The current Coronavirus outbreak has placed the Nation in an unimaginable and worrying time, with unprecedented pressures being placed on the NHS, businesses and individuals. The country is facing the prospect of extended restrictions to our movements; the dedicated NHS staff risk their own lives to save others on a daily basis. Whilst all this is happening it is having a huge impact on our clients and their livelihoods. Please be assured we are doing everything possible to support you during this time.
How Quotax is supporting our clients during this difficult period
In response to the government’s latest measures we have taken the decision to temporarily close our offices to protect both our staff and customers. Please rest assured we have a robust business continuity plan in operation which has enabled all of our team to work successfully from home and you are able to contact us in all the usual ways.
A number of our clients have called to discuss options to reduce their monthly outgoings at this difficult time. Please see below a list of frequently asked questions with answers that may give some guidance.
Your Questions answered
If I pay by Direct Debit can I defer my payment whilst the current crisis is ongoing?
If you pay by Direct Debit your Premium Funding will almost certainly have been arranged by Close Brothers Premium Finance. At Quotax we are able to make minor changes to your plan (we can sometimes alter a payment date by a few days). Any significant changes you require to make will need to be directed to Close Brothers Premium Finance. They can be contacted on 0333 321 8566, please quote your reference number when calling them, this can be found on the documentation that they sent you when the loan was arranged.
I paid my policy in full; can I now get my money back and pay monthly?
If you have already paid in full we are unable to now move you onto a monthly direct debit scheme mid term.
I am unable to make my Insurance payment what can I do
If you have an annual Insurance policy which is due for renewal and you are unable to meet that expense please talk to one of the Quotax Customer Service team about setting up a monthly plan with Close Brothers Premium Finance.
If you are already paying by Monthly Direct Debit and you are unable to make the next payment call the Quotax Team, they may be able to change the payment date, alternatively call Close Premium Funding on 0333 321 8566 and remember to have your reference number to hand.
I want to cancel my policy can I do this?
If you are taking your vehicle off the road you can cancel your Insurance Policy. Please remember that some charges are made when a policy is cancelled, therefore the return premium may not be exactly pro-rata to the time that you have had on cover. If any incident has been reported during the policy year the Insurer may decline to offer a refund. Please be aware that you may lose some of your No Claims Bonus if you have not completed a full year of Insurance cover. You must also declare your vehicle SORN if you are keeping it off the road and uninsured.
If you are paying your premium by Direct Debit (with Close Premium Finance) and you cancel your policy we will obtain a refund of premium from your insurer (subject to no claims having been made in the policy year). The refund will be calculated in accordance with your policy wording and terms of business. We will use this refund to offset the outstanding balance owed to Close Brothers Premium Finance. In some instances, the refund from the Insurer (please refer to your policy booklet for scale of return) may not be sufficient to settle the balance to the Premium Finance Company. If this is the case you will be responsible for the outstanding amount.
Before you decide to cancel your policy please carefully consider the following
All vehicles are required to be insured that are taxed. It is possible to declare your vehicle SORN as long as the vehicle is not on a public road; it is however a requirement that any vehicles kept on a public road must have minimum levels of cover.
It is also a Public and Private Hire licensing requirement with most Councils that your vehicle should be Insured for Hire and Reward for the duration of plate, please therefore check with your Licensing Authority or TFL before cancelling.
If you are paying for your vehicle on finance/lease or a similar scheme most finance providers stipulate that the vehicle must be insured comprehensively for the duration of the finance agreement, before deciding to cancel please check with you Finance provider
Are there any alternatives to cancelling my policy?
Some of our Insurers will give the option to reduce cover to Social Domestic and Pleasure only if you are not using the vehicle for Hire and Reward, please speak with your local Plating Council first as it is usually a requirement that the vehicle is covered for Hire and Reward whilst plated.
Can I freeze my Insurance?
Insurers have not traditionally allowed cover to be frozen or premium holidays to be taken.
Are you still able to offer a 24/7 claims service?
Yes – all of our providers have comprehensive business continuity plans in place which have been implemented, please contact our claims departments in the normal ways.
We have been working closely with our insurer panel to support our Taxi Driver clients whilst they look to diversify their activities in order to maintain some level of income during this difficult period.
We have negotiated the following extensions in cover with our Insurer Panel for the duration of the crisis and in the case of Antilo Insurance for one month only (this will be reviewed at the end of one month)
• Markerstudy, we can now confirm that, on a temporary basis during the Corona Virus crisis, policy cover is extended to cover all Taxi policies to deliver fast food, collection and delivery of prescriptions, food/grocery shopping and small parcel delivery. This extension of cover is provided completely free of charge.
• Haven Insurance, we can now confirm that, on a temporary basis during the Corona Virus crisis, policy cover is extended to cover all Taxi policies to deliver fast food, collection and delivery of prescriptions, food/grocery shopping and small parcel delivery. This extension of cover is provided completely free of charge.
• Antilo, we can now confirm that, for one month only during the Corona Virus crisis, policy cover is extended to cover all Taxi policies to deliver fast food, collection and delivery of prescriptions, food/grocery shopping and small parcel delivery. This extension of cover is provided completely free of charge.
• ERS, we can now confirm that, on a temporary basis during the Corona Virus crisis, policy cover for Taxis can be extended to cover journeys delivering fast food, collection and the delivery of prescriptions, food/grocery shopping and small parcel delivery. This extension of cover is provided completely free of charge. You will need to call our office in order for us to notify ERS that you intend to carry out this type of work so that they can endorse your policy to cover this.
• Allianz, we can now confirm that, we are able to extend cover for the Carriage of Goods.
. You will need to call our office in order for us to notify Allianz that you intend to carry out this type of work so that they can endorse your policy to cover this.
In all cases we must advise you that the goods that you will be transporting will NOT be insured but the journey itself will be. This means, if the goods transported are DAMAGED or LOST during transit, no cover will be in place.
Should you wish to insure the goods that you are transporting, please contact us and we will be able to quote for a separate “Goods in Transit” policy.
Finally
Please remember we are here to offer help and support to you. We can only make changes to your policy that the Insurer has agreed. The Insurers are reviewing what changes can be made to their policies regularly and the options may change. Our staff are working from home taking large volumes of calls so the wait times may be longer than you might ordinarily expect. Thank you for your understanding with this.
We hope that you and your families remain safe and well.
Kindest regards,
Daniel Fosker and all of the Quotax team.
Important Information following the Covid-19 Pandemic
/in Bus and Coach News, General News, Ice-Cream Van Insurance, Insurance News, Medical News, Minibus News, Motor Trade News, Taxi NewsThe current Coronavirus outbreak has placed the Nation in an unimaginable and worrying time, with unprecedented pressures being placed on the NHS, businesses and individuals. The country is facing the prospect of extended restrictions to our movements; the dedicated NHS staff risk their own lives to save others on a daily basis. Whilst all this is happening it is having a huge impact on our clients and their livelihoods. Please be assured we are doing everything possible to support you during this time.
How Quotax is supporting our clients during this difficult period
In response to the government’s latest measures we have taken the decision to temporarily close our offices to protect both our staff and customers. Please rest assured we have a robust business continuity plan in operation which has enabled all of our team to work successfully from home and you are able to contact us in all the usual ways.
A number of our clients have called to discuss options to reduce their monthly outgoings at this difficult time. Please see below a list of frequently asked questions with answers that may give some guidance.
Your Questions answered
If I pay by Direct Debit can I defer my payment whilst the current crisis is ongoing?
If you pay by Direct Debit your Premium Funding will almost certainly have been arranged by Close Brothers Premium Finance. At Quotax we are able to make minor changes to your plan (we can sometimes alter a payment date by a few days). Any significant changes you require to make will need to be directed to Close Brothers Premium Finance. They can be contacted on 0333 321 8566, please quote your reference number when calling them, this can be found on the documentation that they sent you when the loan was arranged.
I paid my policy in full; can I now get my money back and pay monthly?
If you have already paid in full we are unable to now move you onto a monthly direct debit scheme mid term.
I am unable to make my Insurance payment what can I do
If you have an annual Insurance policy which is due for renewal and you are unable to meet that expense please talk to one of the Quotax Customer Service team about setting up a monthly plan with Close Brothers Premium Finance.
If you are already paying by Monthly Direct Debit and you are unable to make the next payment call the Quotax Team, they may be able to change the payment date, alternatively call Close Premium Funding on 0333 321 8566 and remember to have your reference number to hand.
I want to cancel my policy can I do this?
If you are taking your vehicle off the road you can cancel your Insurance Policy. Please remember that some charges are made when a policy is cancelled, therefore the return premium may not be exactly pro-rata to the time that you have had on cover. If any incident has been reported during the policy year the Insurer may decline to offer a refund. Please be aware that you may lose some of your No Claims Bonus if you have not completed a full year of Insurance cover. You must also declare your vehicle SORN if you are keeping it off the road and uninsured.
If you are paying your premium by Direct Debit (with Close Premium Finance) and you cancel your policy we will obtain a refund of premium from your insurer (subject to no claims having been made in the policy year). The refund will be calculated in accordance with your policy wording and terms of business. We will use this refund to offset the outstanding balance owed to Close Brothers Premium Finance. In some instances, the refund from the Insurer (please refer to your policy booklet for scale of return) may not be sufficient to settle the balance to the Premium Finance Company. If this is the case you will be responsible for the outstanding amount.
Before you decide to cancel your policy please carefully consider the following
All vehicles are required to be insured that are taxed. It is possible to declare your vehicle SORN as long as the vehicle is not on a public road; it is however a requirement that any vehicles kept on a public road must have minimum levels of cover.
It is also a Public and Private Hire licensing requirement with most Councils that your vehicle should be Insured for Hire and Reward for the duration of plate, please therefore check with your Licensing Authority or TFL before cancelling.
If you are paying for your vehicle on finance/lease or a similar scheme most finance providers stipulate that the vehicle must be insured comprehensively for the duration of the finance agreement, before deciding to cancel please check with you Finance provider
Are there any alternatives to cancelling my policy?
Some of our Insurers will give the option to reduce cover to Social Domestic and Pleasure only if you are not using the vehicle for Hire and Reward, please speak with your local Plating Council first as it is usually a requirement that the vehicle is covered for Hire and Reward whilst plated.
Can I freeze my Insurance?
Insurers have not traditionally allowed cover to be frozen or premium holidays to be taken.
Are you still able to offer a 24/7 claims service?
Yes – all of our providers have comprehensive business continuity plans in place which have been implemented, please contact our claims departments in the normal ways.
We have been working closely with our insurer panel to support our Taxi Driver clients whilst they look to diversify their activities in order to maintain some level of income during this difficult period.
We have negotiated the following extensions in cover with our Insurer Panel for the duration of the crisis and in the case of Antilo Insurance for one month only (this will be reviewed at the end of one month)
• Markerstudy, we can now confirm that, on a temporary basis during the Corona Virus crisis, policy cover is extended to cover all Taxi policies to deliver fast food, collection and delivery of prescriptions, food/grocery shopping and small parcel delivery. This extension of cover is provided completely free of charge.
• Haven Insurance, we can now confirm that, on a temporary basis during the Corona Virus crisis, policy cover is extended to cover all Taxi policies to deliver fast food, collection and delivery of prescriptions, food/grocery shopping and small parcel delivery. This extension of cover is provided completely free of charge.
• Antilo, we can now confirm that, for one month only during the Corona Virus crisis, policy cover is extended to cover all Taxi policies to deliver fast food, collection and delivery of prescriptions, food/grocery shopping and small parcel delivery. This extension of cover is provided completely free of charge.
• ERS, we can now confirm that, on a temporary basis during the Corona Virus crisis, policy cover for Taxis can be extended to cover journeys delivering fast food, collection and the delivery of prescriptions, food/grocery shopping and small parcel delivery. This extension of cover is provided completely free of charge. You will need to call our office in order for us to notify ERS that you intend to carry out this type of work so that they can endorse your policy to cover this.
• Allianz, we can now confirm that, we are able to extend cover for the Carriage of Goods.
. You will need to call our office in order for us to notify Allianz that you intend to carry out this type of work so that they can endorse your policy to cover this.
In all cases we must advise you that the goods that you will be transporting will NOT be insured but the journey itself will be. This means, if the goods transported are DAMAGED or LOST during transit, no cover will be in place.
Should you wish to insure the goods that you are transporting, please contact us and we will be able to quote for a separate “Goods in Transit” policy.
Finally
Please remember we are here to offer help and support to you. We can only make changes to your policy that the Insurer has agreed. The Insurers are reviewing what changes can be made to their policies regularly and the options may change. Our staff are working from home taking large volumes of calls so the wait times may be longer than you might ordinarily expect. Thank you for your understanding with this.
We hope that you and your families remain safe and well.
Kindest regards,
Daniel Fosker and all of the Quotax team.
5 Surprising Facts About Ice-Cream Vans
/in General News, Ice-Cream Van Insurance, Insurance NewsThe humble ice-cream van is a childhood staple for many of us and this tradition has fortunately lived on despite the ease in which frozen foods can be bought from supermarkets. But this wasn’t always the case. When mobile ice-cream vendors first hit the streets of the UK refrigeration was expensive and rare – meaning households relied on deliveries of chilled or frozen food.
When researching for this article, we were surprised to find that flavoured ice products are by no means a recent invention. As far back as the first century AD, Emperor Nero was reported to send runners to the nearby mountains to collect snow, then had it flavoured – in what can only be described as the first recorded slushie.
Yet, the concept of a portable store for frozen products didn’t surface until the mid-1800s. According to Honours Ice Cream, in 1850AD horse-drawn carriages could be seen selling ice-cream around the UK, captured in sketches and photographs of the time period.
So the first surprising fact about ice-cream vans is: they’ve been around for a lot longer than you think. But there are several more facts which will surprise you:
1. The first soft ice-cream was a complete accident
Today, Carvel is a well-known American ice-cream brand, but you might be surprised to know the company’s namesake, Tom Carvel, invented soft ice-cream by mistake. According to Wikipedia, Tom Carvel was seen selling ice-cream from his van as far back as 1929, but the concept of selling it in a soft form only emerged in 1934 – due to a flat tyre.
You see, Tom Carvel was selling ice-cream during memorial day – a day of remembrance for World War 1 – when his tyre went flat. Rather than let this get him down, Tom decided to sell the partially melted ice-cream from his truck. To his surprise, the customers actually preferred the softer texture and he sold out completely in just two days.
The concept was a hit and Carvel is still going today, more than 80 years on.
2. Ice-cream vans used to announce their presence by ringing a handbell
Today, ice-cream vans are likely to play catchy songs like the Teddy Bears Picnic or Greensleeves. But this hasn’t always been the case. According to the BBC, ice-cream vans used to announce their presence by ringing a handbell.
One crafty entrepreneur even took this one step further and covered his van in sleigh bells. The jingling sounds worked so well that he added them to the rest of his 12-strong fleet of vans.
For fans of psychology, you may think there’s something very Pavlovian about this…
3. The most popular ice-cream van song, Greensleeves, is a nod to Henry VIII
The most successful UK ice-cream van brand is Mr Whippy, which took inspiration from the success of Mister Softee in the US. Its founder, Dominic Facchino, was a big fan of Henry VIII who is (wrongly) credited with composing Greensleeves for Anne Boleyn.
Mr Facchino loved it so much, he made sure Greensleeves was played from all of the vans in his fleet, and the tune quickly became associated with the British summertime.
4. Up until 2013 there were strict regulations on ice-cream vans
Dominic Facchino will no doubt have been disappointed by the ‘Code of Practice on
Noise from Ice-Cream Van Chimes Etc.’ which was introduced in 1982 and limited chimes to 4-second bursts. Hardly the tribute to Henry VIII he wanted.
Fortunately for fans of ice-cream tunes, in 2013 the Government relaxed these regulations, tripling the time to 12 seconds and allowing the tunes to sound every two minutes rather than just three.
5. Quotax can insure your ice-cream van
Quotax offers free advice for anyone looking to insure their vehicle, and ice-cream vans aren’t the only unusual vehicle we can help with: horse-boxes, recovery vans, skip trucks and of course – our most popular service – taxis.
If you’ve got a vehicle you’re looking to insure, why not give us a call today on 020 8691 9691, or drop us an email over on our Contact Page. It won’t cost you anything to get a quote – you might be surprised by just how many things we insure!
Feefo Customer Service Gold Award 2020
/in General NewsQuotax is pleased to announce that they have been awarded by Feefo the Gold Trusted Service Award.
This trusted award is given to businesses for top tier service with average ratings of over 4.5 out of 5 in the Feefo independent reviews. In the past 12 month Quotax has scored an average of 4.7 out of 5.
We would like to give a huge thanks to our staff for delivering exceptional customer service and most of all to our clients for voting and putting your trust in us.
To view more of our award-winning services, visit our website for more info!
Happy Anniversary Holly Platt
/in General NewsHappy Anniversary! This month marks Holly Platt’s 10 year anniversary at Quotax.
Holly has worked tirelessly delivering exceptional customer service to our clients over the years.
Holly initially joined Quotax as an administrator and has being promoted several times since and has recently been made Customer Services Manager.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Holly for her contribution towards the growth of Quotax and we wish her many more years of happiness and success.
London Taxi Driver Dean Richardson makes his first defence of his Southern Area Title
/in General News, Taxi NewsLondon Taxi Driver Dean Richardson makes his first defence of his Southern Area Title against Konrad Stempkowski on 14th March at York Hall, Bethnal Green.
Richardson, from South Ruislip, is returning to the ring for the first time since winning the title back in September, with a second round knockout of Nathan Graham.
Stempkowski has an impressive record to date, having had 11 bouts with 9 wins and will be his first crack at a professional title which Richardson is keen to hang on to.
All of the Quotax team wish you the very best on the 14th Dean!!!!
Crash For Cash Scams: All You need to Know
/in General NewsFraudulent claims have been in the headlines for several years as companies in the UK insurance industry battle criminal gangs and their ever-evolving scams, making millions out of ordinary motorists in the process.
Figures show that in 2016 insurers discovered 150,000 fraudulent claims totalling up to a whopping £1.3 billion. This led to insurers spending up to £200 million to identify and shut down the fraudulent claims.
In this article, we tell you what to look out for if you suspect you’ve been targeted for a scam and how to avoid being a victim of a fraudulent claim. Read more
Quotax Anniversary: 15 Years in Insurance Broking
/in General News, Taxi NewsThis year, we’re celebrating our fifteenth anniversary! Since 2004, we at Quotax have kept a steady momentum to become a leader for Commercial Vehicle Insurance in the UK.
We’ve come a long way since our beginnings and that’s thanks in large part not only to our amazing clients but our fantastic team of dedicated staff.
Over the course of our fifteen years, we like to think we’ve fulfilled our founder’s original vision and then some. Read more below to find out more about our fascinating history. Read more
5 Things You Need to Know About Fast Food Delivery Insurance
/in General News, Insurance NewsIf you’re a delivery driver and in need of fast food delivery insurance, few insurance companies can offer you a better deal than Quotax.
We offer easy to afford cover for your vehicle where you require Comprehensive, Third Party Fire and Theft or Third Party Only.
Following a large number of calls into our office from drivers struggling to find any Insurer that would cover their car annually for both fast food delivery and everyday car use, we have managed to secure an exclusive scheme.
To discover more about what Quotax can offer you with our insurance, we have put together five things that you need to know about our delivery driver insurance!
Read more
London Taxi Driver Dean Richardson wins southern area boxing title
/in General News, Taxi NewsDean Richardson became the new super welterweight Southern Area champion with a two round destruction of Nathan Graham at York Hall on 28th September.
Richardson, now 11-0 with 8 knockouts, finished the fight with a single right hook at close range early into the second round. The first round was cagey, with both fighters feeling their way into the fight but a few bursts of combinations from Dean edged him the round.
Both fighters came out for the second and Richardson took the centre of the ring. Graham lunged in with a right hand to the body and as he wound up for an uppercut, Richardson landed his own right hook. Graham landed face first on the canvas but managed to get to his feet at the count of six. His legs were unsteady and as he wobbled backwards towards the ropes the referee waved it off 27 seconds into the round.
It was the 24 year olds first title as a professional and with the English belt being contested for on the same night, Richardson hopes to defend his Southern Area title or have his own crack at the English early next year.
Case Study: Bustourtant
/in Bus and Coach NewsThere are many ways to explore the Scottish capital, but none quite so unique as the Bustourant – a bus that has been converted into a travelling restaurant offering wonderful tours of Edinburgh and the surrounding area as well as some delicious local cuisine.
Finding the right insurance quotes for such a niche vehicle can be a tall order, which is why the two owners, Aga and Martin, got their insurance from Quotax. Their unique requirements could be matched by no other insurance provider, making our partnership a match made in heaven.
Due to the quirkiness of the Bustourant, we wanted to know a little bit more about the team behind it. Luckily, Aga was more than glad to take the time out to tell us about the business she shares with Martin. Read more