BT overpriced bill for elderly

Robin9

Robin9 wrote: »

Im off to see MIL today to check on some of her bills - she has got confused and cancelled a boiler insurance !

Saw MIL and it seems I've taken my eye of the ball. I thought I had things sorted but not so - utilities and house insurance OK. Got grant for replacement boiler, made insurance claim when she lost a hearing aid (she wouldn't claim £1500 because her premium would go up !)

But !

I had arranged for a BT Homecare400 for MIL a few years ago following a few boiler and household problems. She had a boiler breakdown - would not call out her boiler man on a Friday - he's entitled to his weekend - won't call Monday - busy sorting out his week, taking children to school etc. Result sitting in cold for a week. A second time - do I call out my boiler man or an electrician. And again ....

Took the plunge and took out the BG HC400 - not very MSE in terms of money but for the family peace of mind and saved a lot of running around. Took the excess option to save her carers getting involved with money. BG service was brilliant and came the same day many times

Roll on till this Spring when MIL saw the bottom line of the bill - £555 - and rang them and cancelled without telling me. Dived into this yesterday and found the renewals had been ramping up often by 10% a year.

Took out a new agreement for about £360. Memo self - read all the MIL's post - and at renewal cancel and start again.

PS When I was there filled in the claim form for the Warm Home Discount !

consultant31

brewerdave wrote: »

Good point about insurers - I was appalled to find that my late mother was paying more for her home contents insurance on a one bedroom wardened flat than my TOTAL home insurance (ie house and contents) for a 5 bedroomed detached !!

I recently found out my 89 yr old Mum was paying £400+ for her home and contents insurance.

When I looked at the renewal notice, she was paying for a home valued at £1.5m and contents worth over £1m, when, in fact, her little bungalow is worth about £145000 and her contents not more than £10000, and this was what it was declared as when she started with them about 4 years ago.

Now I know prices are rising but :eek: Best part about it was that she had tried to claim when rain came through the roof and damaged her ceiling - they wouldn't pay out because it was 'an act of God'!

I got her renewal down to £141 with another well known insurer.

It's definitely well worth checking these things every year!

macman

A leaking roof, unless due to storm or impact damage, is down to wear and tear/lack of maintenance, and so would never be covered under standard buildings insurance.

JJ_Egan

Value on a home insurance is usually an UP TO figure .