Change insurance company during a claim?

Nomagicflute · 2023-12-29T11:34:41+00:00

Hi everyone, We have a claim on our house. Bit of an odd one. It's for subsidence of a conservatory. We're not in a subsidence area and the house is fine but the conservatory was poorly built before we moved in. Fortunately our insurance company are rebuilding it. They just sent the schedule of works but havent started. Its taken 1.5 years since my claim. However they've quoted me £1000 more for renewing insurance because I have this ongoing claim. Looking at comparison sites I think I can save £600. Is it worth pursuing? Would it be OK to switch insurer?

DelurkingAJ · 29/12/2023 11:36

How have you declared the current claim? It is difficult for another insurer to price you until the final cost is known. I suspect you may come unstuck with that but maybe not?

notafraidofthebigbadwolf · 29/12/2023 11:41

I think you are safer to stay put for now. I don't think you can get accurate quotes from a comparison site for now anyway, with your ongoing claim.

TizerorFizz · 29/12/2023 11:42

Subsidence for a conservatory is unlikely. Has the claim been agreed and have tried pits been dug? How is subsidence to be verified? If it’s a cheap conservatory are they really going to agree its subsidence if it’s shoddy workmanship? If you are in the middle of a claim you have to declare this to a new insurer. They won’t take over a subsidence claim. You need to agree a way forward with your current insurer.

NewHouseNewMe · 29/12/2023 11:43

You won’t get the good deals while the current claim is outstanding and possibly for years later. Think of premiums as having a “no claims bonus” that gets wiped clean when there is a claim. I’d stay with your current provider until all the work is done at least.

GeneCity · 29/12/2023 11:52

I think you change companies, as long as you're up front about where you are at the moment. So, you'll probably need to speak to someone in person at both companies I guess.

Original poster

Nomagicflute · 29/12/2023 11:53

TizerorFizz · 29/12/2023 11:42

Subsidence for a conservatory is unlikely. Has the claim been agreed and have tried pits been dug? How is subsidence to be verified? If it’s a cheap conservatory are they really going to agree its subsidence if it’s shoddy workmanship? If you are in the middle of a claim you have to declare this to a new insurer. They won’t take over a subsidence claim. You need to agree a way forward with your current insurer.

No they have agreed it. The insurance company sent me a schedule of works.

Probably I'm not explaining it well. It's more like a room than a conservatory.

Of course I'd declare it. I just wonder if its worth properly getting quotes etc... the hassle of that or not.

OP posts:

Twiglets1 · 29/12/2023 11:56

I wouldn’t bother getting new quotes while in the middle of remedial work. I would stick with the existing insurer but pay monthly and cancel the contract once the work is completed & switch to a different insurer.

mrsbyers · 29/12/2023 11:58

Check thoroughly any renewal quotes for current insurer and it’s likely they will increase premium and also ramp up excess for any future claims - they could also exclude that type of cover from any renewal

TizerorFizz · 29/12/2023 12:38

You would have to declare a claim. I would stay where you are for now. See the claim through.

Original poster

Nomagicflute · 29/12/2023 12:44

Thanks everyone. I think I'll stick for now and consider new quotes after the work is finished. Frustrating it is taking so long but at least they're covering it.

OP posts:

TizerorFizz · 29/12/2023 12:47

To be fair, you are getting your money’s worth! Most insurance goes up after a claim. It’s how it works.

rwalker · 29/12/2023 12:59

Not to do with a claim I changed car insurance then 3 days later they contacted me for further details as they were reviewing it and had the right to cancel and refund

Twiglets1 · 29/12/2023 13:44

TizerorFizz · 29/12/2023 12:47

To be fair, you are getting your money’s worth! Most insurance goes up after a claim. It’s how it works.

You say that but our car insurance renewal quote doubled after we made a claim last year.

We just switched to a different company and got a good rate again, similar to the previous year and yes, we declared the incident.

So I would switch insurers if I was in OPs position - just not until the work had been completed.

TizerorFizz · 29/12/2023 15:24

I meant that if the insurance company is paying out thousands, then trying to save a few hundred isn’t worth it right now. Car insurance isn’t buildings insurance. However once the work has been completed you can shop around.

Ariela · 29/12/2023 18:12

You could still get quotes - and then put to your insurance co why is x company £600 cheaper, y company £500 cheaper and I declared the claim? Can they do any better? And see if they budge.

GeneCity · 29/12/2023 20:15

I don't really understand why people are saying they'd stay. It's a completely separate transaction - it shouldn't affect how the current company deals with the current claim, and there's no point spending £600 more just to stay with the same company for no real reason.

Twiglets1 · 29/12/2023 20:49

GeneCity · 29/12/2023 20:15

I don't really understand why people are saying they'd stay. It's a completely separate transaction - it shouldn't affect how the current company deals with the current claim, and there's no point spending £600 more just to stay with the same company for no real reason.

I would worry about the level of customer service I would receive if I was no longer a customer.