Goods delivery Since the dawn of time, and commerce, goods have been carried from their place of occurrence or production to the place where they are required, and often these journeys have been hazardous and fraught with natural perils and dangers. Before aeroplanes there were only two possibilities, carriage by land and carriage by sea. One can think of many examples of sea transport over the last two thousand years, dangerous and difficult though it was. Spices, silks and tea would be the first to be thought of- everyone knows of the oriental trades from China and from India. The birth of insurance The first insurance for carried goods arose in China where merchants would distribute their goods over several boats so that if one boat was lost then at least there were other boats which stood a chance of getting to their destination. Babylonian merchants would take out a loan to fund a shipment, and added on to this loan was a premium which would write off the loan in the case of a shipment being lost. Carriage of goods by land Hazardous as it was, sea travel was still safer than travel by land. However goods were taken by land across continents. An example that most people will have heard of is the Frankincense Trail, explored recently in a BBC broadcast. By this route frankincense was taken two thousand miles across the Middle East, arriving eventually in Europe. More local examples can be regarded, for instance the carrying of wine from France, Italy and Spain to Britain. Even within Britain, one can examine the carriage of cloth from the Northern Mills in Yorkshire and Lancashire, to the south. Another example is that of the carriage of fish from the coasts to inland area, and of course the start of the postal service. Conditions for early couriers In medieval times roads would have been poor, and for most of the country, goods would have been carried by a pack horse. Although slow, probably only able to cover 30 miles a day, these bear more similarity to modern day couriers, as they would stop at towns to drop off goods, and maybe to pick up other goods for the return journey. Letters would also have been carried on horseback, a service which began following the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066, and was developed by Charles I, who opened up his Royal Mail to the public in 1635. Although the first insurance contract was signed in Genoa in 1347, it is unlikely that small individual traders, or messenger services, would have benefited from this, they would have had to take the risks of carriage on themselves. Insurance companies first arrived in Britain in the 1830s, just after the train network began to carry goods, post and packages, and people- a revolution in transport. But the people and traders who benefited from this extraordinary new transport would have been yet more amazed if they could see the present day networks of road and rail, and the extensive and rapid deliveries of parcels and goods which we now take for granted. With today's economic downturn, many people are having a difficult time meeting obligations during the month without having to worry about paying a huge insurance bill every six months to a year. Fortunately, monthly auto insurance is becoming more widespread which better meets the needs of consumers. By breaking premiums into more manageable chunks, the legal requirements associated with insuring your car is easier to meet today than ever before. Although the single payment or bi-yearly strategy worked for many years, in today's marketplace it no longer fits budgetary constraints that are limiting options for many people. Paying for auto insurance on a monthly basis has many advantages. Not only does it fit better into the individual lifestyles and today's budgets, but coverage can be extended between three months and a year without a penalty applied for changing carriers. Since the insurance industry is highly competitive, payments can be customized to meet individual needs. Rates vary widely so researching multiple carriers could be very beneficial in finding the cheapest rate. It's important to remember that premiums are based on various factors. Things like the location where you live, credit rating, how much vehicles are driven on a daily basis, and especially your driving history all impact the quote received. One way to find the best rate is to compare quotes online as well as the area where you live. Although payments made each on a cyclical basis have a tendency to be slightly higher than when paid at a single point in time, everyone can qualify regardless of history. Additionally, specifying the components most desired in the policy is important. This includes the level of the deductible as well as whether or not going above the minimum limit for the state is desired. It's important to remember that the more that can be paid initially, the lower the monthly payments will be. Additionally, payments can be broken into quarterly installments, ten monthly payments, or twelve disbursements. It's important to note, however, that there is also a small fee charged at the time each installment is paid. This is in addition to the cost of the policy. Once low rates have been secured from several companies, speaking directly to representatives can determine the best carrier and package for you. Just because cyclical payments are made does not mean that you must give up the level of coverage desired. Today service providers are developing programs that better meet the current economic crisis and, many times, this includes providing monthly auto insurance installment programs.
It is easy to get a car insurance quote on the internet because there is a lot of competition in the auto insurance industry. Many companies are trying to offer lower rates than their competitors in order to increase the number of policies they write. Even if a person has been with the same company for many years a person should periodically look for cheaper rates. Many people are paying too much for coverage because they have more coverage than they need, they have not shopped around, or because there is an error in their application. Some people have complete coverage when really all they need is liability coverage because they are driving a late model car. New vehicles and vehicles that are being financed should have comprehensive coverage but other vehicles need only liability coverage. Some people do not have enough coverage and could be surprised to learn that they were not fully covered when they submit a claim. If the vehicle is relatively new and will cost a lot of money to be repaired the vehicle should be covered fully. The agent can help determine the right amount of coverage a particular vehicle will need in order to protect the owner's bank account should the car or truck be involved in an accident. A lot of people receive their policy in the mail and stick it into a drawer and never bother reading it hoping that they never have to file a claim. Insurance is the product that everyone has to buy. But no one wants to have to file a claim. Spending a few minutes reading the policy could be an enlightening experience for some people. When one knows what is in her policy she will be able to shop around with other carriers and intelligently search for better rates. Knowledge is power when it comes to looking for less expensive coverage in the vehicle coverage industry. Finding the right coverage begins with the car insurance quote. The cost conscious person has the right amount of coverage based on his needs. Finding the right coverage at the right price will take some work but it is worth the effort. When shopping for a reliable Maryland auto insurance provider, it will become apparent that not every company and policy is the same. There are a number of insurers based in the state who deal with claims with efficiency and speed, on the other hand, there are also carriers who place obstacles in the way when a customer makes a genuine submission for a payout. To ensure that you do not waste your money, it is vital that you spend time analyzing the differences in reputation, accountability, and credibility of the providers you are considering. You would not want to find out only after making a claim, that the insurers are not so willing to honor their part of the contract. There are a number of ways you can find out the value of an insurer's service, perhaps the easiest method would be to search for official ratings. There are various independent organizations who analyze the services of insurance carriers. By familiarizing yourself with an insurer's track record, in terms of claims handling and coverage options, you will be better placed to choose the right kind of plan. As well as using the information provided by official bodies, it is also of value to compare the reviews and opinions of actual customers. There are a number of websites which can be visited that hold information relating to customer feedback on insurers. If a particular carrier has received a lot of criticism and complaints, it would make sense to give them a wide berth. If you have already short-listed a few possible options, find out what customers really think about their service. If you have only recently moved to Maryland, you may not be clear as to which local insurers would be the best choice. In such a situation, it can be worthwhile asking friends or colleagues based in the state for their thoughts as to which insurers should be used. You may find that a particular carrier receives a lot of positive feedback, conversely, you may also be given nightmare accounts of the problems that can arise if you choose the wrong option. One area in which there can be major differences is in the level of customer support. Those firms with a large presence and a 24/7 help-desk are more likely to deal with any queries or claims promptly. That being said, you may find that you are offered lower quotes from previously unheard of companies. You will need to decide whether saving money or quality customer service is more important to you.
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