Not so straightforward building & contents renewal

savinghru

Our House insurance, buildings and contents is due for renewal today. They have increased the renewal by £120 to £413.00. I phoned to ask why such a large increase when we have been with them for 11 years and never made a claim.
Initially the guy agreed it was a bit steep and if I could hold he would see if they could better that. When he came back he told me we are in a high category flood risk, and they can’t offer a reduced amount. I explained we were well above sea level and nowhere near flood risk where the house is built.



He told me to seek information from the Environment Agency (E.A) and they cannot help me any further...take it or leave it basically.


Anyway I then phoned E.A who put me through to sepa who gave me online details of checking the flood map for our area, I explained where our house was,((highlands of scotland- while she too was on line) It is quite obviously far enough away from the “small” flood area from a small loch and river! She has agreed to look into it further and get our house area double checked. Waiting for an email now but could take upto 21 days.



Even if they come back with the information saying we are NOT at flood risk, we cannot use this for insurance purposes.



I am fuming that the Insurance can get off with this over inflated charge, without us having any say in it. Now I have to look for another insurance or pay up, which I am really loathe to do.



Things are not as straightforward as we need a general condition to apply to the policy saying the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department has an interest and the policy is to be endorse to the Scottish Ministers. (we are a croft house build on a croft)


HELP? What do we do next? Will we have this problem with other insurances?


If I just renew with our current insurance to continue cover over the weekend can we cancel at a later date?


Sx

theJudge

1. Go to http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?x=531500.0&y=181500.0&topic=floodmap&ep=map&scale=3&location=London,%20City%20of%20London&lang=_e&layerGroups=default&textonly=off

and check whether your house will be flooded or not.

2. Ring your current insurer and see if it makes any difference. Sometimes just talking to another operator can work.

3. If not, then I'd first use a price comparison website e.g. www.moneysupermarket.com to see which insurers will quote for your house and then check what the insurer's claims handling is like by looking at:-

a) FSA complaints data http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Other_publications/commentary/firm_spec/index.shtml

b) FOS complaints data
http://www.ombudsman-complaints-data.org.uk/

c) Broker's opinions
http://www.insuranceage.co.uk/insurance-age/opinion/1563999/the-bad-average

Leaving it to the last minute to renew obviously isn't a great idea. Most insurers will charge you for cancelling a policy. You'll need to ask your insurer.

dacouch

Try Aviva they use their own flood mapping software that is independent of the EA's, it often covers homes that other Insurers (Using the EA data) will not.

Or alternatively speak to a local broker as they will be familiar with what Insurers are happy to cover properties perceived to be a flood risk in the area and will be familiar with noting the interest on a croft

dacouch

Try Aviva they use their own flood mapping software that is independent of the EA's, it often covers homes that other Insurers (Using the EA data) will not.

Or alternatively speak to a local broker as they will be familiar with what Insurers are happy to cover properties perceived to be a flood risk in the area and will be familiar with noting the interest on a croft

savinghru

Thanks for your replies guys, much appreciated for a quick response.:beer:

The E.A database does not cover us. I was told to go to the SEPA flood map which is where our area is covered.

I looked at this site as the woman from SEPA was on the phone, she too had the map up and asked where our house was in releation to the flooding shown. She agreed we are obviously not at flood risk and therefore offered a (free) independant check for our property, this is what I have to wait 21 days for, but she stipulated I cannot use this as evidence for insurance purposes either...great lot of good that does us!!!

I phoned the insurance again but they refuse to budge, and as I have stupidly left it too late I have reluctuntly paid the renewal premium to continue cover for now. We have 14 days to cancel the policy, but even with a small charge for doing so we would still be saving ourselves £200 by renewing with someone else. So the serch continues for another insurer asap.

I need to find someone who will insure us with the condition attached for the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department (SERAD), this is what is putting me off phoning about the other quotes I got last night off one of the compare sites. ALL I must say are at least £200-£250 cheaper than this renewal quote. :eek:

savinghru

UPDATE:

Received this email from SEPA re our home insurance charging us an overinflated premieum this year and told me they cannot give me a better deal as we are a high level risk of flooding area....can I now put in a formal complaint to the insurance, highlighted the interesting part from SEPA re insurance....and ask for a percentage to be paid back to us. Is it worth my while chasing this up? We had to renew with them as I didnt have the time to look into another insurance.

Any further help appreciated please
cheers x

Flood Risk Information for xxxx


Further to your enquiry, I would comment that unfortunately we are unable to undertake site specific flood risk enquiries. However, I can provide any flood information we have which will provide a first indication of potential flood risk for the area.

Firstly we currently have no record of the area having been subject to any form of flooding. In addition review of the Indicative River & Coastal Flood Map ( Scotland ) 200-year flood outline (i.e. the flood with a 0.5% chance of occurring in any single year) for the burn Allt na Doire-darich indicates that this area lies outwith this envelope and as such is potentially at low risk of flooding.

The Indicative River & Coastal Flood Map ( Scotland ) has been produced following a consistent, nationally-applied methodology for catchment areas equal to or greater than 3km2 using a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) to define river cross-sections and low-lying coastal land. The outlines do not account for flooding arising from sources such as surface water runoff, surcharged culverts or drainage systems. The methodology was not designed to quantify the impacts of factors such as flood alleviation measures, buildings and transport infrastructure on flood conveyance & storage. The Indicative River & Coastal Flood Map ( Scotland ) is designed to be used as a national strategic assessment of flood risk to support planning policy in Scotland .

Please also note that the current licence under which interested parties, such as insurance companies, are able to gain access to the Flood Map does not allow them to use it for commercial purposes (e.g. to adjust their premiums).

I would also recommend that you contact the Roads Department of The Highland Council who, as Flood Prevention Authority, should be able to provide further information regarding flooding and flood alleviation in the area.

The flood advice contained in this email is supplied to you by SEPA under the Environmental Information ( Scotland ) Regulations 2004 in response to your request for information under these regulations.

I hope this is of use.

Yours sincerely