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12 years ago · by · 0 comments

Bizarre Insurance Claims Ever – Part One

Here are 3 bizarre insurance claims that we came across on the internet:

From www.bloginsure.com

9/10/2010 by Miranda Marquit

“We all know that insurance is meant to protect our assets. If something expensive happens that’s beyond our control, the ability to file an insurance claim means we don’t have to come up with the money to pay for it ourselves. However, we’ve found some strange insurance claims out there. We can’t believe some of these have even filed in the first place. More astonishingly, some of these claims were actually paid. Here are eight of the weirdest we’ve found:

1. Abducted by aliens We generally think that alien abduction only happens on the X-Files. But some people take it very seriously because there’s a market for alien abduction insurance. Goodfellow Rebecca Ingrams Pearson (GRIP), a London-based insurance brokerage, specializes in strange types of insurance – anything from immaculate conception insurance to alien abduction insurance. In fact, the company even paid a claim once. GRIP paid out one million pounds to a man in Britain who claimed to have been abducted. True, the man was a business partner with the managing director of GRIP, but the claim was still paid.

2. Dentures lost at sea Cruises are popular vacations, among the old and the young alike. However, it the sea gets choppy, you might find yourself getting seasick. One man found this out the hard way when he lost his dentures overboard. His cruise ship was experiencing rough waters in the Bay of Biscay, and his stomach was experiencing a rather upset feeling. As he vomited over the side of the ship, his dentures fell into the water, and were lost to the depths. Lucky for him, his travel insurance decided that his false teeth constituted “lost baggage.”

3. Had a bad hair day While on vacation, a man filed a claim with his travel insurance. He claimed that his daughter singed her hair in the oven, necessitating a hair cut. However, the outcome of the haircut wasn’t satisfactory. He claimed that the travel insurance should cover the cost of the haircut. The insurance company didn’t agree, and refused to cough up.

What do you think of these claims? Pretty wild right!  At Scurich Insurance we handle all kinds of claims, crazy ones too! We’re happy to review your policies for you to be sure you are properly covered.

Scurich Insurance

320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170

Watsonville, CA 95077-1170

Office: 1-831-722-3541

Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666

Email:[email protected]

 

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12 years ago · by · 0 comments

WHY EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE IS IMPORTANT EVERYWHERE

When most people think about earthquakes in the United States, California and Alaska are the two states that come to mind. However, earthquakes can happen in any part of the country. Many people move out of areas that are prone to earthquakes after experiencing one to escape the possibility of a repeat experience. The truth is that there is no place that is completely safe from earthquakes. They are a very real threat that everyone must consider and plan for. One of the most vital aspects of proper preparedness is having ample insurance coverage.

Earthquake damage isn’t covered in the majority of Homeowners policies. This is also true for business policies. Both types of policies specify that damage from earth movement is not covered. Although actual damage from a quake might not be covered, property insurance might provide coverage for fires and other incidents that occur as a result of it. Policyholders should scour their policies to understand the specific exclusions. If the policy seems difficult to read, it’s important to contact an agent with any questions.

Many people think they won’t experience a major earthquake during their lifetime. This is especially true for those who live in areas where earthquakes happen every 100 years or less. Although many people might not experience a strong earthquake like the recent Virginia incident, there are over 5,000 incidents recorded each year by the USGS. Damage from earthquakes has been recorded in all 50 states in history. There have been reports of damage in 39 states alone since 1900. This proves that although some people might not live in areas that commonly experience earthquakes; they’re still not immune to the threat.

Earthquake insurance is available as a rider, which is added to a business or personal property policy. People who have one of these types of coverage should contact their insurer to find out what coverage options are available. Since they’re unpredictable and happen suddenly, it’s best to be prepared for all types of disasters. Earthquake insurance is so important that it can’t be stressed enough. Although the majority of people assume all California homeowners have this type of coverage, research indicates that about 12% actually have this type of insurance. The nation’s average is less than 12%.

Earthquake insurance costs vary by location, building type and the age of the building. It’s much more expensive to insure older buildings. In addition to this, brick structures are more expensive to insure. Buildings with wood frames withstand the force of earthquakes better, so it’s cheaper to insure them.

To offer an example, a home with a wood frame in Washington might cost between $1 and $3 per $1,000 of coverage. The same home might be less than $.50 per $1,000 insured on the East Coast. However, a brick home might cost between $3 and $15 per $1,000 in the Pacific Northwest. In most East Coast locations, the same home might only be between $.60 and $.90 per $1,000.

Every earthquake policy also has a deductible. This means that homeowners must pay upfront for a portion of the damages before the insurer pays the remaining amount. The deductible might be up to 20% of the structure’s replacement value. The percentage depends on the insurer and the location of the structure.

There are also options for renters. There are coverage policies that protect personal property. In addition to this, they usually cover living expenses if the building becomes uninhabitable after an earthquake. It’s important for renters to keep a list of belongings and their values. Major appliances, furniture, electronics and other expensive items must all be documented properly. A new way of creating a record of belongings is making a narrated video tour of the home and focusing on belongings. Contact one of our insurance agents to secure the earthquake coverage that is right for your individual needs.

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Scurich Insurance

320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170

Watsonville, CA 95077-1170

Office: 1-831-722-3541

Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666

Email:[email protected]

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12 years ago · by · 0 comments

WHY BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ALL EMPLOYERS

With more jobs becoming available today, there is a major problem presenting itself for employers. Employees who are applying for jobs are lying about important aspects of their lives. In most cases, the truth may be a disqualifying factor. To avoid the hassle of hiring an unfit employee, it's important to conduct a background check.

According to the ADP's 2009 Hiring Index, 46% of the 1.7 million applicants reviewed had discrepancies in their resume's employment, credentials, education or reference checks sections. In addition to this, 37% of applicants had traffic violations or convictions, and 6% had criminal charges within the past seven years. While not all applicants lie about convictions, others may fabricate details that make them look more appealing. This practice, which is commonly called resume padding, is a method used by people who aren't qualified for a position to attempt to obtain it. It's important to be able to identify both omissions and lies.

Understanding What Is in a Background Check. Not all background checks are the same. There are hundreds of online services that advertise cheap and fast background checks. However, these companies provide limited information, and often have limited access to databases that are not regularly updated. In order to get the most accurate and recent records it is best to use state resources.

How to Perform a Background Check.

Usually, the office of the Highway Patrol is the best place to begin a search. Some jobs require a prospective employee to manage a budget and handle money. If this is the case, it's a good idea to request a credit check also. It's important to have the applicant's SSN, date of birth and any last names or aliases they've used in the past 10 years. Be sure to have the applicant's approval before performing a background check. Social media sites, such as Facebook, can also be beneficial when researching a potential employee. Keep in mind that people may make fictitious profiles and claims on social media sites, so this information shouldn't replace what is available on a background check. However, sometimes discrepancies between resumes and social profiles are enough to raise a red flag against a potential employee.

Be specific in what information you decide to verify with a background check or credit check, and only perform those checks when there is a direct correlation with job duties. For example, don't request a credit check for an employee who won't be controlling a budget or working with cash. However, if an applicant will be caring for disabled individuals, it's important to verify that they don't have any past charges of abuse, assault or neglect. Always use common sense to determine which bits of information need to be verified.

Employer Reference Considerations. Verifying employment and inquiring about an applicant's work ethic with a previous employer is important. However, it's also important to make the reference call count. Never rely on the phone number provided by the applicant. Either look up the number through an online phone directory or use a reliable source to verify the number. Although it isn't common, sometimes applicants provide erroneous phone numbers that may not belong to the previous employer they listed. In some cases, employees might provide a friend's number instead. That friend will often provide a false reference to make the employee look good. Be sure to ask pointed and concise questions to the applicant's previous employer. The following questions are good examples:
  • How do the applicant’s skills with other team members rank?
  • What are the applicant’s strengths?
  • How does the applicant deal with stress and conflict?
  • In what ways could the applicant improve?
The best time to perform a background check is after extending an offer for employment. However, be sure to tell the applicant that their employment with the company is contingent upon them passing a background check. It's always a good idea to state upfront in the job posting that a background check will be performed for qualified applicants. This is usually effective in discouraging applicants who know they have a checkered past and intend to lie about it. Again, the most important thing to remember is to always obtain an applicant's written permission before ordering a background or credit check for them.

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Scurich Insurance

320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170

Watsonville, CA 95077-1170

Office: 1-831-722-3541

Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666

Email:[email protected]

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12 years ago · by · 0 comments

Tony Scurich – Principal/Broker

Born in Watsonville Tony has been in the insurance business since 1981 and with Scurich Insurance since 1983. Tony is married with 3 children, graduated from Watsonville High in 1977 and Santa Clara University in 1981. His current activities include running at Rio Del Mar Beach & West Cliff Drive, biking, cooking/BBQing, reading biographies and eating breakfast burritos at Pixie Deli. Past and present community activities include board member of St Francis High School, Pajaro Valley Historical Association, YMCA (board member and youth basketball coach), Boy Scouts of America and, Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce (board chair in 2004).

 


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Scurich Insurance

320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170

Watsonville, CA 95077-1170

Office:             1-831-722-3541

Toll Free:             1-800-320-3666

Email:[email protected]

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12 years ago · by · 0 comments

Ten Tax Tips for Procrastinators

Here are some tax tips for those of you who haven’t filed your 2011 tax return.

1. File an extension

2. Pay what you think you will owe

3. Contact employer, mortgage company

4. Set aside some spare time

5. Remember to take it in baby steps

6. Create and follow a checklist

7. Find a book, visit the library to help you

8. Use tax software

9. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

10. Do better by preparing for next year 2012

 

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Scurich Insurance

320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170

Watsonville, CA 95077-1170

Office: 1-831-722-3541

Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666

Email:[email protected]

This article is courtesy of ksbw.com 

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Scurich Insurance Services
Phone: (831) 661-5697
Fax: (831) 661-5741

Physical:
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd., Suite7,
Aptos, Ca 95003-4700

Mailing:
PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170

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(831) 661-5697

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