My home insurance's coming up for renewal. Last year, I went for One Protect (big mistake, they enjoy finding obscure ways to add extra costs after you've paid)
Doing the price comparison checks, there's various, obscure companies I've never heard of before (umbri, policy expert, performance direct, etc.) at the top.
What's everyone's experience in this field and what's happened to all the old companies?
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Same place as you BT.
Been with AXA for a while but they keep jacking the price up and my task for tomorrow is to do the round of comparison sites.
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You need to decide whether price, performance or reputation is important for you. Chasing low prices will spiral towards poor service and arguments about claims - providing cheap insurance needs low costs. You will only regret being a cheapskate when you make a claim.
Which recommended best buys include NFU Mutual, LV, M&S, Direct Line amongst others. Note that many will not appear on comparison sites - there are no doubt commission etc pyable so an additional cost. These may well be more expensive than the cheapest!!
Personal approach.
- pay a higher price for better reputation and major claims experience
- generally don't pay for add-ons due to past negative experiences
- higher excess - insurance covers the ruinous, £500 excess annoying but not life changing
- don't change if price seems reasonable - changing is not worth the hassle to save £25-50
- call company to see whether they can do a better deal (with alternative prices as proof)
- if no result, ensure you move on to demonstrate you mean what you say
Last edited by: Terry on Sun 26 Apr 26 at 14:03
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AXA gone in favour of AA.
About £200 less per annum for better cover.
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Last time I looked at this I tried calling the claims number for a few of the smaller ones. Only one of them actually answered.
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SWMBOs Tesco renewal came through yesterday for 16 reg Yaris, down £8 to £225
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>> AXA gone in favour of AA.
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>> About £200 less per annum for better cover.
Good grief, what were you paying before and what are you paying now? I can only find a few pounds difference between my old (shonky) insurer and new quotes from large, recognisable companies.
Perhaps, I assume you're no longer working from home, did that make such a huge difference?
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>> Perhaps, I assume you're no longer working from home, did that make such a huge
>> difference?
AXA quoted £637 for buildings and contents of a 4 bed house of standard construction and with no additional risks like flood - parts of the village are susceptible to the brook bursting its banks.
I moved to them from Aviva several years ago. Both kept upping their quote by an amount that was just low enough for me to say meh!! and let it auto renew.
Could have got cover cheaper but AA is a recognised brand and I've opted for Gold which includes extras.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 29 Apr 26 at 11:36
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When we bought this house we got a really good quote from Skipton who were agents for LV. It was about £200. Over the next 7 years it went up to £1,000. Then Skipton stopped being agents for LV and their new co quoted £1,200! For a 3 bed standard construction home.
Went on line and got 5 star Defacto cover for £500!
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I couldn't believe we got cover from Esure for barely £200 on the rebuilt house after a £300,000 claim on the old one. It's still only £281 this year.
Perhaps the data show that people whose houses have burnt down are more careful!
Last edited by: Manatee on Wed 29 Apr 26 at 13:16
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>> I couldn't believe we got cover from Esure for barely £200 on the rebuilt house
>> after a £300,000 claim on the old one. It's still only £281 this year.
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>> Perhaps the data show that people whose houses have burnt down are more careful!
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Brand new and tested wiring probably.
Last edited by: Fursty Ferret on Thu 30 Apr 26 at 10:04
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>> Brand new and tested wiring probably.
Good point, it was concluded that resistive heating caused by a poor connection in a junction box was the cause of the fire.
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>> >> Brand new and tested wiring probably.
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>> Good point, it was concluded that resistive heating caused by a poor connection in a
>> junction box was the cause of the fire.
One house I owned had intermittent flickering lights. By chance, I noticed the distribution box had a burnt hole at the top that, I was certain, wasn't there before. Power off to investigate and a loose screw in a 'chocolate strip' connector was found. Charred wiring replaced.
This wasn't the first occasion loose screws in electrical connections had been found!
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>> Perhaps the data show that people whose houses have burnt down are more careful!
>>
Reminded me of this...
There is a Robbin Williams film - The World According to Garp. He is looking to buy a house and whilst outside admiring it a light aircraft crashes in to it. He insists on buying the house because it's been "pre-disastered" and nothing like that is ever likely to happen again :-D
www.youtube.com/clip/Ugkxa-KZZmLuNeGtD__H2lsLrRXGZuDq4kQ6
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For a similar reason if you are worried about bombs on aeroplanes you should always take one with you. The chance of there being two on the same aircraft must be very small.
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Insurance (again) - Bromptonaut
