Home Insurance needs renewing - half way through claim!

matimage

My insurance is due for renewal in a few days. I claimed just before christmas for a broken shower tray which the insurance company have okayed so I am in the process of getting the work done. I have a letter from the underwriters saying they are happy to pay but I need to get the work done before they forward me the cash.
Because of this claim I have lost my 5 years no claims but now my current underwriters are telling me I have to stay with them because the claim is not settled and they want about £240 MORE to insure me this year and they have told me that no one else will insure me!
I have been getting other quotes which seem very competitive but I am now worried if change insurer will this effect my claim or even leave with no insurance?
HELP!

matimage

Now I am really confused! Another insurance company says they are talking rubbish! And that I can go with anyone I want!

matimage

Would really appreciate any advice, getting rather worried abou tthis now.
I am also going to fire off an email to FSA.

matimage

Copy of email sent to FSA:

I am having problems with my house insurance. I am halfway through making a claim which has been approved but the work has not been done yet and as such I have not received the cash.
However, my current house insurance runs out very soon and they want a lot more money to renew the insurance and have told me no one else will insure me while I have a claim that is not settled. I have spoken to another insurance company and they have said they are happy to insure me regardless of the current claim.
Please tell me who is correct. I do not want to be left uninsured and without the payout for the current claim.
Many thanks.

raskazz

Firstly, of course you can change insurer - as long as you have informed the new insurer of the ongoing claim and all other material facts etc when obtaining quotes.

If you switch provider it should not prejudice your ongoing claim in any way as the incident occured whilst you were on cover with your current insurer, as such they are bound to deal with the claim in accordance with the policy terms you agreed to.

If your current insurer told you that you HAD to renew with them they are absolutely incorrect and the advisor who informed you should be hauled over the coals for spouting such garbage.

matimage

Thank you so much, you have helped me put my mind at ease.
I want to report my current insurance company to the FSA for giving me such incorrect (and possibly illegal) advice. Hopefully the FSA will respond to my email (not sure how good they are at replying) and I can take it from there.

matimage

Righto, gonna go ahead with this. Anymore advice before bullet is bitten?

Oscar_The_Grouch

One more piece of advice; Phone your current insurers and ask for their complaints department. Advise them that you want to complain about the incorrect advice given and ask for an e-mail address to send the complaint to.

The FSA will direct you to the Financial Ombudsman Service. They will tell you to register your complaint with your insurers first and then return to them if you have not received a satisfactory response within 8 weeks.

Have fun!!

matimage

Great stuff. I am gonna wait until I get the money before I start the complaints procedure (just in case!) but I am really not happy with them.

matimage

FSA have been in touch and have agreed with all here. They had no right telling me I wouldn't be able to get in surance with anyone else.
I am going to wait for my payout then write a letter of complaint. If it was someone like my mum she wound't have even questioned them! Which I think is very wrong...

raskazz

matimage wrote: »

FSA have been in touch and have agreed with all here. They had no right telling me I wouldn't be able to get in surance with anyone else.
I am going to wait for my payout then write a letter of complaint. If it was someone like my mum she wound't have even questioned them! Which I think is very wrong...

Good stuff. Keep us posted!