Web-based Cemplete Insurance

From the beginning ofthis month Gibraltarians seeking swift car insurance and third party cover — or those who many not have the time to visit offices In person — will be able to obtain cover on-line... and get quotes for and the cover they seek'within minutes.

The web-based complete insur ance service has been developed by Trafalgar Insurance and reflects the company's strong growth in the year since it set up offices off Main Street.

Although more than half of insurance business in Britain today is conducted on-line and Ibex Insurance — Trafalgar's fastgrowing parent group founded by John Harrison less than six years ago — uses an internet system developed in Ireland to handle a considerable proportion of its business in Spain, is claimed to be a 'first' for Gibraltar. And in another 'first' every policy pur chased on-line will generate a donation to charity.

As with other Ibex and Trafal gar products, the policies of all insurance cover bought on line are underwritten with the security of Lloyd's of London.

"People seeking insurance need only to log on to the web at www.trafalgardirect.com and follow the step-by-step instruc tions which have been designed to be simple,straightforward and user-friendly," a spokesperson for Ibex says."The client will get an instant quote in less than a minute and instant cover is also available."

"Simplicity is the keynote," says Lowri Madoc-Murphy, mar keting director of Ibex."We don't assume anything,so that the client can get the same understanding he or she would have sitting in a chair opposite an insurance advi sor or broker.

"Of course there are still — and always will be — people who pre fer to do business face to face and a lot of our success in Gibraltar has been with people coming through the door to deal personally with our small but experienced team. However, some — particularly busy business folk — prefer to handle things on-line and this system has been developed with them in mind."

What it boils down to is that it allows flexibility to go on-line to get quotes and cover whether from the comfort of one's home, of from a busy office, she adds. On-line insurance will be par ticularly popular with motorists who sometimes have to wait for days, if not weeks, for the green cards which the Spanish police increasingly demand from drivers of Gibraltar-registered cars.

"All insurance cover can take immediate effect if the client wants it that way and this also applies to insuring Gibraltar-registered vehicles and issuing Europe-wide green cards as well as Europewide roadside assistance and legal protection," Madoc-Murphy says. "Confirmation of the policy quote, purchase and all documentation is sent immediately by e-mail and hard copy green cards — which the Guardia ask for — are sent promptly by post." shareholders and the players in the United States. But as a responsible industry we have to respect the law and to abide by it."

When a customer has registered with Trafalgar he or she, at any time, will be able to log in to view documents and print copies if these are needed.

Explaining the charity dona tions which new policies will generate - a novel twist for any profit-oriented business — she explains: "Every visitor to Tra falgar Direct who purchases a policy can choose from three local charities to whom they wish their contributions made. At present these are the RICCS (Research into Childhood Cancer Society), League of Hospital Friends,or the GSPCA (Gibraltar Society for the Protection of Animals)".

But depending on the feedback Trafalgar Direct receives the options for charity choice may widen, Madoc-Murphy says.

From early in the new year other insurance cover will become available on line,she adds. These include pet insurance for cats and dogs in Gibraltar and Spain and there will also be pet cover for Europe-wide travel; and holiday apartment cover for one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in Spain will become available for as little as 80 euros.

Through Trafalgar Ibex also plans to provide family legal protection cover for those Gi braltar residents or among the local business community who have property or other interests in Spain.This insurance would cover advice — or defence, if necessary — on private legal matters across the border.

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