Halifax Home Insurance Unlocks The Nation''s Key Disasters:
21 June 2005
Source: Halifax press release
Over 1.2 million* UK adults will lose their keys at least once this year
Total cost of key trauma is over £500 million**
The keys we carry around every day unlock the doors to our most prized possessions, yet more than 1.2 million* adults will lose their keys as many as six times this year, according to new research by Halifax Home Insurance.
The leading insurer has revealed that more than 12 million* UK adults have lost their keys six times or more in the past ten years accounting for £5.9 million worth of key replacements, locksmith bills and call out charges.
Vicky Emmott, senior underwriting manager, Halifax Home Insurance said:
'Our research shows that losing keys is not only inconvenient, it can be costly too. Calling in locksmiths and replacing keys and locks in the event of loss soon adds up especially when you consider that the majority of adults (more than 35 million) keep up to five keys together on one ring.'
Perhaps, unsurprisingly, with the pressures of a stressful career as well as juggling family and social lives, the 25-34 year old age group has suffered the highest number of key loss incidents with more than one and a half million key losses over the last ten years. However, it's the 35-44 year olds who have suffered the most expense - with more than 200,000 adults in this age group spending in excess of £200 each time they replace their keys.
Emmott Continued:
'We would advise people to take greater care with their keys; never have anything containing your name and address attached to your keys, try not to leave your keys in common hiding places e.g. under doormats or stones, on string through the letter box, or on top of doors or window frames.'
Halifax Home Insurance offers its customers a confidential free key recovery service. Each customer is issued with a special key fob featuring a unique code which relates to their insurance policy.
In the event of the keys being lost or stolen they can be handed in at any Halifax, Bank of Scotland or HBOS branch in return for a £10 reward. The keys can then be returned to their rightful owner.
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