Why Insurance Agents Worry About Their Clients: Hotel Safety Tips

In my blog yesterday we talked about the holidays fast approaching and the highway travel that would be most likely taking place and some ways to be sure your reach your destination and return home safely. Today lets talk about when you actually arrive. If you are staying in a hotel there are some very important safety precautions you will want to take to be sure you and your family are protected.  Even if you think you know the area and you feel 'safe', you can not be too careful.  Crime is on the rise.

Before your stay, know your hotel:  Don't be afraid to call and ask questions before you make your reservation.  Select a hotel that has installed modern electronic guest room locks. Be aware of your hotels surroundings and location.  If you are visiting a foreign country, be aware of the security situation there.  Call ahead and make sure the front desk is staffed 24 hours a day. Jewelry, luggage and valuables should be photographed before your trip.  Be sure your cell phone works even if there is a phone in your room.

Once you arrive, be aware of your surroundings:  Immediately familiarize yourself with the fire escape route. Ask the front desk what number should be dialed in case of emergency.   Be aware of anyone listening in on your conversation as you check in. Don't let the front desk associate publicize your room number.

During your stay, be on guard:  Keep your room key, wallet, flashlight and cell phone on your nightstand. Check the locks on doors and windows as soon as you arrive. At night, use the main entrance.  Keep cash, credit cards and checks in separate pockets or areas of your purse. Never open your door to someone unless you are sure of their identity and expecting them.

Below is an infographic offering more safety tips before and during your stay.  You should also check with your insurance agent to be sure your belongings will be covered.  Some homeowners or renters policies provide coverage anywhere in the world, some in the US only and there is often limitations for jewelry.

If you would like a free review of your insurance policy, please visit us on the web or give us a call at one of our three locations.

Why Insurance Agents Worry About Their Clients

More and more individuals are becoming victims of identity theft.  Your money is insured through the bank or credit card company.   If you are a victim of identity theft and catch it soon enough your bank or credit card company will cancel the card or account, confirm any recent transactions and start and investigation process.  If you are not aware of accounts that may have been created in your name or using your private data it can be very costly and time consuming to recover your identity. 

Recently, many insurance carriers are aware of this problem and automatically include identity theft recovery coverage as part of the coverage provided on your homeowners or renters policy.  In some cases this coverage can also be added by endorsement for a small additional charge if not automatically included.

So what exactly is identity theft?  Identity theft occurs when a person uses another persons identification documents or other identifiers in order to impersonate that person for what ever reason.  Approximately, 10 million individuals in the US were victims of identity theft last year alone.   If not caught soon enough, you may need to hire and attorney, lose time from work, pay for duplicate copies of forms, all of which can add up.  Most of the policies we offer will pay up to $25,000 to cover these costs.

Please check out the infographic below for more information about identity theft and how to prevent it.

To find out if you have identity theft recovery coverage on your policy, even if you are not our current client, contact us at one of our three locations or visit us on the web and get a free insurance review.