 |
| Could
This
Happen
To
You? |
|
|
| The
following
is
a
true
story
provided
by
a
member
of
our
Association.
It
illustrates
how
important
it
is
to
be
prepared
for
emergencies.
Our
hydro
went
out
last
March,
when
the
ice
storm
hit.
High
winds
and
severe
cold
weather
hampered
the
efforts
of
the
workmen
who
were
braving
the
elements
to
repair
service
to
the
affected
areas.
We
were
reasonably
prepared
for
the
blackout,
with
a
woodstove
for
warmth
and
candles
to
light
our
way.
However,
our
nightmare
began
after
I
took
our
dog
out
for
a
walk.
Coming
back
into
the
house,
I
found
that
the
candle
in
my
living
room
had
fallen
over
and
our
couch
was
ablaze.
Unbelievably
calm,
I
remembered
the
fire
extinguisher.
As
I
pulled
the
extinguisher
out
of
the
cupboard
where
it’s
buried,
I
yelled
for
my
children
to
hurry
downstairs
and
put
on
their
coats.
I
thought:
“This
cannot
be
too
difficult,
can
it?”
As
I
hurried
back
to
the
living
room,
(a
matter
of
90
seconds
had
passed)
I
observed
the
curtains
were
on
fire,
the
carpet
was
burning,
and
the
couch
was
fully
engulfed
in
flames.
The
room
was
quickly
filling
with
acid
smoke
from
the
burning
upholstery
and
flames
were
licking
at
the
walls
and
across
the
ceiling.
Shaking
as
I
held
the
fire
extinguisher,
I
pulled
the
pin
and
managed
to
squeeze
the
trigger.
Unfortunately,
the
small
extinguisher
lasted
long
enough
to
put
out
only
half
the
flames
on
the
couch.
My
eyes
were
watering
profusely
and
I
realized
that
this
was
beyond
my
capabilities.
I
dropped
the
extinguisher
and
ran
out
the
door,
directing
the
children
ahead
of
me.
It
didn’t
take
long
before
I
felt
the
bitter cold
of
the
night,
as
I
was
wearing
my
bedroom
slippers
and
no
coat.
Horrified
and
cold,
my
children
and
I
watched
as
the
high
winds
fed
the
fire
and
one
window
after
another
exploded
in
the
night
air.
Although
the
volunteer
fire
department
arrived
after
only
11
minutes,
all
that
was
left
of
our
house,
within
an
hour,
was
a
blackened
hulk.
The
second
floor
had
fallen
in
on
the
first
floor
and
everything
was
gone.
Fortunately,
no
one
was
hurt.
But
now
with
no
home,
no
clothes
and
a
family
huddled
in
the
cold,
we
needed
help.
I
called
our
insurance
broker
who
calmly
offered
advice,
suggested
a
place
to
stay
and
assured
me
we
were
adequately
covered.
He
helped
make
our
horrible
experience
a
little
more
bearable.
|
|
| Prepare
for
an
Emergency
What
started
out
as
a
simple
power
outage
for
the
above
family,
ended
in
catastrophe.
When
disaster
strikes
you
may
not
have
much
time
to
act.
Learn
how
to
protect
yourself
and
your
family
in
an
emergency.
First
discuss
emergency
planning
with
your
family
and
develop
a
plan
that
suits
your
needs.
Public
Safety
and
Emergency
Preparedness
Canada,
a
Federal
agency
offers
a
series
of
self-help
advice
brochures
for
families
and
individuals
to
help
you
prepare
for
emergencies.
Visit
www.ocipep.gc.ca
to
learn
more.
|
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Return
to
top
|
|
|
| Tips
for
Identifying
Car
Insurance
Scams |
|
|
 Insurance
fraud
is estimated
to cost
insurers
over
$2 billion
annually.
You
can
help
eliminate
automobile
insurance
scams
–
and
help
lower
car
insurance
premiums
–
by being
an informed
consumer.
The
Financial
Services
Commission
of
Ontario
(FSCO)
has
released
a
brochure
entitled:
“Tips
for
Identifying
Car
Insurance
Scams.”
It
describes
how
some
scams
work,
offers
tips
on
dealing
with
tow
truck
drivers,
paralegals,
and
healthcare
providers,
and
lets
you
know
what
to
do
if
you
suspect
fraudulent
activity.
This
brochure
is
available
by
visiting
FSCO’s
website
at
www.fsco.gov.on.ca,
or
by
calling
FSCO’s
24-hour
information
line
toll-free
at
1-800-668-0128
(in
Toronto
call
416-250-7250).
Only
you
can
prevent
fraud.
Know
your
rights
and
take
action
to
make
sure
only
legitimate
payments
are
paid
under
your
policy.
It’s
up
to
you.
|
|
| Referral
fees
are
illegal!
It
is
illegal
for
tow
truck
drivers
to
be
paid
a
fee
to
refer
accident
victims
to
a
particular
paralegal
or
a
repair
shop.
It
is
also
illegal
for
paralegals
to
refer
accident
victims
to
a
particular
healthcare
provider
for
a
fee.
If
you
suspect
this
is
happening,
report
it
to
us,
and
contact
the
police.
|
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|
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Return
to
top
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|
|
| When
All
You
Have
Left
is
Your
Insurance! |
|
|
| Insurance
is a
complicated
and
sometimes
frustrating
purchase
that
you
make
each
year
to protect
your
vehicle,
property,
personal
possessions,
or business.
These
important
purchases
cannot
be taken
lightly!
Why
deal
with
an
independent
insurance
broker?
- Independent
insurance
brokers
offer
added
value
for
your
premium
dollars
by
giving
you
choices,
quality
products,
sound
advice,
and
local
personal
service
–
something
you
can’t
readily
get
from
a
call
centre,
or
direct
writer!
- Independent
insurance
brokers
are
trained
professionals
who
understand
your
personal
insurance
needs
and
the
specific
needs
of
your
business.
- Independent
insurance
brokers
act
as
your
insurance
buyer.
We
“shop”
the
insurance
marketplace
to
make
sure
you
get
the
broadest
possible
coverage
at
a
competitive
premium.
This
is
a
tremendous
advantage
to
you,
and
is
not
available
from
agents
who
only
sell
for
one
insurance
company.
- Finally,
as
part
of
your
community,
independent
brokers
contribute
everyday
by
dealing
locally,
volunteering,
sponsoring,
supporting,
and
getting
involved
in
activities
that
benefit
everyone.
You
deserve
peace
of
mind
We
sincerely
hope
you
never
experience
a
loss,
either
minor
or
catastrophic,
but
if
you
should,
your
coverage
is
critical.
When
all
you
have
left
is
your
insurance,
it’s
reassuring
to
know
your
insurance
coverage
will
be
there
to
put
you
back
in
the
position
you
were
in
prior
to
the
loss!
It’s
also
comforting
to
know
that
someone
will
be
there
to
guide
you
along
the
way.
That
someone
is
us.
That’s
why
we
proudly
say:
Your
best
insurance
is
an
Insurance
Broker!
|
|
Return
to
top
|
|
|
| Guests,
Alcohol,
and
Your
Liability |
|
|
| It
doesn’t
matter
if it’s
in your
home,
office,
or elsewhere,
if you
host
a party
where
alcohol
is being
served,
you
are
legally
responsible
for
the
actions
of an
intoxicated
guest.
 The
law
defines
a
host
or
“occupier”
as
the
person
who
has
control
over
the
property
and
the
power
to
admit
or
exclude
visitors.
This
could
be
a
homeowner,
an
officer
of
a
service
club,
or
a
parent
renting
a
banquet
hall
for
their
son,
or
daughter’s
wedding.
When
it
comes
to
occupier’s
liability,
as
the
host
you
must
take
reasonable
steps
to
protect
your
guests
from
any
foreseeable
risk
of
injury.
Before
a
function,
be
sure
to
repair
loose
carpets,
broken
steps,
uneven
walkways,
and
any
other
potential
hazard.
Under
most
liquor
laws,
it
is
an
offence
to
serve
or
provide
alcohol
to
a
person
who
is
legally
intoxicated.
Once
a
guest
has
reached
the
intoxicated
limit,
the
host
has
sole
responsibility
for
their
actions
until
they
are
no
longer
intoxicated.
This
could
be
24
hours,
or
longer,
depending
on
the
person’s
size
and
the
amount
of
alcohol
they
have
consumed.
In
addition,
by
providing
alcohol,
you
can
be
held
liable
for
injuries
your
intoxicated
guest
may
cause
to
another
person.
If
you
are
a
host,
we
recommend
you
remain
sober,
provide
food
for
your
guests,
make
non-alcoholic
drinks
available,
prohibit
drinking
games,
and
stop
serving
alcohol
at
least
two
hours
before
the
function
is
scheduled
to
end.
A
good
way
to
protect
yourself
is
to
purchase
a
Party
Alcohol
Liability
policy
to
cover
a
licenced
function.
Even
though
many
homeowner’s
and
some
commercial
policies
will
defend
you
against
liquor
liability
lawsuits,
we
think
the
cost
of
this
type
of
policy
is
worth
the
peace
of
mind.
If
in
doubt,
call
us.
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Return
to
top
|
|
|
| All-Season
Tires
or
Snows
–
Should
You
Change? |
|
|
| Many
new
cars
sold
in Ontario
come
with
“all-season”
tires.
These
tires
are
designed
to provide
safe,
all-weather
protection,
but
are
not
suitable
for
snow-covered
roads
or extreme
cold.
Once
the
temperature
drops
below
–10º
C, all-season
tires
lose
their
grip
as the
tires
harden.
This
is definitely
not
desirable
and
may
account
for
the
rising
number
of unexpected
“loss
of control”
accidents
in cold
weather.
 Years
ago,
snow
tires
were
knobby
and
noisy.
They
were
great
for
driving
in
the
snow,
but
performed
poorly
when
exposed
to
dry
and
wet
road
conditions.
This
is
no
longer
true.
Today’s
new
snow
tires
are
made
with
rubber
compounds
that
not
only
handle
ice,
snow,
and
cold
temperatures,
but
also
dry,
wet,
or
slushy
driving
conditions.
New
snow
tires
are
marked
with
the
pictograph
of
a
peaked
mountain
with
a
snowflake
to
show
they
meet
specific
snow
traction
performance
requirements
that
help
you
control
your
vehicle
safely
in
snowy
conditions.
If
your
winter
driving
is
limited
to
regions
with
little
snow
and
moderate
winter
temperatures,
all-season
tires
may
be
suitable
for
you.
For
the
rest
of
us,
the
traction
and
security
offered
by
snow
tires
makes
them
the
best
choice.
A
good
way
to
rationalize
the
expense
of
winter
tires
–
at
least
$500
a
set
–
is
to
remember
that
the
cost
is
equal
to
the
deductible
on
many
auto
insurance
policies,
which
means
you’ll
pay
that
much
anyway
if
you
end
up
in
a
crash.
As
a
bonus,
by
switching
to
winter
tires,
you’ll
extend
the
life
of
your
regular
“all-season”
tires.
|
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Return
to
top
|
|
|
| You’ve
had
a
Loss.
Now
What? |
|
|
 A
fire,
a burglary,
or a
flood.
Nobody
expects
it to
happen
to them.
Unfortunately
these
things
do occur.
To help
reduce
the
stress
and
inconvenience
of such
an event,
here’s
what
you
can
do before
and
after
a claim.
BEFORE
A
CLAIM
- Create
an
inventory
of
your
home’s
contents
using
a
list,
photographs,
or
videotape.
Be
sure
to
keep
a
copy
outside
your
home.
- Make
sure
your
high
value
items
are
covered.
Sometimes,
furs,
jewellery,
fine
arts,
and
antiques
are
only
covered
to
a
certain
limit.
Review
or
appraise
their
value
and
confirm
if
additional
(and
separate)
insurance
is
required.
- Keep
receipts
on
high
value
and
high
target
items
off
site.
- Update
your
possessions
values.
It’s
easy
to
overlook
the
costs
of
new
furniture,
appliances,
computers,
and
entertainment
electronics.
Don’t
risk
being
under-insured.
- Talk
to
your
insurance
broker.
If
you
are
not
sure
you
have
adequate
coverage
or
need
more
information,
call
us,
we’re
here
to
help.
AFTER
A
CLAIM
- Whatever
the
cause,
you
are
obligated
to
prevent
further
loss
or
damage
by
securing
your
home
or
having
emergency
repairs
done
without
delay.
Call
us,
or
your
insurance
company’s
24
hour
emergency
number,
for
referrals
to
emergency
crews
and
contractors
to
assist
you.
- You
must
be
able
to
prove
your
loss.
Prepare
a
list
of
lost
items
with
the
estimated
cost
to
replace
them.
You
may
be
required
to
provide
estimates
from
merchants
and
suppliers.
An
inventory
list
with
receipts
would
make
this
process
fast
and
easy.
- An
insurance
adjuster
will
be
appointed
by
your
insurer
to
work
with
you
to
ensure
a
fair
and
fast
settlement.
Co-operate
with
him/her.
- Many
expenses
such
as
emergency
repairs
and
additional
living
costs
are
covered
by
your
insurance
policy.
Keep
a
record
and
include
receipts
of
these
expenses
in
your
claim.
- Talk
to
your
insurance
broker.
A
loss
can
be
a
stressful
experience.
If
you
have
any
concerns
with
your
claim
or
settlement,
we’re
always
here
to
help
you.
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Return
to
top
|
|
|
| “Slip
and
Fall”
Accidents
Can
Be
Prevented |
|
|
 Members
of the
public
are
now
more
likely
to sue
when
they
have
been
injured
on your
premises
due
to a
“slip
and
fall”
accident.
Studies
show
the
number
of claims
and
the
amounts
being
paid
out
have
increased
substantially
over
the
past
few
years.
All
businesses
and
homeowners
have
a
legal
obligation
to
maintain
their
premises
and
ensure
that
anyone
who
comes
on
the
property
is
reasonably
safe.
|
|
How
am I
at risk?
If you
are
a business
owner,
you
may
be at
risk
of being
sued
if someone
slips,
trips,
or falls
if: |
- There
is
an
unsafe
condition
on
your
premises;
- You
could
have
foreseen
the
accident
due
to
a
hazardous
condition;
- The
accident
could
have
been
avoided
had
you
taken
precautions;
- You
fail
to
post
warning
signs
advising
of
any
known
hazards;
- You
fail
to
have
written
inspection
and
maintenance
procedures
in
place.
|
|
How
can
I protect
myself
against
claims?
Most
“slip
and
fall”
accidents
are
caused
by slippery
walkways,
sidewalks,
parking
lots,
uneven
pavement,
missing
guardrails,
improperly
maintained
staircases,
wet
floors,
or other
hazards.
Your
best
protection
is to
inspect,
repair,
and
document
the
state
of your
premises
on a
regular
basis.
We
can
review
your
situation
and
provide
you
with
tools
and
help
to
protect
yourself
against
claims.
Please
call
us
to
get
started.
|
|
Return
to
top
|
|
|
| Concerned
About
an
Insurance
Issue? |
|
|
| Where
do you
go if
you
have
a serious
complaint
or concern
about
your
insurance?
Your
first
step
is
to
call
us.
If
we
can’t
help
you
resolve
the
issue
to
your
satisfaction,
we
will
recommend
you
make
a
formal
complaint
to
your
insurance
company.
Every
company
has
a
procedure
to
deal
with
complaints.
This
starts
with
your
insurance
company’s
Consumer
Complaint
Officer
(Ombudsman).
A
list
of
all
Consumer
Complaint
Officers
(Ombudsman)
and
their
phone
numbers
is
available
on
the
Financial
Services
Commission
of
Ontario
(FSCO)
website
at
www.fsco.gov.on.ca.
If
your
issue
is
still
not
resolved,
request
a
letter
from
the
company
stating
its
final
position
on
your
complaint.
From
here
you
will
need
to
write
to
FSCO’s
Insurance
Ombudsman,
describe
your
complaint
and
explain
why
you
disagree
with
the
company’s
position.
Make
sure
that
you
include
a
copy
of
the
insurance
company’s
letter.
The
Insurance
Ombudsman
will
review
your
written
complaint
and
will
attempt
to
resolve
it
once
and
for
all.
As
your
broker,
we
want
to
satisfy
your
needs
and
concerns
as
quickly
as
possible.
If
you
have
a
serious
concern
about
your
insurance,
call
us
first.
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|
Return
to
top
|
|
|
| Is
Your
Home
a
High
Insurance
Risk? |
|
|
 Take
a look
around
your
home.
Are
there
accidents
waiting
to happen?
Are
you
vulnerable
to disaster,
insurance
claims,
or perhaps
a lawsuit?
Maybe
it’s
time
to
practice
a
little
risk
management.
This
means
taking
action
to
prevent
and
protect
yourself
from
some
of
the
perils
that
can
cause
havoc
in
your
life.
Many
insurance
companies
are
implementing
their
own
risk
management
practices,
such
as,
regulating
the
age
of
oil
tanks
in
order
to
prevent
oil
spills
and
requiring
proper
woodstove
installations
to
prevent
fires.
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Here
are
some
things
you
can
do:
-
Practice
good
housekeeping
Keep
your
yard,
stairways,
and
entrance-ways
clear.
Keep
ice
and
snow
away
from
your
walkways
and
driveways.
-
Consider
a
monitored
security
system
Security
systems
can
provide
peace
of
mind
and
solid
risk
management.
It
is
important
to
include
both
fire
and
burglary
systems
to
protect
against
two
of
the
most
common
types
of
insurance
claims
made
on
homeowner
policies.
-
Have
your
chimney
professionally
cleaned
and
your
furnace
serviced
annually
It
is
good
practice
to
hire
a
professional
chimney
sweep
to
clean
your
chimney.
Even
if
you
have
the
tools
to
do
it
yourself,
it
is
advisable
to
hire
a
professional
periodically.
Be
sure
to
have
your
home
furnace
serviced
annually
for
improved
efficiency
and
to
reduce
the
risk
of
carbon
monoxide
emissions
and
furnace
blow-backs.
-
Be
sure
pools
are
fenced
To
prevent
a
tragic
incident,
it
is
very
important
to
ensure
that
your
pool
area
is
totally
inaccessible
when
no
one
is
there
to
supervise.
Make
sure
the
fencing
is
complete
and
any
gate
or
entranceway
is
securely
locked.
-
Update
electrical
systems
If
you
live
in
an
older
home,
it
is
advisable
to
have
a
licensed
electrician
inspect
your
system.
Although
there
are
costs
involved,
upgrading
to
a
100
or
200
amp
system
can
make
your
home
a
safer
place.
You
can
do
visual
inspections
around
the
home
to
check
for
loose
wires,
cracks
in
the
plastic
coating,
burn
marks
from
arcing,
and
improper
use
of
electrical
cords.
Electrical
cords
should
not
be
run
under
carpets
and
are
not
for
permanent
use.
It
is
also
important
to
be
sure
that
your
electrical
outlets
are
not
overloaded.
- Keep
up
with
repairs
As
things
age
around
the
home,
be
sure
they
are
maintained,
repaired,
and
if
needed,
replaced.
Important
areas
to
consider
are
your
roof,
foundation,
sump
pumps,
bricks,
mortar,
siding,
and
oil
tank.
By
practicing
good
risk
management
around
the
home,
you
will
reduce
the
risk
of
insurance
claims,
as
well
as
the
cost,
and
inconvenience
that
goes
along
with
them.
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