The Euros – not without its perils
The football-mad team at First2Protect can’t stop talking about the Euros 2024, which will be coming along later this month! Tying in with this exciting event, this blog looks at some of the perils that can occur during football tournaments.
Research from Aviva, for example, revealed that accidental damage claims where football played a part increased by 82% during the last football World Cup in 2018.
Electronic equipment, windows and soft furnishings were some of the most common victims of kickabouts and celebrations during matches.
Other incidents included:
- Football kits being burned by tumble dryers
- Feet being kicked through hallway walls
- Footballs to the face breaking glasses
- A laptop falling into a bathtub while a customer watched a game!
These football-related claims had an average value of around £530.
As you might expect, kids were the cause of many claims, with one customer’s son attempting to dry his football kit with a hairdryer and burning several holes in their living room carpet as a result. Another child kicked a football at (and therefore broke) their dad’s expensive watch.
Aviva was not the only insurer to have been inundated with accidental damage claims during the football season. According to Co-op insurance, claims for damage to entertainment systems and electrical items spiked by 15% during the 2014 World Cup, mostly resulting from customers dropping their TV as they moved it, or poorly installing a TV onto wall brackets so that it fell off the wall.
Co-op also reported a two-fold increase in damages due to drinks spillages during the World Cup period, compared to the month directly following the end of the tournament.
As a football fan, and one that will no doubt be hosting family and friends to watch England’s progress throughout the tournament (and as somebody who also has three football-mad children), I can completely empathise with all of the instances above! Like any sensible household, we will of course look to prevent any damage, but the fact of the matter is that accidents do happen.
Typically, accidental damage is an optional add-on to home insurance policies rather than coming as standard, meaning that it can be easily missed or opted out of. However, trying to save money by omitting this product from your policy is a bit like shooting yourself in the foot, given that 28% of UK home insurance claims are lodged for this reason.
Here at First2Protect, our advisers are trained to explain the need for accidental damage and – at an average of £12.50 per month for full buildings and contents cover – the value add is obvious, particularly when we consider that the average buildings accidental damage claim weighs in at a hefty £4,136.
If GI insurance isn’t your bread and butter, weighing up the ifs, buts and maybes of what is and isn’t covered can be time-consuming. As your GI partner, we could help you boost your GI business without the accompanying effort. Simply pass your clients over to us; with an average conversion rate of 40-60%, we can ensure that the majority of your clients can kick back, relax and enjoy the Euros, safe in the knowledge that they will be covered when life inevitably happens.
To find out more about how our referral service works, please do drop us an email at businessdevelopment@first2protect.co.uk. We promise your customers will thank you for it!
Brian Coulton
Strategic Partnerships Director at Pivotal Growth & First2Protect