LV= launches My Car iPhone app

Thu, 12 May 2011 10:15:42 GMT

LV= has launched a new iPhone app for motorists called LV= My Car. It is a multi-utility application that features five clickable options for users to chose from including a car profile function, traffic maps, local info maps and for LV= customers only, an accident toolkit and call LV= tool. Each option takes the user to a separate page and offers a different service.

The car profile function allows users to input information about their own car to be stored on the app. Users can either enter their vehicle registration number whereby a third party provider will determine the exact car make/model (plus other information) or they can choose to create their own manual car profile. Here they will be able to include relevant information about their car such as engine size, BHP, miles per gallon, tyre pressure and tyre size.

There is also the option to set a number of car related renewal reminders including road tax, MOT and service, parking permit, and insurance. These reminders can also be added to the iPhone calendar. Users are then alerted two weeks before the renewal is due.

Using the accident toolkit feature, LV= car insurance customers are able to fill out an accident report form and submit it to LV=. There are two sections to this feature; 'during an accident' and 'after an accident'. The first section allows the user to make notes about an accident they have been involved in and this includes the other driver's details and the opportunity to capture images of the accident.

The second section enables LV= customers to fill in an accident report form. Here they are prompted to note their personal information, a description of the incident, whether there was third party involvement, whether either party accepted fault, extent of the damage, injuries, witnesses, whether the police were involved and if there is a crime number. Once all of the relevant information is complete users can submit the form to LV= and a claims handler is guaranteed to get in contact within 24 hours. Customers also have the option to call LV= at this point rather than submit information via the app.

Drivers can also use the app to receive detailed local traffic updates and access a local information map which will highlight nearby amenities.

The launch of the application follows the launch of LV='s first iPhone app for job hunters which was released in September last year.

Paul Wishman, LV= e-commerce director said: "We are delighted to be launching the LV= My Car app. We opted to create an app with a difference that offers a service that could be used in different situations. We have recently launched the LV= mobile site so the launch of the iPhone app is the next step in our mobile strategy."

LV= worked with creative agency Sponge to develop and build the new application. The app is free to download and is available now on the Apple App Store and found on the LV= website.

About Liverpool Victoria:
All research unless otherwise specified was conducted by ICM. ICM interviewed a random sample of 2,003 adults in Great Britain aged 18+ from its online panel between 25 and 27 February 2011. 1,728 of those surveyed were drivers. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

As the UK's largest friendly society we're here to help you make the best choices when it comes to your money. With a range of car insurance, home insurance and travel insurance products that are both good value and award-winning, we're bound to have something to interest you.

LV= joins forces with Matt Perry and Mike Gatting for LV= SOS Kit Aid

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:14:40 GMT

LV= has teamed up with former England rugby star Matt Perry and cricket legend Mike Gatting OBE to unveil its groundbreaking new kit recycling initiative at The Stewart Hedlam School in Bethnal Green, East London.

For the first time, families, schools and clubs will be able to give their unwanted rugby and cricket kit which will be donated to disadvantaged young people in the UK and overseas. With lack of access to equipment cited as one of the greatest barriers to children participating in sport, LV= SOS Kit Aid has set an ambitious goal of providing young people of all abilities and backgrounds with over 20,000kgs of rugby and cricket kit before the end of the year.

To mark the new partnership, Matt Perry and Mike Gatting OBE were joined by former England cricket captain Allan Lamb and Welsh rugby legend Graham Price MBE to hold a series of rugby and cricket training sessions with children from The Stewart Hedlam School and then handed over sports kit donated to LV= SOS Kit Aid for the school.

LV= SOS Kit Aid will be hosting a series of regional Kit Aid days in 2011. The regional days will be the precursor to a major national Kit Aid day later this year. Incorporating its sponsorships of the LV= County Cricket Championship and Anglo Welsh Rugby Cup, LV= will involve its staff in the donation, collection and sorting of all unwanted and unused rugby and cricket kit.

Former Bath and England rugby star, Matt Perry said: "It's shocking to think that so many children don't have access to sport which makes the work of LV= SOS Kit Aid so important. You can't put a value on putting a smile on a kid's face and in my experience sport is one of the best ways of doing that."

David Smith, LV= HR and communications director added: "The work of the LV= SOS Kit Aid programme is vital in opening up sport to children from all backgrounds while also saving tonnes of unwanted sportswear from going to waste. We are a proud supporter of rugby and cricket in the UK and hope that this programme will encourage the next generation of talent into the sport."

SOS Kit Aid, previously known as SOS IRB Kit Aid, has distributed over £2m worth of rugby kit overseas, with the support of the International Rugby Board, since 2001. LV= has also signed up as the official sponsor and the initiative will be extended to cricket kit with the support of recreational cricket's official charity, The Lord's Taverners and endorsement by the England and Wales Cricket Board. For the first time, the two sports will work together to deliver the scheme which also promotes the importance of driving a sustainable environment.

About LV=:
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

As the UK's largest friendly society it is here to help customers make the best choices when it comes to their money. With a range of car insurance, home insurance and travel insurance products that are both good value and award-winning, LV= bound to have something to interest everyone.

Notes to Editors:
All research unless otherwise specified was conducted by ICM. ICM interviewed a random sample of 2,003 adults in Great Britain aged 18+ from its online panel between 25 and 27 February 2011. 1,728 of those surveyed were drivers. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

LV= reveals one in ten homes built on brownfield sites have problems

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:56:27 GMT

LV= has revealed that over the next decade around half a million homes will be built on redeveloped ex-industrial sites that could pose risks to homeowners and their homes.

A new report from home insurer LV= reveals that around 125 million square metres of redeveloped brownfield land, earmarked for the building of 500,000 homes, is potentially at risk of flooding or contamination, which could cost homeowners thousands of pounds to address.

Brownfield sites are defined as land which has potential for redevelopment after previously being occupied by another permanent building, such as a factory or industrial works. Redeveloping brownfield sites is a cornerstone of the current national housing policy, with 79% of all new builds being built on recycled land in recent years.

Yet according to the LV= research, over one in ten (11%) new homes built on brownfield land have suffered problems as a result of the land the property is built on, affecting a total of 74,000 homes in the last ten years. The most common problem is flooding, but there are also cases of contamination, poor drainage and sewage problems.

One of the drivers behind the current policy encouraging house builders to redevelop land is the creation of affordable homes for first-time buyers. The LV= research shows that few (17%) prospective buyers are actually specifically looking to buy new build housing, rather many feel that this is the only option available to them through local authority shared ownership schemes as many of these properties are new builds. Others say they are persuaded to buy new build homes because of incentives such as deposit cash back schemes from developers or free white goods.

Currently, over a third (34%) of prospective buyers are unaware of the problems associated with former industrial land and a quarter (24%) do not check the previous use of the land a house is built on. LV= is advising potential buyers to check the previous use of the land a house is built on before committing to a purchase, by speaking to neighbours, checking old maps or commissioning a full environmental report to ensure they do not experience problems once they've moved in.

John O'Roarke, managing director of LV= home insurance, said: "It is vital that we continue to protect greenbelt land and that new uses can be found for brownfield sites, especially where there is a shortage of affordable housing. However, with many new properties being built on second-hand land, it's vital that potential buyers carry out adequate checks to find out what their new property is built on so they are aware of the risks. Regardless of when the property is built, it's always a good idea to get a structural survey when purchasing a property and to discuss any potential issues with their insurer to ensure they have adequate cover for their new home."

About LV=:
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= employs around 4,500 people, serves over four million customers and members, and manages around £8.0bn (as at 31 December 2010) on their behalf, via LV= Asset Management (LVAM). We are also the UK's largest friendly society and a leading mutual financial services provider. www.LVAM.co.uk.

LV= Asset Management named Best Small Bond Group at Lipper Awards 2011

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:27:04 GMT

LV= Asset Management, the fund management arm of mutual insurance, investment and retirement group LV=, has received recognition for the strong performance of its UK fixed interest team by winning the best small bond group category at the Lipper Fund Awards 2011.

LV= Asset Management qualified for this award by delivering strong risk-adjusted performance relative to its peer group across its range of bond funds over the three year period up to 31st December 2010. These funds include the LV= UK Corporate Bond fund, the LV= UK Fixed Interest fund and the LV= UK Index linked fund.

The award acknowledges LVAM's industry leading fixed interest capability and highlights the team’s expertise across a range of different products.

Michael Wright, Head of Fixed Interest at LVAM commented: "We aim to deliver consistently good performance for our clients across the range of bond funds. We are extremely pleased to have won this award as it acknowledges our team approach to managing funds and recognises the superior returns we have achieved over the three years to 31st December 2010.

"The last few years have been an extraordinary time for money managers but the breadth of experience on the team has allowed us to draw on lessons from the past and make timely, well informed decision on behalf of our clients. Going forward we are confident that we can maintain this high level of performance by continuing to follow a pragmatic approach to stock selection."

Ann Roughead, Managing Director at LVAM added: "LVAM has set out its stall as a low-cost active manager that does what it says on the tin - delivering attractive added value year in, year out. The LV= bond funds are great examples of what we are trying to achieve and this award will serve to reinforce our commitment to providing impressive and consistent returns for our investors."

About Liverpool Victoria:
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, the AFM and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF. www.LV.com

About The Lipper Fund Awards:
The Lipper Fund Awards are part of the Thomson Reuters Awards for Excellence, a global family of awards that celebrate exceptional performance throughout the professional investment community. The Thomson Reuters Awards for Excellence recognize the world's top funds, fund management firms, sell-side firms, research analysts, and investor relations teams. The Thomson Reuters Awards for Excellence also include the Extel Survey Awards, the StarMine Analyst Awards, and the StarMine Broker Rankings.

LV= reveals drivers lost £58.5 million from 'unfair' parking tickets

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:32:30 GMT

LV=, the car insurer, has revealed that drivers lost £58.5m last year by failing to appeal against parking tickets issued in 'unfair' circumstances.

In 2010, one in twenty (5%) motorists in the UK received a parking ticket where they had grounds to appeal. Despite this, only one in five (22%) drivers bother to contest a ticket once issued; but of those who do, nearly nine in ten (88%) claimants are successful.

When questioned, over half of UK drivers (53%) who do pay when issued with a ticket in unfair circumstances do so because they assume they will not win an appeal. Many drivers say they are confused about the procedure for appeals, with one in twelve (8%) not knowing how to initiate a claim.

The majority of 'unfair' parking fines are issued in areas where parking signage is unclear. Other reasons include misleading road markings, being issued with a fine while walking to a machine to buy a parking ticket and being fined when the car was broken down. A small but significant number of drivers report parking attendants actually fabricating evidence to support issuing the ticket (2%).

Most (49%) of tickets issued unfairly are given out on public roads but surprisingly one in ten (10%) are received in car parks of public buildings managed by local authorities, such as libraries, hospitals and GP surgeries. A similar number (9%) are given out in commercially operated car parks.

The cost of a parking fine varies widely across the UK but the research found that the average cost paid by motorists given a ticket in unfair circumstances is £42. The majority of this money is pocketed by local authorities, who issue nearly three quarters (74%) of tickets in unfair circumstances. London councils make the most money per parking penalty issued, with Camden, the neighbourhood of celebrities such as Amy Winehouse and Kate Moss generating an average of £78 per ticket. Outside of the capital, Poole Council pockets nearly £30 per ticket, while Tendring Council in Essex makes just £16 per ticket and South Gloucestershire takes the least money at just £10 per ticket issued.

John O'Roarke, managing director of LV= car insurance, said: "It's shocking to see motorists paying out millions every year in unfair parking tickets, particularly at a time when soaring fuel costs are already putting a huge strain on drivers. It is vital that the appeals process is communicated clearly in all tickets, penalty notices and subsequent documentation to ensure drivers are aware of their right to contest a fine they feel is unjustified. Although the appeals process may sometimes seem time consuming, motorists should be encouraged by the fact that the vast majority of appeals are successful, and we'd urge them to take action against any unwarranted fines."

LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

As the UK's largest friendly society LV= is here to help customers make the best choices when it comes to their money. The company offers a range of car insurance, home insurance and travel insurance products that are both good value and award-winning.

LV= wins two awards at the National Customer Services Awards

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:31:49 GMT

LV= has won two of the coveted awards at this year's National Customer Services Awards. The two awards are Customer Service Centre of the Year and Financial Service Team of the Year. This is the second year running that LV= has been named Customer Service Centre of the Year.

The awards were for LV='s general insurance contact centres, which are based in Bournemouth, Croydon, Bristol and Huddersfield.

LV= was a finalist in the Customer Service Back Office Team and The Institute of Customer Service Best Customer Service Employer categories.

The judges were impressed with LV='s passion for its staff with its great induction programme and continuous development scheme. They felt the LV= strategy of giving power to its frontline staff shone through and showed that the company truly cared about its customers.

Other short listed companies that LV= beat to win the accolades included American Express, Wonga.com, Natwest, Royal Mail and British Gas.

Peter Sinden, sales and customer service director for LV='s general insurance business, said: "This is a great achievement for everyone in the operations team at LV=. Winning Customer Service Centre of the Year two years in a row shows what a great job our team continuously does. To be recognised as the Best Customer Service Team in the financial services industry is also a great accolade. Insurance is a highly competitive industry and LV= puts a huge amount of effort into offering our customers a gold standard service and thereby differentiating ourselves from many of our competitors. Since 2006 we have tripled the size of our business and our great service is a key driver of this success."

About LV=:
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= employs around 4,000 people, serves over 4million customers and members, and manages around £7.9bn (as at 30 September 2010) on their behalf, via LV= Asset Management (LVAM). We are also the UK's largest friendly society and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, the AFM and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

LV= reveals fraudulent direct debits at record high

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:07:39 GMT

LV= has revealed that over 97,000 Brits have fallen victim to criminals setting up fraudulent direct debits from their accounts, with this number set to escalate over the next three years, according to new research.

The findings from the home insurer, conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), show that so far this year 26,000 Brits found fraudsters taking out regular direct debit payments in their name, with an average of £540 going missing before they noticed and stopped it.

Over the last four years, the number of criminals gaining access to victims' bank accounts directly in order to set up regular payments has risen by 288% from just 6200 reported cases in 2006. This huge increase has been driven by the introduction of Chip and PIN meaning it's harder for fraudsters to steal someone else's card and pass it off as their own.

Direct debit payment fraud now accounts for around 10.6% of all identity fraud cases, rising from 0.01% of all cases in 2001. And the LV= report reveals the problem is set to grow to 41,000 cases a year by 2013, equating to a 57% rise in the coming three years.

Reflecting the increased likelihood of people now becoming a victim of fraud, LV= includes an identity fraud helpline service as part of its home insurance policy.

Experts believe one reason for this rise is the difficulty in obtaining credit as a result of the recession, leading to a surge in fraudsters attempting to use other identities in order to obtain goods and services.

Fortunately under the direct debit guarantee system, victims will get their money back if they are a victim of this type of fraud, however consumers may unwittingly be adding to the problem as many continue to be lax in checking their bank balance with one in five (21%) admitting they only check their balance once a month.

LV= is therefore urging people to keep a watchful eye on their bank statements to ensure they haven't fallen victim to direct debit fraud.

John O'Roarke, managing director of LV= home insurance, said: "The past few years have been financially challenging for many and an indirect result of these struggles has been a increase in personal and identity fraud. Yet while most of us are aware of the need to protect our card details, the increase in fraudsters setting up direct debits in victims' names proves the need for everyone to regularly check their banks statements and ensure they're not paying out for someone else's mobile phone account or gym membership or any other direct debit they don't recognise. And with the number of direct debits being paid unnecessarily at an all time high, we'd urge account holders to check they're not making duplicate or out of date payments.

LV= home insurance customers who think they might have been stung by fraudsters can contact our home insurance fraud helpline for advice."

About LV=:
LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= employs over 4000 people, serves around 3.8 million customers and members, and manages around £9.7 billion on their behalf. They are also the UK's largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Key Statistics 2008, total net assets) and a leading mutual financial services provider.

Notes to Editors:
All research unless otherwise stated was carried out by ICM. Fieldwork took place online between 6 – 12 October and was weighted to nationally representative criteria. ICM interviewed a sample of 2013 UK adults aged 18+ and 1284 UK adults who had fallen victim to ID fraud.
Additional analysis was conducted by the Centre for Economic and Business Research with supporting data sourced from CIFAS.

LV= continues expansion of pensions fund platform with Investec link

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:42:09 GMT

LV=, Life and pensions specialist, has announced that it has added four new funds from Investec Asset Management to its insured pension fund platform. The four new fund links join LV='s existing insured offering of 119 funds.

LV='s Flexible Transitions Account is able to operate as an insured pension plan and as a SIPP, and this extension follows the recent competitive re-pricing of the existing fund range.

The new funds are:
- Investec Emerging Markets Debt Fund*
- Investec Monthly High Income Fund
- Investec UK Smaller Companies Fund*
- Investec Asia excluding Japan*

Ray Chinn, LV= head of pensions, said: "We continually review our fund platform and options to ensure investors have access to a diversified and growing investment range. Linking with a strong brand like Investec Asset Management demonstrates that we are able to offer advisers highly competitive investment opportunities for their clients.

"We are especially pleased to be able to offer an emerging market debt fund, as local debt markets currently compare favourably with other asset classes and are a significant and growing part of the global economy. We believe they have an important role to play as part of a diversified portfolio.

"The fact that three of the four funds make our PensionQ 'guided architecture' list provides further confidence for IFAs and demonstrates the strength of this new partnership with Investec.

"The funds add to a competitive range of investment opportunities for advisers, including insured pension funds, access to discretionary fund management and other more esoteric investments, all available in one transparent and flexible pension wrapper via the LV= Flexible Transitions Account."

Darren Pilbream, head of strategic alliances at Investec Asset Management, commented: "The funds LV= has selected to sit on its pension platform will add value to LV='s investment offering in a number of sectors. We look forward to building on this partnership with LV= in the future. Investec is a distinctive specialist financial group with nineteen years experience. Our aim to exceed our clients' investment and service expectations, and to manage their money to the highest possible standard."

Notes to editors
* fund will qualify for LV='s PensionQ tool, that helps advisers with fund selection by measuring funds against their peers.

About LV=
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

LV= employs around 4,000 people, serves over 3.8m customers and members, and manages around £9.5bn on their behalf. We are also the UK's largest friendly society and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, the AFM and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

LV= reveals boom in holidaymakers flying solo

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:06:54 GMT

LV=, the travel insurer, has announced that the number of Brits holidaying alone has doubled in the past two years* according to its research. The trend which was first identified by ABTA** last year is set to see more than two million Brits jet off on holiday on their own over the coming three months*** and a further 3.5 million people over the next year****.

According to the research by LV= travel insurance, a third of all British adults have holidayed alone at some point. Out of these solo holidaymakers 41% were in a relationship when they went, with one in four (27%) actually married.

Common reasons for holidaying alone include one in five (20%) saying they wanted an adventure, 19% wanting to broaden their horizons, 16% saying they preferred their own company and one in fifteen (7%) going it alone due to their friends or partner not being able to afford the trip.

France tops the list for the most regularly visited destination to go it alone, followed by Spain, with the USA, Germany and Australia making up the top five.

Challenging traditional views, the 'backpacker' holiday makes up just 8% of solo breaks with city breaks (22%) the most popular type of holiday for individual travellers, followed by beach holidays (17%), and then cultural retreats.

Despite nearly a quarter (24%) of solo holidaymakers admitting they felt nervous before they went, the majority said they had a great time (60%), one in ten said it was the best holiday they had ever had and just 3% said they didn't enjoy it.

LV= travel insurance has put together a safety guide for 'solo holiday-makers' this autumn and a list of recommended destinations for single holidaymakers.

John O'Roarke, managing director of LV= travel insurance, commented: "Holidaying abroad alone offers the opportunity to meet new people and get a whole new outlook on life. However it's also sensible to consider carefully where you visit and also take a few additional security steps to ensure you can relax and enjoy the trip. We'd advise all solo travellers to ensure they follow an itinerary and stay in contact with home if they go off the beaten track – and always ensure they have valid travel insurance in case of an emergency."

Notes to editors
Research was undertaken by Opinium from 1 – 5 October 2010 via an online survey. Total sample size was 3013 adults. Results were weighted to be nationally representative.

* According to the Opinium research, in the past twelve months 13% of Brits have holidayed alone. Between one and two years previously 6% holidayed alone. This equates to a 7 percentage points rise or more than double.
** 'Solo holidays' are referenced as a developing trend in the ABTA travel trends 2010 forecast, available at www.abta.com/resources/publications_and_research
*** According to ONS 2009 UK population statistics, there are 48,676,000 adults in the United Kingdom. Opinium research shows that one in twenty (5%) Brits are planning to holiday alone in the next three months – or 2,433,800 people.
**** 7% of UK adults are planning to go away over between five and 12 months time = 3,407,320.

About LV=:
LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

LV= launches iPhone app for job seekers

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:22:02 GMT

LV= has announced it has launched an app for the iPhone which is aimed at job seekers.

The application features LV='s iconic green heart and includes an interactive map that highlights LV='s offices across the country. Users are able to specify a location and search for jobs that are relevant to them. Alternatively they are able to view all jobs currently available across the country.

Via the app, users can find detailed job role specifications and users can email selected jobs on-to themselves or friends. There is also the opportunity to sign up to receive job alerts for specific locations if there is nothing suitable currently available.

It is free to download from the Apple App Store and has been created to give access to current LV= vacancies to the increasing number of people who rely on mobile internet. The app has a live feed of jobs directly from the LV.com careers website so it always has the most up to date jobs available.

LV= is currently recruiting for staff in many of its 28 offices across the UK. Particular recruitment hotspots are Bournemouth, where the head office is based, plus offices in Bristol, Exeter, Croydon and Huddersfield. The majority of jobs on offer are within LV='s general insurance business.

The launch of the application comes shortly after the launch of LV='s new interactive recruitment advertising campaign which uses unique technology that enables jobseekers to interact with existing LV= staff and find out about the jobs on offer before even applying.

Stuart Affleck, LV= head of resourcing and development, said: "We are really excited about launching the LV= iPhone app. We have been looking into how people are using the internet and there has been a definite increase in the number of people accessing the internet outside of the home. So it is important that LV= is able to offer a service that allows potential applicants the opportunity to find the information they want to see when they want to see it.

"As people are getting more and more tech savvy they are choosing to rely on applications to provide them with everything they need. We created an app that allows people to get up to date job information from LV= wherever they are."

LV= worked with creative agency ThirtyThree, to develop and build the new recruitment application.

About LV=:
LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

LV= employs over 4000 people, serves more than 3.8 million customers and members, and manages around £9.5 billion on their behalf.

Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Limited, registered in England and Wales number 3232514, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number 202965. Registered address is: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF. Tel: 01202 292333.

LV= reports that up to 1.2 million over-50s may use equity in home to supplement pensions

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:38:48 GMT

LV= has revealed that 'Home is Pension' is a common mantra among the over-50s workforce in Britain as shown in a recent report published by the retirement specialist. Although 54% of the over-50s believe the value of their home has fallen over the last three years, an estimated 1.2 million 'HIPpies' ('Home is Pension') may use the equity in their home to help supplement their retirement income.

Only 19% of all over-50s still in work feel that they are financially on track to retire as planned, while the number of working over-50s that believe they may have to delay retirement for financial reasons has increased hugely, to 41% from just 28% this time last year. Homeowners over 50 estimate they have lost £60 billion in property value due to recent volatility in the housing market.

However, this has not put many off using the equity in their homes to help fund retirement, with nearly a quarter of working over-50s considering using some, or all of the equity in their home to fund their retirement. The 'Home is Pension' mantra is so valuable to over-50s, that 54% would suggest their children include investment in property as part of their retirement planning.

When working over-50s were questioned about the impact an interest rate rise would have, LV='s research found that 40% would have to reduce their pension contributions just to meet the higher cost of paying debts. More than four in ten (44%) of all working over-50s and 34% of those aged 60-69 in work, have an outstanding mortgage debt on their home.

Vanessa Owen, LV= Head of Equity Release, said: "It seems to be increasingly commonplace for those approaching retirement to consider using the equity in their property as part of their overall retirement plan. Continuing doom and gloom over volatility in the housing market and seeing some properties fall in value, hasn’t deterred the UK’s "HIPpies" and many are still positive that the equity in their home is their best chance of having a more comfortable retirement."

Of those planning to use the equity in their home, nearly a quarter (22%) believe this is now their best option because their pension savings won’t give them the income they hoped it would, and 13% say it's all they have to rely on after the state pension. Two-thirds (64%) of these said they had always planned to use their property for their retirement: 52% by downsizing their home to release equity and 12% to borrow against their home through an equity release product.

Many over-50s are experiencing a 'double whammy', having seen large amounts wiped off the value of their pensions and investments, whilst also being forced to reduce the amount they are setting aside for retirement due to the pressures of living costs during the recession.

ENDS

Notes to editors
All research was conducted for LV= by Opinium Research in September 2010 amongst more than 1,172 British adults aged over 50 and in employment.

About LV=
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

LV= employs around 4,000 people, serves over 3.8m customers and members, and manages around £9.5bn on their behalf

LV= promotes best practice for National Customer Service Week

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:32:13 GMT

LV=, the mutual insurance, investment and retirement group, is running a series of training and activities to promote and reward excellence in customer service as part of National Customer Service Week.

LV= is dedicated to delivering the best possible customer service all year round and will be using National Customer Service Week as an extra opportunity to highlight the value that customer service plays within organisations.

In addition to highlighting and rewarding those staff who have demonstrated customer service excellence, the group will be running a series of initiatives during the week such as problem solving training and 'back to the floor' sessions for senior management.

Two staff award schemes have been set up to celebrate the week. The LOVE awards are for employees who demonstrate Living Our Values Everyday (LOVE) and the Unsung Heroes awards are for staff to nominate colleagues who have gone the extra mile to improve an internal process or system.

In the general insurance business, each site has initiatives promoting great customer service throughout the week including managers' mystery shopping and awarding prizes for great examples of customer service, quizzes themed around customer service, dress down and dress up days, job swaps and awards for the friendliest members of the customer service team.

Initiatives being rolled out specifically in LV='s Bournemouth office include a dress like a rock star day, a 'Know your Claims' team quiz and retention spot prizes.

LV= handles more than 18,000 customer calls a day and has won numerous awards for its customer service, including the 2010 Moneywise award for best customer service in car insurance. The LV= general insurance call centre also won call centre of the year* in the 2009 National Customer Service Awards and is short-listed again for the same award this year.

Peter Horton, operations director of LV= general insurance, said: "Our customers and members are at the heart of our organisation and delivering excellence in customer service day-in and day-out is part of what our brand is about.

We welcome the opportunity to join the thousands of other companies in celebrating National Customer Service Week. The week is about recognising those who deliver the best customer service and, equally importantly, helping our people across LV= to understand and appreciate the role everyone plays in ensuring our customers get the service they deserve all year round."

Notes to editors:
* Over 100 seats

About National Customer Service Week
National Customer Service Week is designed to raise awareness of customer service and the vital role it plays within an organisation. It is also an opportunity to say a big thank you to those who work in customer service for a job well done. National Customer Service Week is organised and promoted by the Institute of Customer Service.

About LV=
LV= and LV= Liverpool Victoria are trademarks of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and LV= and LV= Liverpool Victoria are trading styles of the LVFS group of companies.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including house insurance, car insurance , life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

LV= employs more than 4000 people, serves around 3.8 million members and customers, and manages around £9.5 billion on their behalf. We are also the UK's largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Yearbook 20

LV= launches new viral game

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:29:45 GMT

LV= has announced the launch of "LV= Heartsville", a new viral game that offers a number of prizes to be won.

Aligned with the theme of the current LV= TV advert, the premise of the new game is to fly a hot air balloon over the fictional town of "Heartsville" and avoid any obstacles that could ground the balloon. While the game boasts easy and user friendly game play, it becomes more challenging as the player progresses through the game.

Players can share the game with their friends via Facebook and create leagues to make it even more fun. A free prize draw is also available to users with prizes including two tickets for a Virgin hot air balloon ride, a Fortnum & Mason hamper or a £50 shopping voucher.

"LV= Heartsville" has been created in order to assist the company in capturing customer data, increase LV='s brand awareness and drive traffic to the company website, with LV='s key products such as car insurance and life insurance getting a mention in the game.

Alan Lay, web content manager at LV= said: "We think it's a great game, lots of fun to play, with some great prizes up for grabs and you can indulge in some friendly competition by setting up leagues with friends and family. "Heartsville" brings a little extra cheer to our audience, creating a buzz and engaging them with the brand, then driving them to our website to show them how we look after what they love in life."

About LV=
LV= and LV= Liverpool Victoria are trademarks of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and LV= and LV= Liverpool Victoria are trading styles of the LVFS group of companies.

LV= employs more than 3,800 people, serves around 3.6 million members and customers, and manages around £7 billion on their behalf. It is also the UK's largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Yearbook 2008/2009, total net assets) and a leading mutual financial services provider, offering car insurance, travel insurance and home insurance.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and entered on the Financial Services Authority Register No. 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Limited, registered in England and Wales number 3232514, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number 202965. Registered address is County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF. Tel: 01202 292333.

LV= asset management equities team celebrates year of strong performance

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:22:00 GMT

One year after joining LV= Asset Management (LVAM), the fund management arm of mutual insurance and investment group, LV=, Graham Ashby and his team are celebrating an impressive set of numbers for both the LV= UK Equity Income Fund and LV= UK Growth Fund.

Graham joined from Credit Suisse and has been the lead manager of the LV= UK Equity Income Fund since 1 September 2009. During the year to 31 August 2010, LV= UK Equity Income Fund returned 12.18% versus a FTSE All Share Index figure of 10.57% and an IMA UK Equity Income sector average of 8.22%, marking it as 1st Quartile and 6th Percentile*.

Under the stewardship of Michael Crawford, an experienced manager who has worked with Graham for over 10 years, LV= UK Growth Fund returned a much improved performance of 9.29% against the FTSE All Share Index's 10.57% and an IMA UK All Companies sector average of 8.62%*.

Graham and Michael also brought Marcus Chandler and Mira Bhogaita with them from Credit Suisse. Together with long-standing LVAM fund manager Chris Price, they make up LVAM's UK Equities team.

The UK equity portfolios have a 'backbone' of stocks which have a proven record in creating value for shareholders and where fundamental analysis indicates that these high returns are sustainable.

The team also believes that UK equity portfolios should also be diversified in absolute rather than relative terms. As a result, they seek to ensure adequate diversification by limiting the exposure to individual stocks and adopting a 'benchmark aware' rather than a 'benchmark driven' approach to portfolio construction.

Recently, in response to demand, LVAM has moved to a quarterly income distribution for the LV= UK Equity Income Fund, which helps with clients' cash flow and is also in line with the trend for UK companies to pay dividends quarterly; an institutional income share class has also been added.

In July this year, LV= UK Equity Income Fund received a Standard & Poor's 'A' rating and in addition, both Graham Ashby and Michael Crawford are 'A' rated by Citywire.

Graham Ashby, head of UK Equities, commented: "My long-held view is that careful bottom-up stock selection combined with sensible portfolio construction will deliver results for investors. We have more than begun to show this over the past year and I am confident that by continuing to combine conviction investing with risk awareness we will provide a winning long-term formula for clients of LV= UK Equity Income Fund and LV= UK Growth Fund."

- Ends -

Notes to editors:
*Source: Lipper Hindsight. Bid to Bid with income net of UK tax reinvested. Retail share class shown. Competitor sector used: IMA UK Equity Income. Benchmark index: FTSE All Share Index.

About LV=
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= offers a range of insurance products including home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

LV= employs around 4,000 people, serves over 3.8m customers and members, and manages around £9.5bn (as at 30 June 2010) on their behalf, via LV= Asset Management (LVAM). LV= is also the UK's largest friendly society and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number 110035. LVFS is a member of the A

LV announces strong performance in first half of 2010

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:46:23 GMT

LV=, the mutual insurance, retirement and investment group, has announced a strong performance in the first half of 2010, with sales and trading profits significantly up on the same period of 2009.

Life cover sales are up 40% to £63.5m on an APE (Annual Premium Equivalent) basis, compared to £45.2m in the first half of 2009. This includes retirement business seeing a 36% increase with an APE of £48.3 (H1 2009: £35.4m) while protection and savings businesses saw a 55% increase with an APE of £15.2m (H1 2009: £9.8m).

General insurance GWP (Gross Written Premiums) were up 37% to £546.4m (H1 2009: £397.5m), this includes including new business GWP up by 39% to £85.0m (H1 2009: £61.3m). The results also confirm that LV= is now fourth biggest private car insurer (according to FSA returns 2009).

In asset management (LVAM), investment performance shows continued strong outperformance against benchmark for the with-profits portfolio. 85% of eligible funds are ranked in the first or second quartile of their peer groups for performance in the first six months of 2010 while H1 2010 sales exceed the total for 2009 (excluding third party institutional sales).

Mike Rogers, LV= group chief executive, commented: "Although the market environment remains challenging, our focus has paid off enabling us to continue to grow profitably across the LV= Group. Our trading performance in terms of both sales and profitability was significantly up on the same period last year.

"In the life business, pensions and annuities spearheaded a strong performance, driven partly by legislation change moving the retirement age from 50 to 55. Profitability in life was also enhanced by improved cost control and by our development of new IFA accounts.

"In general insurance, both the direct and broker channels performed strongly. We have taken the opportunity in current market conditions to combine increased rates with growth in business volumes and this has driven improved profitability.

"Investment performance for our with-profits policyholders was ahead of benchmark. In addition, our development of a strong retail fund management franchise continues successfully, boosted by the significant increase in Standard & Poor’s and Citywire ratings achieved for our funds and fund managers.

"Market conditions in the second half of 2010 remain challenging but we expect our market focus and cost control will continue to deliver trading profit growth in the second half."

– ends –

Notes to editors:
APE = Annual Premium Equivalent
This is a measure comprising new regular premium sales plus 10 per cent of single premiums.

GWP = Gross Written Premiums
These represent the revenue (premiums) expected to be received over the life of a general insurance contract.

About LV=:
LV= and LV= Liverpool Victoria are trademarks of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and LV= and LV= Liverpool Victoria are trading styles of the LVFS group of companies.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

LV= employs over 4,000 people and serves more than 3.8m members and customers. LV= is the UK’s largest friendly society and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

LV= research suggests that poor sighted drivers put lives at risk

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:43:47 GMT

LV= has revealed new research conducted amongst motorists that shows many drivers are still getting behind the wheel, despite having poor eye sight.

The research conducted by LV= car insurance reveals that 4.2 million drivers who don't currently wear glasses admitted their vision was 'not perfect' although they still drive and 1.1 million drivers who are prescribed glasses or lenses for driving said they don’t always wear them whilst behind the wheel.

Among the 53% of motorists that don’t currently wear prescribed glasses or lenses, the statistics reveal that nearly a quarter (23%) confess that their eyesight is 'not perfect', and around one in ten (11%) admit to finding it difficult to see at night and one in twenty (6%) say they struggle to see in poor weather.

Yet despite these problems a third of these motorists say they haven’t had their eyes tested in the last five years with a further one in eight (13%) saying they either had a test over ten years ago or they have simply never bothered.

Aside from the number plate reading test in the driving exam, drivers are not currently legally required to have an eye test until they are 70 years old, although medical experts recommend that all drivers have an eye test at least every two years, regardless of whether they think their eyesight is okay for driving.

And in a test among 256 randomly selected drivers, one in ten (9%) were unable to make out a number plate just over 20 metres away on their first attempt. This rose to 18% of all drivers aged 55 and over5.

If motorists drive when they cannot see clearly and do not meet the visual requirements, they could be fined £1,000, receive three penalty points or be disqualified from driving. If drivers are involved in an accident caused by their lack of vision they could be charged with reckless or dangerous driving and potentially face a prison sentence.

Tony Russell, optician with online glasses retailer SelectSpecs.com, commented: "Eye care is often neglected, especially by people who have never worn glasses before. Regardless of how accurate you feel your eyesight is, it generally changes over time and it may not be immediately noticeable because you tend to get used to imperfect vision as it slowly deteriorates. It is recommended that you have your eyes checked at least every two years."

John O’Roarke, LV= car insurance managing director, said: "The number plate test is a compulsory requirement of the driving test for a very good reason. However, this is no substitute for regular eye examinations as eyesight can change significantly over time. Driving with poor eyesight is a criminal offence and can result in a fine, penalty points or even a ban, as well as invalidating your car insurance when it comes to making a car insurance claim."

Notes to Editors:
Research amongst drivers was conducted by Opinium Research. Opinium Research carried out an online poll of 2,490 British drivers from 1 to 5 July 2010. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.

Live research amongst 256 randomly selected drivers across the UK was carried out by PCP research from 29 June and 17 July 2010.

About LV=
LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. LV= offer a range of insurance products including home insurance, car breakdown cover, life insurance, pet insurance and LV= European ex-UK Growth Fund has achieved a remarkable track record of consistent performance for its clients over a number of years. In order to widen its appeal to investors, the Sterling hedged share class aims to reduce the underlying currency risk of the portfolio's assets by hedging currencies to which the portfolio has material exposure.

"We believe this gives LVAM a competitive advantage by offering a product that few others do, allowing a greater number of potential clients to access the Fund’s strong performance."

Matthew Wright, Head of Sales, LVAM, said: "We know that there is demand for this type of product from clients and indeed, we already have strong pipeline interest ahead of bringing it to market. This is further evidence that LVAM is prepared to extend the investment options of an impressively performing fund to meet client needs."

LV= European ex-UK Growth Fund was launched in 2003 and is managed jointly by Mark Page, Richard Falle and Laurent Millet. Last month it secured an OBSR 'A' rating and it carries an 'AA' rating from Standard & Poor’s. It is the only fund to have outperformed both the benchmark index and IMA Europe sector average in every year since 2004*.

- Ends -

Notes to editors:
*Source: Lipper Hindsight bid to bid UK Net of Tax in Sterling, Retail Shares versus FTSE World Europe ex-UK Index and IMA Europe ex-UK.
- The minimum initial investment into LV= European ex-UK Growth Fund Institutional Income GBP Hedged Class is £500,000.
- The AMC is the same as the current Institutional share classes: 0.55%. The TER is estimated at launch to be 0.79%, 0.15% higher than the other Institutional share classes, reflecting the costs associated with providing the hedge. All charges are taken from income, rather than capital given the primary objective of the fund is capital growth.

About LV=
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including home contents insurance, car breakdown cover, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance .

LV= employs around 4,000 people, serves over 3.8m customers and members, and manages around £9.5bn (as at 30 June 2010) on their behalf, via LV= Asset Management (LVAM). We are also the UK’s largest friendly society and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, the AFM and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

LV= reports kids come first as parents increase 'back to school' spending to £709 million

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:27:56 GMT

LV='s new Cost of a Child study has found that parents will spend £709 million* on 'back to school' basics including uniforms, stationery, sportswear and winter coats as parents prepare to kit their children out for the start of the new school year. This is equivalent to parents spending an average of £122 on their children. This rises to £139 for secondary school aged children, compared to £96 for infants. Parents living in London spend the most preparing for their kids to go back to school at £158 on average.

Despite many families continuing to feel the squeeze in the current economic climate, 46% of parents expect to spend a greater amount this year on 'back to school' items than last year. When asked to consider the financial pressures of kitting their kids out for school, 48% said they are feeling the strain of having to spend 'excessive amounts', rising to 64% among parents in the North East.

54% parents are considering using low cost suppliers for back to school items, such as supermarkets to buy basics like uniform and stationery, and 23% are considering second hand items, including hand-me-downs and goods from charity shops or eBay. This rises to 70% and 41% respectively for families in the South East.

Mark Jones, LV= head of protection, said: "It is surprising that many parents are responding to increased money pressure this year by spending more on back to school basics; clearly kids come first despite the downturn. And it's even more surprising that many parents are spending more despite looking at ways to be frugal and economise, by purchasing from cheaper suppliers such as their local supermarket or eBay."

The annual LV= Cost of a Child study shows that parents are now likely to have to shell out more than £201,000 on raising a child from birth to the age of 21**. This equates to £9,610 a year, £800 a month or £26 a day. Education (not including private school fees) remains the second biggest expenditure behind childcare, costing parents £52,881 over a child's lifetime - an increase of 4% on last year.

Mark Jones continued: "£122 is a lot of money for parents to spend kitting kids out to go back to school, and that's just one small part of the expense of raising a family. So it is important that parents try to look beyond the short term and ensure they have suitable budgets and long term financial plans in place. Whilst it may seem that cancelling insurance policies or protection plans is a good way of stretching the family budget, it's really important to keep the bigger picture in mind.

- Ends -

Notes to editors
* Research carried out online from 6-10 of August 2010 by Opinium Research on behalf of LV=. Sample size 2,013 adults, with 404 of those respondents with children aged between 5 and 16.
Please contact LV= for further details.
** Calculations by the Centre for Economics and Business Research for LV=, January 2010
**** Research carried out online from 26 January - 1 February 2010 by Opinium research on behalf of LV=. Total sample size was 3,953 adults over the age of 18 years.

About LV=
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= offer a range of insurance products including house insurance, motor insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and over 50 life insurance.

LV= employs around 4,000 people, serves over 3.8m customers and members, and

LV research suggests equity release set to become big growth area for IFAs

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:58:38 GMT

LV= conducted new research at its recent equity release road shows that reveals IFAs believe equity release is set to become a big growth area for their future business, helping to deal with the needs of the UK’s ageing population.

Research amongst IFAs that attended the road shows, which took place in May this year, showed that nearly all (98%) of them believe that there will be a surge in consumers using equity release over the next few years. 35% of the IFAs that attended said that equity release is already a core part of their business.

When looking into the reasons behind the future growth of the market, IFAs cited a shortfall in pension provision as the top reason for a future boost in people releasing the equity from their home, with funding to make home improvements and being able to help family onto the property ladder the next biggest motivators.

When looking into long term care planning, 88% of IFAs indicated that they believed, in the right circumstances, equity release could be the best option for people needing to fund long-term care in the home.

Vanessa Owen, LV='s Head of Equity Release said: "Advisers can clearly see the importance property will play in people financing their future in and around retirement, and a large number of IFAs now class equity release as core to their business. Releasing the money locked in a home can, under the right circumstances, be a lifeline for cash poor, asset rich people in or at retirement. With people living longer and healthier lives many will want a cash injection to help pay for a standard of living they have grown used to in their working lives as well as paying for home improvements, dream holidays or medical care. People’s homes are often their greatest asset, so it makes sense for them to be able to access that capital when they need it."

Andrea Rozario, Director General of equity release trade body SHIP, added: "It isn't surprising that IFA’s believe in the future growth of equity release when you consider the longevity issues we face and the problems this brings. Clearly the shortfall in pensions, along with an increasing need to pay for care in later life is becoming more important for the consumer and turning to their biggest asset, often their property is a logical step. The use of this asset can help alleviate problems for customers as long as they are fully aware of all the options open to them and this is where advisers play a critical role."

The LV= equity release road shows focused on professional connections and lead generation. The events covered issues around state benefits and equity release. In total 256 IFAs who attended the road shows took part in the research.

LV= is committed to the equity release market and, for IFAs interested in attending, will be running its next annual series of equity release road shows in spring 2011.

About LV=
LV= is a registered trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= offers a range of insurance products including home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and 50 plus life cover.

LV= employs around 4,000 people, serves over 3.8m customers and members, and manages around £9.5bn on their behalf. We are also the UK’s largest friendly society and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number 110035. LVFS is a member of

LV= warns of £264m repair bill for alcohol-fuelled home accidents

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:09:31 GMT

LV= is warning that accidents caused by Brits drinking and partying at home this summer is predicted to leave UK homeowners with a total repair bill of £264 million*.

New research by LV= home insurance suggests that the explosive combination of the football world cup and hot weather has fuelled a boom in alcohol-related accidents, as Brits increasingly hold parties at home. Based on last year's breakages, 73,000 TV/computer/games console accidents, 686,000 stains on carpets, and 955,500 breakages have already happened this summer.

Of last year's accidents 56% admitted that alcohol was involved and 31% stated the guest who did the damage was 'quite drunk' when the accident happened. A further 44% admitted they were 'a bit tipsy' at the time. The most common accident was broken glass or crockery (29%), followed by spillages causing damage to furniture (22%) or stained and damaged carpets (20%).

LV= is warning homeowners to ensure they opt for accidental damage cover as part of their home contents insurance, so that if any serous mishaps occur they are not left out of pocket paying to put the damage right.

According to the LV= survey, 19% of Brits expects to entertain more this summer than last year, with the average household hosting three gatherings over the season. The hot summer appears to be making Brits more likely to open their doors to friends, with 49% citing the weather as a major reason to celebrate at home.

The wave of sporting events this summer is also encouraging 12% of Brits to entertain more, while 5% claim that a TV event like an X-Factor final spurs them to plan a party. Around one in seven parties (15%) ends in some sort of damage caused either by the host or an over-enthusiastic guest.

The research findings echo internal home insurance claims data from LV=, which shows that homes suffer more accidental damage over the summer months than at any other time of the year.

John O'Roarke, managing director of LV= home insurance, said: "Everyone enjoys having get-togethers at home and the hot weather is a great excuse for a party. But our research shows that having friends over can often result in accidents, and we see thousands of insurance claims each year for problems like red wine spillages on carpets. We are therefore warning homeowners to ensure they have accidental damage cover as part of their home buildings and contents insurance, so that they're protected in the event of anyone celebrating too enthusiastically."

- ends -

Notes to Editors:
* In 2009 11% of Brits had accidents while entertaining in the home. If 11% of Brits have accidents this summer while entertaining = 5.3m. 56% admitted drink played a role in accident = 2.97m with average cost of £89 per head, or a collective total of £264,330,000.

All research unless otherwise specified was conducted by Opinium Research. Opinium carried out an online survey of 2,015 UK adults aged 18+ from 22 to 25 June 2010. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.

UK adult population = 49,121,000 (population projections by ONS, 2010).

About LV=:
LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= employs over 4,000 people, serves over 3.8m customers and members, and manages around £9.5bn on t

Top Articles Tagged with lv

LV= launches My Car iPhone app

LV= joins forces with Matt Perry and Mike Gatting for LV= SOS Kit Aid

LV= reveals one in ten homes built on brownfield sites have problems

LV= Asset Management named Best Small Bond Group at Lipper Awards 2011

LV= reveals drivers lost £58.5 million from 'unfair' parking tickets

LV= wins two awards at the National Customer Services Awards

LV= reveals fraudulent direct debits at record high

LV= continues expansion of pensions fund platform with Investec link

LV= reveals boom in holidaymakers flying solo

LV= launches iPhone app for job seekers

LV= reports that up to 1.2 million over-50s may use equity in home to supplement pensions

LV= promotes best practice for National Customer Service Week

LV= launches new viral game

LV= asset management equities team celebrates year of strong performance

LV announces strong performance in first half of 2010

LV= research suggests that poor sighted drivers put lives at risk

LV= reports kids come first as parents increase 'back to school' spending to £709 million

LV research suggests equity release set to become big growth area for IFAs

LV= warns of £264m repair bill for alcohol-fuelled home accidents