Personal Possessions

At some time or another many of us have probably been stuck in the middle of nowhere wishing we had a guardian angel or at least some way of getting home or getting in touch with somebody who can help.

Any of us could end up far away from home and vulnerable, you can now call on something known as ‘personal emergency cover', which effectively gives you access to a free phone number to call in the event you are in a desperate situation.

Available for anybody over 18, it acts almost like a constant friend who can sort out some of the urgent problems which could occur should your personal belongings be lost or stolen. It can get you home through arranging emergency transport or cancel your credit cards where necessary. All you have to do is ring the emergency free phone number and speak to an agent who would sort this out for you.

Handbag theft on the increase

Many people keep some of the most important personal possessions in a handbag or bag, and if this is stolen they can be left without any cash, mobile phone, credit cards, and all the other things that they might sometimes rely on in everyday life.

Some figures also suggest that theft is no longer a crime mainly committed by men, but also by women, as recent figures from the Ministry of Justice show that the number of crimes committed by females in England and Wales has gone up by 22 per cent over four years.

Potentially more worrying is the age of some of the offenders, as 58,000 crimes were committed by girls in the 10 - 17 age groups in 2007 to 2008, an increase of 10,000 on 2003 to 2004. It means it is no longer easy to guess who might have their eye on your belongings.

So what does this cover do?

For starters it will get you home by arranging emergency transport, so you are not left stranded and vulnerable. It can buy you time by calling your phone provider and cancelling your mobile phone handset and credit or bank cards. You may also have lost your keys in a theft and in which case the cover will arrange a reputable locksmith, and can even send a message to family and friends through details you have registered.

A policy can also attempt to reimburse you for some of the cash you have spent getting out of such a situation yourself by issuing a claim form and allowing you to apply for some of the money you have spent on getting home, sorting out accommodation and all incurred expenses.

Of course, you can also expect basic insurance for your possessions, meaning the likes of your mobile phone, a laptop, handbag, and other gadgets are protected while you're out of the house.

So what does this type of cover normally class as an emergency?

The wording normally means an event which is sudden, unexpected, which poses a risk to your personal safety and/or leaves you without your personal possessions following loss or theft and needs to be acting on immediately.

Although a personal cover plan like this cannot take away the risk of you suffering a personal crisis, it can be relied upon to be a reassuring hand on your shoulder by starting the process of assisting you deal with the situation you find yourself in, this will also ensure you get back to the comfort of you own home safely.