House Insurance Renewal

[michaeljclark]

The house insurance is up at the start of next month, and my existing insurer (think red phone and mouse with a tune of de dum, de dum, de dum) sent me a renewal notice for £450 (one bed, mid terrace house, building and contents with full accidental damage) So I dragged out the existing cover and it was £250 odd. WTF?

Onto the website, and rather than login and see my quotes/policies, I plumb in all my details again, UP the contents cover (new TV and cinema system) and click submit. The super super, all singing super duper cover (which includes travel insurance, emergency cover for sparkies and plumbers etc which I don't have at the mo) is a hair over 300 notes. That's £150 more the standard cover I'm being asked to renew!!

Oh and the renewal notice makes a big thing of allowing me a 10% discount for not claiming over the last year (I haven't claimed for 5 years)

Is it the same with other PHers home insurers (I've been with the existing mob for 5 years, and as it's my 1st home can't compare it to anything else) or is it me?

[AndrewTait]

That particular company are very quick to do that. I've had it several times with their car insurance, and their home insurance.

Get a quote from elsewhere, and then ask them to match it.

[insurance_jon]

Still seems steep. Let me have a bash at it tomorrow for you squire, I may surprise you. In response to your original question, most direct writers buy your business in tthe first year, then whack the price up as most people are too lazy to shop round.

[ALawson]

Most people pay by DD and never check or cannot be bothered to check/shop around. I just normally ask them for their best price and tell them if its not competative I will not call again/renew but take my business elsewhere.

Half of the companies come back with a sensible quote/offer and I stay, or I vote with my feet. Just check the cover levels.

[michaeljclark]

AndrewTait said:

I've had it several times with their car insurance

Strangely my car insurance is with them and that's stable this year (expires at the end of the month)

[_daveR]

I've just had to renew ours. Policy renewal quote (with a large breakdown company) had gone up £140 for no reason.
They couldn't offer me a better price so I went with Halifax and had the extra couple of named items added with fixed values all for less than original quote.

Try Halifax or Nationwide at the moment as they are offering big discounts to new customers.

[Jasandjules]

Try Hiscox.

And insurance companies always do this sort of thing, because most people can't be bothered to ring around for a day to get a better quote.

[michaeljclark]

insurance_jon said:

Still seems steep. Let me have a bash at it tomorrow for you squire

'tis far to say that my "new" quote included Travel Insruance, Home Emergency help and other bit's and bobs.

If you'd like to PM me sir with some contact details, I'll give you a call

Mike

[Easy_Targa]

Had exactly the same thing. The red telephone wanted £1100 on renewal. The large breakdown company £480 for better cover. When existing insurer was told they immediatley dropped the renewal by £300. WTF !!!!! Still not enough obviously so I left them quick.

[Piglet]

I asked the same people to price match their own quote for my car insurance. I can't remember the figures but there was nearly £100 in it for the same cover and details.