Home insurance any pit falls.
- Thread starter Jameshow
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Home contents or buildings - you sometimes need both, like we do. Contents is expensive and depends upon what needs covering - e.g. bikes or any sports/hobby equipment.
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
When choosing any form of insurance I would always go with a respected brand name. An organisation which has a reputation to lose.
You say "home" insurance. I've assumed you mean Buildering and Contents. Over the past 40 years I've made three large claims, four figures but below £10k each. These have been with Tesco travel and M&S underwritten by Aviva. I can't recall the third. Each paid out in full with no quibbles.
Choose the cheapest and you run the risk of a claim being turned down on a technicality.
If you're looking at Home Contents take a careful look at the cycle cover. There are great deals to be had. M&S paid me, new for old, £7k+ on my bike, Wahoo, kit and helmet last August. Aviva, the actual provider, then chased the third party's insurers for repayment, got that and repaid my excess. All that for an additional £40 on a policy I had to buy for my house anyway.
You say "home" insurance. I've assumed you mean Buildering and Contents. Over the past 40 years I've made three large claims, four figures but below £10k each. These have been with Tesco travel and M&S underwritten by Aviva. I can't recall the third. Each paid out in full with no quibbles.
Choose the cheapest and you run the risk of a claim being turned down on a technicality.
If you're looking at Home Contents take a careful look at the cycle cover. There are great deals to be had. M&S paid me, new for old, £7k+ on my bike, Wahoo, kit and helmet last August. Aviva, the actual provider, then chased the third party's insurers for repayment, got that and repaid my excess. All that for an additional £40 on a policy I had to buy for my house anyway.
oxoman
Well-Known Member
M&S amongst others have been good, found M&S one of the easier for including bikes on. Only ever had one claim yrs ago and paid out no problem. Always use comparison site and usually the OH will say that's OK or she'll haggle with M&S on the renewal till she gets a better deal. Fill in the details properly though, people that fudge stuff get caught out. People who live near water or other high risk areas can and will struggle with decent premiums. Hastings wasn't to bad either from memory.
BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
Price comparison sites and reviews are the way to go.
With reviews, there is always someone who tries to claim for what they are not entitled to, and get very stroppy on reviews. So ignore those. If there are a lot of negative comments, be wary.
Some of the big names are as bad as the lesser known ones, and some of the lesser known names are just trading names for one of the bigger companies. When the name is big enough, they don't need to care about their reputation, as this is solid anyway. Churchill are still very popular despite being utter sh** bags to Bethany Probert's parents.
In any case, there is always the Insurance Ombudsman should you have any problems.
If you can't afford buildings and contents insurance, cancel all others (except your car), and go for these two. Unless you can afford to replace your house and everything in it in the event of fire, etc.
With reviews, there is always someone who tries to claim for what they are not entitled to, and get very stroppy on reviews. So ignore those. If there are a lot of negative comments, be wary.
Some of the big names are as bad as the lesser known ones, and some of the lesser known names are just trading names for one of the bigger companies. When the name is big enough, they don't need to care about their reputation, as this is solid anyway. Churchill are still very popular despite being utter sh** bags to Bethany Probert's parents.
In any case, there is always the Insurance Ombudsman should you have any problems.
If you can't afford buildings and contents insurance, cancel all others (except your car), and go for these two. Unless you can afford to replace your house and everything in it in the event of fire, etc.
Last edited:
vickster
Squire
I choose a well known brand that covers my bikes sufficiently and other possessions plus building cover.
I always add legal cover too and find a sensibly low excess.
I'm with MBNA right now (aka Lloyds). I usually do a Meerkat check but the bikes rule many companies out as cover just too low
I always add legal cover too and find a sensibly low excess.
I'm with MBNA right now (aka Lloyds). I usually do a Meerkat check but the bikes rule many companies out as cover just too low
Kingfisher101
Veteran
With the cheapest you may have a fight on your hands if they need to pay out in my experience. I had a real problem with Aviva who wouldn't pay out when I had a leak that rotted a floor.
I've learned my lesson and now will go with an established name with a decent reputation like John Lewis, the Co op, Halifax etc.
I've learned my lesson and now will go with an established name with a decent reputation like John Lewis, the Co op, Halifax etc.
wiggydiggy
Legendary Member
Just from a bicyle POV check the small print for restrictions on bike value and locks.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
We're with Co-Op for contents with a booster bike only policy with Barclays as co-op stopped the 'expensive item' policy ad on - The bike only option is just contents with bike ticked. Buildings is with another. One thing to note with buildings, check the insurance not only covers fixing a leak, but tracing it. We found out after a leak that the insurance didn't cover finding it ! Co-op have been good, covered us for lost camera gear and lost wedding/engagement rings.
OP
OP
Jameshow
Veteran
He acknowledged them and said they needed trimming.
I don't know why they don't cut them down as they block their light.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Cost, I suppose
Punkawallah
Über Member
NFU Mutual is supposed to be good. No idea if it is ‘cheap’.
Commonly, insurance is there to make money for the insurers; so it would be a good idea to find one that does not quibble on pay-outs.
Commonly, insurance is there to make money for the insurers; so it would be a good idea to find one that does not quibble on pay-outs.
dicko
Guru
- Location
- Derbyshire
You only know if your insurer is any good is when you make a claim.
Trustpilot is a good indicator of insurance companies.
Trustpilot is a good indicator of insurance companies.
