Homeserve cover - did I need it?

martyp

Hi all,
I'm hoping someone who maybe has some experience with Homeserve policies might be able to advise if I have got insurance I don't actually need?
I tried to cancel my 'underground water supply pipe' cover when it went up to £35 and they knocked it down to £10 so I thought I'd stick with it. I then thought I better consider boiler cover as my boiler is 20 years old now and may start going wrong any time.
The boiler cover is the one where you pay £50 towards any claim, unlimited claims and is only £70 for a year (also pending £35 cashback from Topcashback). It also quotes £200 payout if the boiler is beyond economical repair.
I understand the water supplier will do a one off fix to the water supply pipe but not as an emergency as such.
The other thing is I have contents insurance which has 'emergency assistance' included free. I checked with them and the water supply pipe and boiler would both be considered something covered. That emergency assistance cover includes parts and labour to £500 or something (no excess possibly?).
Would the boiler cover and underground supply pipe cover from Homeserve be any use based on the above or would the emergency assistance cover just be a quick fix for the problem and the Homeserve cover be a long lasting repair of the boiler?
Can anyone comment or advise at all as I have 42 days in which to cancel the boiler cover if it's not really needed.
Many thanks

luci

I also had supply pipe cover with Homeserve then found that the new buildings insurance I took out covered it. When I called Homserve to cancel they gave me a lot of bull about the excess the insurance would charge, etc. I called back the insurance and had it clarified that HS were talking rubbish so I cancelled it.

I would check the T&C's carefully as there may be a clause that it only covers boilers up to a certain age and also that the boiler has been serviced regularly.

martyp

Hi luci,
Thanks for the reply. I did get the same from them when trying to cancel the supply pipe insurance, I got put through to the nagging department who went on and on and on and I just took the insurance out of politeness and thinking £10 wasn't too much. I did tell them about 5 times in the conversation I didn't need it, I'm just too nice to these people (I hate answering the door to such people really I should put in one of those 'no cold callers' signs).
With regards to the boiler cover, I read through the terms and conditions and it does say it exludes boilers if they're too old and parts aren't readily available but I did state the make and that it was 20 years old in both Uswitch and Homeserve's online quotations. I'd be thinking it was their fault if based on the information given they would claim they don't cover boilers of that age. I would expect them to give a full premium refund or even better (as I partly hope for!) the £200 for a new boiler! That would be nice if it happened as I'd be paying possibly £35 for a policy and getting £200 back if the cashback works out...

dreamypuma

martyp wrote: »

. I would expect them to give a full premium refund or even better (as I partly hope for!) the £200 for a new boiler! That would be nice if it happened as I'd be paying possibly £35 for a policy and getting £200 back if the cashback works out...

You are unlikely to be covered as you boiler doesn't meet the criteria of the policy. You may have already told them about this, however Homeserve are also told you in there T&C's that you boiler isn't covered.

Is it worth the hassle?

As for the £200 cash back.... This isn't cash back is it? You need to read what it says, and understand it.

If you read the website, it is £200 towards a new replacement boiler. Ask yourself, if you were Homeserve, would you contribute £200 towards a competitor fitting you a new boiler at a realistic price?

Homserve will more than likely quote you for a new boiler themselves, and they are not cheap, usually almost double that of a quality local fitter. It is unlikely they will give you £200 for a local company to fit a boiler at a sensible price. That is there obligation met under that statement.

Finally, having seen Homeseve's work, I would never let then near my boiler.

It all seems like wasted energy to me and false economy. Save yourself the cost of the premiums and put it towards a new boiler, that you may or may not need sooner or later.

martyp

That makes sense dreamypuma when I think about it all. I didn't consider them actually fitting boilers, I forgot about that and it the whole deal seems a lot less appealing now. I might check on the cover thing and then cancel if it wouldn't be covered definitely. If I give them a call and confirm over the phone. It doesn't seem to specify that boilers over a certain age aren't covered as some policies do, e.g. British Gas. How would you know it wouldn't be covered for sure?