

Canal boat owners taking out a Fresh-Waters policy with Towergate Insurance can purchase River Canal Rescue support at a discounted rate or opt for a higher level of policy cover and receive it automatically.

For further breakdown information visit either of the websites and for insurance advice call 0800 515629 or 01743 284664.