Budget Home Insurance - Nightmare!

Alextaylor_3

I registered a claim with Budget Home insurance in early January 2008, for accidental damage to my hifi speakers.
To cut a long story short, after over 3 months, many phone calls and a visit to my home where everything I own was inventoried as the chap poked around my cupboards etc. they finally paid out in full.
In the meantime, March, the policy came up for renewal. As a result of the poor service and the fact that my premium had doubled I wanted to leave however because they were dragging their heels over the claim nowhere else would give me a quote and Budget stated I could not cancel the policy.
Now it is finalised I rang Budget today to cancel the policy as I have gone back to my old insurer who was very good when it came to customer service. They stated that they still had a note on the account from 8th January which prevented me from cancelling the policy due to an outstanding claim and furthermore when I do cancel it will cost me £35.
The customer services advisor stated that it would take three days to get confirmation of the fact I could cancel the policy from the claims department.
I asked to speak with her line manager but 'no-one was available'.

I am livid at the fact I was forced into renewing with them due to it taking three months to sort out a minor repair (a 30 minute job) and now I'm being punished for this by being charged!

The moral of the story is, if you are happy with the service you get, quite often cheapest is by no means best...

mattymoo

Provided you were up to date with premiums etc then there is nothing to stop you moving insurers at renewal, irrespective of any outstanding claims.

Did they quote any particular term within their policy conditions when they told you that you could not move insurer?