News from September 2005
ASI Insurance - A Clarification
In the September 2005 issue of Florida Homes and Travel we noted that American Strategic Insurance (ASI) had made changes to their Short Term Rental homeowner insurance policies. The changes are in the form of exclusions of coverage where property has been empty for 14 - 30 days depending on the nature of claim. Since publishing we have been made aware that ASI have issued a clarification to policy holders that where the property is a genuine short term rental property these exclusions do not apply, even when the property has been empty for a length of time. Recognizing that these properties are usually well managed and looked after by management companies even whilst technically empty, ASI emphasised that the exclusions have been written to help prevent fraud, and identify properties which are empty all bar a peice of gym equipment or a mattress on the floor. We are happy to set the record straight and reassure subscribers and policy holders that these exclusions do not apply to vacation homes.
Posted on 6 September 2005
Disney Recalls Sunglasses
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, LLC is recalling some sunglasses sold through its parks in California and Florida, and on the Disney Cruise Line.
The paint on the red sunglasses was found to have high levels of lead, which could be toxic to children. These sunglasses were packaged with baseball caps featuring either Mickey Mouse or the character Stitch and were sold from November 2004 through June 2005 for about $16. If you own a pair of these recalled sunglasses, contact Walt Disney World Co. at 866-802-2782 for a replacement.
Posted on 6 September 2005
New Property Management Survey
This month has seen the publication of our Brand-New, new look 15th Annual Property Management Survey. With 13 pages of information, you will find "quick glance" features such as our Top 10 of the highest rating management companies, and easy to read graphs as well as in depth analysis of companies, rental rates and charges. Utility costs and rental rates have been divided by bedroom number and region. Please click on the link to the left "Management Survey" to read more about the new survey and find how to download your copy.
Posted on 6 September 2005
South West Florida International Airport Open
After several postponements and frustrating delays, the brand new terminal of the South West Florida International Airport at Fort Myers finally opened in the early hours of Friday 9th September.
First flight out of the day was a Delta flight to Atlanta. Over night staff had transferred all of the remaining essentials from the old terminal over to the new, including a few planes, rental cars and the TSA search desks. The new terminal is double the size of the old one, has 28 gates, three concourses and provides 250 local jobs.
Posted on 9 September 2005
Power Rates Increase Again
Florida Power and Light and Progress Energy Florida have both filed requests for an increase in rates to cover the cost of fuel required to run their power plants. The requests, if approved, will be instigated in January 2006.
Increases were planned before Hurricane Katrina due to the rising costs of fuels, but the knock out of Gulf Oil supplies has exacerbated the need for the rate hikes. Customers face rises of 15% with Florida Power and Light and over 10% with Progress Energy.
Posted on 12 September 2005
Delta Close to Bankruptcy
Delta Air Lines Inc could file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection imminently according to an anonymous industry informant.
One of Orlando International Airport's major carriers, Delta has suffered from the general downturn in flights following 9/11, soaring fuel costs over the last year and the continuing rise of the no-frills airlines. If it does happen, it has been long expected and predicted.
Posted on 14 September 2005
Airlines Bankruptcy Woes
As predicted Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, the third and fourth biggest carriers in the United States, both filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection on Wednesday 14th September 2005.
Chapter 11 protects a company whilst it undergoes a restructuring of debt that must be approved by a court, and helps companies to survive. Procedures on the ground continue to function - flights will continue and tickets will be honoured.
Below is a list bankruptcy filings by airlines in the United States ranked by assets.
Delta Air Lines 9/14/05 $21,561,000,000
Northwest Airlines 9/14/05 $14,352,000,000
US Airways, Inc.* 9/12/04 $8,600,458,000
* Assets reported in court filing.
Posted on 15 September 2005
Biometric Passports - See the Changes
A roadshow to raise awareness amongst current and future passport holders about the introduction of biometrics and how they are recorded was launched in Manchester on Monday 12th September.
Members of the public will be able to have their irises and fingerprints recorded as part of the UK Passport Service (UKPS) awareness raising campaign taking place around the country. They will also have the opportunity to see how the new ePassports will be read and take part in an interactive demonstration of the new UKPS standards for photographs, which come into force today. This biometric technology would also form the basis of the proposed national identity card scheme.
A number of changes are happening to passports over the next few years - including new photo standards, ePassports, Authentication by Interview, enhanced background checks and biometrics. The roadshow will inform people about the use of biometrics in passports to help ensure that the UKPS continues to achieve its high levels of service delivery and customer satisfaction whilst safeguarding customersâ?? identities.
Home Office Minister Andy Burnham said:
"Biometric technology is increasingly being used to all over the world to combat fraud. The first biometric ePassport, containing a facial biometric, will be introduced here from early 2006. The Government does not want British citizens to have â??second classâ?? passports and we will be moving towards fingerprint as well as facial image data in passports in the future to keep in step with our European partners. We are also looking at extending the protections these systems can bring to our everyday lives through a national identity card scheme.
"Over 80% of the eligible population has a passport and it is important that the general public are aware of biometric technology and how it will change the face of their passport. This roadshow is very much a hands-on experience and people will be able to see for themselves how biometrics work and what advantages they can bring in safeguarding our identities. I look forward to seeing as many people as possible as the roadshow travels round the country."
Posted on 15 September 2005
Annual Green Card Lottery
2007 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration Begins
The U.S. Department of State has announced that registration for the 2007 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will begin at noon on October 5, 2005. Persons seeking to enter the lottery program must register online through the designated Internet website during the registration period. The website for registering for the 2007 DV Lottery, www.dvlottery.state.gov, will be available from noon October 5, 2005 through noon December 4, 2005.
In response to demand, the Department tripled the number of servers hosting the registration website this year. In addition, persons submitting entries to the 2007 lottery will receive a notice of receipt now containing their name, date of birth, country of chargeability, and a time/date stamp when information has been properly registered at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov
The Department continues to encourage persons who wish to enter the 2007 Diversity Visa Lottery to submit their information early in the two-month registration period.
There is no fee charged for entering the Diversity Visa Lottery. The Department of State does not endorse, recommend or sponsor any information or material from outside entities. The Department is aware that websites and email have masqueraded as official Diversity Visa Lottery facilitators. Registration for the Diversity Visa Lottery through the official, U.S. government website, www.dvlottery.state.gov is free of charge and notification of winning entries are sent by mail only.
The 2007 Diversity Visa Lottery marks the third year that electronic registration is required. Paper entries and mail-in requests for Diversity Visa Lottery registration are not accepted.
Please go to www.dvlottery.state.gov and follow all instructions to submit an entry.
Posted on 21 September 2005
Flagler May Ban S-T-R
Officials of Flagler Beach, Flagler County have asked staff to draw up a draft ordinance banning Short Term Rentals which could be ready in as little as two months.
Officials say that they are only responding to repeated requests from homeowners in Flagler Beach who complain that renters create problems in residential neighbourhoods. Officials also say that the ordinance will be confined to single family homes and not condominiums. However, real estate proffesionals, investors and owners are preparing to do battle at a future city commission meeting in defence of their rights as property owners and for the vacation rental industry in general.
Posted on 20 September 2005
Fee Increases for US Immigration
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a revised fee structure for immigration benefits on September 26th in the Federal Register.
Fees collected from persons filing immigration benefit applications and petitions are used to fund the full cost of providing immigration benefits, including the full cost of providing benefits such as asylum and refugee admission for which no fee is charged.
"USCIS is committed to delivering world class customer service," said acting USCIS Deputy Director Robert Divine. "Because USCIS is a fee-based agency, we must charge amounts that will recover the full costs of our operations in order to continue the progress we have made in reducing the backlog. USCIS has already reduced its backlog from 3.9 million to 1.1 million cases.
The fees were last adjusted in April 2004 to account for additional security enhancements performed on all immigration benefits after September 11, 2001 and other costs. The new fee structure reflects an inflation adjustment, as required by the April 2004 fee rule, to be published by notice in the Federal Register for periods on or after October 1, 2005.
USCIS does have the ability to waive fees on a case-by-case basis. Any applicant or petitioner who has an "inablility to pay" the fees may request a fee waiver. In determining "inability to pay". USCIS officers will consider all factors, circumstances and evidence supplied by the applicant including age, disability, househould income and qualification within the past 180 days for a Federal means-tested benefit.
Posted on 27 September 2005
