Warning Churchill buildings contents insurance

Jaxt

Please all homeowners be aware of their policy exclusions. I have had a pipe go buried in my kitchen wall it's damaged a wall unit as well as work top oven and 3 units out of the 8 in my gallery style kitchen .Its a MFI schreiber which is now not here of course .I have checked at Homebase who now do Schreiber .Now the loss adjuster came yesterday to view damage and nothing for the plumbing costs Andy old for new policy has a clause he pointed out that says matching sets are not covered on the damaged items. How this can be referred back to building insurance towns fitted kitchens is beyond belief but factual according to him.He says nearly all policies now include this clause including mine CHURCHILLS insurance.I hope they have kept my voice recording of my all singing n dancing policy being sold to me 3 or 4 years ago.I also had no help from them or contact over the bank holiday weekend it happened and was wrongly informed by them over the phone on the Saturday that nobody in claims dept till Tuesday when I got through about confirming a time with inspector they infoed me the office had been open bank hol mon. So naffed off with them totally but want you all to read your policies and decide whether a mismatch kitchen would be acceptable to you. BUYER BEWARE!

dunstonh

I hope they have kept my voice recording of my all singing n dancing policy being sold to me 3 or 4 years ago.

Did you ask about matching units/items in that phone call? If you didnt then nothing would be said. It is not a required key issue to be disclosed.

InsideInsurance

Matching sets typically are not covered on standard Home policies however FOS has frequently forced insurers to make a 50% contribution to replacing the other elements where a reasonable match cannot be sourced.

If you want full fat cover which includes matching sets then you are going to have to move off your "high street" insurers and look at those aimed at the Mid Net Worth and above like Hiscox but be prepared to pay for all that additional coverages

FlameCloud

Jaxt wrote: »

Please all homeowners be aware of their policy exclusions. I have had a pipe go buried in my kitchen wall it's damaged a wall unit as well as work top oven and 3 units out of the 8 in my gallery style kitchen .Its a MFI schreiber which is now not here of course .I have checked at Homebase who now do Schreiber .Now the loss adjuster came yesterday to view damage and nothing for the plumbing costs Andy old for new policy has a clause he pointed out that says matching sets are not covered on the damaged items. How this can be referred back to building insurance towns fitted kitchens is beyond belief but factual according to him.He says nearly all policies now include this clause including mine CHURCHILLS insurance.I hope they have kept my voice recording of my all singing n dancing policy being sold to me 3 or 4 years ago.I also had no help from them or contact over the bank holiday weekend it happened and was wrongly informed by them over the phone on the Saturday that nobody in claims dept till Tuesday when I got through about confirming a time with inspector they infoed me the office had been open bank hol mon. So naffed off with them totally but want you all to read your policies and decide whether a mismatch kitchen would be acceptable to you. BUYER BEWARE!

The policy wording would have changed since then so all that matters is the wording at renewal.

Jaxt

Thanks for your replies and info ,and yes I do think they are dishonest about the consequences of going with Churchill.I have read the policy and I don't think anybody, unless in the insurance industry would take it to mean kitchen units. I still think its absolutely diabolical that its expected to be okay to have an odd unit at the top and then on the bottom row an original at the bottom then 3 to be replaced then 2 more originals ones . I really dont think its a viable option or fair to expect anyone to put up with a kitchen like that. Its a new for old policy and 50% are gone.Crap service all around from them and i will continue to spread the word so this doesnt happen to any other MSE members.I have already told my friend about this 4 hours after she was getting quotes for her father in law, shes already said that she will now be advising them to cancel the policy from Churchills they took out. Pretty sure people would be mortified to discover their insurance company could in effect ruin the look of their house SPREAD the word , right rant over.:mad:

InsideInsurance

The problem with the rant is that it also applies to most the insurers you know about as excluding matched pairs/ sets is standard practice for the industry and only the high end policies do actually provide this cover as it is an exceptionally expensive piece of cover to give. One unrepairable kitchen cupboard door can result in a £10,000+ claim

Jaxt

You have missed my point that its not transparent for the average customer to realise,that CHURCHILLS insurers are very likely to stitch you up with something that isnt acceptable .I asked in a staff group of 16 people who is knew about it and nobody knew. It isnt one cupboard its half my kitchen and I stand by my rant that it is not right. Howdens have just been round and have just pointed out the water stain and swelling to the unit next to the oven is likely to be tainted by water too. So whoopee more to fork out. On phone to them now. Been on hold for 16 mins already,useless.anyone got an alternative to the 0845 number so it doesnt have to cost?I asked for a copy by email of his report to see exactly what I can go to a kitchen a specialist with and still not received it . They said they dont usually do this??Someone please tell me if I'm missing something here.Not happy CHURCHILLS now 22 minutes no response from them and thanks for waiting we will get you talking to someone as soon as we can message about to hang up .

FlameCloud

Jaxt wrote: »

You have missed my point that its not transparent for the average customer to realise,that CHURCHILLS insurers are very likely to stitch you up with something that isnt acceptable .I asked in a staff group of 16 people who is knew about it and nobody knew. It isnt one cupboard its half my kitchen and I stand by my rant that it is not right. Howdens have just been round and have just pointed out the water stain and swelling to the unit next to the oven is likely to be tainted by water too. So whoopee more to fork out. On phone to them now. Been on hold for 16 mins already,useless.anyone got an alternative to the 0845 number so it doesnt have to cost?I asked for a copy by email of his report to see exactly what I can go to a kitchen a specialist with and still not received it . They said they dont usually do this??Someone please tell me if I'm missing something here.Not happy CHURCHILLS now 22 minutes no response from them and thanks for waiting we will get you talking to someone as soon as we can message about to hang up .

And you missed his. This clause is hardly unique to Churchill, and insurers do not put clauses like this in some mythical vault that you don't have access too.

Quentin

Jaxt wrote: »

You have missed my point that its not transparent for the average customer to realise,that CHURCHILLS insurers are very likely to stitch you up with something that isnt acceptable .I asked in a staff group of 16 people who is knew about it and nobody knew. It isnt one cupboard its half my kitchen and I stand by my rant that it is not right.....

There is a rant forum better suited to this.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=82

(Use saynoto0870 to see if there are cheaper phone numbers)

InsideInsurance

Jaxt wrote: »

You have missed my point that its not transparent for the average customer to realise,that CHURCHILLS insurers are very likely to stitch you up with something that isnt acceptable .I asked in a staff group of 16 people who is knew about it and nobody knew.

And did that same sample group know that the AA, Asda, Aviva, Axa, M&S, John Lewis, Lloyds, Budget, Direct Line, LV etc all have the same clause?

Jaxt

They certainly do now because I would hate for others to not check theirs and get caught out by the understanding of this clause when they need the most help. Perhaps you work for insurance and are more wised up to the tricks of the trade. Anyway call to be made to register my disappointment with the ombudsman.