"Specialist Flood Insurance"

GaryBC

I've just got to share with everyone the totally surreal conversation I've just had on the phone.

A bit of background......
Our garden got flooded back in February. We made a small contents claim for garden equipment, tools & furniture. Our insurance company paid up. Our insurance company now want their money back. We're shopping around for a new insurer.

If you search the internet for 'flood insurance' you get a whole load of results listing companies calling themselves "Flood Cover Specialists". One called me back just now and we started discussing our requirements and a possible policy. When we got to the bit about what's covered he told me that flood cover is excluded.

Me: "But you advertise yourselves as a specialist flood cover provider?"
Him: "But you've had a flood claim"
Me: "Exactly, which is why I approached you - as a specialist."
Him: "But you've made a claim recently"
Me: "Hence me talking to a specialist"
Him: "But you made a claim"

I bit my tongue and 'politely' ended the conversation!

kingstreet

GaryBC wrote: »

Our insurance company paid up. Our insurance company now want their money back.

Can you explain what you mean by this?

The insurer has requested the return of the payment to you?

stator

kingstreet wrote: »

Can you explain what you mean by this?

The insurer has requested the return of the payment to you?

I believe he just means the insurance premiums have gone up drastically

A lot of websites that claim to specialise in difficult insurance actually don't. All they do is put you through to a normal insurance quote salesman. The text on their website is just to attract google traffic

GaryBC

kingstreet wrote: »

Can you explain what you mean by this?

The insurer has requested the return of the payment to you?

Oh no. Nothing so overt. Just a massive hike in premium based upon a wholly spurious 'risk' that is nothing whatsoever to so with the original claim.

GaryBC

stator wrote: »

I believe he just means the insurance premiums have gone up drastically

A lot of websites that claim to specialise in difficult insurance actually don't. All they do is put you through to a normal insurance quote salesman. The text on their website is just to attract google traffic

Yep. On both counts.

Pete9501

Moving to a house with the sea at the bottom of the garden. Swinton wanted £1231 for contents and buildings . Churchill said £225 as they currently insure the property with the existing vendors. We are now insured with the nodding dog.

hollie.weimeraner

You should only require "specialist" flood insurance if your property is in a flood risk area. You can check the risk from flooding at http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?x=531500.0&y=181500.0&topic=floodmap&ep=map&scale=3&location=London,%20City%20of%20London&lang=_e&layerGroups=default&textonly=off. If it turns out you are at risk of flooding then email the Environment Agency (enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk ) and ask for an Insurance Related Request which will provide details of the risk of flooding and any local measures for flood defences which may reduce the premium.