Always read the small print when it comes to insuring your home

A STANDARD email message was sent from house insurer Liberty to customers following Storm Eleanor at the start of the year.

‘Storm Eleanor brought high winds and flooding to much of the country last night, with many homes and businesses still without electricity,’ it read.

‘If you have Buildings and Contents cover as part of your home policy, you will have Home Emergency Assistance as standard.

‘Using this service will not affect your no claims bonus, and you won’t have to pay an excess,’ it continued.

The excess is the amount customers have to pay themselves before insurance kicks in.

It seemed a nice and generous gesture to reassure anyone who suffered damage in a frightening storm that their claims would be met without fuss or financial penalty.

But when Robin Rowland saw it he couldn’t help feeling somewhat miffed.

A few months earlier, Storm Ophelia had caused €900 worth of damage in the Wexford home he shares with his wife Glenys.

His freezer contents were completely spoiled during a power cut.

But when he went to make a claim, he found it wasn’t worthwhile to do so precisely because he’d have to pay a hefty excess, would lose his no claims bonus and suffer a financial penalty on top of that! The Emergency Home Assist service is not making a claim — it’s a service to householders, a spokesman for Liberty told us.

This is why there is no impact on no claims bonuses, unlike other claims, which do affect them.

Nonetheless, insurers should protect no claims bonuses on home cover — as they do in Britain and with car cover here, said Robin.

‘Why should you lose your bonus for making one claim after 13 years of buying cover as I had,’ he said.

He was particularly annoyed that a 10% penalty for making a claim on the lower-cost contents section of his policy applied to the much-pricier buildings element of the cover as well, which he described as ‘a bit naughty’.

Robin’s house insurance is coming up for renewal in a couple of weeks and he is adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach to renewing with Liberty.

In light of his experience, does Robin have any tips for those shopping for home insurance?

Not surprisingly, he imparts the following advice: ‘Always read the small print.’