0871 360 2443Before You Leave Home
Reduce the risk of being burgled or your property damaged
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Cancel newspapers and milk. Do not put the criminal on notice.
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Set the alarm and leave a key with family or friend. If the alarm does go off accidentally it can re-set
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Hide any car keys or take them with you. Thieves are now not only looking to take your valuables but also any car you leave behind.
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Lock all windows and doors to the house, garage and shed.
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Avoid talking about holiday dates in public places; you never know who is listening.
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Pull out all electric plugs.
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If in summer organize a neighbour to water plants.
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If in winter leave the heating on very low or on a timer for a few hours a day. Coming back to a flooded house will soon put a dampener on even the best holiday.
Essentials to take and check
Passports
Adult Passports
Every year dozens of customers return to the car park because their passport has expired or will have whist they are away. Also some countries for immigration purposes require the passport to be valid beyond your return date. If your passport is in its final year check with the embassy of the country you are visiting, passport office or travel agent or to be safe get a new one.
Children’s Passports
As you are probably aware all children, from new born babies to the age of 15, must now have their own individual passport. Once they reach their 16th birthday they then become eligible for a standard 10-year passport. Please ensure the 16th Birthday is not while you are away.
Children included on Passports before 5th October 1998
Before 5th October 1998 many children were already included on a valid passport. These children can still continue to travel abroad with the passport holder until either:
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The child reaches the age of 16
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The passport on which the child is included expires
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The passport on which the child is included is submitted for amendment.
Remember, children cannot be re-added to passports, which are submitted for amendment. In these circumstances, you will need to apply for separate passports for any children who were previously included on your passport.
IMPORTANT - Children travelling to the USA from 1 October 2003 will need their own passport; see information in the news section.
When your child becomes 16
Once your child reaches 16 years of age they will require their own passport and their details must be removed from yours.
Always check the latest up to date information on www.ukpa.gov.uk/
Tickets
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Make sure the tickets are in the correct names and correlate with the names on the passports.
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Take a note of the terminal you are flying from. Manchester Airport, Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport all have more than one terminal.
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Terminals can be a considerable distances apart and once you have been dropped off walking may be the only alternative.
One couple flew from Manchester Airport every year, however, one year they booked to go from Stansted Airport but out of habit still travelled to Manchester and came into the car park completely oblivious of their error until we checked the tickets for the return times. They eventually got to their destination at some cost and much embarrassment.
