MiWay In the News

Nkosi’s Haven gets MiWay cash injection

Written on February 22nd, 2011 by
Categories: Corporate Social Investment, MiWay In the News

Nkosi’s Haven has kicked off 2011 with a much-needed cash injection thanks to MiWay, OFM and South Africa’s holiday makers. The short-term insurer, which turns three this year, says the campaign is just one of a variety of initiatives aimed at helping ordinary people help those most in need.

MiWay’s head of marketing Carine Conradie-Haffejee explains the insurer has recognised that many South Africans want to help the less fortunate but don’t know where to start. “When we began planning our social responsibility projects with our colleagues we realised that everyone has an initiative close to our hearts. However, few of us had been active in our cause; mostly, because we weren’t sure where to start or felt our single contribution wouldn’t make a difference. If we feel that way, then there must be many more just hoping for an opportunity to get involved.”

Nkosi’s Haven is a recognised non-profit organisation that has been in operation since 1999. It offers holistic care and support for destitute HIV/AIDS infected mothers, their children, and resulting AIDS orphans, infected or not. The organisation is named after Nkosi Johnson, the young AIDS activist who passed away in 2001.

Like all charitable organisations, Nkosi’s Haven is always in need of financial support for its endeavours. Without this support Nkosi’s Haven would not be able to continue to expand and support a growing number of women and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

For the Nkosi’s Haven initiative MiWay staff camped out at popular Engen 1 Stops in Harrismith and Bloemfontein on December 16 and January 2 and 9.

“We chose those specific dates because holiday traffic is highest. We went armed with gift parcels which had been sponsored by MiWay and encouraged holiday-makers to exchange their small change for one of the fun-packages. And South Africans have a lot of small change in their cars, pockets and purses, we left with aching arms and warmed hearts,” says Conradie-Haffejee.

In addition to funding the gift parcels, MiWay matched the amount donated by the public.

Conradie-Haffejee says the funds will help Nkosi’s Haven getting their younger charges ready for school. “Any person responsible for children will tell you how difficult January and February can be as stationery, consumables and school uniforms eat away at your budget. Nkosi’s Haven children have been through so much already, they should at least be given the tools to make the most of their education. MiWay together with the many generous South Africans we met over the holiday period wish our youth well as they get a new school year underway.”

About MiWay

MiWay offers a range of financial products and services direct to the consumer. MiWay’s offering includes short term motor and household insurance, motor warranties, credit life and direct life insurance. The company’s long-term plan is to extend this to offerings such as investments, personal loans and possibly credit cards. MiWay will ultimately offer a complete array of services under one convenient umbrella, directly contracted with the client and all managed online.

For more information about MiWay, their offerings or to get an expert opinion on insurance related topics, please contact Carine Conradie-Haffejee directly. MiWay experts are available for interview on topics ranging from claims handling to insurance rates and premiums or general insurance insights.

René Otto, the CEO of MiWay, is a seasoned business personality and expert on all topics related to direct or broker-based insurance.

www.miway.co.za

MiWay introduces specialist motorcycle insurance for motorbike owners

Written on December 1st, 2010 by
Categories: MiWay In the News

Motorcycle InsuranceDirect insurer MiWay has launched a new motorcycle insurance product specifically aimed at motorbike owners, covering not only the bikes themselves but also non-standard accessories and riding gear.

“As bike enthusiasts ourselves we understand that not all bikes, or bike owners, are the same,” says MiWay’s Head of Motorcycle Distribution Terry Terblanche. “Our rating specialists will tailor different premiums for clients depending on what kind of bike they own – whether it’s a superbike, cruiser, off-road bike, quadbike and so on – and how they use their bikes. If you’re a low insurance risk, you’ll pay a lower premium.”

“We also know what it actually costs to repair a motorbike, from manufacturer down to the actual model,” adds Terblanche. “Bike owners won’t be misjudged and risk assessed according to outdated stereotypes. We also know that a bike is nothing like a car: We have relationships with bike dealers, and the specialist knowledge we need to assess claims properly. We won’t try and convince our clients to repair cosmetic panels when it would be more appropriate to just replace them.”

MiWay separately insures riding gear and accessories. “We understand the true value of items like exhausts, carbon fibre parts, custom spray jobs and race suspensions,” says Terblanche. “These are a big investment for many bike owners, but some insurers don’t make it clear to their customers that non-standard accessories aren’t covered by their policies. We’ll always remind the bike owner to specify accessories separately, and we make sure they understand what the excess on their policy is. By insuring accurately and according to the client’s specific needs, we make sure the client gets all the cover they need and nothing they don’t”.

René Otto, CEO of MiWay, adds that this specialist product is more proof of MiWay’s commitment to responding to the needs of its clients. “We will continue to develop solutions that bring us closer to the goal of establishing a one-stop direct financial services business,” he says.

Ride Before You Buy – Rietvlei Farm and Lifestyle Centre, Joburg

Written on November 22nd, 2010 by
Categories: MiWay In the News

Thinking of buying a new bike? Or just want to test ride something different?
Then don’t miss the final Ride Before You Buy for 2010!

Come and test ride a variety of 2010 and 2011 bikes at the popular Vlei Park at Rietvlei Farm & Lifestyle Centre this Saturday.
Be part of a full day of fun that includes food, refreshments and an awesome bike display.

When: Saturday 27 November 2010
Time: 09h00 – 15h00
Where: The Vlei Park, Rietvlei Farm and Lifestyle Centre
Address: Swartkoppies Road, Alberton
GPS: 26 18’44.64”S / 28 04’ 47.61”E

Cost: R10 for subscribers (Bicycling Magazine), R20 for non-subscribers
What to bring: Helmets and pedals

Directions:

From the N12 – Comaro Off -Ramp
Take the Comaro off-ramp and turn left into Comaro Road. At the 4th robot turn left into Michelle Avenue. Turn right at the 1st robot into Hennie Alberts Street. Drive until you reach the Swartkoppies Road robot. Turn right into Swartkoppies Road and travel approximately 1.5km until you reach Rietvlei Farm entrance
on the right. Follow the signs to Vlei Park.

From West N12 – Klipriver Off -Ramp
Take the Klipriver off-ramp. At the 2nd robot, turn right into Klipriver Road. At the 7th robot turn left into Swartkoppies Road. Travel approximately 1.4km and turn left into Rietvlei Farm. Follow the signs to Vlei Park.

Bicycle and Mountainbike Insurance

MiWay offers bicycle insurance and mountainbike insurance whether you are a weekend cyclist or a serious MTB fanatic. MiBike insurance offers you the peace-of-mind knowing that your bike will be covered against:

  • Theft
  • Fire
  • Accidental damage

Contact MiWay today to complete an obligation-free bike insurance quote.

MiWay Golf Day raises R340,000 for Special Olympics SA

Written on October 8th, 2010 by
Categories: MiWay In the News

Direct insurer MiWay and its supporters, in co-operation SOSA fund raiser Rochelle Badenhorst, raised over R340,000 for Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) on the company’s third annual charity golf day on September 15 – exceeding its target of R200,000.

“We raised over R100,000 in 2008 and 2009, so we thought R200,000 would be a good stretch target for this year,” says MiWay CEO René Otto. “We are overwhelmed and extremely honoured by the generous contributions to Special Olympics South Africa and their golf team.” The funds raised will take six golfers to the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, with R100 000 remaining to fund other expenses of Team SA.

Special Olympics, the world’s largest amateur sporting organisation for the intellectually disabled, was founded 42 years ago in the US by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. It now comprises over 3.2 million athletes in more than 180 countries and offers 30 sporting codes.

Camille Duncan, Acting CEO of SOSA, says the organisation gives adults and children with intellectual disabilities “opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community”. For athletes, she says, “this participation leads to greater self-confidence and more positive self-images, which they carry with them into their daily lives at home, in the classroom, in their jobs and in their communities.”

The South African team won 87 medals at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shangai, including 25 gold medals. SOSA is now raising funds to take its team of 86 athletes, including 6 golfers, to the 2011 Games in Athens in mid-2011.

Duncan says SOSA’s Golf Programme, which has a strong partnership with the PGA of South Africa, has produced 3 gold medalists in the 18-hole stroke play competition.

“We are very proud to be associated with SOSA and its golf team,” says Otto. “Over the past few years I have had the privilege of sharing a golf course on many occasions with one of these extraordinary athletes, Konrad Zastrau. Through his incredible love for the sport and for people, he has forged a special place in my heart.”

“We are privileged to be able to help SOSA as they strive to reach more athletes, provide more competition opportunities, bring pride to more families and create more communities where their athletes are accepted and celebrated for their numerous skills and abilities.”

MiWay was the headline sponsor of the Golf Day. Platinum and gold sponsors included Coca-Cola SA, Sandown Commercial Vehicles, Glasfit, Great South, Tracker, SuperSport International, Dimension Data, DANMAR, SMD and The Pro Shop.

Are you a safer driver than your peers? Reap the rewards in lower insurance premiums.

Written on October 8th, 2010 by
Categories: MiWay In the News

Do you obey speed limits, avoid late-night driving and stick mainly to short distances outside peak times? Then you’re a good insurance risk and you should be paying lower premiums, according to René Otto, CEO of direct short-term insurer MiWay.

“How, when, where and how far you drive has a direct influence on your risk of being involved in an accident,” explains Otto. “When we launched it in 2009, our MiDriveStyle programme promised to deliver individualised premiums based on each customer’s unique driving behaviour. We’ve just reviewed the data for the first year and we’re delighted to say that some of our clients are reaping the rewards.

Some of these success stories have been published on their website at www.miway.co.za/midrivestyle, showcasing at least 4 clients who have reduced their monthly premiums by adopting safer, lower risk driving patterns.

“MiDriveStyle and behaviour-centric solutions are ideal for people in certain categories that have traditionally been seen as high risk. Students and young adults, for example, can now prove that they deserve lower premiums rather than be grouped with their more risky peers.”

“Consumers are more and more informed about how insurance works, and should work,” says Otto. “They’re starting to put pressure on their insurance providers, and we welcome that – transparency and staying open to our customers are very important to us. But it won’t be long before even the more traditional insurers are going to be forced to be more flexible in the way they set their premiums.”

MiWay creates jobs in Bloemfontein

Written on August 12th, 2010 by
Categories: MiWay In the News

As it continues to expand on the back of innovative and affordable insurance solutions, MiWay has announced that it has opened a contact centre in Bloemfontein, a key central city. In so doing, MiWay is creating opportunities for the residents of the city while boosting its ability to effectively deliver the customer service upon which its reputation rests.

MiWay CEO René Otto is himself a former resident of the city, and as such says he takes great pleasure in playing a role in its economy. “When we looked at the next location to grow our business, it was obvious that a real opportunity was presented in central South Africa.” he says.

Globally, contact centres have provided opportunities for the creation of employment in remote areas, given their ability to deliver service regardless of location. That’s something which Otto says MiWay took into account in identifying the placement of its next facility.

“As such, rather than adding to the existing offices in Gauteng, MiWay wanted to grow capability elsewhere in the country,” Otto says. “We’re tapping into the often underestimated talent and skills of people living in the Free State; they don’t need to ‘semigrate’ to Gauteng to enjoy these opportunities.”

Furthermore, Otto says the regional strengths of Bloemfontein will feed into the company’s national network. He explains how: “This contact centre will specialise in the Afrikaans market, servicing these clients in a language most comfortable for them – again, supporting our promise at MiWay to do things our customer’s way.”

Initially, the contact centre will create jobs for some 60 people; Otto confirms that on its present growth trajectory, it is likely that this number will increase in the near future. “Plans are definitely in the works to expand this office as the business develops.”

At its Bloemfontein centre, Otto says a sound opportunity is created for the introduction of individuals who have completed Matric or some tertiary studies to the world of business, computers and telephony. “We will provide training and there is definite opportunity for career advancement for hard working, focused people,” he notes.

And as a former resident, Otto says he looks forward to rekindling and deepening his involvement with a city which holds personal significance for him.

Customers show their support for MiWay

Written on August 6th, 2010 by
Categories: MiWay In the News

Insurance maverick MiWay is living up to its promise of excellent service, according to feedback from customers.

MiWay tops the insurance league table in every category on independent consumer website HelloPeter.com. Not only does it have the highest number of compliments in the industry, it also has the best conversion rate from complaint to compliment and is the only company to have more compliments than complaints.

“We understand that insurance is a grudge purchase,” says MiWay CEO René Otto. “That is why we think it’s absolutely critical to provide brilliant customer service. If you have to phone your insurance company, it’s already a bad day: we want to make it better, not worse!”

Customers posting directly to MiWay’s public comment forum at http://www.miway.co.za/compliments-and-complaints are especially happy with MiWay’s well-trained and helpful consultants. “They call back when they say they will,” says a comment from client Nokuthula on July 1st. “They deliver every time without fail. The consultants are professional, yet not robotic in their call handling, I am just so happy to be a client.”

“Comments like that make our day,” says Otto. “But even the negative comments are welcome. We sometimes get things wrong – nobody is perfect – but at least when people are expressing their unhappiness directly to us, instead of just to their friends, we have a chance to fix the problem.”

By taking its customer conversations public, MiWay has ensured that problems are quickly identified and solved. The company is committed to offering the best turnaround times in the industry, with a focus on problem-solving rather than finger-pointing.

There are other advantages to transparency too. Because the company has put its reputation on the line, members of the public who post on miway.co.za can expect quick, helpful responses. More than that, they can expect to be genuinely listened to – an increasingly rare experience.

With the entire team committed to accepting public scrutiny and public engagement, MiWay is uniquely accountable for its actions and the way it deals with its customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. This accountability not only keeps everyone in the organisation on their toes, it also creates valuable opportunities. MiWay uses customer comments on its website to identify areas where it can improve its service, its communication or its product offerings. “People said we were foolish to allow negative comments on our own website,” adds Otto. “But we are truly committed to having a transparent, open relationship with our customers. We know it’s not the usual way of doing business in the insurance industry, but the fact that we get so many comments on our website every day shows that people are hungry for real contact.”

Otto says MiWay is pleased that the happy customers posting to its own website are equally active on HelloPeter.com. “HelloPeter is a very well-regarded independent forum,” he says. “It’s a great way to get an idea of what customers really think about a brand – they tell it like it is out there. It’s a traditional marketer’s worst nightmare, so we’re thrilled that people are responding to our transparency in such a positive way .”

MiWay and Tracker SA tie the knot

Written on March 9th, 2010 by
Categories: MiWay In the News

MiWay, the innovation leader in the direct financial services and short-term insurance market, has announced their partnership with Tracker SA, one of South Africa’s leading vehicle tracking companies. The new partnership will see Tracker supply the next generation MiDriveStyle rating and tracking devices for MiWay.

MiWay CEO, René Otto, said that with the introduction of the second generation MiDriveStyle device, MiWay looked for an innovative, industry specialist within the tracking and recovery industry. “Our requirements are that our partner specialises in tracking and recovery, manufactures a world-class device for our MiDriveStyle offer but can also offer this at an affordable price. We believe that we have found this in Tracker… their track record speaks for itself!”

Launched in February 2009, MiDriveStyle was a first-of-a-kind individualised and behaviour-linked car insurance offer. With MiDriveStyle, South African consumers could, for the first time, influence their own insurance premium by managing their actual driving behaviour. Since the launch of MiDriveStyle, MiWay has been pioneering the concept of individualised insurance premiums through innovation and out-of-the-box thinking.

MiDriveStyle is a MiWay-strategic priority, driven primarily by consumer demand. Otto says that more and more consumers are demanding individual premiums based on their unique profile, needs and behaviour. “They are no longer satisfied with basket premiums based on the perceived collective characteristics of certain demographic groups. The MiDriveStyle product makes it possible for traditionally high risk groups, e.g. young drivers under the age of 25, to lower their premiums by proving that they are better drivers than their peers.”

“We believe that MiWay, positioned as an innovative industry leader, is perfectly placed to take advantage of this opportunity, which is in line with our promise of providing South African consumers with ground-breaking insurance solutions that aim to make insurance more affordable and convenient.”

With a substantial national presence, Tracker SA is well positioned to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the MiDriveStyle offer, says Sales Director Michael Nieuwoudt. “Not only can we meet the technical and cost specifications for the rating and tracking device, but we also have on-the-ground capability to meet the needs of MiWay customers across the country”, he concludes.

The new MiDriveStyle device is available from the 1st of March through the MiWay call centre by calling 0860 64 64 64.

Insurance innovation: MiWay fixes premiums for three years

Written on February 10th, 2010 by
Categories: MiWay In the News

MiWay has launched yet another industry first in the fiercely competitive short-term insurance market. The company, which burst onto the scene in 2008 and shook up the establishment with its innovative approach, is now offering the opportunity to fix car insurance premiums for 36 months. This gives under-pressure consumers the assurance that at (where their insurance premiums are concerned) inflation is no longer a worry.

MiWay CEO René Otto points out that the concept was borne out of the number one irritation that clients express with their insurers: the annual premium increase. “In our efforts to understand and empathise with our customers, it became clear that a premium increase every year spelled increased financial pressure and just plain annoyance for many people. That directly led to the development of a Premium Guarantee,” he says.

While Otto says annual and even interim premium increases are a business necessity, MiWay’s actuaries have worked to create a product that offers longer-term budgeting security for its customers. “What we stressed in the design of this product is that it should offer the best of both worlds – affordable, quality cover without the annual escalation.”

The product is available to both new and existing MiWay customers.

“This is just another example of MiWay’s commitment to revolutionising the way South Africans view direct financial services. It adds to our other firsts, which include online buying (and not just quoting) of short-term insurance cover, online self-management of policies, as well as the MiDriveStyle product which lets the individual influence their premium based on the way they drive,” Otto adds.

He says it remains MiWay’s commitment to not only listen to what its customers say, but also to seek meaningful solutions to their concerns in the form of insurance products which push the boundaries of what is considered possible.

MiWay TV Commercials

Written on March 20th, 2009 by
Categories: MiWay In the News

The Original Mildred and MiWay TV Commercial

Insurance that’s almost too good to be true!

MiWay actually listens to what our clients have to say when it comes to their car and household insurance needs. Update your policy and track your claim ONLINE! Unbelievable? Not with MiWay. Visit miway.co.za for insurance that’s almost too good to be true.

Mildred Bares All!

Mildred is just as prepared as we are to bare all for you… our transparency is worth having a sneak peek at… visit our Compliments & Complaints webpage…

Happy or Cross!

We want to know when we make you happy… and when we make you cross.. See what our customers say on our Compliments & Complaints webpage…

Muriel and Mavis

Muriel and Mavis are driving along when Mavis reminds Muriel that she is driving. Muriel seems quite peturbed that she is in fact the one doing the driving …

Pull Over!

The ultimate in multi-tasking … when the traffic cop asks our driver to “pull over!!!” she thinks he is referring to the scarf that she is knitting …

Pull Over! (In Afrikaans)

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