Summer is here - and with it is the promise of lazy days spent at home by the pool or at the beach. If you’re travelling, here are some tips to keep you and your property safe. Lastly, stay alert when shopping online too.
Keep your home secure while you’re away
Home burglaries often increase over the festive season. If you’re planning to travel, take extra precautions to keep your home and possessions secure. Don’t forget to check your home insurance cover. Here are some home safety tips for the holiday season.
Burglary prevention tips
- Test your home alarm and batteries before you leave, as you won’t be covered if the alarm is faulty.
- Tell your security company that you will be away and provide contact details for a friend or relative who can help if the alarm goes off.
- Arrange for a reliable neighbour to check on the house regularly.
- Put certain lights on a timer, if possible, to make it look like someone is home or leave an outside light on to deter criminals.
- Check all windows, bolts and security gates to ensure they are locked and secure.
- Pack the car behind closed doors if possible to avoid unwanted attention from potential criminals.
Reduce your risk of property damage
- Turn off the water mains to prevent possible damage if a pipe bursts while you’re away.
- Unplug electrical appliances (except the fridge) to protect them against power surges and prevent fire risks.
- Switch off the geyser to save electricity and avoid bursting.
Road traffic safety tips for the holidays
During holiday seasons, the roads are at their busiest. By checking your car before a trip, practising safe driving habits, and preparing for emergencies, you can do your part to avoid an accident. Of course, if anything should happen while on the road, Santam provides roadside assistance, route assistance and home drive assistance, as part of our comprehensive car insurance cover.
Vehicle pre-trip inspection checklist
- Perform a vehicle safety check before embarking on your journey.
- Check the pressure, rotation and alignment on all four tyres and the spare tyre.
- Check that windscreen wiper blades are fully functional and fill up their windscreen wash.
- Check that vehicle headlights and tail lights work properly so you have good visibility and others can see you.
- Check oil, water and coolant levels. The hotter it gets, the faster the coolant levels drop, which can lead to the car overheating.
- Plan your route, rest stops, and departure time carefully, aiming to travel during non-peak hours.
- Ensure all necessary documentation, such as licenses, insurance, and vehicle registration are up to date.
- Pack a full emergency first aid kit.
While you’re driving
- Keep a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you; be alert to what is happening behind you; watch for rocks, potholes, and other obstacles on the road; be alert to pedestrians and wildlife crossings.
- Adjust driving speed to traffic signs and weather conditions, and obey all the rules of the road.
- When driving long distances, stop roughly every two hours to hydrate and stretch to keep your circulation moving and avoid cramping.
Stay safe online and watch out for scams
Fraudsters often ramp up their efforts over the festive season.
Watch out for phishing scams, where they attempt to trick recipients into revealing sensitive personal information. Be wary of messages which have an urgent call to action and ask you to click on suspicious links, download attachments, or install fraudulent apps. These messages are often designed to look like they are from legitimate institutions. Stay alert and verify the authenticity of any communication you receive.
As online shopping has grown in popularity, so have the scam sites that impersonate popular brands or offer desirable goods at bargain prices. Make sure you’re shopping on the right site, and remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Cyber safety tips for the festive season
- Use strong passwords. Create unique, strong passwords for all your devices, and use a password manager to generate and store them.
- Enable multi-factor authentication. Use two or more different types of actions to verify your identity.
- Keep your software up to date and turn on automatic updates.
- Be careful when clicking on links, attachments, or emails. Banks will never ask for your password via email.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi, as this can expose you to vulnerabilities. If you must use public Wi-Fi, use a VPN.
- Regularly back up your devices and valuable data.
- Monitor your accounts for unusual activity or transactions.
- Use a spam filter on your email account.
- Review the permissions requested by an app before installing it.
- Don't check "Keep Me Logged In" or "Remember Me".
Educate yourself and avoid falling victim to fraud and scams.
A 24/7 emergency line for you
If things go wrong, our SOS emergency services is available 24/7 toll-free on 086 0505 911, ensuring you have immediate assistance in critical situations. You can also access these services directly from the Client Portal or Client App. These tools are designed to put you in control and save you time, allowing you to handle everything at your convenience.
How to submit a claim
Santam is just a call or message away. Log in directly from our website or download our app.
If you’re claiming for motor glass or for a geyser, you can also submit a claim over WhatsApp. Send a message directly to our WhatsApp number: 086 010 2001. You’ll be able to get progress updates in real time and recommendations for repair.
If you don’t yet have cover, or you’d like to upgrade your protection, get an insurance quote online today.