comparing building insurance

chesky

I've just woken from a long sleep to realise I'm probably paying too much buildings insurance through my bank - Lloyds TSB - which I set up years ago when indeed it was much cheaper than other quotes I had at the time.

I'd like to get on-line quotes to compare but I tried 'the meerkat' website. It wanted me to give a lot of information which, at this stage, I really don't want to do. I just want to get a ball-park idea of what I should be paying for a three bedroom terrace house in west london. I'm only part way through the year, not coming up to renewal, so I won't be able to do much at the moment.

Are there any websites that do this?

dwsjarcmcd

No because there is no point. Just put in your house details but change your name, e-mail address and telephone number. With the meerkat site, it's easy to opt out (and indeed, you need to actually opt in) if you're worried about marketing communication.

It takes about 5 minutes to do

chesky

Surely you have to put your correct e-mail address in, or how do they communicate the info? Or is it just shown online?

_Andy_

You could always just set up a spare gmail account for use with quotes etc.

weejonnie

The thing is: there are many factors insurers now use to drive their quotation engines and missing a single factor could result in a substantially increased premium, meaning that the company isn't offering the best deal they have and hence could lose your business.

I feel it is a good idea to set up dunplicate e-mails - at least you won't get spammed if you arrange all replies to it to be sent directly to the deleted items folder.

(If you think things are bad now just wait a couple of months when you try and buy insurance online)

FOREVER21

I think you may be trying too soon in any event I have found most insurers on the comparison sites only give quote for about 3 months or less in the future.
Also any quotes that you do get now may not be available near renewal time best wait until nearer your renewal.

dwsjarcmcd

chesky wrote: »

Surely you have to put your correct e-mail address in, or how do they communicate the info? Or is it just shown online?

It's both, they show you the quotes after you've put in the details and follow it up with an e-mail.

InsideInsurance

chesky wrote: »

Surely you have to put your correct e-mail address in, or how do they communicate the info? Or is it just shown online?

When you put your details in they are then automatically sent to each of the companies on their panel and within a few seconds each of those companies return a price along with certain terms (eg excess). The aggregator then shows you the prices from all the companies on the screen.

They arent able to do a ball park because basically it doesnt exist and would require human intervention which is much more difficult than the straight through processing of an accurate quote.

As other have said, if you are just testing the water then use slightly altered details (eg made up name (but dont use the likes of Mickey Mouse), change your data of birth by a day etc) to avoid being bombarded with marketing and to not hit the fraud warnings if you try adjusting answers.

The only slight caveat is that some insurers use your credit score as a rating factor and so by changing your details you may get a slightly different price than you will with using your true details