Your claim experiences & opinions please (Best Home Insurance Company (Building & Contents Cover)

joseph3

Hi Guys, 
I was hoping if you guys could point me in the right direction based on your own experience with claim acceptance and hassle-free service. I am currently looking for a new home insurance company who would offer the above providing that there are reasonable grounds with obvious hard evidence that a claim should be accepted no matter how big or small as long as it's bonded within the policy limits. My problem is, whilst looking at reviews and articles concerning the best home insurance companies I am reading a lot of conflicting opinions and I am at a loss to which home insurance company I should choose for my home. My current home insurance from Halifax declined my home claim for a roof tile which broke and flew off during storm Dennis, in addition to water leaking into the home from rain, even after getting an independent report from a council and which accredited roofer. Halifax still declined on the basis that the winds were not strong enough! The burden of proof was on them as the winds were bad in my area documented on many weather sites. At present, I am currently going through the financial ombudsman to seek for the cost of repairs as I had to repair this out of my pocket to the same roofer. 

I just want a well reputable company who will honour a fair claim without having the wriggle their way out of not paying making things a hassle and without their policy guidelines written in a way that rules out what they state in their inclusions but then dismiss this by unfair exclusion. For instance, we will cover you for theft or attempted theft. But we won't cover you for theft or attempted theft while YOUR HOME is UNOCCUPIED ?? So a person has to be home for a theft to occur and a catch22 for an insurance trap. Its madness, this comes from company NFU mutual. I have provided a screenshot below : 



Can anyone please recommend an insurer, I know all home insurers find ways not to pay out but if anyone could guide me to one who has fair and clear policies written that make sense, in addition to your own claim experience and how they dealt with you please. Thank you all so much. 

comeandgo

Are you sure you have understood unoccupied?  My insurance Regards unoccupied as me being away on holiday for 60 days or more.  It is regarded as occupied on day 59 but not 60. 

davidmcn

As above, the words in block capitals are defined terms. This is what the definitions section says:

TELLIT01

Thankfully had to make very few claims for building or content over the years, but my recent claim for storm damage with Direct Line was handled very efficiently, with the exception of the difficulty getting hold of anybody on the night of the storm.  Payment was in my bank within 72 hours of providing the receipts for payment I made to a local contractor to make temporary repairs.  I included a figure for damage to items for which I had no receipts and that was also paid without any problem.

olgadapolga

I'm with Nationwide and found their claims process to be extremely efficient. All done over the phone and by email, they were proactive in chasing for information when necessary and very quick to pay for the claim.

FlameCloud

joseph3 said:

Hi Guys, 
I was hoping if you guys could point me in the right direction based on your own experience with claim acceptance and hassle-free service. I am currently looking for a new home insurance company who would offer the above providing that there are reasonable grounds with obvious hard evidence that a claim should be accepted no matter how big or small as long as it's bonded within the policy limits. My problem is, whilst looking at reviews and articles concerning the best home insurance companies I am reading a lot of conflicting opinions and I am at a loss to which home insurance company I should choose for my home. My current home insurance from Halifax declined my home claim for a roof tile which broke and flew off during storm Dennis, in addition to water leaking into the home from rain, even after getting an independent report from a council and which accredited roofer. Halifax still declined on the basis that the winds were not strong enough! The burden of proof was on them as the winds were bad in my area documented on many weather sites. At present, I am currently going through the financial ombudsman to seek for the cost of repairs as I had to repair this out of my pocket to the same roofer. 

I just want a well reputable company who will honour a fair claim without having the wriggle their way out of not paying making things a hassle and without their policy guidelines written in a way that rules out what they state in their inclusions but then dismiss this by unfair exclusion. For instance, we will cover you for theft or attempted theft. But we won't cover you for theft or attempted theft while YOUR HOME is UNOCCUPIED ?? So a person has to be home for a theft to occur and a catch22 for an insurance trap. Its madness, this comes from company NFU mutual. I have provided a screenshot below : 



Can anyone please recommend an insurer, I know all home insurers find ways not to pay out but if anyone could guide me to one who has fair and clear policies written that make sense, in addition to your own claim experience and how they dealt with you please. Thank you all so much. 

You would like a policy that is clear and well written, however would that help? The example you mention is where you have not read it to start with and simply, made an assumption. What would stop you from doing it again?

dunstonh

As mentioned, you have misunderstood what unoccupied means despite it being explained in the policy document.

NFU are one the best home insurers available.   They are not a budget provider and have a high-quality claims procedure.