eSure Home Contents Policy Exclusions - is this commonplace?

pealy

I was about to buy insurance from Sheila's Wheels/eSure yesterday but when I reviewed the policy I found an exclusion to the contents insurance, under "Theft or Attempted Theft", which concerned me.

They exclude "loss or damage: caused while you and your family are away from your house unless force or violence is used to get in or out of your home"

So, I'm not covered if I drop my keys on the way out, they're stolen from me while I'm out, my lock is faulty, I leave a window open etc..

Is that a common exclusion for a home contents policy. I'm currently with LV and can't see anything like this in their policy documents..

link to policy document http://www.esure.com/wcm/groups/public/documents/webcontent/es_home_policy_booklet.pdf

InsideInsurance

It is getting increasingly common.

Traditionally forced/ violent entry was only a requirement if there were non-family members living together in a property.

pealy

Seems harsh though, imagine being burgled and finding out you're not covered because of an exclusion like that? I think I'll pass on esure, it's no wonder they come out cheaper..

dunstonh

pealy wrote: »

Seems harsh though, imagine being burgled and finding out you're not covered because of an exclusion like that? I think I'll pass on esure, it's no wonder they come out cheaper..

As companies try to force their way up the tables on the price comparison sites, the knocking off of bits of cover or introducing more exclusions is a common way to do this.

Shopping by price alone is a risk. Well done at looking at the policy details before buying.

mainstand123

February 2013 I took to the online comparison sites to renew my son’s car insurance. Best deal was with esure £272.00, so paid up in full. Was warned after paying, I needed to send off his ‘proof of no claims’ or insurance will be invalidated.

Later received a reminder, so immediately posted the proof of no claims stapled to the back of the reminder letter!

On the 26th March received a letter from esure dated 22nd March notifying that my son’s car insurance had been cancelled as from the 19th March. Reason given ‘additional information requested had not been received’? Telephoned esure and they agreed that they had received the proof of no claims, however they had not received ‘a copy of his driving licence’?

I told esure that when I’d paid for the insurance they only asked for proof of no claims, they said I should of read the terms and conditions. I must admit I had clicked the box to say I’d read the T&Cs but was confident that anything of importance I was aware of. Esure say that on the letter which I received there was also a request for a copy of the driving licence. Since I send this letter back to them with proof of no claims I have to take their word for it, however this request was definitely not on flagged up when I took out the policy!

Esure claim they had written 3 times, well we only received the one and only letter. Why would we lie, what had we got to gain? Given the now importance of this licence, I asked esure why didn’t they email or telephone me? Answer “you should have read your terms of conditions” “We don’t have to email or phone you”!

What had esure got to gain? Out of the policy I paid £272.00 4 weeks earlier they charged me £108.00 cancellation fee!

The result was my son had been driving his car around oblivious to the fact he wasn’t insured for 6 days. He’s lost £108.00. Now comes the final kick..When trying to get re-insured online you have to answer “have you ever had an insurance policy cancelled”? When you click yes, you either become un-insurable or the policy is loaded to over £600.00. The coop for example quoted £300.00 once I told them the circumstances of the policy being cancelled; they said my son was still un-insurable at any cost.

Although the Ombudsman said the “no cancelation” clause was meant to be aimed at cases of ‘non disclosure or fraud’

Because on line comparison sites ask “Have you EVER had a policy cancelled” my son in now uninsurable or the policy is loaded to a premium of at least £600.00

My son is 28 years old and has never been in trouble in his life
My son has held a full clean UK driving licence for over 8 years
My son has never been convicted of any driving offence (not even speeding)
My son has 5 years no claims bonus

For the rest of his life my son will always have to answer ‘YES’ to any question regarding a past cancelled policy and pay a huge premium?

According to esure, this is a fair punishment of not reading their ‘Terms & Conditions’ and and failing to send a copy of his full, clean driving licence

InsideInsurance

Generally under UK law posting is considered the best way to pass on information and anything sent is automatically considered received unless it is proven otherwise.

Basically, unless you can get Esure to reverse their decision then yes, he will need to say he has had insurance cancelled for the rest of his life for most classes of personal insurance (home, motor, travel etc) though if you speak on the phone some may take sympathy on the matter.

Its a hard way to learn to read documents/ T&Cs rather than blindly clicking "I agree" etc

olly300

mainstand123 wrote: »

According to esure, this is a fair punishment of not reading their ‘Terms & Conditions’ and and failing to send a copy of his full, clean driving licence

If you think this is unfair then I suggest you put your complaint to Esure in writing to their complaints department making sure it says "Formal Complaint" and both your son and you sign it.

Send your letter to them by recorded signed for post so they can't claim they didn't receive it. I know they can try but experience has taught me that once you do this no judge or regulator will believe the company didn't receive your letter.

mainstand123

mainstand123 wrote: »

Thanks Olly
Have since spoken to Direct line, they say they've never heard of anybody having to send their driving licence!..Must admit, after 35 years of driving, I've never heard of anybody having to post there licence! Have since done a deal with 'Hastings Direct for £312.00, they managed to over ride the system..Have spoken to the Ombudsman, he says nearly all complaints come from online bookings and stresses, you really do need to read T&Cs with these people!

Thanks again Olly

ACG

Most of the comparison sites dont include any of the extras - in order to keep the price low and appear near the top.

When we do quotes for people and you explain these options (in a none salesy way, its purely an added extra if they want it), the amount of people who choose to include it is pretty high.

Ive used comparison sites for myself but you do really need to be careful about what your asking for...and ensure it has been included!

hugoshavez

mainstand123 wrote: »

February 2013 I took to the online comparison sites to renew my son’s car insurance. Best deal was with esure £272.00, so paid up in full. Was warned after paying, I needed to send off his ‘proof of no claims’ or insurance will be invalidated.

Later received a reminder, so immediately posted the proof of no claims stapled to the back of the reminder letter!

On the 26th March received a letter from esure dated 22nd March notifying that my son’s car insurance had been cancelled as from the 19th March. Reason given ‘additional information requested had not been received’? Telephoned esure and they agreed that they had received the proof of no claims, however they had not received ‘a copy of his driving licence’?

I told esure that when I’d paid for the insurance they only asked for proof of no claims, they said I should of read the terms and conditions. I must admit I had clicked the box to say I’d read the T&Cs but was confident that anything of importance I was aware of. Esure say that on the letter which I received there was also a request for a copy of the driving licence. Since I send this letter back to them with proof of no claims I have to take their word for it, however this request was definitely not on flagged up when I took out the policy!

Esure claim they had written 3 times, well we only received the one and only letter. Why would we lie, what had we got to gain? Given the now importance of this licence, I asked esure why didn’t they email or telephone me? Answer “you should have read your terms of conditions” “We don’t have to email or phone you”!

What had esure got to gain? Out of the policy I paid £272.00 4 weeks earlier they charged me £108.00 cancellation fee!

The result was my son had been driving his car around oblivious to the fact he wasn’t insured for 6 days. He’s lost £108.00. Now comes the final kick..When trying to get re-insured online you have to answer “have you ever had an insurance policy cancelled”? When you click yes, you either become un-insurable or the policy is loaded to over £600.00. The coop for example quoted £300.00 once I told them the circumstances of the policy being cancelled; they said my son was still un-insurable at any cost.

Although the Ombudsman said the “no cancelation” clause was meant o be aimed at cases of ‘non disclosure or fraud’

Because on line comparison sites ask “Have you EVER had a policy cancelled” my son in now uninsurable or the policy is loaded to a premium of at least £600.00

My son is 28 years old and has never been in trouble in his life
My son has held a full clean UK driving licence for over 8 years
My son has never been convicted of any driving offence (not even speeding)
My son has 5 years no claims bonus

For the rest of his life my son will always have to answer ‘YES’ to any question regarding a past cancelled policy and pay a huge premium?

According to esure, this is a fair punishment of not reading their ‘Terms & Conditions’ and and failing to send a copy of his full, clean driving licence

Perhaps your 28 year old son might take this as an opportunity to start sorting these things for himself.

mainstand123

My son was working away at the time..You took the time to post that comment?..Sorry mate, you could be mistaken for a sad act!