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Iggy Pop insurer refuses to give car cover to musicians
Tim Stewart23.02.09
A car insurer which has a £25million ad campaign starring veteran rocker Iggy Pop refuses to insure musicians.
In the Swiftcover TV advertisements, rock wildman Iggy, 61, prances around topless as he boasts: "I got it Swiftcovered. I got insurance on my insurance. Do it. Get a life. Get Swiftcovered."
But musicians who applied for cover were told their occupation made them ineligible. They are now complaining to the Advertising Standards Authority.
Tim Soong, the 30-year-old bass guitarist in Roguetune, found that "entertainers" are excluded from cover.
Soong, of Kennington, phoned the Guildford-based company, which is part of the Axa insurance group, and said: "The customer services operator told me that they don't insure musicians. When I mentioned Iggy Pop, she said his case was different because he is American.
"I'm reporting Swiftcover to the Advertising Standards Authority."
Part-time music producer Felix Wright, 36, of Maidstone, has also made a complaint after being turned down for cover on his BMW.
He said: "When I asked what Iggy Pop did for a living if I was being rejected as a musician, they said they did not know his personal life and he was not one of their policyholders."
A Swiftcover spokesman said musicians are excluded because they and their passengers might have high claims for loss of future earnings if they are injured.
Insurer esure has also been accused of misleading the public. Its advertisements are fronted by film director Michael Winner but it will not insure film directors.
Reader views (5)
Is Iggy Pop resident in the U.K. for 9 months of the year?
Exception No26 by Swiftcover:
"We will not pay,
Any liability, loss, damage, cost or expense caused if the policyholder or driver is not normally resident in England, Scotland or Wales for nine months of the year.
A cut and dried case for the A.S.A.
- Neil Wilson, Blackpool U.K.
Yes, Sm, but Ian Botham can eat Shredded Wheat if he wants to - that's the difference.
- Paul, London
it is sad indeed that those that were the most radical
rebels against the establishment, now knuckle under and
sell out to fund their pensions.
does Pete Townsend wake up every morning still hoping 'he
dies before he gets old?'
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
It looks as if the car insurers have taken over from the loan sharks these days. The incessant bombardment of these people on the TV is mind bending. They all have criteria which the would be insurer must meet before any "benefits" accrue. Watch out for the word COULD in them all.
A G Leeds
- Awesome Geronimo, Leeds UK
Neither Iggy Pop nor Michael Winner are claiming that they have insurance from these companies during their ads, so what is the problem? Perhaps we should start getting upset because Ian Botham probably doesn't always eat Weetabix every morning?
- Sm, london
