Combining buildings and contents insurance

LydiaJ

Hi everyone. Looking for a bit of advice here.

I lived in rented properties for some time and had contents insurance but obviously not buildings insurance. My contents insurance has always run from August to August, although I've changed providers a few times over the years.

In January this year I bought a house, and arranged buildings insurance with my contents provider, as well as switching my existing contents policy to my new address.

So now I have two policies with the same provider, but one that's up for renewal in August and one in January. I want to get them back in sync with each other so I can see if there are any deals to be done on getting the two combined. However, all the policies available seem to be for a full year.

I can't be the only person this has happened to. Can anyone tell me what to do, please?

dacouch

Speak to your existing Insurer.

Most Insurers have the facility to add contents or buildings to an existing policy "Mid Term" (Part the way through the policy). They combine the two policies and you pay a pro rata (Price based on how many days are left on the policy) they may make an admin charge on top.

Personally I would add the August policy to the January policy, I say this as you will then get a renewal in January for both policies and can then shop around and benefit from the good deals insurers normally offer people for combined building and contents. Obviously having a renewal in January may not be desirable for you due to Xmas, if so do it the other way around (Although you may get a cancellation fee for canelling January policy, some companies waive this).

If the person you speak to fobs you off, ask for a superviser as some staff will not understand doing this or C.B.A due to work involved

Generali

LydiaJ wrote: »

Hi everyone. Looking for a bit of advice here.

I lived in rented properties for some time and had contents insurance but obviously not buildings insurance. My contents insurance has always run from August to August, although I've changed providers a few times over the years.

In January this year I bought a house, and arranged buildings insurance with my contents provider, as well as switching my existing contents policy to my new address.

So now I have two policies with the same provider, but one that's up for renewal in August and one in January. I want to get them back in sync with each other so I can see if there are any deals to be done on getting the two combined. However, all the policies available seem to be for a full year.

I can't be the only person this has happened to. Can anyone tell me what to do, please?

You can usually cancel an insurance policy part way through and have the unused portion returned. They may take off an admin fee though.

LydiaJ

Thanks - especially about the tip about asking for a supervisor if the minion says it can't be done. That's what happened in January when I asked about adding the buildings to the exisiting contents policy.

Does it make any difference that I paid the August one in cash up-front, but am paying the January one on monthly DD?

dacouch

It shouldn't make a difference.

There are small amount of companies that can't combine the two mid term but they're rare as most companies actively promote it as customers with a combined policy are more likely to keep renewing with the same insurer

michaels

I buy each separately anyway, tends to be cheaper and you can get to lots of cash back.

dacouch

michaels wrote: »

I buy each separately anyway, tends to be cheaper and you can get to lots of cash back.

It's generally easier if you have a large claim eg a fire or water damage claim to have the same insurer covering the entire property