LONDON, April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Leading UK insurance brand Columbus Direct has further extended its product offering with the launch of a brand new Pet Insurance product.

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The launch this week sees Columbus collaborate with online specialists Surewise.com to deliver a comprehensive Columbus-branded solution underpinned by Surewise's engaging and responsive insurance platform with an easy-to-use, customer-centric interface.

Recent figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) found that the number of pet insurance claims rose by 9% in 2015 compared with the previous year. However, most of Britain's nine million dog owners and 7.9 million cat owners do have insurance cover.

Rob Thomas Head of Brand, Columbus Direct said: "The pet insurance market is ripe for growth and as an established provider of travel insurance over many years we have built an enviable reputation of trust among our customers which we plan to replicate within the pet insurance space. We are very much looking forward to introducing some further competition into this market, supported by Surewise - as another niche specialist - who we know can deliver the superior customer experience we demand for our customers."

Stuart Bensusan, Director at Surewise.com said, "We are delighted to be partnering with an established and innovative brand like Columbus on its newest venture. We believe that its focus on customer satisfaction, combined with our unique approach to combining insurance rating matrices with technology to allow rapid product deployment and on-going flexibility, will prove a winning combination for the customer."

Notes to editors 

Columbus Direct is a leading travel insurance specialist which was established in 1988 selling both online via http://www.columbusdirect.com and offline via call centre channels. We have a history of innovation in the industry, including being the first company to sell travel insurance direct to the consumer in the UK and also the first to fully sell a policy online. 

Customer satisfaction and value for money are the driving forces behind Columbus Direct and we pride ourselves on providing a quick, efficient and hassle-free service.

We have covered over 15 million holidaymakers since 1988 and our latest customer surveys show that over 95% of customers would recommend us to their friends and family.

Columbus has won multiple awards including Best Online Travel Insurance Provider in the Your Money awards 2014 and 2012, ITIJ Travel Insurance Intermediary of the year 2013, 2012 and 2010, 13 Which? Best Buy awards, The Best Customer Focus Award from the Best Business awards, and also the Best Travel Insurance Provider award from the Personal Finance Awards 2011 and 2012.

Columbus Direct is a specialist travel insurance intermediary which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 

About Surewise.com 

Surewise.com is a relatively new insurance brand which launched in May 2014.  It has quickly become a leading provider of several niche insurance products aided by in-house systems which allow rapid deployment of new insurance products across multiple platforms. Working closely with insurance underwriters to provide innovative insurance products at leading prices for both B2B & B2C markets is at the heart of its business model.  In 2014 Surewise.com was shortlisted for the "Best Use of Technology to Improve End-client Experience" Award from Insurance Times and the "Customer Experience" Award from the Insurance Post.

For more information please visit http://www.surewise.com.

SOURCE Columbus Direct