Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Norwich Union shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Norwich Union offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Norwich Union at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Norwich Union? Wrong! If the Norwich Union is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Norwich Union then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Norwich Union? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Norwich Union and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Norwich Union wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Norwich Union then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Norwich Union site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Norwich Union, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Norwich Union, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
{{Infobox_Company| company_name = Norwich Union| company_logo = | foundation = Norwich, United Kingdom (1797)]| homepage = http://www.norwichunion.com/-->
Norwich Union is an insurance company in the United Kingdom. It is the biggest life insurance in the UK, and has a strong position in motor insurance. It is part of the Aviva group, itself created by a merger of Norwich Union and CGU plc in 2000. Aviva continues to operate in the UK under the Norwich Union name. Norwich Union is currently the biggest sponsor of UK Athletics.
History
Norwich Union was founded in
1797 in
Norwich, when 36-year-old merchant and banker Thomas Bignold formed the "Norwich Union Society for the Insurance of Houses, Stock and Merchandise from Fire", a mutual society owned by the policyholders who received a share of the profits. This in turn became known as the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Office.
In
1808 Thomas Bignold established a second mutual, the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society.The Fire Society demutualised in 1823 when it absorbed the Norwich General Assurance Company. In common with many insurance companies against fire loss, they operated their own fire brigades to protect (only) the society's policyholders whose buildings were identified by "Fire insurance marks". It was not until 1929 that the Fire Society gave up its last private brigade, in
Worcester, to the municipal authorities.
By the start of the 20th century, the various Norwich Union societies were operating worldwide, although the last two decades of the century saw a retrenchment and withdrawal from a number of markets seen as unstable, especially in Africa.
In 1997, its bicentenary year, Norwich Union demutualised and floated as a public limited company on the London Stock Exchange. Although it sold general insurance, motoring, healthcare and life policies - its wide range of products leading indirectly to its slogan
no-one protects more - it was listed on the markets as a life company, and in recent years has been under some pressure from analysts to shed its general insurance arm.
In 2000, Norwich Union merged with CGU, which itself was formed from the merger of General Accident and Commercial Union in October 1998. The Norwich Union had tried to take over General Accident over 100 years earlier. CGU also offered a broad range of life and general insurance products, with a stronger global presence than the heavily UK-based Norwich Union. Upon merging they formed the group CGNU which went on to become the
Aviva group. As of 2005, there are two companies operating in the UK under the Aviva umbrella that use the Norwich Union brand:
Norwich Union Insurance (NUGI) and
Norwich Union Life (NUL). Outside the UK, the Aviva brand is dominant.
Recently, Norwich Union has introduced a novel type of
auto insurance called "PAYD". A GPS receiver and a mobile phone are placed in a car and different risk factors (e.g. time of day, distance, etc.) are directly monitored. The information is transmitted directly back to the insurance company. Drivers with low risk factors get a discount on their motor insurance premiums. There are several
business method patents covering this invention.
Norwich Union has supported a European public service ad campaign against careless, driving at too great a rate of speed. The ad campaign is known as
"The Faster the Speed, the Bigger the Mess."
International operations
In
Canada, Norwich Union was well-known as a
direct marketing of
life insurance products, particularly for the "It's Patrick!" series of television advertisements. Following the Norwich/CGU merger, this unit was sold to
American International Group and renamed AIG Assurance, which dropped the "Patrick" ads.
External links
- Norwich Union home page
- Aviva home page
- History of Norwich Union
{{Infobox_Company| company_name = Norwich Union| company_logo = | foundation =
Norwich, United Kingdom (
1797)]| homepage = http://www.norwichunion.com/-->
Norwich Union is an insurance company in the
United Kingdom. It is the biggest
life insurance in the UK, and has a strong position in motor insurance. It is part of the Aviva group, itself created by a merger of Norwich Union and CGU plc in
2000. Aviva continues to operate in the UK under the Norwich Union name. Norwich Union is currently the biggest sponsor of UK Athletics.
History
Norwich Union was founded in 1797 in
Norwich, when 36-year-old merchant and banker Thomas Bignold formed the "Norwich Union Society for the Insurance of Houses, Stock and Merchandise from Fire", a mutual society owned by the policyholders who received a share of the profits. This in turn became known as the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Office.
In
1808 Thomas Bignold established a second mutual, the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society.The Fire Society demutualised in 1823 when it absorbed the Norwich General Assurance Company. In common with many insurance companies against fire loss, they operated their own fire brigades to protect (only) the society's policyholders whose buildings were identified by "
Fire insurance marks". It was not until 1929 that the Fire Society gave up its last private brigade, in
Worcester, to the municipal authorities.
By the start of the 20th century, the various Norwich Union societies were operating worldwide, although the last two decades of the century saw a retrenchment and withdrawal from a number of markets seen as unstable, especially in Africa.
In 1997, its bicentenary year, Norwich Union demutualised and floated as a public limited company on the London Stock Exchange. Although it sold general insurance, motoring, healthcare and life policies - its wide range of products leading indirectly to its slogan
no-one protects more - it was listed on the markets as a life company, and in recent years has been under some pressure from analysts to shed its general insurance arm.
In 2000, Norwich Union merged with CGU, which itself was formed from the merger of General Accident and Commercial Union in October 1998. The Norwich Union had tried to take over General Accident over 100 years earlier. CGU also offered a broad range of life and general insurance products, with a stronger global presence than the heavily UK-based Norwich Union. Upon merging they formed the group CGNU which went on to become the Aviva group. As of 2005, there are two companies operating in the UK under the Aviva umbrella that use the Norwich Union brand:
Norwich Union Insurance (NUGI) and
Norwich Union Life (NUL). Outside the UK, the Aviva brand is dominant.
Recently, Norwich Union has introduced a novel type of auto insurance called "
PAYD". A GPS receiver and a mobile phone are placed in a car and different risk factors (e.g. time of day, distance, etc.) are directly monitored. The information is transmitted directly back to the insurance company. Drivers with low risk factors get a discount on their motor insurance premiums. There are several
business method patents covering this invention.
Norwich Union has supported a European
public service ad campaign against careless, driving at too great a rate of speed. The ad campaign is known as
"The Faster the Speed, the Bigger the Mess."
International operations
In Canada, Norwich Union was well-known as a
direct marketing of
life insurance products, particularly for the "It's Patrick!" series of television advertisements. Following the Norwich/CGU merger, this unit was sold to
American International Group and renamed AIG Assurance, which dropped the "Patrick" ads.
External links
- Norwich Union home page
- Aviva home page
- History of Norwich Union
