OREANDA-NEWS. February 09, 2010. Quite often, the New Year holidays make changes to the operation of insurers’ customer service units. The shift in a usual work rhythm affects the occurrence of various risks under personal insurance contracts in a diverse manner. The experts of IC ROSNO have analyzed the effect of the New Year 2010 holidays on the structure and size of insured accidents claimed in the most popular insurance segments, reported the press-centre of ROSNO.

The largest surge in loss proofs filed by ROSNO’s private clients during the New Year holidays was noted in the travellers’ insurance. For example, during any ordinary day of the winter tourism season, the insurance company receives about 40 loss proofs from the people covered by the travellers’ insurance policies. This year, in the period of 01 to 10 January alone, 874 tourists located in different countries throughout the world applied to ROSNO for assistance. The largest number of applications originated from Egypt (slightly under 40% of the total number) and Thailand. Also, the considerable number of calls was made by the tourists vacationing at the European ski resorts (Austria, Finland, and Switzerland). ROSNO performed 11 evacuations of injured tourists back to Russia. "The largest number of applications submitted during these New Year holidays, just as always in this time of year, was related to injuries, various catarrhal diseases, and intoxications", notes Mr. Alexander Schwab, Deputy Head of ROSNO’s Travellers Insurance Department.

In other insurance segments, the company recorded no such notable surge in the number of applications during the New Year holidays. "In motor insurance, we got only some isolated cases in the first days of the New Year, and their quantity did not exceed a half of the average number till the end of holidays", comments Mr. Andrey Chechelov, Head of the Motor Losses Appraisal Department at ROSNO’s Moscow Regional Directorate. "Indeed, the first working days after the end of the holidays have determined a basic trend for the entire workweek. We served twice as much clients as in ordinary days. While, during the period of 01 to 11 January, we recorded just over 300 applications, this number shot up to over 770 in the period of 12 to 16 January alone. Yet we were ready for such influx of clients, ensuring that all applications were processed without delay".

In January 2010, we observed no significant growth in the number of insured accidents under personal property insurance contracts, as compared to the average monthly statistics. However, 8 of every 10 fires claimed by ROSNO insurants occurred exactly during the period of 01 to 10 January. The frosty climate of the New Year holidays also affected the nature of applications made by clients under personal property insurance policies. "We received several applications related to the defreezing of plumbing systems in cottages and country houses. Last year’s holidays, with their milder weather, saw no such accidents", told Ms. Elena Shatayeva, Deputy Head of Personal and Property Insurance Loss Settlement Department.