We have just purchased our first caravan, a 2005 Compass, and need to get it insured.
Can anyone suggest a good insurance company?
Can anyone suggest a good insurance company?
BEST INSURANCE COMPANIES
- Thread starter Vicky_5078445
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- Mar 14, 2005
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Hi Vicky - please do not be insulted as you have not stated your age - should you be over 50 you will not beat SAGA. I have made a recent claim with them and they have been brilliant. Sorry if I have insulted or aged you in any way. Good luck with your new venture into a very enjoyable hobby.
- Aug 30, 2005
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I'm not over 50 but my husband is, so we'll check them out! THANKS.Hi Vicky - please do not be insulted as you have not stated your age - should you be over 50 you will not beat SAGA. I have made a recent claim with them and they have been brilliant. Sorry if I have insulted or aged you in any way. Good luck with your new venture into a very enjoyable hobby.
Sorry for those who have seen my "bit" on insurance companies before but the question comes up regularly.
Firstly let me say I do not trust them. I am an IFA and I do not like or trust them. I do not seal with "General Insurance" such as House, Car, Pet, Caravan etc. but Assurance and Investments.
However, the most important points to ask about any insurer is:-a) what is its claims paying record like
b) what is its financial strength
c) is it "recommended" (by a well known third party like the CC or a friend who has been treated fairly by them.
Financial Strength is important in that it does not take the brains of an Archbishop to realise that if the company does not have a lot of money, it will not want to pay out on your claim however reasonable the claim is!
Companies are rated by independent firms like Moody's and Standard & Poor's. Get the rating "AAA" is best "CCC" walk away - anything in-between is a value judgement.
Talk to a broker (best to get a recommendation rather than go via Yellow Pages or similar) and ask about the above.
FINALY - DO NOT GO WITH ANY COMPANY THAT ADVERTISES BY A LEAFLET IN A MAGAZINE.
Firstly let me say I do not trust them. I am an IFA and I do not like or trust them. I do not seal with "General Insurance" such as House, Car, Pet, Caravan etc. but Assurance and Investments.
However, the most important points to ask about any insurer is:-a) what is its claims paying record like
b) what is its financial strength
c) is it "recommended" (by a well known third party like the CC or a friend who has been treated fairly by them.
Financial Strength is important in that it does not take the brains of an Archbishop to realise that if the company does not have a lot of money, it will not want to pay out on your claim however reasonable the claim is!
Companies are rated by independent firms like Moody's and Standard & Poor's. Get the rating "AAA" is best "CCC" walk away - anything in-between is a value judgement.
Talk to a broker (best to get a recommendation rather than go via Yellow Pages or similar) and ask about the above.
FINALY - DO NOT GO WITH ANY COMPANY THAT ADVERTISES BY A LEAFLET IN A MAGAZINE.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Hi Ian - may I be free to ask you to ponder on that question for a while. I am sure all will be revealed soon.Now I wonder which company advertises by leaflet!
Hi again - if you want to do some research on the company you are thinking of using do remember that ALL insurance companies are now authorised and regulated by the FSA (Financial Services Agency - NOT Food Standards Agency!) and you can get a lot of info from the FSA website.
Invaluable if you are having difficulty with a claim - just go to www.fsa.gov.uk and have a look round.
Invaluable if you are having difficulty with a claim - just go to www.fsa.gov.uk and have a look round.
- Oct 6, 2005
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We are insured with the 'Reputable 'Caravan Club, and are in the early stages of making our 1st claim. Unfortunatley our van was stolen from my parents driveway 2wks ago. The first 10 seconds into my conversation with the CC insurance dept. was to trick me by asking a leading question " As the caravan was on your parents drive, your alarm would not have been on?" Thank god I said it was, as if the alarm is not on at all times when the van is unoccupied (on site or storage) your insurance is void!! You think these pepole are working to help you, but are actually assuming you are the guilty party and will try to wiggle out of paying. We are also claiming for a Dorema awning but have no receipt (3yrs later) surprise surprise, they dont want to pay for that either. We are still awaiting our claim. i will let you know how i get on.
- Aug 30, 2005
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That's the trouble with insurances companies, they're quick enough to take your premium, but none seem to want to pay out quite so promptly.We are insured with the 'Reputable 'Caravan Club, and are in the early stages of making our 1st claim. Unfortunatley our van was stolen from my parents driveway 2wks ago. The first 10 seconds into my conversation with the CC insurance dept. was to trick me by asking a leading question " As the caravan was on your parents drive, your alarm would not have been on?" Thank god I said it was, as if the alarm is not on at all times when the van is unoccupied (on site or storage) your insurance is void!! You think these pepole are working to help you, but are actually assuming you are the guilty party and will try to wiggle out of paying. We are also claiming for a Dorema awning but have no receipt (3yrs later) surprise surprise, they dont want to pay for that either. We are still awaiting our claim. i will let you know how i get on.
Good luck with the claim!
- Jul 7, 2005
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Hi, Vicky.
Just Insured with National Farmers Union, changed to these after a few years with Saga. As with all Companies Saga were o.k. At first and then the Price increases Started. N.F.U. Allow payment by installments at a reasonable rate, can't advise re standards in the event of a claim but friends report that they are very good. Over the last 29 years I have insured with about every Company, there used to be little difference between any but now Insurance like everything else is very competetive I think it pays to swap about, as new Business tends to receive more favourable Quotes. I originally used a Broker but now find that Shopping around on line gets the best Quotes. Incidentally as a member of both Clubs their Quotes exceeded any others including Saga. I have recently swapped my Car Insurance to Churchill (saving nearly
Just Insured with National Farmers Union, changed to these after a few years with Saga. As with all Companies Saga were o.k. At first and then the Price increases Started. N.F.U. Allow payment by installments at a reasonable rate, can't advise re standards in the event of a claim but friends report that they are very good. Over the last 29 years I have insured with about every Company, there used to be little difference between any but now Insurance like everything else is very competetive I think it pays to swap about, as new Business tends to receive more favourable Quotes. I originally used a Broker but now find that Shopping around on line gets the best Quotes. Incidentally as a member of both Clubs their Quotes exceeded any others including Saga. I have recently swapped my Car Insurance to Churchill (saving nearly
- Mar 14, 2005
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Hi Vicky, had a van stolen so have made a claim. Our insurance is with NFU. Brilliant. The van was stolen on the 4th June, we had our payout and a new van within 5 weeks ready for us to do our annual 3 week trip to France. Friends of ours changed their insurance to the NFU because of the excellent service we received. Our next premium increased but that was due to the new for old cover that we have. We actually increased the insured amount. It went up by about
- Oct 28, 2005
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One of the problems with caravan insurance, like car insurance, is the initial setting up. If you reduce your insurance by stating that it has an alarm, wheel lock and hitch lock etc then if the caravan is stolen and one or any of the above has not eeb carried out then the insurance company will state that you did not take adequate action to protect your property.That's the trouble with insurances companies, they're quick enough to take your premium, but none seem to want to pay out quite so promptly.
Good luck with the claim!
With my caravan and as far as the Insurance Company is concerned, it has basic protection, even though there are other systems fitted.
Although people say that they put the alarm on every time, there is always the possibility to forget, it is so easy.
Rob
G
Guest
I agree with the comment about the Caravan Club being expensive. I have used them for many years in a mistaken belief I was being a loyal member. However, the latest quote for my car was about 100% more than Saga so my loyalty has now ceased.
Aa already mentioned, shop around especially if you have access to the Web. All these Companies are now being outsourced, computerised and so impersonal that we are all just numbers anyway.
Aa already mentioned, shop around especially if you have access to the Web. All these Companies are now being outsourced, computerised and so impersonal that we are all just numbers anyway.
- Oct 6, 2005
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Just a quick update, Received a letter from the Insurance Company today, They have agreed to pay out in FULL for the caravan and all associated equipment, even though we had no receipts. Cant believe it, If we do get another van, I we will be definitely getting another quote from the Caravan Club. cant fault them.
That is really good news Debbie - and does indicate that the CC insurance is as i would expect - pretty good.
However, I would say that getting a payout in full without documentary evidence of what you had by way of reciepts etc is very good indeed.
My advice is to make up a file I use those plastic A4 "pockets" and rather than throw reciepts away just put them in the file.
If you pressent an insurance company with hard evidence - photo's or video evidence is good as well - you give them no room to quibble.
Document everything !
However, I would say that getting a payout in full without documentary evidence of what you had by way of reciepts etc is very good indeed.
My advice is to make up a file I use those plastic A4 "pockets" and rather than throw reciepts away just put them in the file.
If you pressent an insurance company with hard evidence - photo's or video evidence is good as well - you give them no room to quibble.
Document everything !
- Oct 6, 2005
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Thanks for the advice Clive, I will certainly be keeping hold of everything in future. Since my hubby and I took out our mortgage together 8 yrs ago, we built up 8 yrs no claims on both our car and home contents we were so naive on making claims.We just kept the receipts until the 12 month guarantee expired, then threw them out...On reflection, We were VERY lucky indeed... I dont think this happens very much ? Think I'l get in touch with the Guiness Book of Records!! ha ha.That is really good news Debbie - and does indicate that the CC insurance is as i would expect - pretty good.
However, I would say that getting a payout in full without documentary evidence of what you had by way of reciepts etc is very good indeed.
My advice is to make up a file I use those plastic A4 "pockets" and rather than throw reciepts away just put them in the file.
If you pressent an insurance company with hard evidence - photo's or video evidence is good as well - you give them no room to quibble.
Document everything !
G
Guest
Just a small note for clarification.
The Caravan Club does not offer insurance itself, what it does is use a broker called Devitts to obtain quotes from the regular insurance market. Devitts, it should be stated is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland so is in the same stable as Direct Line. As such Devitts will use the Companies which it thinks are the best, or give it the best support, define that comment as you will. For instance they will offer Companies that are regularly slated in the financial press for poor service. I am not saying that this is what you will get by any means, but the market is very much more wide open than it was afew years ago when Devitts were an independent Company specialising in CC business. It is very much a 'check the small print' carefully market.
The Caravan Club does not offer insurance itself, what it does is use a broker called Devitts to obtain quotes from the regular insurance market. Devitts, it should be stated is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland so is in the same stable as Direct Line. As such Devitts will use the Companies which it thinks are the best, or give it the best support, define that comment as you will. For instance they will offer Companies that are regularly slated in the financial press for poor service. I am not saying that this is what you will get by any means, but the market is very much more wide open than it was afew years ago when Devitts were an independent Company specialising in CC business. It is very much a 'check the small print' carefully market.
- Oct 6, 2005
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Yes David you are correct about Devitts. But you insure with Devitt via the Caravan Club, all the paper work is from the CC and they are who we contacted when we made our claim. Devitt in fact, instructed "Ashwick Claims Services" who are loss adjusters to handle our claim, so we actually had no direct dealing with Devitts, and it was on Ashwicks recomendation to settle in full, with just a couple of letters and photos provided by us.It went really easily and very quickly. But thank you David, I stand corrected.Just a small note for clarification.
The Caravan Club does not offer insurance itself, what it does is use a broker called Devitts to obtain quotes from the regular insurance market. Devitts, it should be stated is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland so is in the same stable as Direct Line. As such Devitts will use the Companies which it thinks are the best, or give it the best support, define that comment as you will. For instance they will offer Companies that are regularly slated in the financial press for poor service. I am not saying that this is what you will get by any means, but the market is very much more wide open than it was afew years ago when Devitts were an independent Company specialising in CC business. It is very much a 'check the small print' carefully market.
There are some really worrying messages here but good to see that both CC and NFU seem to pay out. The one writer mentioned questions about her alarm. We have an alarm on our Senator but because we can't set it in storage, local rule, we told the CC that we do not have one and our premium I think is incraesed accordingly. We also have the Alko wheel clamp which Alko say might get us a discount. We are now good at fitting it and recon we can get everything aligned even on levelling ramps so on renewal we'll tell CC that we use it all of the time. Hope we get a discount!!! Another point is photoes. we take inside and outside to help the police identify our van (if it is stolen and let's hope not). One writer says she had to produce photoes for the loss adjustors. Is that right?
Hi Chris
Insurance companies are now aware that some people claim on their insurance for fictitious events. I even had a friend who admitted at a dinnerparty that she poured paint on her stair carpet when she realised it did not go with the new "decor"!
If you get caught it is fraud.
So - be wise - be prepared and DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!
Get a file and shove all your reciepts spent on your 'van in it. Take photographs of its condition - both inside - outside AND underneath and file them. Update them each year.
If you have an accident - document it - get witneses.
I am very pleased to here that those plans recommended by the CC and the NFU of course seem to be reliable and have a good claims paying history. Especially for Debbie whose insurer seems to have been very good indeed.
If you document everything you leave even the most appalling company less room to manouvre and reject your claim.
Cheapest REALLY is not the best.
Ask yourself the question would you prefer to fly with a reputable Airline with a good safety record or would you be happy with an Airline that has a poor safety record because it is 20% cheaper?
You pays your money - you takes your choice!
Insurance companies are now aware that some people claim on their insurance for fictitious events. I even had a friend who admitted at a dinnerparty that she poured paint on her stair carpet when she realised it did not go with the new "decor"!
If you get caught it is fraud.
So - be wise - be prepared and DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!
Get a file and shove all your reciepts spent on your 'van in it. Take photographs of its condition - both inside - outside AND underneath and file them. Update them each year.
If you have an accident - document it - get witneses.
I am very pleased to here that those plans recommended by the CC and the NFU of course seem to be reliable and have a good claims paying history. Especially for Debbie whose insurer seems to have been very good indeed.
If you document everything you leave even the most appalling company less room to manouvre and reject your claim.
Cheapest REALLY is not the best.
Ask yourself the question would you prefer to fly with a reputable Airline with a good safety record or would you be happy with an Airline that has a poor safety record because it is 20% cheaper?
You pays your money - you takes your choice!
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