Homeserve and Severn Trent Water

thejollyspender

I had a letter from Severn Trent promoting Homeserve's plumbing and drainage insurance. If I take out this offer and I have a plumbing emergency which needs Severn Trent to do something before the Homeserve plumber can do his/her job (eg turning off an external stop tap) would Severn Trent respond more quickly and easily than if I was using my own plumber or another insurer ? Does Homeserve have a closer relationship with Severn Trent (and other water boards) than other insurers or Plumbers ?  Is there any advantage in being insured with them in that respect ?
I just wonder if anyone has some insight into this.
Thanks and best wishes to all.
Iain

LHW99

IMO it is better to put aside the Homeserve insurance costs in a separate account, to be used for emergencies. Severn Trent will deal with any leaks up to the point where the water enters your property (and sewage leaves it, unless there are joint sewers within your property boundary, which get covered).

You are expected to be able to cover repairs within your property boundary. If you are careful not to block drains with a load of fat etc, and keep pipes insulated appropriately, you shouldn't have too much of a problem.

Normal house insurance may also cover certain things within the property.

grumpy_codger

thejollyspender said:

I had a letter from Severn Trent promoting Homeserve's plumbing and drainage insurance.

Makes sense only if you cancel it after the first year or your house is very old with lots of problems.

My house is about 1995, and these letters go straight to the recycling bin. Over 23 years I haven't had any emergencies of this sort and saved more than £4K (in current money). That said, I can turn off my external stop tap myself although I never needed this.

IanManc

thejollyspender said:

I had a letter from Severn Trent promoting Homeserve's plumbing and drainage insurance. If I take out this offer and I have a plumbing emergency which needs Severn Trent to do something before the Homeserve plumber can do his/her job (eg turning off an external stop tap) would Severn Trent respond more quickly and easily than if I was using my own plumber or another insurer ? Does Homeserve have a closer relationship with Severn Trent (and other water boards) than other insurers or Plumbers ?  Is there any advantage in being insured with them in that respect ?
I just wonder if anyone has some insight into this.
Thanks and best wishes to all.
Iain

Anyone can turn off an external stop tap. You don't need Severn Trent to do it. You just need a stop tap key. They cost less than £7 at Toolstation.

Swipe

I took out the £1 per month Homeserve Severn Trent introductory offer just before I arranged for a water meter to be installed just so I'd be covered in the event that a leak in the mains pipe was discovered when it was fitted. But I then cancelled it at renewal when they wanted £12 a month as I host both of my neighbours shared drains so I'd be covered by Severn Trent for any blockages.

Grumpy_chap

thejollyspender said:

would Severn Trent respond more quickly and easily than if I was using my own plumber or another insurer ? 

No              

UncleK

We got this scam/spam and we're with Southern Water. I assume the water companies get some kind of kickback from Homeserve. It's another unnecessary (for the vast majority of people, IMHO) insurance. It's just to frighten people and sometimes works as it has the credibility of the turdmasters water companies.
We asked Southern Water to stop the letters via the MailBxDataProtection@southernwater.co.uk link but we still got letters, so we asked them again plus also copying the name of the person whose name was on the letter and saying our next step was to complain to the Information Commissioner. The letters then stopped.

AlanP_2

Calling it a scam is a bit harsh and cynical compared to real scams where people are being robbed of what can sometimes be significant sums.

You may view it as spam, your choice, but for some people who can't do their own DIY and would prefer to use some kind of vetted plumber that is easy to contact and will turn up quickly when required it is useful.

 

UncleK

Okay, maybe my language is a bit strong but I view taking £165/year off people for the ability to call up a plumber to carry out a very specific repair that is extremely unlikely to be required in the lifetime of their property as fairly close to a scam - in the same bracket as Home Appliance Insurance.

Bigwheels1111

I had this offer with Anglian water at 50p a month many years ago.

For the price I thought it was ok. Never used it.

Then after 12 months they wanted £150 for the year so Bye Bye.

A week later it was offered at 50p again. Yes please.

Then they went to £1 a month but added a £30 excess.

As I had still not claimed I stopped buying it.

HedgehogRulez

Bigwheels1111 said:

I had this offer with Anglian water at 50p a month many years ago.

For the price I thought it was ok. Never used it.

Then after 12 months they wanted £150 for the year so Bye Bye.

A week later it was offered at 50p again. Yes please.

Then they went to £1 a month but added a £30 excess.

As I had still not claimed I stopped buying it.

that's literally the business model - relying on customers apathy not to cancel.