Please help me get my mum a fair home insurance?

zuliano

HI, OK the thing is my mum has dementia and I am trying to manage her affairs, but am also finding it a struggle because of lack of know-how about all this stuff etc. So I would really appreciate the support from here to get my elderly mum a good deal.

I got a leaflet attached to TV guide from Age UK offering cheaper home and car insurance.
For now I have been concentrating on home insurance

From looking at latest bank statement of my mum's account, Prudential home insurance--which is on direct debit--are taking out £21 44. Now I am not sure, yet, if that is taken out every month? But according to the person I spoke to at Age UK it most likely is, and that seems very expensive. I think my mum has been with Prudential for many years.

So, I have just got a quote from Age UK for home insurance and this is it:

My mum's home is a private rented building so there is no point including insurance for building as that is the landlord's responsibility:

So, CONTENTS: £60, 000 + £10, 000 for personal valuables, + accident or damage to contents

EXCESS: I have chosen--for the quote- the standard £45:00 , but was told the more excess paid the lower the premium. So I would welcome advice about this please?

So the QUOTE is £95: 79.
First payment is £19:19 and then monthly £7.66

So what do you think?

This is valid for 60 days, and I have been given a reference number

agrinnall

It's not really any different to you choosing your own home insurance, Age UK have had some stick for their insurance products. I'd just follow the usual process of using comparison sites and checking insurers that don't use them then select the best compromise of price and cover for your mum's needs.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/home-insurance

Do you already have Power of Attorney so that you can effectively manage your mum's affairs? If you don't it would make life easier but if she has dementia and doesn't have capacity then it's a more complicated and expensive process to get it.

https://www.lastingpowerofattorney.service.gov.uk/home

https://www.gov.uk/make-decisions-for-someone

missbiggles1

zuliano wrote: »

HI, OK the thing is my mum has dementia and I am trying to manage her affairs, but am also finding it a struggle because of lack of know-how about all this stuff etc. So I would really appreciate the support from here to get my elderly mum a good deal.

I got a leaflet attached to TV guide from Age UK offering cheaper home and car insurance.
For now I have been concentrating on home insurance

From looking at latest bank statement of my mum's account, Prudential home insurance--which is on direct debit--are taking out £21 44. Now I am not sure, yet, if that is taken out every month? But according to the person I spoke to at Age UK it most likely is, and that seems very expensive. I think my mum has been with Prudential for many years.

So, I have just got a quote from Age UK for home insurance and this is it:

My mum's home is a private rented building so there is no point including insurance for building as that is the landlord's responsibility:

So, CONTENTS: £60, 000 + £10, 000 for personal valuables, + accident or damage to contents

EXCESS: I have chosen--for the quote- the standard £45:00 , but was told the more excess paid the lower the premium. So I would welcome advice about this please?

So the QUOTE is £95: 79.
First payment is £19:19 and then monthly £7.66

So what do you think?

This is valid for 60 days, and I have been given a reference number

Are the two policies strictly comparable or does one replace items on a new for old basis and the other not?

zuliano

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Are the two policies strictly comparable or does one replace items on a new for old basis and the other not?

Sorry, I do not know what you are asking me..

All I know is, you phone the age UK freephone number, they ask questions and then give a quite regarding what you have answered like the quote above

zuliano

agrinnall wrote: »

It's not really any different to you choosing your own home insurance, Age UK have had some stick for their insurance products. I'd just follow the usual process of using comparison sites and checking insurers that don't use them then select the best compromise of price and cover for your mum's needs.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/home-insurance

Do you already have Power of Attorney so that you can effectively manage your mum's affairs? If you don't it would make life easier but if she has dementia and doesn't have capacity then it's a more complicated and expensive process to get it.

https://www.lastingpowerofattorney.service.gov.uk/home

https://www.gov.uk/make-decisions-for-someone

what stick have they had, and what is wrong with this quote?

missbiggles1

zuliano wrote: »

Sorry, I do not know what you are asking me..

All I know is, you phone the age UK freephone number, they ask questions and then give a quite regarding what you have answered like the quote above

If your home goes up in flames, some policies will pay out for new goods, even if the destroyed ones were old - other policies will pay out the actual value of the goods that were destroyed. The first sort of policy is better but more expensive, naturally.

I'd be careful of arranging somebody's insurance based only on cost as there are other aspects to be taken into consideration, some of them more important than simply saving a few quid. You'll find the CAB offer a straightforward introduction to the subject.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/insurance/types-of-insurance/household-contents-insurance/

zuliano

I am struggling to understand the lingo etc. This may well be easy for those experienced in this matter, but for me I am often not understanding what needs to be done

I have however just completed two compare site. Up to now two of the three MSE recommends. First one 'confused.com seems to be going to send it me at a future date, unless i did something wrong?

Comparethemarket has as top one a Littlewoods quote of £41:30

Provider

Annual
Price
Monthly
Price Cover
Amount
Excesses Contents
Cover Legal
ProtectionHome
Emergency
CoverNew
for OldFreezer
CoverMoney
CoverCredit Card Cover i
Features Explained

£41.30 Deposit £4.20
10 x £4.05
Total:£44.70
Cover
Amount £40,000 Voluntary
Excess £250 Compulsory
Excess £100 Total
Excess £350 Add from £18.00 Not Available Included Included Not Available Not Available

It doesn't copy as it is, sorry about that. I am wondering if it is best I try one on one with a CAB advisor about this? I just do not want to make a mistake for my mum--which of course affects me as I live here also. OR do you think that I can do it just looking at compare sites? Thing is certain aspects confuse me!

zuliano

The first one on list with all boxes ticked is Swiftcover -£51:88

dacouch

Do not increase the excess on a premium of that low, the discount you receive is not worth the extra excess.

Do not use Swiftcover.

Check you mother has no previous claims, it's very important that if she has any that you declare them to the new Insurer.

Be aware that most Insurers will be including a new customer discount, so their premiums are likely to increase a little next year

DCFC79

zuliano wrote: »

what stick have they had, and what is wrong with this quote?

Age UK were in the news for selling policies that were shall we say expensive.

missbiggles1

zuliano wrote: »

I am struggling to understand the lingo etc. This may well be easy for those experienced in this matter, but for me I am often not understanding what needs to be done

I have however just completed two compare site. Up to now two of the three MSE recommends. First one 'confused.com seems to be going to send it me at a future date, unless i did something wrong?

Comparethemarket has as top one a Littlewoods quote of £41:30

Provider

Annual
Price
Monthly
Price Cover
Amount
Excesses Contents
Cover Legal
ProtectionHome
Emergency
CoverNew
for OldFreezer
CoverMoney
CoverCredit Card Cover i
Features Explained

£41.30 Deposit £4.20
10 x £4.05
Total:£44.70
Cover
Amount £40,000 Voluntary
Excess £250 Compulsory
Excess £100 Total
Excess £350 Add from £18.00 Not Available Included Included Not Available Not Available

It doesn't copy as it is, sorry about that. I am wondering if it is best I try one on one with a CAB advisor about this? I just do not want to make a mistake for my mum--which of course affects me as I live here also. OR do you think that I can do it just looking at compare sites? Thing is certain aspects confuse me!

That's why I suggested reading the CAB guide before rushing in to comparison sites - it's simply written and explains the basic concepts.