Refusal to renew insurance policy

Freggio

Hello, I've recently decided to buy contents insurance after not having cover for a few years. Filling in the forms on the various comparison websites has lead to a problem I was unaware existed.

I'd been a hobby photographer for years and had always had separate camera insurance for my cameras and equipment. I'd been using the same insurance company for 2 years. When the policy was due for renewal I received a letter from them that they could no longer provide cover. I emailed them asking for an explanation and they told me the reason I was refused cover is that the underwriters had decided my job of web designer was now considered too much of a risk.

I now find that when I apply for insurance I'm asked if I've ever been refused cover or a renewal. Thing is I can't find any clear definition of what being 'refused' actually means.

Now my circumstances didn't change. I'd always been a web designer and the company had insured me for 2 years previously under those conditions. I'd never made a claim. Nor had I done anything that would have effected my chances of getting cover or making a claim.

Also I am unable to find a single other insurance company that wont insure me because I am a web designer. I get full quotes no matter what comparison site I use.

So My questions are:

Does the insurance companies 'refusal' to insure me count as a refusal as stated in the application?

If I explain the ridiculous reason for refusal (no other company considers web design much of a risk) mean companies are likely to reconsider?

Many thanks.

Freggio.

nidO

This shouldn't by my (layman's) understanding be something that you need to declare.

Given that they've straight-up told you that the only reason they won't renew your policy is because you have a profession that they simply don't insure, this is a "decline to quote" decision in that you simply don't fit the criteria of the type of customer they want, rather than a "refusal" (which is normally more related to non-payment, a fraudulent application/claim, etc).

ConMan

This isn't too uncommon. The Underwriters have changed their risk acceptance and now will not provide insurance. You don't have to declare it to your new insurers, but to be sure, ask your old insurers.