Solar PV Battery Insurance

Chuck1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998196#Comment_81998196

Cheers - I thought so

Chuck1

Ok, have spoken to Hastings Insurance today and they confirm Solar Panels are fine and considered part of the build and are no issue to include in the current policy.

But, Battery storage is a straight no cover, regardless of where it is sited, either on my wall or the neighbour's. There could be cover for any property damage due to a battery failure etc but "I would have to take it up with the claims dept…" at any time of claim.

Way too open to abuse in my view on that and bonkers that batteries are not covered. Will update as and when as i speak to more insurers as my policy is up at the end of July.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82003188#Comment_82003188

Have you checked the policy book to see where this is stated or asked them to point out where this is stated in it?

Insurer and broker call centres are no different to any others, often staffed with young people with little experience, being paid relatively poorly, not the greatest amount of training and under heavy KPIs. One of the results of this can be urban myths develop… you can't put a caller on hold all the time to find out the answer to a Q that you havent been trained on because then your AHT is shot so people are prone to making a best guess or repeat what they heard someone else saying to a similar question assuming it must be correct. Its not done out of bad will but our service guys got 10 days training which has to cover how to use the system, 101 of insurance, how to use the phone system, rules, role playing, sales strategies, processes etc… they may cover the top 20 questions, which may represent 90% of the questions but with an AHT of probably about 8 minutes that would mean every day you are facing 5+ questions you've not been trained on.

Not saying the agent was wrong, Ive not read the policy book, but I wouldnt take it as gospel until I've read it in the policy book.

Chuck1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82004081#Comment_82004081

Hastings booklet, latest download available from the account page, is from 2024 and makes no mention of the battery or solar separately, except for "Solar Heating System" that is covered. You could argue it is covered, but also they could claim it is not as it is quite vague - it reads like that to me.

I doubt I will stay with them on renewal anyway, and I feel the battery question is a new one for the industry, generally. Will update as and when.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82005896#Comment_82005896

If its vague then in most cases it has to be interpreted by any reasonable way a policyholder does interpret it… basically vagueness generally favours the insured which is why they tend not to be vague

Slinky

From our claims experience with motor, no way would we use Hastings again for anything.