Five reasons to make sure your business is insured this Christmas
Let's celebrate! Increased alcohol consumption is one of the reasons why your business is at higher risk at Christmas time
1. There's a rise in vandalism and malicious damage
The increase in socialising that happens at Christmas time often
brings with it drunken revelry and, in turn, an increase in
aggressive or anti-social behaviour. This puts businesses at
increased risk to incidents of spontaneous vandalism, malicious
damage, or even arson. Premises that are highly visible to the
public or those that are open for trade late at night are
particularly vulnerable.
2. There's more drink-driving
The Christmas and New Year period sees more drivers on the road
who are under the influence of alcohol, which increases the risk of
damage to your commercial vehicles and premises.
3. Your pipes are more likely to burst
This one is more to do with cold weather in winter than
Christmas per se - but the point still remains. In
December 2010 there were more than 100,000 claims in the UK for
damage caused to properties by burst pipes. This is because when
water freezes, it expands - so if your premises are inactive and
there's no heating on, burst pipes can very easily occur after a
few nights of sub-zero temperatures.
4. There are more burglaries
There's an increased risk of burglary at Christmas time because
thieves are on the prowl for more cash and more goods. There are a
number of reasons for this, including the fact that expenses are
higher during the Christmas season, criminals expect higher
windfalls that offset high risk, and the black market - just like
legitimate retail markets - is more active.
5. You have more stock
If your business is in the hospitality or retail sector, it's
likely that you will have a higher level of stock during the
festive season. This not only makes your business more at risk of
robbery, as outlined in point four - it is also significant because
your higher level of stock is exposed to the same risks that your
general level of stock has all year round. You may or may not have
an insurance policy that reflects this higher value of stock during
the Christmas period.
Make It
Cheaper Financial Services can source suitable insurance policies
for your business. Call us today on 0800 970 0077 and a business
insurance expert will talk you through a no-obligation quote.
Make It Cheaper Ltd is an
appointed representative of Make It Cheaper Financial Services Ltd,
who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services
Authority for general insurance mediation activities only.