General Chat

fork out for it? Mine was up for renewal today, and I really coudn't afford it, but seeing the devastation in NY gave me an added push to pay it, it's one of those things that doesn't seem an 'essential' until it actually IS, if you see what I mean.

Wouldn't be without it, Rose.

Too much of a risk to take.

Gwynne

Hi RR,

I know where you are coming from, but last June/July we had severe storms which caused damage to our boundary fence and our automatic garage door.

Both were covered by our Home Insurance, with no questions asked.

It could be argued that with the amount we have spent on premiums over the years the damage bill would have been a doddle to pay.

However, who puts away the amount of the premium each year, just in case?

It would just be swallowed up in paying general bills :-(

Yes we do.

As you say, it may seem that it isn't essential, but the worst could happen. We've claimed for subsidence (broken drain) in the past. Although we didn't see the bill for the investigations, the internal repairs (and redecoration, like for like) came to over £3000 inc VAT and labour

Try caluculating the cost of replacing all your household contents if they were to be destroyed. It can be quite an eye-opener. :-0

A TV programme a while ago highlighted the cost of repairs/rebuilding. Through no fault of their own, 2 houses were gutted by fire. One household had insurance and the home had been rebuilt, the other had forgotten to pay the premium. They'd lost everything and still had a mortgage to pay.

Closer to home, a neighbour's builders discovered a broken waste sewage pipe under the kitchen floor - they were rehoused while it was mended.
A friend of one of the offspring while an minor had a fire at their house. The same thing happened - the insurance initially paid for hotel rooms before finding a property they could move into at the Insurance company's expense. While the repairs and redecoration were being done, they arranged for all the undamaged goods to be cleaned and 'de-smoked'.

We renewed our house insurance this week, we usually just renew with the company we have, but as it had gone up over £200.00 because we had a claim, we looked around, and got better insurance, for £5.00 a month cheaper than last years. When we rang existing company to tell them they were too expensive, they said they would do it cheaper, and the price they sent us, was just a starting point ! Bloomin' cheek, what they were really saying was, if you pay x amount, that's great, but if you query, we'll drop the price, just for that reason alone, I wouldn't use them even if they were cheaper.

Good bit of advice re insurance , if you pay by direct debit, never let it just run, always check other insurance companies rates before renewing You'll mostly find a better deal :-D

Rose all it needs is a burst pipe or a small fire for that insurance to pay for it self.

Last week we tested out our central heating as it was a cold evening, turned off television etc as usual & went off to bed. When I walked into the living room next morning I could smell burning plastic ... the radiator had leaked slightly over the 4 way extension socket. Luckily it was a fused one & other than a very melted socket there was little damage. A stupid thing on our parts for not checking that the socket was well away from the radiator, but could have been far worse.

I did check if there was a better deal Lynda, last time I switched I got a better deal plus £40 of shopping vouchers lol that was a nice 'Christmas bonus' :-D

Oh I got vouchers too Rose, forgot about them, I got £30.00, so that's another £30.00 off as the vouchers are for a favourite store of mine too, so a real bonus :-D

Also just in case anyone is renewing soon , I note there are some hefty discounts if you buy online with a lot of companies :-D

Just not worth not having it is it? Like most insurances you don't know how worth while it is until you need it.

Heard a horrific story last week, a friend of my oh's went on holiday - grandson was left in the house (not a child of course).
When Grandson was at work the power shower water supply tubing split (nobody seems to know why) and the house flooded because it continued to gush water until the grandson, poor fellow, got home.
£80,000 worth of damage. They have had to evacuate the house, insurance company put them in a hotel for two weeks and will now pay for alternative accommodation while the problem is fixed.

Yes well worth the insurance.

Ann, that's awful it is frightening how something 'small' can cause so much damage. Poor grandson having to come home to that and then tell his grandparents :-(

Always Rose wouldn't be without it

With our luck, its defo :-D

Emma

Its an absolute must. If you have a mortgage, then company will insist on adequate cover. If you don't provide it, they will and charge it to your mortgage. I recently added up the cost of replacing everything in the house (new for old) and the amount is staggering. Some new camera/optics gear I bought didn't help, but is now covered.

Andy

Absolutely a must have.

We have full buildings and contents for the house and contents for the apartment. All new for old and covered for accidental damage and legal expenses etc.,

We pay £49.00 per month for very high contents cover as we have items listed individually such as jewellery, paintings and two pieces of furniture. Both areas are not considered high risk thank gawd.

Just add up what is in every room (most finance programmes have this included), it's a real eye opener just to replace bog standard items! Many people are under insured.

Over 40 years of insurance and we have made 5 claims plus one medical legal claim. OH managed to destroy his laptop on Saturday (pic on FB)..lolol so that will be 6 claims.

Please anyone reading do not let the premiums slip or forget to renew.

From my own experience worth every penny.

Ten years ago my home was struck by lightening, hit the TV aerial,it went down the aerial cable , then jumped into the mains electrical circuit caused a power surge which went into every electrical appliance that was connected to the mains, everything was mostly beyond repair, and had to be replaced, the whole house had to be rewired, cables had melted, sockets disintegrated, the list is endless.

Then of course the redecorating etc etc.we had to move out whilst the repairs were done

I reckon it must have cost £40,000

I was out at the time but my neighbour actually saw it strike, and he checked through the windows to see if he could if the place was on fire, i arrived home some ten minutes later i could not believe what i saw, i still shudder to think about it.

The TV aerial was in pieces no bigger than 2 inches, spread everywhere over the garden, still occasionally find bits today

Wouldn't be without cover

also had a burst water pipe during the big freeze 2 years ago.


George

Just a few minutes ago heard that my grandsons claim has the go ahead...what a relief,
A couple of weeks ago he had been at work all day,gone on to lay carpet for his sister who had moved house,went home to watch footie...put chip pan on and fell asleep.Lucky to be alive...also lives across from fire station in the ground floor flat he bought from my mother when she went into a nursing home 9 years ago.
He had it beautifully modernised ,all destroyed,won't be able to live there till about march ,new ceilings walls double glazing etc.amounts to about £40,000...thank goodness he has insurance.
Think it's compulsory if you have a mortgage...is that correct...anyway thank goodness.The most important though is that he wasn't hurt.

WE MADE A CLAIM LAST YEAR WHEN I BROKE THE COOKER,
I ASKED AS WE HAD NEVER CLAIMED WOULD IT
AFFECT OUR NO CLAIM BONUS ,THE MAN SAID NO
WE PAID £150 EXCESS AND GOT £250,,
THIS YEAR OUR RENEWALL CAME THROUGH AND IT HAD GONE UP BY £450,MORE THAN THE CLAIM,
SO MUCH FOR NO CLAIM BONUS

I would never risk being without insurance after our experience. About 20 years ago our house showed signs of subsidence. After 4 or 5 years of monitoring the cracks, the insurance company agreed to underpinning. We had to move into a rented house for 8 months with most of our furniture going into store and our house was practically rebuilt. The cost at that time was over £150,000 and if we hadn't had insurance we would have had to let the house tumble down around our ears.

Now, if I have to, I will go without something else to pay the insurance.

Blooming heck Dizzi, where do you live to cost that much , Buckingham Palace?! :-0

My buildings and contents insurance was due for renewal just before I went on holiday, I got the renewal notice and it was higher than last year. I called them and asked why it was so much higher and what could they do to help as I had been with them a fair few years and had only one small claim when I broke my spectacles. They immediately reduced the amount by £100 as I was a loyal customer. Well worth the phone call.

Would never be without insurance and I get annoyed when I read of house fires or such where people wail that they don't have insurance. If it's a council or housing association property they often offer contents insurance in with the rent payment so no excuse really.

As other say, it's worth it even if it does seem expensive.

Lizx