Paying insurance on the wrong house

fudslush

I've just discovered that my home insurance was actually covering a 3 bedroomed property in the Midlands rather than my 1 bedroomed London flat. I thought it quite expensive, but being new to home ownership I didn't take it any further.

Does anyone know how this could happen, & should I seek compensation? Presumably if I'd needed to make a claim my policy would have been invalid. My new policy comes in at about £400 compared to the £800 I was paying.

Any thoughts gratefully received...thank you.

TSx

How was the policy taken out? Who made the mistake?

Meadows

Did you not check all the details were correct at the time of receiving the cover?

fudslush

All paperwork was correct when they sent it through 3 years ago...correct name, address etc...it was only when I rang about making a claim that they couldn't marry my name to the address

Meadows

fudslush wrote: »

All paperwork was correct when they sent it through 3 years ago...correct name, address etc...it was only when I rang about making a claim that they couldn't marry my name to the address

If it has had the right address each year then you need to question them as to why they have the wrong details and how much extra you have been paying from what you should have paid. If no fault on your part and no joy from them then contact an insurance ombudsman.

fudslush

Meadows wrote: »

If it has had the right address each year then you need to question them as to why they have the wrong details and how much extra you have been paying from what you should have paid. If no fault on your part and no joy from them then contact an insurance ombudsman.

I can't discern any fault on my part, so will contact an ombudsman...many thanks...fud.

Meadows

fudslush wrote: »

I can't discern any fault on my part, so will contact an ombudsman...many thanks...fud.

Have you spoken to the insurance company first about the over error/charge?

fudslush

They were naturally very reluctant to talk as I failed their security questions, but even after convincing them I was who I said I was they only offered an apology & seemed keen to close the policy...

vaio

you need to go through the insurers complaints procedure before you can refer the case to the ombudsman (FOS)

Generally, if the case is as you state, then it sounds like a clerical error and, once it is all unwound, you should expect a refund of the additional premiums you have paid and your insurer should pay any claims on your flat.

Meadows

fudslush wrote: »

They were naturally very reluctant to talk as I failed their security questions, but even after convincing them I was who I said I was they only offered an apology & seemed keen to close the policy...

You need to try to resolve the issue with the insurer first and then ombudsman if you can not reach an agreement with them, put your complaint in writing to them so you have copies of communication should you need to take it further.