So - Home Insurance - companies to avoid and recommendations?

[lynniep]

We're currently with MoreThan. We had to claim through them in the past and it wasn't the smoothest of events but in the grand scheme of things it was 'ok'. Also do you always pay excess up front? We did.

Anyway, we will need buildings and contents. We are homeowners.

My renewal has come up and obviously I'll be trawling the comparison sites. However I'd like to know if anyone has any horror stories about particular companies, or conversley any heartwarming tales of luvverly customer service, easy claims and wotnot

thanking you.

bump :)

I'm with Nationwide and have found their quote to be the lowest by a long way. Haven't claimed though.

Did claim 10 years ago though when I was with Saga. It went through Norwich Union. It was a nightmare and took nearly two years to settle a claim. Loss adjuster took four days to see severely storm-damaged roof and would not allow us to repair it before his visit as that "would invalidate our claim". The day after he came the rain started lashing down and continued for three weeks. Our home was badly damaged but since loss adjuster had been and "given verdict" they wouldn't pay. Eventually I got £3000 for about £10,000 worth of damage. Saga were useless and just passed us on as they were only agents in spite of their "caring" image. They subtracted the excess from the "award"

We're insured with John Lewis, although it's underwritten and serviced by AXA. When we claimed in Jan the service was pretty good. But, they've stuck an enormous endorsement on our renewal (huge excess) and added a massive price increase so we're moving. AXA have lost the contract with JL so I get the feeling they're not bothered about retaining customers.

A tip for getting a better price... some companies use your decision on how you pay (monthly or annually) as a rating factor so initially always select annual. You can then pick monthly adter they've shown you the price. Another tip is that insurance companies don't always sell the same cover on price comparison sites as on their direct websites. The price comparison insurance may be a cut down version, for example it might only have £20,000 of contents cover where the direct website will have £40,000. Check the cover carefully and go to the direct websites if you need more cover.

thanks

From my experience the NFU Mutual were brilliant when I had to claim. Ecclisiastical were not, though they did cough up when I went to the ombudsman.

NFU for a painless claim. We had all our insurances with them until recently. Forced to move cars as found a huge aaving elsewhere but wouldn't move house or buildings because their service has been brilliant in the past.