UK Insurance company's that don't go back over 5 years? 29 June 2022 at 10:26PM in Insurance & life assurance 9 replies 243 views

shanew4874

Hi, all, Just over 5 years ago I had my home insurance cancelled, now looking to get insured with a company that doesn't go back over 5 years so in theory I can now start getting reasonable quotes, I've read that with some insurance companys you have to declare if you have ever had a policy refused or cancelled within the last 5 years and some it's 10 years and some I'm guessing forever? 

Has anyone managed to find a company that is reasonably priced that doesn't feel the need to go back over 5 years? 

Thanks

TELLIT01

Many insurers ask if you have made a claim in the last 5 years, but I would expect most reputable insurers to want to know if you have ever had insurance cancelled.  That will be purely on the basis of higher risk to them.

dunstonh

Was the cancellation due to you doing something wrong (e.g. telling lies on an application) or was it due to changes that the insurer would not cover?   

The reason the insurer withdraws cover is more important than the act itself.

shanew4874

dunstonh said:

Was the cancellation due to you doing something wrong (e.g. telling lies on an application) or was it due to changes that the insurer would not cover?   

The reason the insurer withdraws cover is more important than the act itself.

Basically an elderly member of the family renewed the policy and forget about two claims (that totalled £90) that we had made 7 years previously at a different house so the insurance company cancelled (he wrote to them explaining that it was a genuine oversight on his part and he wasn't trying to hide anything as obviously they were such small claims that it logically wouldn't be worth getting cancelled as of course it would have increased the price the next year but it certainly wouldn't have been anywhere near the increase from around £70 per year to the over £400 per year increase we have had to endure for the last 5 years!) the policy on that basis, was over 5 years ago now and no claims since then so hoping to start getting more reasonable quotes now!

rigolith

You could have challenged it at the time, but it's too late now.

If it was a family member then can't you have someone else get insurance instead? Only that family member has had a policy cancelled.

shanew4874

rigolith said:

You could have challenged it at the time, but it's too late now.

If it was a family member then can't you have someone else get insurance instead? Only that family member has had a policy cancelled.

My understanding is that it impacts everyone within that household moving forward? as insurance companys always ask "have you, or anyone in your household had a policy cancelled within the last (5/10/ever?) years?"  

shanew4874

rigolith said:

You could have challenged it at the time, but it's too late now.

If it was a family member then can't you have someone else get insurance instead? Only that family member has had a policy cancelled.

It was challenged at the time, like I say, he wrote to the company explaining that it was simply an oversight on his behalf rather than anything nefarious but clearly they weren't interested in taking any sort of nuanced view, this seems like the last area where a whole household can be punished for potentially the rest of their lives without any oversight or even an outright lie (not an intentional lie in this case but of course I imagine that some people do try it on where there is big money involved) even people convicted of some shocking crimes eventually have their convictions "spent" don't they so how can it be fair that in this area a genuine oversight can potentially follow you around so you have to pay 3./4/5 X the standard price for years and years potentially, it's been 13 years now since the original two claims and 5 years of punishment which I think is enough!     

rigolith

Did you make an official complaint and escalate it to the FOS?

You could try starting a complaint now. They can only say no.

A broker might be able to help too.

shanew4874

rigolith said:

Did you make an official complaint and escalate it to the FOS?

You could try starting a complaint now. They can only say no.

A broker might be able to help too.

No, didn't make an official complaint at the time as just accepted their decision which to be fair was their right but seemed very harsh when everything is taken into account!

rigolith

It might not be their right, there are rules. If it was a genuine mistake and wouldn't have resulted in them denying insurance then you would have had a good chance.

Try it, you have nothing to lose.