There was a recent thread discussing this topic but I simply can't find it. 85 year old mum just received her annual renewal, and I'm simply stunned. Last year was £208, this year they are wanting £419!!  That's almost one full months pension. An increase of over 100%. I have no idea why this can be justified at all. Inflation is now 6% (peaking at 11%). In addition, she has an extra 1 years no claims discount.

On using a price comparison site, I did get a cheaper quote BUT, it's an internet only company, not even offering a phone number. My mum cannot use her bank card online as the bank won't authorise it's usage because she does not own a smartphone! So I need a phone number to call out her card details.

She's hoping she doesn't have much longer to suffer this world, and if I'm honest, wouldn't mind if I'm  not than far behind her...

You could pay with your card, and then either use her card to draw some cash out (assuming she trusts you with the PIN) or she could write you a cheque.  

Not suggesting that's 'right', just offering one possible solution.

Not house insurance but my car insurance quotes have gone up around £300 since last year 😑

15 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

You could pay with your card, and then either use her card to draw some cash out (assuming she trusts you with the PIN) or she could write you a cheque.  

Not suggesting that's 'right', just offering one possible solution.

I knew someone would say that LOL Should have put that in 1st post, you've never met mum before, she's fiercely independent., Wouldn't entertain me doing that, though she does trust me 😂

 

51 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

My mum cannot use her bank card online as the bank won't authorise it's usage because she does not own a smartphone!

Sounds like she needs to change her bank first, then her insurance company!

5 minutes ago, alanfp said:

 

Sounds like she needs to change her bank first, then her insurance company!

That's funny, you mustn't know many old people. She's been with her bank for over 60 years. I did get them to change their policy countrywide last year as they prevented her from opening an ISA as she had no online facilities, and they had stopped accepting 'paper' applications.

After me communicating with the bank CEO, they now will accept 'paper' applications to accommodate those that do not indulge in online activity!

37 minutes ago, Pigeon12 said:

Not house insurance but my car insurance quotes have gone up around £300 since last year 😑

With respect, that statement needs to be qualified with a before/after. If your last year premium was £1000, that represents a 30% increase. If last year it was £200, then that a 150% increase. All relative buddy...

I always shop around for car insurance, cheapest just so i'm legal.

My properties rented so landlord cover buildings, and my bank Nat-west cover my contents Had a renewal letter few months ago, gone up by 7p a month just over £4.00 monthly and thats with a £5000 cover increase.

I cant leave Nat-west as i have a pink zone that they cant cancel, basically an overdraft that cost me £6.00 per charging period plus interest, waaaaay cheaper and easier than getting a loan haha. Currently just shy of £2000 so covers most eventualities.

15 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

That's funny, you mustn't know many old people. She's been with her bank for over 60 years.

Yeah, I was being a bit flippant there! 

I'd not heard of that policy from a traditional bank.

9 minutes ago, alanfp said:

Yeah, I was being a bit flippant there! 

I'd not heard of that policy from a traditional bank.

I thought, to be fair, that most banks these days won't allow a bank card to be used for online purposes if you don't have a smartphone. Some, purely because all their transactions are authorised via their app, but the remainder need a 'mobile' to verify double transaction verification...

Does she have to renew now?

It's not like car insurance that you have to have

Why not wait a few months and see what deals are available then?

 

6 minutes ago, Carl123 said:

Does she have to renew now?

It's not like car insurance that you have to have

Why not wait a few months and see what deals are available then?

 

She has only had home insurance for the last 2 years, for the 20 odd before hand she didn't, but this is my inheritance now LOL 🤣 It's due on 30th this month, but no biggie if it's carried over for a bit...

4 hours ago, StephenFord said:

It's due on 30th this month, but no biggie if it's carried over for a bit...

"Carried over"?  Do you mean "lapsed"?  In which case, what's the worst that could happen - oh yes, this:

https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2022-07-20/donations-flood-in-for-residents-of-street-where-houses-burned-to-ashes

Your choice, of course, but personally I wouldn't risk it even for a day. 

23 minutes ago, alanfp said:

"Carried over"?  Do you mean "lapsed"?  In which case, what's the worst that could happen - oh yes, this:

https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2022-07-20/donations-flood-in-for-residents-of-street-where-houses-burned-to-ashes

Your choice, of course, but personally I wouldn't risk it even for a day. 

Yes, I do mean lapsed, and we all have different tolerances of risk. I know folk that buy 'insurance' when they get a new computer printer LOL Oh, and the whole of Belfast would have to flood before her house was touched... 🤣 Like I said, the house was uninsured for nearly 3 x decades.

Hi.

Please feel free to give us a try for house insurance if you wish.

Regards,

Dan.

4 minutes ago, DAN@ADRIAN FLUX said:

Please feel free to give us a try for house insurance if you wish.

Does the house have to be modified with a 'Straight through chimney' and a K&N air intake ? 🤣

19 minutes ago, DAN@ADRIAN FLUX said:

Hi.

Please feel free to give us a try for house insurance if you wish.

Regards,

Dan.

Just did that, apparently will get an email with a quote in a day or 2!

13 hours ago, StephenFord said:

Just did that, apparently will get an email with a quote in a day or 2!

Seems a bit slow most give a quote within seconds.

Got bored waiting for the 'flux' quote! Even pre internet days, I could phone for an insurance quote and get it immediately, have no idea why after 24 hours I still have nothing from them.

Anyway, I finally got a realistic quote using confused.com, from MBNA. It also allowed me to do an 'annual' one off DD so no need to use her bank card which isn't valid for online use. As a Brucie bonus, I also got to claim a £20 Halfords gift card, so all good...

@DAN@ADRIAN FLUX just thought I'd let you know that after almost 2 x full days, I never did hear back from your company after the initial instant email confirming there was a team of specialists working on it.

With respect, maybe you could feedback to your boss that your current 'quote' system kinda sucks 🤣

On 8/23/2023 at 6:36 PM, StephenFord said:

@DAN@ADRIAN FLUX just thought I'd let you know that after almost 2 x full days, I never did hear back from your company after the initial instant email confirming there was a team of specialists working on it.

With respect, maybe you could feedback to your boss that your current 'quote' system kinda sucks 🤣

Hi.

I'm sorry to hear about the issues you have had. I'd appreciate it if you could PM me your details so I could investigate.

Regards,

Dan.

11 hours ago, DAN@ADRIAN FLUX said:

Hi.

I'm sorry to hear about the issues you have had. I'd appreciate it if you could PM me your details so I could investigate.

Regards,

Dan.

Done...

Big ouch here -

Only comments I would make are -

I've never got competitive quotes on comparison sites, always used the insurers own web site

My insurance is with TSB Pick and Protect, it went up overall by 10%, with the biggest increases on contents (15%) and buildings accidental damage (16%)

My cover costs (Birmingham postode) amount to 165 for buildings, 70 for contents, add £78/£41 respectively for accidental damage on these if you want it. £82 for home emergency cover. Worth a look here and with Direct Line or LV if you haven't already done so and its not too late