Best UK based Insurance Company

ZurichCustomer

What would people say is the best Insurance company for home and motor insurance.

I don't care about the cost. If you rate a good insurance company on a cost basis then you will end up in Indian call center hell.
I want UK based with UK call centers that pays decent money to their staff with good service.

I have heard that Axa is very good but they do not do insurance.
Perhaps First Direct?

ZurichCustomer

To answer my own question, through First Direct:
Equity for car insurance and Aviva for Home insurance
Both based in the UK with UK call centers.
I think that I will be giving them a ring.

glider3560

Aviva does have call centres in India.

dacouch

Were the first two posts tongue in cheek?

Axa do Insurance but have arguably the worst off shore call centre out of all UK Insurers (Axa are French owned). If you think your problems with Zurich were bad you should try reporting a motor or home claim to Axa when there has been bad weather eg Snow. In these circumstances when they are very busy they answer the phone and take your number and advise you they will call you back within the next 48 hours but often don't. I have also found their staff in these circumstances often allow you to tell them all about your claim for a few minutes and then after you have given them they will then tell you they are just taking numbers. It is incredibly annoying.

As Glider mentioned Aviva also use off shore call centres.

First Direct take many calls to get them to answer the phone (Have a look at the various threads on MSE about them).

Equity are not that great either.

Here is a survey of UK brokers you may find interesting (They do not deal with Direct only companies such as Direct Line so these types of companies do not appear and the survey is commercial insurance biased)

http://www.instimes.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=376295

If you genuinely want the best Home Insurance policy with money no object then take out cover with Hiscox or Chub but they are expensive

dunstonh

Hiscox is generally regarded as the best home insurance provider.

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hiscox, Sterling and Chubb all offer home insurance and are well respected high net worth insurers.

Home & Legacy and Oak Underwriting, as brokers, also offer motor insurance if you are looking for a one-stop solution.

All the above companies have UK based claims centres and pride themselves on their claims service. Their policies also provide the widest cover.

geri1965_2

dacouch wrote: »

First Direct take many calls to get them to answer the phone (Have a look at the various threads on MSE about them).

Not in my experience. At very busy times I've had to wait a minute or so, but they usually answer within a few rings.



Their insurance is underwritten by Aviva I think, but based in the UK.

dacouch

Oak are ore of an underwriting agency, the last time I looked at their family fleet it was underwitten by Tradex! which is a big no no.

Oscar have a look at the Chubb family fleet, if you have not see the features and benefits you will be amazed. It includes agreed value, comprehensive driving other cars for ALL NAMED drivers, like for like courtesy car and you can choose the repairer.

http://www.chubb.com/international/uk/individuals/motor.html

A very expensive policy but if you have the money to afford a Chubb policy you would expect nothing less from your car insurance

dacouch

geri1965 wrote: »

Not in my experience. At very busy times I've had to wait a minute or so, but they usually answer within a few rings.



Their insurance is underwritten by Aviva I think, but based in the UK.

Sorry it was early in the morning an I miss read it as First Central.

The First Direct policies are from Equity and are Equity Red Star policies which are not all that. I will grant you that First Direct are pretty good at answering the phone

Oscar_The_Grouch

dacouch wrote: »

Oak are ore of an underwriting agency, the last time I looked at their family fleet it was underwitten by Tradex! which is a big no no.

Oscar have a look at the Chubb family fleet, if you have not see the features and benefits you will be amazed. It includes agreed value, comprehensive driving other cars for ALL NAMED drivers, like for like courtesy car and you can choose the repairer.

http://www.chubb.com/international/uk/individuals/motor.html

A very expensive policy but if you have the money to afford a Chubb policy you would expect nothing less from your car insurance

Thanks Dacouch - wasn't aware.

ZurichCustomer

Thanks all.
Hiscox, Sterling and Chubb then.
I will look into it. Cheers.:T