 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone, I hope this message finds you well.
I'm a new Business Consultant for a Protection Specialist based in the UK and looking to gauge how our UK 'Snowheads' view Personal Accident/Income Protection in the event any accident (on the slope or off,) will prevent them from being able to work. I find Cold calling on the phone or sending emails very impersonal, so I'll be visiting some slopes this year to get out, meet some people & have an informal chat; along with giving out some info packs advising on the best way to buy these types of Products and what to look out for whether through ourselves or another brokers.
What's the most important factor for you when choosing this sort of Protection, if any? Is it the monthly cost? Who the Provider is? How Comprehensive the cover is?
When buying Protection, do you normally search the market online yourself or look for an independent broker?
When receiving info on these types of products, would you prefer to have an informal chat in person, read an email or get a phonecall?
Thanks for your help in advance everyone, this will help me to prepare for later in the year to approach people in the best way & try not to annoy them, which I know can be very frustrating.
Cheers 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I think if you want to interupt people's skiing holidays by trying to sell them insurance you'd probably better make sure your own cover is in order first...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Second what Tubaski say's. Who the hell wants to be accosted on the slopes by an insurance salesman? Anyway, all those that are there will almost certainly already be covered. The would be complete idiots not to be. OK, I know there are a few.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
When receiving info on these types of products, would you prefer to have an informal chat in person, read an email or get a phonecall?
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None of the above. I would want to be able to read all the smallprint for myself, on a website. I would also search for any reliable comparisons - e.g. in Which magazine.
I did have personal accident and critical illness/income insurance when I was a family breadwinner. Now I am retired, with a pension which will carry on regardless  I don't need to ensure my income.
I'm afraid I'd politely ask you to get lost, if you accosted me on a ski slope. I might also complain to the resort tourist office, come to think of it.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Haha, I get your point guys. There would be no accosting in anyway or trying to sell either. The point is to give away info packs to allow the individual to make the most informed decision when they come to buying this sort of protection. Over the last few months, it's frightening how many people I've spoken to who take part in hazardous sports, insure all their gear, but have no personal protection...or they have protection, but race days for example are excluded. Motorsports especially.
You've given me food for thought anyway. Thanks for your input.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Tubaski, @Old Man Of Lech, I took it from his 1st post that the OP intends to visit some dry slopes and domes, not to jet off to the Alps to accost people in the middle of their hols. I've been wrong before, mind!
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you might well be right, @Tom Doc. You'd definitely need permission to visit a snowdome to flog insurance.
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@Tom Doc, I think I'd resent that almost as much.
@Hinch12, Your first post hardly makes you sound like a disinterested party, I find it hard to believe that you would offer 'info packs' unless the point of doing so was to sell your services. Presenting marketing material as independent information is possibly one of the most weasily forms of marketing (and there is far too much weasily marketing in the world). Please don't intrude on our leisure time by interupting our skiing (at home or abroad).
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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On a serious note, I think it is a good idea for self-employed people to look at some kind of income protection should they get injured and not be able to work. Last time I looked into it it was pretty expensive though. And if you had such a policy, would it cover you if the cause of the injury was seen as being "an extreme sport" ie skiing.
@Hinch12, you may as well spell out all the features/benefits/cost.
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@Tubaski, Agreed.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Tom Doc wrote: |
| @Tubaski, @Old Man Of Lech, I took it from his 1st post that the OP intends to visit some dry slopes and domes, not to jet off to the Alps to accost people in the middle of their hols. I've been wrong before, mind! |
I assumed this too - and I'd love if someone came to my dry slope and could answer some questions that I have because I waste plenty of time emailing so many insurance companies that can't answer what I think are reasonably simple questions when it comes to race training insurance
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Quote: |
I find Cold calling on the phone or sending emails very impersonal
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Isn't that sort of what you are doing here on snowheads?
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It's definitely something I'll take away & think about. It's something that will always get a mixed reaction. The main aim of posting was to find out your thoughts and how you would react to someone being there to offer impartial advice, would it be welcomed/unwelcome, so I knew if i'd be wasting my time or not. Some people seem absolutely outraged that someone would dare consider the thought of sparking up some conversation with a human for a product they need & feel more comfortable using comparison sites, which is fair enough as that's the world we're living in now. Unsure if this is due to past bad experiences with pushy sales people or not, but one thing to remember with comparison sites is to really do your homework before signing up and that they don't always take into consideration the best policy for an individuals circumstances.
@Pruman Thanks for your comment. I agree it's always wise for the self-employed to look into options of how they'd manage if they were unable to work, or if they were employed, but didn't have sick pay to fall back on. Some people have enough savings to keep them going until they recover or their partner can take care of the bills , but the ones who don't may struggle & with the Government ESA or SSP being under £400 a month, this probably wouldn't cover most peoples outgoings.
It's hard to put a cost on it as everyone's circumstances are different, the factors involved in the cost with the Providers are:
Age. The younger you are the cheaper your premiums will be.
Health. Some pre existing medical conditions can either have an additional cost added on to the premium, or be excluded by the Provider.
Smoker. If you're a non smoker, this can bring the premium down.
Benefit. How much you are looking to receive each month in the event of an accident. Providers will usually cover up to 65% of your net monthly take home, this along with the government amount should take you not far under your monthly wage. Not many providers will cover higher than this, as it would end up working out that you were better off on the sick than you were working.
Deferred Period. The amount of time you'd like to wait until the policy pays out. E.g, you're self-employed and think you can take care of yourself for a month before making a claim, then your premium would be lower than a Day 1 pay out, or if you're employed & get 3 months half pay & 3 months full pay, the benefit can kick it half benefit after month 3, then full benefit after month 6, this would also be cheaper than day 1 pay out.
As you can see there is a lot to take into consideration when looking at a policy & it shouldn't be a one size fits all. Some Providers will cover extreme sports with no penalty & others wont even consider it. When you're choosing someone to give you advice on any policy, whether that's for Income Protection, Mortgage Protection, Life cover, Accident cover, try & make sure you deal with an Advisor & not just a Salesperson. You want someone who will ask you questions on your own circumstances and find the best cover for you & not try to push just any cover on to you. Find out whether they are regulated by the FCA - which is an independent watchdog for Financial Services. (If they're not...steer clear.) Find out beforehand whether they charge a fee or not for any advice & whether they deal with the whole of market or are tied to only one Provider and finally, do your own homework also so you have a rough idea at prices and what's available.
Sorry if that was a bit longwinded.
@moseyp Let me know if you have any issues or questions & if I don't know the answer I'll find out for you.
@Tubaski Of course i'm not a disinterested party, this is my job. My hope in handing out the info packs & chatting to people is that I'm there for any advice both at the time & afterwards once they get home. My card will be in the pack, so hopefully down the line when someone wants to start looking for any cover they have my number & hopefully will choose me, but again all quotes and advice are no fee & no obligation, so it's entirely up to the individual. There is no sneakiness or underhanded tactics in my intentions, I'm just trying to build up my client base.
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You know it makes sense.
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Sorry Hinch12 but I think it very unlikely any info packs you give out in a ski resort will ever be opened and therefore it is also unlikely your contact details/card will ever be found.
Just enjoy your skiing and keep your business life separate is my advice and that is after 20 odd years in the insurance industry. These days most people "buy" PPI and PA cover as part of a product package (in the case of PA frequently as a freebie extra) which I am sure you know. You have chosen some very difficult products as your offering of choice.
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