Hi everyone and happy new financial year to you all. I hope you all got through the end of June successfully and can now take a breath and prepare for the year ahead.
End of Financial year is always a busy time of the year for us at ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ with people buying new equipment and wanting to pay their insurance premiums so that they can claim them in this year’s tax.
Unfortunately, with the recent terrible floods and weather events, the insurance market continues to become more challenging for us especially with settling claims taking way longer than usual. Assessors are extremely busy dealing with the recent events and it is taking us much longer than usual to settle a claim or to obtain repair quotes and valuations.
The other major issue we are encountering at the moment is Under Insurance due to large increases in building material and costs over the past 24 months. I would suggest that everyone needs to revisit their current building Sums Insured and if they have not been increases by at least 20% over the last 2 years then you need to look at this as soon as possible. We can always assist you with this by providing you with a Building Sums Insured calculator which can assist with determining the correct replacement value for you to insure.
As always we are here to assist you with anything insurance related and please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any assistance at all.
Tony Noyes
ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ
How can you tell if an email is safe?
Even if you catch red flags in an email, such as typos or poor grammar, an urgent demeanour, or even a spoofed domain, how can you truly decipher the safety of an email?
An immediate step you can take is to watch out for one of the most critical tell-tale signs of a phishing email—a mismatched or fake URL.
WHY IS HOVERING IMPORTANT? WHAT CAN IT DO FOR YOU?
Hovering not only allows you a moment to think before proceeding, but it also allows you the opportunity to see where a link is going to redirect you. This is especially important because not all links lead to where they appear, or insinuate they’ll go.
When you hover, check for the following to ensure you’re staying safe and secure:
- If the email appears to be coming from a company, does the hover link match the website of the sender?
- Does link have a misspelling of a well-known website (Such as Micorsoft.com)?
- Does the link redirect to a suspicious external domain appearing to look like the sender’s domain (i.e., micorsoft-support.com rather than microsoft.com)?
- Does the hover link show a URL that does not match where the context of the email claims it will take you?
- Do you recognise the link’s address, or did you even expect to receive the link?
- Did you receive a blank email with long hyperlinks and no further information or context?
If you notice anything about the email that alarms you, do not click links, open attachments, or even reply. If everything seems okay, but you’re still not sure–verify! Ask your IT team or leadership if the email is legitimate before proceeding.
Remember, you are the last line of defence to prevent cyber criminals from succeeding and making you or your company susceptible to an attack.
For other ways to prevent Cyber attacks see our Blog Post on Cyber Security by connecting here.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This general information does not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs. It is also not financial advice, nor complete, so please discuss the full details with your ARMA insurance broker as to whether this type of insurance is appropriate for you. Deductibles, exclusions and limits apply. This type of insurance is issued by various insurers and can differ. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination in deciding whether to buy or renew this type of insurance.
ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ turns 15.
Come and help us celebrate our 15th Birthday when we host the Gladstone Chamber of Commerce & Industry Monthly Networking Meeting on Tuesday 9th August 2022 at Dimitri’s Mediterranean Restaurant.
The Gladstone Chamber of Commerce & Industry monthly networking events are a great opportunity for you to stay connected with local business owners and managers and create future opportunities for collaboration.
Come celebrate over good food and good drinks and while you’re there, form stronger relationships with your current customers, meet potential customers and suppliers, and establish a network of support services to create and maintain a dynamic environment for your business.
To register and get you ticket, connect here now.
CSIRO claim insurance to get much less affordable.
Have you noticed your insurance premiums going up, up, up! Well, a CSIRO report is warning insurance is set to get much less affordable with statistics already showing our region is paying much more for insurance than the south east corner and southern states.
The report is intended to identify the key global forces that will shape our lives in the coming decades and states Australia’s north is already hardest hit by rising insurance premiums, with home and contents insurance costing about 1.8 times more than in the south, as of 2020.
And on average, almost double the number of households on and above the Tropic of Capricorn — about 20 per cent — are already foregoing insurance, compared to those in southern Australia. To read full ABC article, connect here now.
For Central Queensland, that means approximately 60,000 households don’t have house and contents insurance and that’s just not right! Are you foregoing your insurance? What are your concerns as to where the insurance industry is going?
Remember, ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ don’t sell insurance, we are a full service Broker with access to all major insurance companies, including specialist agencies and we’re able to negotiate prices and extra cover in many areas and find the best deal that not only works for you, but gives you the the peace of mind you’re are looking for.
Ask the Question? Sessions
Do you know the difference between Defined Events cover and Accidental Damage cover when it come to insuring your home? That’s the question asked in last month’s ‘Ask the Question? Session’ with Tony Noyes.
To get you started, defined events policies cover only the specific events listed in the policy, and accidental damage policies conversely cover all accidental loss or damage to buildings or contents, other than those events specifically excluded by the contract. What does that mean? – Watch the video on our Facebook page to find out more by connecting here.
If you have a question for Tony email: tony.noyes@armainsurance.com.au or call us today on (07) 49 787 261.
Celebrating our Clients.
At ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ, we love celebrating our clients and the work they do everyday within our community. This month, we are celebrating Janelle Sawtell and her entire team at Tax Biz Accounting.
Tax Biz Accounting provide their clients with professional taxation and accounting services with their clients ranging from individuals, small businesses, investors and self-managed super funds. With a degree in Business, majoring in Accounting, and obtaining membership with the Chartered Accountants, Janelle established Tax Biz Accounting in 2013 and has a passion for helping small businesses to improve business performance and deliver strategies for tax planning and minimisation.
To find out more about the Janelle and Tax Biz Accounting, connect here now.
At ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ, integrity is core to our business. We don’t just sell insurance; we work for you. Why? You’re our neighbours, our farmers, our local businesses, and our friends, and we are here to protect you every day.
ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ: Supporting our community.
ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ was a proud sponsor of the PGA Legends Tour Pro Am at the 1770 Golf Club on Sunday 10th of July this year.
Our Director, Tony Noyes is a bit of a golfing tragic – both as an avid golfer and his skills on the course – however, most of all we love getting involved and supporting local community events throughout central Queensland.
Pictured with Tony (centre) is Gus Stedman (back left) and Scott Rowe (back right) along with Golf Pros Nigel Lane (Tony’s right) and Mark Tickle (Tony’s left). Thanks to everyone that took part and contributed to this great event.
Insurance cover for mould
WHY YOU CAN’T INSURE AGAINST MOULD DAMAGE
Mould is invariably associated with damp conditions. Queensland has experienced its fair share of those in 2022 with widespread flooding across the region as well as scores of soggy days.
So far in 2022 for instance, Queensland has received record rainfall above the average. Some suburbs received a bucketing that was close to, or more than, their monthly average, in a single day.
Outbreaks of wet weather mould can damage your property, fixtures and fittings. Unfortunately, that type of damage is unlikely to be covered by your property and contents insurance. Most policies exclude mould damage as a matter of course. That’s because the damage caused by mould can be minimal if it’s addressed promptly. As such, outbreaks are considered to be preventable events.
“Mould often comes hot on the heels of damp weather and, except in limited circumstances, its treatment is not covered by insurance.”
COLLATERAL DAMAGE
It can be a different story though if mould damage is associated with another claimable event, such as flooding or water ingress, according to ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ Director Tony Noyes.
“While policies may exclude mould damage per se, the individual circumstances of your claim will determine whether the damage is covered,” Tony says.
“If your house has suffered cyclone damage, for example, and has been locked up, then a mould outbreak that has occurred as a result would likely be covered as part of that claim. Or if the pipes in your house burst while you’re on holiday and there’s water running through the property for an extended period of time, any mould damage associated with that event should be covered”.
If, however, you have suffered a mould outbreak merely as a result of moisture in the air, the cost of replacing damaged items will inevitably be on you.
TAKING PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
Prevention is always better than a cure. There are steps you can take to reduce the incidence of mould outbreaks in your property and to remediate them effectively when they occur.
They include opening windows and doors to air out damp rooms, wiping hard surfaces with detergent, white vinegar or a commercial mould removal product and sponging soft furnishings with white vinegar or baking soda before drying them out thoroughly.
It’s also important to attend to any underlying causes of mould as soon as a problem is detected. This includes leaky showers, pipes and ceilings and structural issues such as rising damp.
COVER WHEN IT COUNTS
The right insurance cover will help you safeguard your personal and business assets, in the event of damage or loss. If you haven’t reviewed your policies for a while, now is a great time to consider whether the cover you have is appropriate for your needs. Contact ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ today if you’d like to review yours.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This general information does not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs. It is also not financial advice, nor complete, so please discuss the full details with your ARMA insurance broker as to whether this type of insurance is appropriate for you. Deductibles, exclusions and limits apply. This type of insurance is issued by various insurers and can differ. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination in deciding whether to buy or renew this type of insurance.
Our Biloela team are there to stand with you when you need them.
Have you met our ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ Biloela team? The team of (L to R) – Rachael Jones, Jennifer Wilton, and Narelle de Git, can handle all your insurance needs and as locals, you are assured of their ability to handle all your insurance needs in an ever-changing market.
When it comes to claims or Domestic and Business insurance, Rachael is the Broker for you. Rachael joined ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ as an Administrative Assistant and works tirelessly for our clients and is now a Tier 1 Broker. Rachael understands her client’s needs and loves achieving outcomes for our clients.
Jenny is our Rural Insurance expert and has over 16 years’ experience as a broker and is Tier 1 qualified. Jenny provides specialist advice for our Rural clients and provides support and advise for the farming sector with a broad knowledge of farmers’ complex requirements and takes pride in offering the best solutions for their insurance needs.
And finally, Narelle is a dedicated member of the Rural team and has 5 years’ experience with ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ Insurance. Narelle recently obtained her Tier 1 qualification and together with Jenny, Narelle provides advice and understanding to our Rural clients to ensure they have the right coverage.
Why not drop in to our office at Shop B, 48 Kariboe St in Biloela or give Rachael, Jenny, and Narelle a call on (07) 49 924 728 and find out how they can assist you and give you the peace of mind you are are looking for when it comes to all things insurance.
At ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ, integrity is core to our business. We don’t just sell insurance; we work for you. Why? You’re our neighbours, our farmers, our local businesses, and our friends, and we are here to protect you every day.
ARMA Insurance Brokers CQ specialises in business (commercial), farming (agribusiness) & general insurance solutions.
We currently offer over 50 types of “standard” insurance for all types of insurable risk. The ARMA team works on behalf of our clients to find the most suitable and comprehensive policy and then negotiate the most competitive price on that policy. We also manage all claims quickly and effectively. Why not get a quote today and see how we can offer you a service you can value with the peace of mind you’re are looking for. Phone Gladstone on 49 787 261 or Biloela on 49 924 728.
