Consumers urged to take advantage of insurance value added benefits

Most home and motor short-term insurance policies offer value added benefits like home and roadside assistance, often at no extra cost, yet many consumers tend to forget that these services form part of their cover and as a result waste money on locksmith

This is according to Nazeer Hoosen, Executive PPS Short-Term Insurance Division, who says value added benefits are there to take the stress out of a lot of everyday problems, some of which can be very expensive. “It seems like most plumbing or electrical emergencies tend to occur on the weekend, resulting in people frantically trying to source a plumber or electrician that works outside of normal business hours. By simply calling the emergency assistance number provided by the insurance provider, consumers can be rest assured that a qualified and reputable service provider will come straight to their aid and sort out the problem,” says Hoosen.

He says most benefits typically provide for one hour of free labour and include the call out fee. “Not only do consumers save money as they do not have to source a supplier, they are also guaranteed that the problem will be resolved professionally.”

The most common types of home assistance value added benefits include: plumbing failure management, electrical, plate glass breakage and locksmith requirements. Roadside assistance value added benefits include: immobilisers, flat tyre assistance, battery jump start, towing services, car lock out services, emergency fuel delivery, message relay services, vehicle repatriation, trip interruption benefit, car hire and drunken driver assistance.

Hoosen also notes that with an increasing number of companies offering ‘assist’ services, it is crucial that consumers do not purchase unnecessary services that are already offered by their insurance provider. “Before taking on any additional value added services consumers should first consult their insurance provider to find out whether they already have the service included in their short term insurance policy. It is also important to fully understand the benefit being offered to ensure it is something they will in fact need and use.”

He says some insurance providers also offer a referral service when consumers are looking for service providers such as carpenters, building renovators, gate and pool motors, thatch specialists and many others. “These suppliers are all approved by the insurance provider, so consumers can be rest assured they would be dealing with a reputable service provider.”

“When it comes to emergency situations, short-term insurance providers are making strides in offering their clients all round reliable services. For those consumers who may not be aware of the value-added benefits in their short-term insurance policy, they should consult their broker to find out more and start taking advantage,” concludes Hoosen.