Refuse to renew - Can they do that ?!!

bluewolfie

I took up a home insurance with More Than last year, and unfortunately during last winter, my boiler broke down twice and I had to claim for these two callouts.

Now, More Than is refusing to offer me a renewal as they said I claimed too many times !! I didn't pay too much attention to that until I realise that no other insurers will cover me as I have been declined insurance before ! Had I known this is going to happen, I wouldn't even have claimed. Is this not what insurance is for ??

Can anyone advise on the next steps to take ? Will no major insurance companies cover me from now on ?? FOREVER ?

There is something clearly wrong with the insurance industry. I just claimed twice, and now I'm stuck with this refusal to cover thing for the rest of my life ?

dtaylor84

Have you claimed previously? Refusing cover for two (related) claims in one year seems a bit of an overreaction.

You may want to try complaining to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) see https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

dunstonh

I didn't pay too much attention to that until I realise that no other insurers will cover me as I have been declined insurance before !

A decline to offer a renewal is not the same as having your insurance cancelled. So, when you are asked the question "have you ever had insurance cancelled....." then read it carefully and answer it correctly. You have not had a cancellation. So, unless the question is asked in a way that you refusal to renew is covered, then you do not need to declare it.

scheming_gypsy

Have you been declined insurance or are More Than saying that they can't offer you a renewal due to the number of claims. Not being able to insure you isn't refusing to insure you.

bluewolfie

dtaylor84 wrote: »

Have you claimed previously? Refusing cover for two (related) claims in one year seems a bit of an overreaction.

It was my first home insurance policy. Only had this two claims... I personally thought that was quite harsh. If they had put up the premium, I can understand, but totally no cover ? That's too much...

bluewolfie

dunstonh wrote: »

A decline to offer a renewal is not the same as having your insurance cancelled. So, when you are asked the question "have you ever had insurance cancelled....." then read it carefully and answer it correctly. You have not had a cancellation. So, unless the question is asked in a way that you refusal to renew is covered, then you do not need to declare it.

Unfortunately, they all seem to ask if insurance have been declined, cancelled or declared null and void....

bluewolfie

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Have you been declined insurance or are More Than saying that they can't offer you a renewal due to the number of claims. Not being able to insure you isn't refusing to insure you.

I called up a few insurance companies to clarify, and they all said that if another insurance company is refusing to cover me, they won't either..... sad.

*Scarlett

Can you clarify if these claims were on your buildings / contents policy or on a separate Home Emergency / Assistance policy?

Usually a claim for a breakdown of the boiler would be on a Home Emergency policy which is separate and most don't affect the home policy.

Obviously I don't know the terms of your MoreThan policy but I would check the policy wording carefully and dispute it with them if they have made an incorrect decision.

If the decision is upheld, unfortunately you will have to declare it possibly forever more (depending on the assumption / qualification questions that each insurer asks). If in doubt, you need to disclose this as it may affect or void any future policy.

Even if you end up with this refusal you will still be able to get insurance but probably at a high premium or maybe a higher excess.

If you are able to get through the next 3 - 5 years without having to claim again you may be able to get mainstream insurers to consider on normal terms.

There are companies that will cover your circumstances - maybe try

http://www.homeprotect.co.uk/home-insurance/refused-house-insurance.aspx

scheming_gypsy

but again, are they refusing or saying that they can't offer you a renewal.

Are they telling you that they point blank refuse to insure you; or saying that because of the amount of claims you've had, they're unable to offer you a renewal.

bluewolfie

*Scarlett wrote: »

Can you clarify if these claims were on your buildings / contents policy or on a separate Home Emergency / Assistance policy?

Usually a claim for a breakdown of the boiler would be on a Home Emergency policy which is separate and most don't affect the home policy.

Obviously I don't know the terms of your MoreThan policy but I would check the policy wording carefully and dispute it with them if they have made an incorrect decision.

If the decision is upheld, unfortunately you will have to declare it possibly forever more (depending on the assumption / qualification questions that each insurer asks). If in doubt, you need to disclose this as it may affect or void any future policy.

Even if you end up with this refusal you will still be able to get insurance but probably at a high premium or maybe a higher excess.

If you are able to get through the next 3 - 5 years without having to claim again you may be able to get mainstream insurers to consider on normal terms.

There are companies that will cover your circumstances - maybe try

The claims were made under Home Emergency, which is included in the Home Insurance package. I asked the person on the helpline and they told me they lump everything together.

I guess the two little claims are going to cost me... sigh. They should have stated this in the first place, and I wouldn't have made the claims.

bluewolfie

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

but again, are they refusing or saying that they can't offer you a renewal.

Are they telling you that they point blank refuse to insure you; or saying that because of the amount of claims you've had, they're unable to offer you a renewal.

The letter said they are unable to offer a renewal, but when I called up the other insurance companies, apparently that's the same as being refused cover.