Level Term Assurance Discussion

dunstonh

When you contact the (useless) mortage brokers, they contact NU who then blame the GP for not getting the reports back in time. HELLO? The doctor has a more important job to do and this is just passing the buck. It's the NU's job to shuffle paper, and they appear to spend most of their time sitting on their backsides.

You are unfairly and inaccuratly blaming Norwich Union when it is the GP who is slowing it up. GPs get requests for information from all insurance companies every day and are paid for this by the insurance company. Some GPs are very good and respond quickly. Others take the money and drag their heels in responding. Until the GP gives NU the information, NU cannot do anything with it. Also NU do chase up, usually every 7-10 days, missing documentation. The life protection advisor (or his assistants) will usually chase as well.

Norwich Union underwriting is usually very quick after they get the GP report and I have not yet had one case where Norwich Union can be faulted (with regards to protection). Their application process is simple, the questions asked relevant and issuing of documentation quick.

Had you applied to any other insurance company, the chances are they would have done the same and would be in the same situation as NU are now.

payless

The GP does get paid for doing these reports!

Annabee

Dunstonh - you obviously have some kind of relationship with NU. But I must say I have found them very poor.

The reason I am blaming them rather than the GP is because several times I have rung chasing progress and am told 'we are waiting for the GP's report' and then when I was asked to phone the GP myself (!) his receptionist told me they had only received the request 2 days previously. See what I mean about passing the buck? I know people in offices do this all the time. My point is the doctor's job is to care for his patients efficiently. Norwich Unions's job is to process paperwork efficiently and seems they don't.

There are also long periods when the paperwork seems to be just passed around the NU offices. Do they not have some kind of timeframe? Do they not realise people are waiting anxiously with NO COVER in place?

I really can't imagine that over a QUARTER OF A YEAR is considered an acceptable time to take.

dunstonh

Dunstonh - you obviously have some kind of relationship with NU. But I must say I have found them very poor.

The only relationship I have with NU is that I use them at times to place products as any other IFA would do. I have for more experience of NU than you and there are ample places I could criticise them. However, protection is not generally one of them. If i had any concerns of NU's life protection process, I would not use them. There are a few companies I will not use in that area but NU is not one of them.

The reason I am blaming them rather than the GP is because several times I have rung chasing progress and am told 'we are waiting for the GP's report' and then when I was asked to phone the GP myself (!) his receptionist told me they had only received the request 2 days previously. See what I mean about passing the buck?

NU have an online business tracker and that logs when actions are taken and items are posted. Many times I have heard GP receptionists say they havent got the paperwork or only just got it when they really got a week or so ago. It could be NU, it could be the GP. Without looking at the tracker, neither you or I would know. Perhaps you could ask your life protection advisor to show you the tracker so you can see the dates for yourself.

My point is the doctor's job is to care for his patients efficiently. Norwich Unions's job is to process paperwork efficiently and seems they don't.

You are missing the point that it is the GPs job to respond to NU. The GP is paid a lot of money to spend 5 minutes on a response. Most of the work is carried out by the receptionist. Whether it is NU or any other insurance company, the GP would still get the request.

I really can't imagine that over a QUARTER OF A YEAR is considered an acceptable time to take.

For a case with medical concerns, it can do. Sometimes what the GP says on his first report back can lead to further questions being required. I have a handful of cases that started in quarter 1 which still havent issued because each time the doctor responds with information, it throws up new information that was not passed on at the point of application. On clean medical histories, the vast majority get underwritten on the spot or the first week.

Annabee

Why are you so keen to defend them? Poor little Norwich Union!



You may have a point, but why does it take them weeks and weeks to realise they need to follow something up, pass on to department X, get letter out, etc, etc? WHY? And why do I always have to chase them via the mortgage broker who never ring us?

We were completely honest on the application form and informed them of EVERYTHING possibly relevant.

Of course I can only speak from this one experience of Norwich Union, but this experience has been BAD!!!!

stanmoresaver

I have to agree with dunstonh, and am saying this because I would not like to see the lay-person observing on this site put off using NU.

My office processes 100-120 protection plans p/a, due to premiums NU will get a fair percentage of this. Over the past few years. they have been far better than average- I won't mention those who are really bad.

Nevertheless, when a case has taken too long (NU or otherwise) It is very, very frustrating for all concerned- unless your adviser sat on the file prior to submitting it, I can only think that it is down to the doctors surgury or ongoing medical conditions. I feel sorry for you annabee, but paperwork does not sit around at NU because there is so little of it.

Best of Luck.

loobie

Hi

I am looking to increase the life cover I have at the moment as we are re-mortgaging. We are getting an interest only mortgage of £85000. I know I need level term assurance but I am not sure if I need a policy which INCLUDES critical illness or 2 seperate policies, one for life and one for c.i.

Please advise.

Thanks Lou x

dunstonh

loobie wrote:

Hi

I am looking to increase the life cover I have at the moment as we are re-mortgaging. We are getting an interest only mortgage of £85000. I know I need level term assurance but I am not sure if I need a policy which INCLUDES critical illness or 2 seperate policies, one for life and one for c.i.

Please advise.

Thanks Lou x

It depends.

A standard term assurance with life & CI will pay out once on a claimable event and then cease. So, if you get a CI and claim, it will pay out. If you die 6 months later, it will not pay out again.

Some term assurances will allow CI claims without reducing life cover although the provider range is lower in this situation. If you want maximum cover, then two seperate policies would suffice but you need to decide if thats what you really need. In the case of mortgage protection only, it is unlikely as the mortgage only needs to be paid once so a combined plan should be fine.

westkirby

having payed my mortgage off i still have a policy with legal and general do i just stop the premiums, and if so are there any penalties it has got about 5 years left which amounts to about 500 pounds

dunstonh

westkirby wrote:

having payed my mortgage off i still have a policy with legal and general do i just stop the premiums, and if so are there any penalties it has got about 5 years left which amounts to about 500 pounds

You can stop the premium anytime. No penalties or fees. Just dont die after you do