This summer dishonest holidaymakers will find themselves in hot water, rather than enjoying hot weat...
This summer dishonest holidaymakers will find themselves in hot water, rather than enjoying hot weather. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says it is cracking down on bogus travel claims, which cost the industry £50m each year.
Last year one hoodwinking holidaymaker got into deep water and was jailed for 18 months after he tried to claim for the loss of 33 suitcases over
18 months. A regular traveller abroad, he claimed a total of £85,000 for suitcases that had 'disappeared' from planes, trains, ferries, and motorway service areas. In addition to the numerous designer suits, jewellery, expensive shoes, laptop computers and video equipment, each suitcase contained scuba diving gear.
Another cheeky trickster was left with more than egg on his face after he tried to claim £14,000 for medical treatment and convalescence following a bout of malaria caught in West Africa. The unsuspecting insurer was just about to pay out when checks revealed that the convalescence amounted to an extended stay at an infamous local brothel.
"Any holidaymaker thinking that their travel insurer is a soft touch will be in for a nasty surprise this summer," said Tony Baker, ABI's deputy director general.
Now is the summer of
our discontent
Despite the teasing rumours that the UK is about to enjoy 90 days of sunshine,
and the passing of midsummer's day, there are still few signs that British summertime has arrived. Contrary to popular belief, the rain is not even good news for hayfever sufferers.
Rather than dilute or wash away the pollen, storms actually increase pollen levels as grains are broken down into tinier more deadly particles. Experts warn sufferers to stay indoors with windows closed - as if, in this weather, anyone could do otherwise.
Holidays are bad for your health
If a romantic weekend in Paris or short break in Barcelona seems to be just what the doctor ordered to de-stress and recharge your batteries, think again. A doctor from the World Health Organisation has revealed that short weekend breaks can actually be bad
for your health.
The hassles of packing, getting to the airport on time, checking-in, and flying can often be too much for some, and the problems do not end there. On arrival the quick change in lifestyle and new cuisine can play havoc with sleeping, digestion, and circulation.
To top it off, the doctor found that those who go away for the weekend are 17% more likely to have a heart attack and 12% more likely to have a car crash than people who took a week or more off.
However, with tour operators selling 1.25 million weekend breaks a year, the Spin Doctor thinks it unlikely that New York shopping sprees and drinking Dublin dry will lose their appeal.
Wonder bra saves the day
A bra has been invented which has a built-in personal alarm to protect women on the streets. The 'Techno Bra', as it is affectionately known, contains tiny electric circuits that monitor the wearer's heartbeat. If the heart rate leaps, indicating panic, it trips an alarm. A central computer is alerted and the whereabouts of the bra can be pinpointed with a global positioning system.
"I started looking at vulnerability as an issue and the need for protection. My whole aim was to reduce the fear of crime," said 26 year old bra designer and engineering student Kursty Groves.
Good news for women then, unless your feathers get ruffled in the pangs of passion. It may seem more of a turn off than a turn on, but in the case of a false alarm, the wearer simply switches the
off the system which vibrates when activated.
Drinking up time
It's been a bad month for drinkers. Not only has duty free been abolished, but now boffins at the University of Glasgow have concluded a tipple a day will do anything but keep the doctor at bay. A 21-year study of Scottish men revealed those who consumed more than 35 units of alcohol a week were twice as likely to die from stroke than non-drinkers.
Meanwhile, alcohol watchdogs have banned supermarket giant, Asda from serving up any more of its own brand alcopop, Exotica. The drink had to be taken off the shelves after the Portman Group ruled the name could be easily confused and blow the wind out of shoppers' sails.
"There is an indirect suggestion of sexual prowess," the group claimed.
The Portman Group, which aims to cut down on under-age drinking, said the name Exotica was too similar to erotica, while striptease acts were often referred to as 'exotic dancers'. It also pointed out that there was a soft porn programme on cable TV called 'Exotica Erotica'.
Asda said it agreed to abide by the ruling even though it found some of the reasoning "comical and eyebrow raising".
"Exotica stood on the shelves with another of our drink, Passion, which is a far more emotive word, which has had no complaints," a spokesperson said.
Pill popping
Although the box may promise fast pain relief, aspirin and paracetamol could actually make your headache worse, according to recent research.
The study revealed that up to 3% of adults in Britain suffering from chronic tension headaches could find that painkiller abuse is the root of their problems. While the study recommended that sufferers should stop taking drugs straight away, sufferers may 'go cold turkey' and experience symptoms such as sickness, anxiety and sleeplessness.
