Home Insurance Renewal Refused

shirlls

I had a burglary at the end of January and claimed on my house/contents insurance. There was only half a dozen items stolen and I had proof of purchase for only 2 items but after a lot of arguing the insurance paid my claim.

I have now had a letter from them saying they will not renew my insurance. I would not want to renew with them anyway, but this means I will have to tell future insurers that I have been refused insurance and I guess this will raise my premiums.

I have spoken to the insurance company and they say it's nothing to do with my claim, if it was they would have cancelled the policy, but they have just decided not to renew my insurance.

I've never had this happen before and I haven't made an insurance claim since 2003 when a few slates were blown off my roof, does anyone have any advice on what I can do?

InsideInsurance

This is normally treated as a decline to quote - just in the same way as if you put your details into Confused.com you get a series of insurers at the bottom that wont quote and will be most of them if you try quoting for a 18 year old learner driver with a £200k sports car.

You need to answer the question honestly, and if you are asked about not being offered a renewal (as some do) you'd have to say yes but if its just cancelled/ refused/ special terms then you dont have to say yes.

For belts and braces check with the new insurer in question PRIOR to buying the policy to confirm they are happy with your interpretation of their question.

shirlls

Thanks InsideInsurance, declined to quote sound a lot better than refused. I'll phone for insurance quotes to make sure I'm covered

*Scarlett

I would contact the previous insurer and pin them down the the actual reason that they did not want to renew the policy.

It doesn't sound like it's for too many recent claims but may be due to the type & value of the claim - how much did they settle for?

It could just be something as simple as they no longer cover your postcode area or can't offer the cover that you need. Maybe they require additional security after the theft??

You need to get the actual reason.

As stated above it depends on the question that the insurer asks but I would say that this is something that needs to be declared for many insurers.

The other issue that you have is a theft claim within the last 12 months. Many mainstream insurers will decline to quote.

Try on the comparison sites declaring the claim to see if there are any that you could ring to discuss the refusal to renew.

You could also try
http://www.homeprotect.co.uk/insurance-for-all/claims-history
http://www.homeprotect.co.uk/insurance-for-all/insurance-refused

dacouch

Sounds like the M.O of More Than / RSA

shirlls

dacouch wrote: »

Sounds like the M.O of More Than / RSA

Spot on....so they're known for this then?

shirlls

*Scarlett wrote: »

I would contact the previous insurer and pin them down the the actual reason that they did not want to renew the policy.

It doesn't sound like it's for too many recent claims but may be due to the type & value of the claim - how much did they settle for?

It could just be something as simple as they no longer cover your postcode area or can't offer the cover that you need. Maybe they require additional security after the theft??

You need to get the actual reason.

As stated above it depends on the question that the insurer asks but I would say that this is something that needs to be declared for many insurers.

The other issue that you have is a theft claim within the last 12 months. Many mainstream insurers will decline to quote.

Try on the comparison sites declaring the claim to see if there are any that you could ring to discuss the refusal to renew.

You could also try
http://www.homeprotect.co.uk/insurance-for-all/claims-history
http://www.homeprotect.co.uk/insurance-for-all/insurance-refused

I did phone them to find out why they wouldn't renew, even though I wasn't going to go with More Than ever again, but they didn't give me an actual reason. They actually said there was nothing wrong with my claim, if they had thought that there was they would have cancelled my policy immediately.

It can't be for too many claims as I haven't claimed since 2003 and the time before that was the 1980's. The claim was for six items and they paid out £540.

I'll do as you suggest and try the comparison sites.

shirlls

Tried a comparison site and got a lot of quotes but when I clicked through to the company site the quote was retracted. Only one site went through to payment but I didn't complete it as I found bad reviews.

Think I'll have to spend a few evenings on the phone with this

*Scarlett

shirlls

I would make a formal complaint to them (there will be details how to do this on their website or maybe on your (non) renewal letter as to how to contact them.

You have possibly spoken to an adviser on the phone who does not have a clue ( and they may not have the info available)

I can't stress enough that you must find out the reason for the refusal as any future insurer will ask this.

Email, phone, write to them - but don't let them off the hook!

Good luck

shirlls

*Scarlett wrote: »

shirlls

I would make a formal complaint to them (there will be details how to do this on their website or maybe on your (non) renewal letter as to how to contact them.

You have possibly spoken to an adviser on the phone who does not have a clue ( and they may not have the info available)

I can't stress enough that you must find out the reason for the refusal as any future insurer will ask this.

Email, phone, write to them - but don't let them off the hook!

Good luck

I have made a formal complaint and the guy who phoned me from the complaints dept said they have a right to choose who to insure and who not to insure the same way as I have a choice who I want to take out insurance with.

I spent most of yesterday phoning round for quotes and finally got one nearly 3 times more than I usually pay. Funny though, their cheapest quote was from RSA!! obviously I took the next cheapest quote.