RIAS home insurance - some help needed please

forevergrey

I'm looking for Buildings and Contents insurance with a company who has a good reputation for claims handling and settlement. RIAS rate highly in the Which survey – does any one have any positive or negative comments about this company?


Also, I understand that they are part of Fortis and yet operate a panel of insurers. I'm concerned that I might end up being insured by default with someone I wouldn't have chosen. For example, Axa are on their panel and yet seem to have a very low score in the survey?


Any explanations or comments would be welcome.

dacouch

I would agree with you on avoiding Axa where ever possible.

The things to bear in mind with the RIAS policy is their cover for "High Risk" items is fairly low. Basically Home Insurers impose an inner limit on the TOTAL amount of "High Risk" they cover.

The definition of "High Risk" items varies slightly from company to company. Here is the RIAS definition of High Risk items...

High-risk items include:
◆ Jewellery, precious stones, articles made
from gold, silver and other precious metals
◆ Clocks, watches
◆ Furs
◆ Photographic equipment
◆ Business equipment
◆ Binoculars
◆ Telescopes
◆ Musical instruments
◆ Curios (small articles of curiosity or special
interest, valued as a collector’s item)
◆ Pictures and other works of art
◆ Audio and audio-visual equipment
◆ Guns
◆ Collections of stamps, coins or medals

The total amount RIAS cover you for the TOTAL amount of all of the above is as follows Based on no.
of bedrooms in
your house
1 bed £5,000
2 bed £6,000
3 bed £7,000
4 bed £9,000
5+ bed £12,000

The above amounts are quite low as most Insurers impose an inner limit of around 30% of the total sum insured so on the £50000 RIAS give most Insurers would allow £15000. Bearing in mind that RIAS include Camera Equipment and Audio Visual Equipment in their High Risk Items (A lot of Insurers do not include Audio Visual Equipment in their definition) and have a fairly low amount of cover you need to ensure it offers sufficient cover to ensure you have enough cover.

The High Risk items are basically what a burgalar will target.

The other unusual part of their policy is they limit accidental damage to porcelain and china, glass (Not windows), ornaments and other brittle items to a TOTAL per claim of £250 (Unless the item is specified). This is quite an unusual restriction so bear this in mind if you have expensive ornaments and grandchilden etc

forevergrey

Dacouch – thank you for your helpful reply.


Do you know whether RIAS allow you to choose from their panel or do they decide? There are names on there I've never heard of such as Canopius and JR Clare. Also I don't understand why if they are part of Fortis, they use other insurers.


As stated, I'm trying to find someone good on claims and customer service. Although Saga and RS&A feature quite highly with Which, I'm concerned about their supposed associations with Asprea. Legal and General for some reason wouldn't give me an online quote for my postcode. Do you have any views on who might fit the bill? I'm happy to pay a reasonable premium to avoid a bad experience if a claim is necessary.

dacouch

Canopius are a Lloyd's of London Insurer.

Fortis will use a panel of Insurers as Fortis will not be competitive in certain post codes, people with a certain amount of claims etc (You will probably have seen the variety of prices when you look at other Insurers). They will use the panel for the risks that Fortis do not like / are not competitive on.

They have L&G on the panel who are good.

forevergrey

Thanks again dacouch.

L&G will not quote our postcode area. Prudential appear to be underwritten by Churchill who again seem to be connected with Asprea. Is there anyone else?

Truegrit_2

Forevergrey

Steer clear of Canopius, they are useless

dacouch

I would agree with Truegrits opinion

forevergrey

Ok Truegrit, thanks. I take it you had a bad experience with them. I'm thinking that RIAS may only be worthwhile if insured with Fortis.

dacouch

Churchill are owned by Royal Bank of Scotland who also own Direct Line

forevergrey

As we are already with Direct Line, I seem to be coming full circle. The irony is that when you try to find someone who handles claims efficiently and fairly, it seems to be impossible.

[Deleted User]

my sister is in the process of a claim with rias and she is very happy with the way they are handling her claim. No quibbles at all

It is my turn to find a contents insurer and I am also dithering. I quite like rias but also want fortis. I might ring rias to ask for a quote with fortis. It scares me that rias are only the intermediaries