07 Jan Tales from Wonderland

Posted at 12:05h in Create News by Claire 0 Comments

Tales from Wonderland: Don't Carry Passengers

This blog post kicks off a light-hearted series, “Tales from Wonderland,” blending some personal stories from Karen (Director of Create Solutions) sometimes linking into the exciting and interesting world of insurance and compliance.

A year ago, I sold my three-bed semi in Stockport to buy a unique house in the Lake District, a house that needed a lot of work. We lived in a caravan for a few months, braving an ice-cold winter while renovations were underway. More on the house and its history later (there’s plenty!), but it will become clear as the title for my Blog states (Tales from Wonderland).

I have so many stories I could tell but thought this could be my first blog as its relevant to the insurance industry.

I travel a lot, and a few weeks ago, I toured from the Lakes to Stockport, Cheshire, Manchester, Lincolnshire and back to the Lakes.

My car was completely packed. (Now I know why they call me the bag lady). I visited staff and consultants that week and was blessed with luxury gifts of beautiful plum bread, expensive cheese, honey, and biscuits. I also visited my mum and dad in Lincolnshire and noticed whilst unloading that my snuggly warm coat had a hole on it (The duvet style filling) was seeping out of it. I then also noticed a hole on one of my freebie conference cloth bags and my grandma style slippers.

Some teacakes had been opened too.

I drove for almost a full day back to the Lakes, concentrating on the winding roads, the bleak weather, and travelling in the dark. (The odd car overtaking me at the speed of light, flashing me and overtaking on the bends.)

Well, it was then that then realisation hit…

I was about 10 miles from home and heard a squeaking in the back of the car. I ignored it and thought it was all in my mind. It continued, and then I heard the scratching! My hairs stood on end.

Oh my word, my worst nightmare. Talk about mind over matter. I drove home like a statue in Madam Tussauds. My face must have looked like I had come out of Wallace and Gromit.

I got home and fled from the car. It was emptied, and the next morning, the culprit was found.

A mouse had harboured in my car (goodness knows how it got in), but it must have had a great time . It was warm and cozy, having a tour of Britain, and dining on the best luxury goods it’s ever tasted.

It was probably twice the size it was at the beginning of the week .

So, what does this furry freeloader have to do with insurance and compliance? Well, think of it this way: that mouse was an uninvited passenger, a risk that went unnoticed until it started causing damage.

In the insurance world, we’re constantly assessing risks, identifying potential “passengers” that could compromise our operations, our clients, or our reputation.

These “passengers” can take many forms: outdated policies, inadequate training, lack of clear communication. Just like my stowaway mouse, these risks can start small and seemingly insignificant, but they can quickly escalate into major problems if left unchecked. (It could have eaten into the electrics or the seats!)

So, the next time you’re tempted to ignore that squeaking sound or that nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right, remember my tale of the traveling mouse. Don’t carry passengers. Be vigilant, proactive, and always be prepared to take action.

Oh and yes, don’t leave food in your car ! The consequences could have been serious. Like Aviva had recently published these type of claims are on the increase (25% have been mentioned) and people are being urged to check their insurance policies to see if covered (generally not).

But as you can see on my next visit, trusted Tracy came to the rescue (mitigating the risk) with a fresh new batch of ‘mouse proof’ cheese and biscuits!

Stay tuned for more Tales from Wonderland….