... We are insured via St Andrews Insurance PLC who is actually also Halifax. They sent someone to assess the extend of damage and on concluding this arranged to send someone to take samples of the Artex on the ceiling as some ceiling textures used asbestos. When the results came back they were ... Read review
Advantages: None Disadvantages: Will not pay for water damage full stop!
...another similar claim where the Halifax had denied a claim on the same basis. That incidence involved the 120mph Tornado that ripped through Birmingham a few short months ago. We all remember seeing the video footage of the Tornado that ripped through a few streets in Birmingham then disappeared. Clearly this method of using the MET is a way that the Halifax is able to avoid paying claims. On one hand accepting that localised extreme weather conditions ... ...today is Friday and the Halifax has called to say that because they class the water damage to be ultimately caused by wear and tear they are denying the Whole claim. That means the £1500 or so for removal of asbestos, repair to roof and floor damage are all being denied.
It appears the Halifax's aim is to deny all claims on the basis of the MET Office being unable to provide data to either prove or disprove localised freak weather ... more
On returning from our family holiday we were greeted by a neighbour that was looking after our home. She informed us that there were extreme weather conditions and we had suffered a leak to our bay window flat roof. Our neighbour to her credit had minimised much surrounding damage as she could. Nevertheless the laminate flooring was damage and the ceiling had sagged considerably as a result of the rainwater. We are insured via St Andrews Insurance PLC who is actually also Halifax. They sent someone to assess the extend of damage and on concluding this arranged to send someone to take samples of the Artex on the ceiling as some ceiling textures used asbestos. When the results came back they were found to be positive. There was a period of silence for about a week or more and when I contacted them to find out how the claim was progressing I was informed that the claim had been denied as the damage was as a result of wear and tear and that the MET office had no record of 40mph winds or excessive rain fall of over 50mm. They suggested that I contact the local newspaper group who may have some record of the extreme weather that took place .
During this time I obtained statements from two neighbours detailing what the prevailing weather conditions were at the time and forwarded them to the claims department.
I contacted the Newshopper newspaper group in SE London and spoke to a reporter that collated the information and proceeded to write an article. We also found evidence on the Internet of another similar claim where the Halifax had denied a claim on the same basis. That incidence involved the 120mph Tornado that ripped through Birmingham a few short months ago. We all remember seeing the video footage of the Tornado that ripped through a few streets in Birmingham then disappeared. Clearly this method of using the MET is a way that the Halifax is able to avoid paying claims. On one hand accepting that localised extreme weather conditions happen they are extremely hard to prove unless you happen to have weather equipment in the back garden or video footage that has had national viewing coverage and is likely to cause severe embarrassment to the insurer should they stick to the small print. Yesterday, being Thursday I received a call from Paymentshield the people the policy was set up via whom I have always found to be administratively superb in the past. They confirmed that the external roof damage remained denied but the internal repairs were to go-ahead and that I would be contacted with a view to arrange the process of repairs i.e. asbestos removal and floor repair and general make good repairs. Well today is Friday and the Halifax has called to say that because they class the water damage to be ultimately caused by wear and tear they are denying the Whole claim. That means the £1500 or so for removal of asbestos, repair to roof and floor damage are all being denied.
It appears the Halifax's aim is to deny all claims on the basis of the MET Office being unable to provide data to either prove or disprove localised freak weather claims. With localised weather conditions likely to worsen as a result of global warming perhaps this is one insurer, in whatever guise it uses to steer well clear of.
Today is the 29th of October and I have just received a report from a company called Weathernet (cost £41.12). They confirm in the report that not only were there gale force gust recorded of up to 43 mph but a wide area of the SE suffered what is classed as Significant Weather i.e. Thunderstorms. A house in Romford was even struck by Lightning.
I found Mr Chris Johnson at the Newshopper to be very keen to get the story out there and has insisted that he be kept inform and even promised a follow up article.
07/11/2005. The latest update to the saga is that they will now cover the claim except the external damage. Despite supplying the Weathernet report with proof of the adverse weather conditions, I had a Halifax employee arguing with me that the gale force winds were not recorded in my road. Ye gods! Just stay away from the Halifax if you live on a windy, rainy Island that suffers from the occasional tornado.
Advantages: cheap, lightening fast turnaround, excellent customer service Disadvantages: None
I have only had Halifax home contents insurance for 8 months and I took it out because they were offering the best deal at the time. I pay £180 per year and that includes accidental damage, personal belongings while away from the home and with a £50 excess. I spilt something on my antiquated computer the other day and gave them a call. I made the phone call on Wednesday evening and received a phone call on Thursday morning as promised by the people ... ...in short, I would highly recommend Halifax Home Contents Insurance. The price is excellent, they were quick to answer the phone, had excellent customer service, produced a lightening fast turnaround (lets be honest I thought it would take anywhere up to a month!) and most importantly, they trusted me. ...
tiffandstevie 03.11.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax Home Insurance
Advantages: supposedly comprehensive cover Disadvantages: too expensive for existing customers
...insurance has been with the Halifax for many years and even though I shopped around, it always came out well for price and unlimited contents cover. This year, however, the renewal was £930. Comparison websites produced several cheaper quotes but the only one that was directly comparable was M & S at £600. As the Halifax were also offering to beat your quote and freeze for 3 years I tried their website but was unable to get a quote online because ... ...I went into my local Halifax and showed them the details, the chap was as staggered as I was. So he phoned a Halifax insurance expert who took all my details again and offered a quote of £970!!!!!!!! I politely declined the new quote, which could have been frozen for 3 years!! I switched to M & S and saved around £300. Several years ago the Halifax lost my mortgage business as their rates were not competitive for existing customers. So yet again ...
walterdeco 21.10.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax Home Insurance
Advantages: Good competitive quote Disadvantages: tell you that you are covered for everything until you try and claim
...for buildings and contents with Halifax when we had our mortgage with them last October. They advised us it would help with our mortgage application if we had a complete package with them i.e payment protection,house insurance, life insurance, so we did. The premiums wasn't too bad in price so we didn't think anything of it. I did however read all the small print and check with the advisor what we was and wasn't covered for.
On Feb 1st 2004 we awoke ... .... I rang up Halifax to make the claim who tried to say we were not covered for the roof but we was covered for the internal damage. I asked for them to send an advisor round to my house and highlight on my policy where it says we aren't covered, she then changed her mind and agreed to send round a building surveyor. He came round 3 days later with his clipboard and stood in the front garden and looked up wrote a few notes and then went away. He never ...
melissa250 27.02.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax Home Insurance
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Quick review of Halifax Home Insurance
Don't use Halifax! It took them 11 months to repair the damage caused by vandals before I moved in so couldn't unpack and didn't settle - moving house now because of this. No customer service and they let their insurance person file their report 3 months late, despite my ringing weekly to find out what was happening. Please don't sign with them - they are the worst insurance company around. They only repaired the house after I reported them to a TV consumer produuction company, Which and The Guardian - by then, I'd been waiting 10 months. THEN they took the men off the job three times to sort out 'more urgent' cases - insult to injury. Never again! ...
TIredout 20.11.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax Home Insurance
...2 years iv been with halifax as there prices have been the cheapest for the most cover.
I can honestly say that there service is first class, any time iv had to call iv been answered quickly and the staff have always been polite and helpful. I am covered for unlimited contents and building, accidental damage (i need this with 2 kids running around lol) belongings away from home, legal help and 24 hour call out all for the great price of 420 pounds ... ...and found the leak and fixed it. The inspector came out and assessed the damage in my kitchen, got a call today saying my claim is successfully and to go ahead and get some quotes.
So in my opinion i think the halifax building and contents insurance is great. ...
SHELLY78 07.10.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax Home Insurance
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Advantages: That you get all the benefits as well as still earning 6% interest Disadvantages: The monthly fee, though not extortionate compared to similar accounts elsewhere.
There is an account available through the Halifax now which is available to new AND existing current account customer's which comes with a bucket load of extras AND an extremely competitive interest rate of 6%!! Yes there is a monthly fee of £10, however the benefits one can receive amount to approximately £800 a year. Worldwide Annual Multi Trip Travel Insurance for the whole family, RAC Breakdown cover, Mobile Phone Insurance, Home Emergency Cover to name but a few of the brilliant benefits available, as well as discounts on Halifaxhome and car insurance, extra interest on your savings and bonus payments when taking out a Halifax loan or mortgage also available. As an existing current account customer I was pleased to find that I could upgrade very easily to this account with no changing or account details. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Halifax Accounts
Advantages: 24 hour Customer Services Disadvantages: Mortgage dealings must be done during the normal working day - difficult if you cannot access a phone during the day
I have only dealt with the Halifax for the last four years and since then have had a lot of dealings with them. For instance Car Insurance, Home and Contents Insurance, Savings account for my daughter, Mortgage etc. I have had a few problems with them hence moving the home and contents insurance and car insurance and had recently found out that our mortgage was incoorectly calculated over the last 20 months (since we moved).
I contacted the Borrowers Dept in Chester and found the staff very helpful and honest. They did agree and held their hands up that they had made a mistake but I soon agreed that it wasn't solely their mistake but our advisors mistake.
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sharondyer 09.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax
Advantages: Saves u looooots of £££!! Disadvantages: £10 monthly fee...which can be overlooked by benefits
with my friend so the £10 fee is split between us giving us both the benefits for £5 each!!
This account has definately got to be one of the best going around right now!
OK..UPDATE!! due to a comment received I have decided to update this review...
The interest rate on balances upto £2500 is 6.17%A.E.R...and an extra 1% on to a Halifax regular saver account...which makes it over 5% interest.
Benefits wise you're getting: RAC breakdown cover, Travel Insurance, Home Emergency Cover, Mobile Phone insurance, £50 cashback on any HBoS loan or mortgage, 10% discount on new car insurance, 15% discount on new Buildings and Contents Insurance, Cardcare---protecting ALL your cards in your wallet (this costs £20 to buy ALONE) and...I dont have my booklet to hand but how does that sound!?!
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