Home and contents insurance?

[woofgang]

just got my home insurance renewal from Lloyds...so I did a check around to see if it was good value. Have been meaning to do it for the last few of years but with DH being ill then losing him last year it never got done.
Anyway...M and S will give me slightly better cover for less than half the price of Lloyds. When i phoned Lloyds, they immediately wacked another 30% off but still couldn't get within spitting distance.

So has anyone got any views on M and S insurance please? Also on Axa who actually are the insurers? I want to check that I am actually going to get a bargain before I jump.

Many thanks

[Bazile]

You'll find that for any given insurer/ broker ; that there will be people who will reccomend/not reccomend.

It all depends on personal experience with that insurer/broker .

[woofgang]

I know....that's why i am asking

[gingejbee]

They are one of Which? Recommended Providers for home insurance, fourth after Hiscox, John Lewis and NFU Mutual.
I've just changed to John Lewis - it was a fantastic price for an excellent product.

[woofgang]

oo John Lewis, there's a thought, thanks.

[woofgang]

their quote system (John Lewis) is a real faff compared to M and S

[237SJ]

I think Axa are their own insurers because they are underwriters. As are Hiscox. My late brother in law was a Hiscox underwriter and they are very good. They have only recently branched out into advertising in the household insurance sector. They have always been heavyweights in the marine/airline/commercial world. I think it doesn`t make much difference who you go with as far as underwriters are concerned as most mainstream insurers in this country are safe. I would just go by the best deal you can get which will probably be driven by the buying power of M&S, MoreThan etc.

[gingejbee]

...getting the quote from JLewis was a little time-consuming.. but worth it for the excellent price and also the £50 JLP voucher.

[woofgang]

I am sure they are safe...just wondered what the customer service would be like....mind you marks do tend to be good.

[bednobs]

Just had my renewal - £1200!!!!! i'll also be looking round

[bednobs]

i used to have my car covered by mands - never had to claim tho

[woofgang]

Blimey, my quote was 952 and I thought that was enough.....m and s have come in at 412 for better cover.

[bednobs]

i think it's a combination of things that have DOUBLED my insurance this year - the fact that i live about 100 meters away from a canalized river being one of them

[sherrardk]

We have contents insurance from M & S wich we took out because we wanted travel insurance and it's included inthe contents policy - about £120 for the year with unlimited travel and about £60k contents (also have car insurance with them and AA cover).

[woofgang]

Bed knobs, I have no risk factors beyond the normal, I just reckon Lloyds are getting greedy

[bazwillrun]

The vast majority of people that pay for contents insurance are just throwing money away.
Put the estimated premium money in your bank account and watch it accumulate over the years.

And if you do suffer a loss the chances are for the vast majority of people the amount to replace the loss is far less than the amount saved by not paying for contents insurance over the years.

Its not rocket science, a good friend is fairly senior at a well known big insurance company and many years ago confirmed what I and lots of others must have thought, the public for the most part are like dogs, easily trained and easily led...no surprise there, and easily fall for all the scaremongering ads for contents insurance, which for most peoples is a total waste of time, better to save the money and buy new goods if needed and use the rest for a holiday or whatever.

[hc4361]

I have contents insurance with a high excess to keep the premium down. I would not dream of claiming for anything less than £1500 but I want to be covered if my house burns down or if I am burgled.
My house and contents insurance costs me less than £20 a month.

[wiltsman]

£1,200 house insurance bednobs!

What sort of castle do you live in?

[mrs_overall]

I've given this tip before for insurance but I'll do it again.

If you use a price comparison site and choose your insurance (house, car, whatever) DON'T buy through the site. Ring the insurer direct and they will always beat their own quote on the site

[Bazile]

bazwillrun - with interest rates as low as the sole of one's feet - might be a long time - light years- before the average saver ,makes any money on their deposits

[bednobs]

seriously i live in a 2 bedroomed mid terrace house! £1200 for buildings and contents (and legal cover) I also have accidental damage insurance