Company refused/declined Home Insurance cover

Ex_Pioneer

I had been happy for several years with the home insurance cover I had with one company (Company A). However, in 2024 they didn't want to insure me any more because they had stopped covering homes with oil-fired central heating. So, I found another company (Company B) and have used them for the last two years, although the premium seems quite high.

This year I thought I would see if I could get a cheaper quote for the same cover. I decided to ring the original company (Company A) and check if they changed their policy and would now cover oil-fired central heating. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they would. So, I went online to make an application for a quote but the process was terminated fairly early saying that they were unable to provide me with a quotation. No reason was given, so I rang again but the person I spoke to said that they don't know the reasons why the underwriters decline to give quotations - there are several possibilities why. Sometimes it can be nothing to do with the individual but it could be the insurer does not want to cover properties in certain post codes. There appears to be no way I can find out the reason why!

So, I used the MSE Compare+ Tool and found another company (Company C) with a good quote. But my problem now is that on the declaration at the end I have to confirm:
* have not had insurance refused, cancelled or declined

So, given my experience, my questions are:
1) How will I ever be able to get quotes from other companies if I have to declare that one company refused/declined to give me a quote??
2) Is refusing to insure and declining to quote the same thing?
I did see the following distinction but I don't know if it's true:
"a refusal to insure comes if the insurer quotes for you, you accept the quote and the insurer subsequently decides that they don't want to insure you after all".
"Declining to quote is different and virtually everyone has been declined a quote at some point."
Although, if there is a distinction it does not help me with the quote from Company C.

I have had a renewal offer from Company B but the quote from Company C is much better.

Would be very glad to receive any comments/advice.
Thank you in anticipation

dunstonh

How will I ever be able to get quotes from other companies if I have to declare that one company refused/declined to give me a quote??

You dont need to declare that.

Every time someone uses a comparison site, there will be companies at the bottom that do not quote. If you needed to declare a failed quote, then every person would need to declare those comparison site rejections.

Is refusing to insure and declining to quote the same thing?

No.

Ex_Pioneer

Thank you for replying so quickly.

I understand what you mean about using comparison sites. In this case, the company that wouldn't give me a quote was not from using the MSE Compare+ Tool but the original company that I went back to (after they advised me that they now do cover properties with oil-fired central heating).

MyRealNameToo

• 1) You dont have to declare a decline to quote… everyone under 50 who's ever used a price comparison site would have to answer yes were that the case because Saga will always decline the young. A decline is something different that doesnt really exist any more for Home or Motor and related to the pre-digital days where a broker gave you a cover note (effectively a short term certificate) then posted (literally) the documents off and waited a week or two for the insurer to send back the certificate and all the while you've been covered by the cover note. Sometimes they would decline to cover and so the broker would ask you to return the cover note but it would typically be expiring shortly anyway if they can't get hold of you etc.

• The slight exception is that some do ask if your own insurer has ever declined to offer you renewal terms but its a deviation from the standard question and isnt the question you have asked.

2) No

Ex_Pioneer

Many thanks for your comments on this. I haven't come across these issues before, so it's very helpful.