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“Crash for cash” fraudsters are shifting their focus to faking accidents in rural locations in a bid to escape detection, according to Direct Line.

The scam to claim insurance payouts is costing the industry some £350m a year. Rural claims are cause for particular concern, experts say, as the likelihood of serious injury to innocent motorists is increased in these locations due to lighter traffic and higher average speeds.

Crash-for-cash hotspots include road junctions in Barking andSt Albans, the Hangar Lane Gyratory, and the A5 in Bedfordshire.

As this blog is being written, world financial markets are again in turmoil as the situation in Greece has again reached crisis proportions. The Greek Government is putting the acceptance of the Euro aid package to a referendum. European governments had reached an accord to hopefully avoid a disastrous collapse by Greece – which may trigger another recession – but with the latest news from Greece, all is in flux again.

Even when reading some of the many articles outlining the details of the bail-out agreement, there remains a number of problems, the largest of which is that the agreement requires banks holding Greek debt to absorb a write-off of 50%.

These banks have to absorb losses at the same time as they are required to increase their Tier 1 capital to meet the requirements of Basel III. F

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Extra costs when you fly can put a dent in your holiday budget. We explain how to avoid them.

Airports are expensive places. First up there’s duty free to tempt you into spending your holiday cash, not to mention plenty of sneaky rip-off charges before you make it to the departure gate. Here are 10 to avoid.

Drop passengers outside the terminal and you’ll pay £1 for a 10 minute slot at airports including Luton, Belfast, Bristol and Edinburgh. Ther

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No matter what line of business you are in, you need business liability insurance. This insurance protects you from unexpected factors that may arise in the future. If you are dealing with consumers, you are selling products or providing services, there is a huge risk that a customer might file a legal claim against your company or your employee might get hurt while working under your roof. These events can hurt your hard-earned business badly, if you are not financial stable, or not prepared to face such claims.

Business liability insurance ensures protection. Contact a company that helps locate the best business liability insurance. Full Article…

As the Fiat 500 makes its first American debut in 27 years, the automobile’s designer said that a mixture of classic and modern designs inspired his new creation, according to the New York Times.

History of the 500 model

The original Fiat 500 model was manufactured in Italy during the 1930′s as an attractive but affordable car for working class families. Then known as the Il Topolino – the Italian nickname for Mickey Mouse – the model’s designer, Dante Giacosa, created more versions of the car over the years. However, the Times said his crowning achievement was the 500 model of 1957, known as the Nuovo 500. The vehicle’s “double bubble” curved aesthetic became synonymous with images of Italian life, with the model even included in the 2006 Pixar film “Cars” to depict an Italian racecar fanatic.

Roberto Giolito, the designer of the new Fiat 500, told the paper he included touches of Giasco’s double-bubble look in the new 500, as part of his goal to create a vehicle with a look of “timelessness and purity.” As for modern influences, Giolito said he was also inspired by the streamlined appearance of the Apple iPod.

The American reception

U.S. News and World Report gave the 2012 Fiat 500 – which was recently introduced in the states – an overall score of 8.3 and ranked it 13 out of 33 for Affordable Small Cars, although the source still questioned how well the European car would be received by Americans. While the review said the Fiat 500 has a “cute, petite exterior that makes it hard to dislike,” and receives up to 38 miles per gallon of gas on the highway, it still isn’t as energy efficient as other subcompact vehicles such as the Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta. In addition, while the Fiat 500 has generally been met with positive reviews, some industry experts question whether Americans – who tends to lean toward larger and more powerful cars – will warm up to the model.

The Fiat 500 may face some stark competition from similar vehicles like the Mini Cooper, which is one of the only European subcompact vehicles on the market that has been successful in the U.S., according to the source. However, the Mini Cooper, which starts at $20,100, is considerably more expensive than the basic Fiat 500, which costs about $15,500. 

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The Co-operative Insurance has commissioned new research which reveals that theres a clear gender divide when it comes to learning to drive.

Men typically take 16 hours of tuition before taking the test, with women opting for 22 hours.

Women also spend more on learning how to drive, forking out £528 compared with £384 for men.

Interestingly, both genders require, on average, two attempts to pass their test with little difference in average age (19.5 years for a man and 19.7 for a woman).

Once the licence is acquired, men tend to be more confident on the road, with women twice as likely to consider themselves worried or distracted drivers.

Head of Motor Insurance Grant Mitchell said that although men tend to need less practice to pass their test this does not necessarily make them better drivers, and that they are more likely to ignore speed limits and take risks compared to women.

Gender is not the only determining factor in driving style, as research from AXA discovered when it found that drivers aged 18-30 are thrice as likely to have points or a ban if their parents have points or a ban, pointing to a hereditary link when it comes to driving.