If your property is damaged in a storm, will your insurer pay up?
If you make a claim for storm damage, you may find you’re left high and dry if your insurer won’t pay out.
As I write this, rain is lashing against my office window and the winds are pretty relentless, to say the least. So I’m pretty confident it’s a storm. But when it comes to storm damage claims, insurers don’t have any official definition of what counts as a storm. While household insurance will pay for damage caused by a storm, it won’t cover the costs of damage during ‘normal’ rough weather. So what happens if you and your insurer don’t agree?
What do you need to do before you can deal with an insurer on someone else's behalf?
If you have elderly relatives who need some help, how easy is it to deal with their insurer?
A few weeks ago I needed to ring a relative’s insurance company to make a change to her policy. She has osteoporosis and an age-related sight condition (so she can’t read paperwork easily). The only way I would be able to talk to the insurer on her behalf was to make a phone call with my relative in the same room (tricky as we lived hundreds of miles away) or to get her to write a letter, which was difficult because of her poor sight. This got me thinking about how easy – or difficult – insurers make it.
Home security and insurance; how can you keep your home safe?
Your insurer may insist you have certain locks or alarms fitted or you may choose them to get a discount.
Crime may be falling, but police figures show that the number of burglaries is rising. Research also reveals that many burglaries aren't planned, but are carried out by opportunists spotting a property that looks like it will provide little resistance. Figures from the insurance industry show 36% of burglars gain access through an open door or window, but many others are able to force the locks. With a little money and effort you should be able to improve your security and possibly save money on your insurance.
