Excess twice as much as expected!!

Miss_Penny_Pincher_2

We have a joint Buildings and Contents insurance policy with Norwich Union Direct. Both have a £100 excess on them.

We were burgled and made a claim for the burglary (broken window, a couple of items stolen). What we didn't realise was that we would be charged on both policies so for the one claim it cost us £200. I'm just wondering if this is standard which I'm sure it probably is. Was a surprise to us as if the property hadn't been damaged on entry they wouldn't have paid out for the contents! Meaning that whenever we make a claim we will have to pay both excesses. Do you think there is any possibility of them reducing this to one excess at all?

Astaroth

Most insurers will pay out on theft claims even if there is no sign of forced entry as long as everyone living in the house is of the same family.

Whilst the policies are "joint" they are still policies and therefore if you make claims for both buildings damage and contents damage you pay the excess on each of them.

gazza975526570

Yeah its standard procedure. It isnt cover for "theft" but for buildings and contents (2 seperate policies). Therefore if you need to claim for both areas two excesses.

Same as say storm damages your roof (buildings), leaks through and causes damage to say your bed (contents) you would need to pay 2 excesses.

MarkyMarkD

I think you actually mean two policy sections, each with their own excess. Only one policy!

Miss_Penny_Pincher_2

Thanks everyone - the cost for a new window would have only been £88 so would have been better off not claiming on the buildings insurance - oh well live and learn!

Astaroth wrote: »

Most insurers will pay out on theft claims even if there is no sign of forced entry as long as everyone living in the house is of the same family.

The terms of our contents insurance seem quite tight e.g. must have burglar alarm on, must have all windows locked with key, must have front and back doors locked with 5 lever mortice locks etc. When the loss adjuster came round she did check all of these things which gave me the impression that they wouldn't pay out if the burglar had got in by an open window or something.

Katykat

We made a claim recently for storm damage to garage roof which in turn soaked some electric tools.We only had to pay one excess of £100. This was a legal & General policy. In effect, they increased the premium because we made a claim, so with the excess and the extra premium, we were slightly in deficit,, but now all our electric tools are new.

Astaroth

Each insurer writes their own T&Cs but as a rule of thumb there is no need for signs of forced entry.... having said that there is also often a threashold where extra security measures must be in place (eg contents over £50,000) but again this will vary between companies.