House insurance renewal confusion!!!

brummiebabe

Had renewal from Norwich Union Direct today for bulidings and contents insurance. Have been with them for few years but decided I would shop around this year. They quoted £407.12!

Went to Norwich Union Direct website (out of interest) and put in my details. Came back with quote for £256.00!!! Then used my husband's details rather than mine, came back at £224.99!!!!!

Can we apply on-line, even though we're an existing customer? I can't believe the price difference!!!

hansi

I don't see any reason why you can't but ring them first to check. I had always used NU but they quoted me a very high premium on renewal so I did it with halifax online at £100 less. NU rang me yesterday to ask why I had not renewed. Guess what I said?????????????

jem16

I've noticed this with NU as well. I got a quote from confused.com for car insurance and the best quote with NU direct was about £150 less than my renewal quote with NU direct. When I asked CS why, I was told that the cover was slightly different, i.e legal expenses and courtesy car and that it included a multiple policies discount as it recognised I was a customer. However even making it all the same new quote was still cheaper so they amended my renewal.

However I then did a new online quote with NU making sure everything was exactly the same as my renewal details and lo and behold it was cheaper still! Then remembered that NU Rescue meant that I did have multiple policies and spoke to CS again. This time there were no differences for them to argue against and my renewal was matched to the online quote price!

As to your question about accepting the online quote, I've been following posts on the uk cars newsgroup and someone has done exactly what you are suggesting. In fact he's done it for the last few years both with car and home insurance. So save your online quote, speak to CS and if they won't do anything accept your online quote.

brummiebabe

Thanks for the advice - am at work so can't phone at moment (shouldn't be on here either but I am addicted!!!) Will phone later and post tonight re:outcome!!

brummiebabe

Just noticed my 1st star!!! No longer a Newbie!!! :j

brummiebabe

Phoned Norwich Union - v. helpful. Agreed to match internet quote but explained differences between my existing policy and that I'd been quoted for. To keep existing policy (having increased excess to £100) still got it for £302.96 (£327.12 to pay monthly.)

Shall continue to shop around as have some time left before renewal.

jem16

Just make sure the differences they are quoting are accurate and they're not trying to blind you with science..

My buildings and contents insurance is with esure.com and I've found them to be cheapest.

Jeet_2

My home and contents was with egg, but the renewal was about £480, I shopped around and found that esure was the chepeast at about £230. Yes bug difference and I also did it through a cash back site - greasy pam and so got an extra £15.

One thing though I did notice that esures compulsory excess is higher than other insurers, and even with that considered I think it's good value.

Mumstheword

I too got the best price from esure.

When shopping around, make sure you are comparing like with like. It's not as easy to understand as car insurance. You may find that one covers you for accidental damage, the other doesn't (eg if you spill a tin of paint on your brand new carpet, or down the outside wall of your house). It's a bit like the difference between comp and tpf&t.

As I have just said on another thread - Also check how much discount you are getting for having contents and buildings on the same policy. If it's not very much, consider two policies. A claim on your house insurance will knock back your no claims discount. It's better to lose that on only one portion of the premium than on the whole lot in a combined policy. Also, if you have a few claims and the company want to increase your premuim or excesses because of that, seperate policies means it will only affect one side. I would, however, try to keep both policies with the same company. in a fire/theft claim for example, some might be claimed on the contents, some on the buildings. Being with different companies opens that up to arguement and you being fobbed off to contact the other company!

brummiebabe

Got quote from Esure and yes, they're cheaper!! For same level of cover as Norwich Union, they quoted £246.87!! Am still searching though!!!