In recent years, there’s been an explosion in the number of insurance products online, with price comparison websites often used by consumers eager for a deal. But a recent Which? investigation, checked policy descriptions of 21 brands on the four leading price comparison websites and found that 60% of policies had a detail in the description which differed from the policy documents. Errors included:
- Stating that a courtesy car was guaranteed
- Claiming that sunroof cover was included
- Providing incorrect information about cover for loss/theft of car keys
- Showing vastly incorrect levels of cover for personal accident
So, consumers are being misled and could unwittingly be left without essential insurance features. If, for example, a customer needs a courtesy car after an accident, in the belief they are covered and are then refused because it’s not in their official policy documents, the insurance company is under no obligation to provide the service. So, the customer could be left out of pocket for something which simply isn’t their fault.
In response to this investigation, the price comparison websites have stated that they are reviewing the way they relay information about the policies to their customers and are working to rectify discrepancies.
So How Should We Be Buying Insurance?
As a company that helps people buy insurance and claim, we were very concerned to read the Which? report. We’ve long been worried at the reliance people place on the comparison websites and, indeed, on using price as the measure of worth of an insurance policy. Insurance is supposed to reassure us that those items we want to protect, will indeed be protected by the policy that we buy, to the extent that the insurer will pay out if we claim.
And why should we as consumers do everything ourselves – purchase a product that’s complicated, uses jargon we might not understand, has conditions that aren’t always clear and in which we need to have confidence that it’ll pay out in a claim?
The good news is that you can call us here at Bennett Christmas.
We’ll check any online insurance policy that you may have found and advise on its suitability for you. Even if you haven’t looked, we can find an appropriate policy for you, based on your exact requirements, leaving no room for error when it comes to obtaining the necessary features of the cover.
We understand the complexities of insurance purchases and how baffling it can be if you’re not well-versed in the jargon. Not to mention the time it takes shopping around. Our customers appreciate the reassuring ‘human touch’, guidance and ease that we bring to the process – and they’re always grateful of our help when they need to claim.
If you’d like to have confidence in the insurance policy that you’re buying, whether for you personally or for your business, call us on 01444 810 088, email us at info@bennettchristmas.com or visit our website at www.bennettchristmas.com.
Read the full Which? report.