NCA Publishes Latest Home Insurance Cost Comparison

The National Consumer Agency has published its latest home insurance cost comparison on www.itsyourmoney.ie.

The cost comparison, which features a range of profiles in Roscommon, Donegal and Dublin, highlights the savings to be made by shopping around for home insurance quotes, with potential annual savings ranging from €120 to almost €400.

However, it also reveals the difficulties that consumers with a claims history may have when looking for quotes. The survey showed that consumers may have difficulty shopping around for quotes if they have a claims history. Depending on the firm, they may not quote if:

• There was a claim in excess of €10,000 in the last three years
• There was more than one claim (for any amount) in the last three years
• There were two or more claims in excess of €5,000 in the last five years

There was also evidence that consumers may have difficulty making a claim for a burglary that occurred when the house was unoccupied and the alarm was not turned on.


A number of firms confirmed that they would not pay out on a claim, with some firms specifying that they would not pay out if the consumer had availed of a burglar alarm discount when taking out the policy.

Commenting on the new cost comparison, Karen O'Leary, Director of Public Awareness and Financial Information at the NCA, said: "Switching your home insurance could be a quick and easy way to make savings, so if you are concerned about increasing insurance costs, don’t be complacent - look for a number of quotes from different sources. If you are having difficulty getting quotes due to a previous claims history, you could approach a broker that deals with a large number of insurers. They will be able to offer you help and advice."

(CD)