There are several reasons why you might want to cancel your home insurance policy. Maybe you just bought the policy, but have had doubts.
You may be looking for ways to lower the cost of your home insurance. Or you could be selling your house or even moving abroad.
Reading: Do i need to cancel home insurance when selling
From additional charges to cooling-off periods, what do you need to know to cancel your home insurance policy?
Who do I talk to to cancel my home insurance?
It’s your current homeowners insurer you should report first, not a new insurer or your bank or anyone else.
If you cancel the insurance costs of your policy without informing the insurance company, the policy remains active. then the insurer may go after you for arrears.
They may also hold documents, such as your no-claims bonus confirmation, until you make full payment.
A phone call is usually the easiest way to reach them. that might be enough in itself, but sometimes you might be asked to put your decision in writing.
They might also take this opportunity to see if there’s anything they can do to keep their clientele, like offer you a renewal discount.
If you go ahead and cancel, you should be made aware of any fees you may incur for canceling at this point.
Only when you have spoken with your insurance company and canceled your policy should you cancel your direct debit.
why might I cancel my home insurance?
There are several scenarios where you might want to cancel your home insurance.
could be selling and moving. you may have found a cheaper deal elsewhere. You may be fed up with your current insurer’s customer service.
Or, you may just have changed your mind about a policy you recently purchased.
When can I cancel my home insurance?
You can cancel your home insurance policy at any time.
but you should keep in mind that timing can influence whether or not you pay an exit fee, and how much that fee is.
what is a reflection period?
See also: How to get cheap car insurance – Times Money Mentor
If you just bought your insurance policy, canceling it is quite simple.
By law, you have a 14-day home insurance “cooling off” period, during which you can cancel the policy without question or objection.
This period begins on the day your insurance policy becomes effective or you receive your policy documents, whichever is later.
You may not get every cent of your money back, but you should get most of it.
You should be reimbursed for the costs of insurance you’ve already submitted, less a prorated payment to cover the few days the policy was in force.
This may also apply to any additional policies you have taken out at the same time.
Your insurer may charge you an installation fee, which is around £15.
If you are thinking of canceling your contract, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible to avoid exceeding the 14-day limit.
Remember you don’t need to cancel a policy if you only plan to change your details. most insurers can even adjust the cost of your insurance if you move house.
what happens if I cancel my home insurance after the reflection period?
Things get a little more complicated if you cancel your home insurance anytime after the reflection period but before your renewal date.
Most insurers will give you a prorated refund, as long as you haven’t made any claims during the policy year.
then, if you cancel after 6 months, your insurer should pay you back half of your annual costs, less fees.
Administrative fees typically range from £35-£50; you can check your documents to find out how much you can be charged.
If you received a discount on your premiums at the time you purchased the policy, your insurer will likely cancel it. they usually deduct the amount from your refund.
You may be canceling your policy to take advantage of a cheaper home insurance offer elsewhere. but these fees could wipe out your savings.
It may be cheaper and easier to wait until renewal before looking for a better deal.
what to do if you disagree with the cancellation charges
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You can file a complaint with the company if you think the cancellation fees are unfairly high. or if you feel you must cancel due to a possible error on the part of the insurer.
write to the insurer’s customer service. Please provide clear details of your case and explain what happened, when and why you believe you were wrongfully accused.
Even if the rates are set out in the policy booklet, you may be able to challenge them.
Keep track of who you talk to and write to (and use special delivery with any mail you send).
If the company does not address your complaint to your satisfaction, you can take your case to the financial defense service, at no cost to you.
stay protected
It’s important to make sure you have a new policy in place before canceling your old policy.
Otherwise, you will not be covered if your home is stolen, lost, or damaged between policies.
Before you get your new policy, it’s worth checking how much home insurance coverage you need to be fully covered, but not pay above the odds.
Remember, if you have a mortgage, buildings insurance is usually required.
When is the best time to take out my home insurance?
The ideal time to look for a better deal on your home insurance is right before your annual renewal date.
Auto-renew policies may sound simple: they mean you can sit back and let the policy renew without lifting a finger.
You also don’t risk running out of coverage at the end of the 12-month period.
but auto-renew may mean you skip the renewal period. this is when you can cancel your policy for free and without any problem.
If you skip the reflection period, you will be locked into your renewed policy for another year.
If you want to shop around each year for a better deal on your home insurance, make sure you know when to renew your policy.
write the date in your calendar and start looking a couple of weeks before.
Do I lose my no-claims discount if I cancel my home insurance early?
not. but you shouldn’t expect to get another year’s no-claims discount. because for the insurer you did not complete a full year without claiming.
See also: Maryland Insurance License State Requirements | Kaplan Financial Education