Date of accident or date claim paid?

NewLibra

Hi

I'm renewing house insurance and the date of the buildings accident was Dec 2013 but the claim wasn't paid until March 2014. So can I say I have over 3 years no claim now or do I have to wait until March!!

TIA

paddyandstumpy

Usually you go by date of loss, what does your renewal say about claim date?

NewLibra

Will it be in the small print somewhere?

This is what is asked
"Have you or anyone currently living with you had any paid claims in the last 3 years?
By ‘paid claim’, we mean any occasion when you've received a payment, had damage repaired or a damaged item repaired or replaced as part of a home insurance claim."

Quentin

That definition does say they count from"any occasion when you've received a payment", so ask them about it and if the answer is the one you want ask them to confirm it in writing.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

That is a bit sneaky and unclear (not the definition this insurer which is clearly intended to be as Quentin said) - I am not sure most people would think so deeply, assuming it was a no if they had has three full policy years without making a claim.

At least one comparison site seem to agree with it being the policy year the claim was made - not the end of any rapid or long drawn out claims settlement period:-
"A no-claims discount gives you money off next year’s household insurance premiums, as a reward for not claiming on your policy over the previous 12 months."

Wonder what the Ombudsman would make if a consumer made an honest answer based on reasonable understanding (not checking the small print) and said insurer used this to decline?

System

Yes, but a "no claims discount" is not quite the same thing as a "no loading penalty" ?
One, you get something off - the other you don't get anything added on.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Yes. But the point is that the question is at best ambiguous / incomplete
"Have you or anyone currently living with you had any paid claims in the last 3 years?
Add the word "calendar" or "policy" and it is clear.

Or if both then "made any claim or received any claim payment".

Otherwise - a recent claim you have made, but has not been settled is not picked up. Yet clearly it is not their intent to ignore recent claims.

All for the want if being clear not cute.

rs65

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

Yes. But the point is that the question is at best ambiguous / incomplete

I would say its quite clear.

Paid claims doesn't include declined claims, uninsured claims, incidents not claimed for.

3 years means 3 years.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

rs65 wrote: »

I would say its quite clear.
Paid claims doesn't include declined claims, uninsured claims, incidents not claimed for.
3 years means 3 years.

So please clarify if
- a claim made 3 years 6 months ago but settled 2 years 11 months ago is relevant
And
- a claim made a month before this renewal but which has not been settled or declined yet is relevant

If it were so obvious, the OP would not have posted.

So you can answer his explicit question too. If you have read it, you will see a simple "3 years is 3 years" does not actually help him achieve certainty without some explanation. He won't know if you get the point he is making or not.