Home Insurance Discussion

I have similar circumstance in that live in standard semi detached 3 bed house, contents worth no more than 30K and the only item worth more than £1,000 would be wifes engagement ring which was valued a year ago as £3,750.

As has been said before I have to go through the online quote engines then phone up a few to ask how much to get the ring 'specified' on the policy as it is over the usual limit of about £1,500 for an individual item.

I've been looking around and M&S Home Insurance 'premier' gives unlimited cover for both buildings and contents, and covers all individual items up to £4,000 without the need to specify this includes out of the house assuming you pick 'cover away from the home' cover as well. Any experience of customer service - I think the policy is underwritten by AXA?

Also, we have British Gas cover for the boiler so am confused as to whether it is worth paying extra for the Emergency Home Care cover. Again, any experience with this type of 'add-on' - did you find it useful in an 'emergency'?

Hmmm. Makes the choice difficult doesn't it? If a catastrophe happens (eg flood or fire etc) I don't want to have any additional hassles with an insurance company on top of the ones I would have if I needed to move out for example. So i would like a good level of customer service and be happy to pay a bit more for doing so. That would probably lead me in the direction of Hiscox or similar.

On the 'Emergency HomeCare' add-on - has anyone found this valuable at any time?

Silverfox it depends what you want from your Insurance, the posters on MSE from the industry (Including Me) will tell you that Insurance is like any other product in that you normally get what you pay for. The Hiscox Policy is one of the best on the market and is designed for the higher end of the market who have very high expectations from their Insurers. As a result the price is normally more than the rest of the market.

If I was buying home insurance for me and money was no object I would chose any from Chubb, Hiscox, Oak or Home and Legacy.

You may find the following survey helpful, it was made by questioning brokers on their veiws of Insurers. http://www.instimes.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=376295

I was insured last year with Bank of Scotland for buildings & contents - £179 but was promised £50 cashback. Cheque arrived but only for £25. OH made several phone calls and visits to local branch-each time having to explain the situation to different people - but he's like a dog with a bone and won't give up! So we eventually got another £25 even although they insisted we should only have had £25, making the total for the insurance £129.

Decided to have a search after our renewal came in saying they were freezing the insurance premium for this year at the £179.

Best quote was Swinton at £138, including a 20% online discount and promised £30 cashback by cheque - plus, obviously, did it through cashback site- my favourite - Topcashback and got another £30 cashback which tracked in under 2 hours.

So total £78 saving £100. This is for a flat, re-build cost £500,000 and £50,000 contents.

ellemm wrote: »

I was insured last year with Bank of Scotland for buildings & contents - £179 but was promised £50 cashback. Cheque arrived but only for £25. OH made several phone calls and visits to local branch-each time having to explain the situation to different people - but he's like a dog with a bone and won't give up! So we eventually got another £25 even although they insisted we should only have had £25, making the total for the insurance £129.

Decided to have a search after our renewal came in saying they were freezing the insurance premium for this year at the £179.

Best quote was Swinton at £138, including a 20% online discount and promised £30 cashback by cheque - plus, obviously, did it through cashback site- my favourite - Topcashback and got another £30 cashback which tracked in under 2 hours.

So total £78 saving £100. This is for a flat, re-build cost £500,000 and £50,000 contents.

Sounds like Swintons have quoted you on the MMA Profile policy, MMA (Who own Swintons) are not the greatest Insurer. If it was me I would have paid the extra for the BOS policy.