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Home Insurance
June 24, 2024
10:28 am
Dean
Valhalla Mountains, British Columbia
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.
My home insurance policy with Intact Insurance is due for renewal next month, and I've already received the renewal papers ... and the new, Much Larger premium (Ouch ❗ sf-surprised).

We've had no claims (ever) and no other problems, but there's such a huge increase in our renewal premium, that I'm compelled to go shopping.

In addition to getting quotes from the usual Agents & Brokers, does anyone here have any experience with 'online' insurers like The Cooperators, TD Insurance, etc. ?

Thanks,

    Dean

sf-cool " Live Long, Healthy ... And Prosper! " sf-cool

June 24, 2024
10:35 am
Nehpets
Ontario
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I can report first hand positive experience with Travelers (formerly Dominion of Canada) with premium cost and claims experience.

Have had overall negative experience with Cooperators with underwriting and claims, which has also acquired CUMIS the company that insures Credit Union members.

Stephen

June 24, 2024
10:48 am
Dean
Valhalla Mountains, British Columbia
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.
P.S.

From what I hear, most everyone's home insurance premiums are going Up by Quite A Bit this year ... so I'm not the only one In This Boat. sf-confused

    Dean

sf-cool " Live Long, Healthy ... And Prosper! " sf-cool

June 24, 2024
10:55 am
Rail Baron
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My condo insurance renewal is also next month, and our premium increased by about 10%. Our carrier is TD Primmum. They are so so to deal with on the phone (the only way I've tried to engage with them to date). Sometimes it takes a couple of calls to get documentation on the details of coverage. We have never filed a claim with them.

I have sought quotes from an insurance broker, and the best they could come up with was 25% higher than the quote for our renewal. So I guess we'll stick with TD.

June 24, 2024
11:18 am
savemoresaveoften
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A only 10% increase will be considered a win in most case. I am serious as with inflation running high, it just gives insurance companies to jack the rates up...

For auto insurance, I am hearing stories for 30%+ increase with no change in location, car nor traffic violation convictions. The increase are simply out of control.

Also for most, it is ALWAYS cheaper to shop both car AND home insurance as a package.

June 24, 2024
11:31 am
cgouimet
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Dean said
.
P.S.

From what I hear, most everyone's home insurance premiums are going Up by Quite A Bit this year ... so I'm not the only one In This Boat. sf-confused

    Dean

  

Are you in or near flood or fire zones in BC?

CGO
June 24, 2024
12:09 pm
Rail Baron
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savemoresaveoften said
A only 10% increase will be considered a win in most case. I am serious as with inflation running high, it just gives insurance companies to jack the rates up...

For auto insurance, I am hearing stories for 30%+ increase with no change in location, car nor traffic violation convictions. The increase are simply out of control.

Also for most, it is ALWAYS cheaper to shop both car AND home insurance as a package.  

It's even cheaper not to own a car in downtown Vancouver!

June 24, 2024
12:23 pm
AltaRed
BC Interior
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Our home insurance is going up about 10% in the BC Interior. Perfectly reasonable given inflation in labour and materials to replace the home over the past year, plus regionally related increased climate related claims (flood and wildfire).

Auto insurance is going up exponentially due to increased theft of vehicles, increased complexity resulting in more writeoffs, especially for BSVs and PHEVs. I wouldn't be surprised if some auto insurers are already, or are contemplating, putting EVs into a new category of increased premiums.

June 24, 2024
12:44 pm
Alexandre
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Ontario, house outside of big cities. No claims.

House insurance goes up 20% as of this month.
Deductible doubles. Some of coverage previously included no longer provided.

June 24, 2024
12:55 pm
Dean
Valhalla Mountains, British Columbia
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.
We also live in the BC interior ... rural Nelson/Castlegar area.

We're looking at a 30% Increase from Intact Insurance for next months renewal, in spite of No Claims and a spotless record. Hence our reason for going shopping.

Thanks for the responses ... I'm taking notes sf-smile

    Dean

sf-cool " Live Long, Healthy ... And Prosper! " sf-cool

June 24, 2024
1:42 pm
JPenterprise
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My daughter had Auto insurance with co-operator (an agent in office, not online). Had two unfortunate accidents, total write-off (not her fault). The claims were fast, smooth and reasonable. That agent had retired.

My Home insurance was due for renewal few months ago, contact an agent with co-operator near my home by email. No response for couple weeks. After contacting her again, her response was "short of staff"... still no response after months. In the meantime, I contact another co-op agent by email with very good google review. He response with timely manner. Very good experience with him. But, I do not have any claim experience for their Home Insurance though.

June 24, 2024
4:13 pm
Bill
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With TD Insurance, homes and vehicles renewed in March and June respectively, found no unreasonable increase, certainly in single digit %.

June 24, 2024
4:18 pm
GR
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Check https://www.squareone.ca/

H.O. in Vancouver; serving B.C. to Quebec; no experience with claims, thankfully.

June 24, 2024
5:49 pm
HermanH
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I deal with Portage Mutual Insurance and have been okay with the rates.

June 24, 2024
7:00 pm
AltaRed
BC Interior
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Dean said
.
We also live in the BC interior ... rural Nelson/Castlegar area.

We're looking at a 30% Increase from Intact Insurance for next months renewal, in spite of No Claims and a spotless record. Hence our reason for going shopping.

Thanks for the responses ... I'm taking notes sf-smile

    Dean

  

Our home insurance is with BCAA and has been since we bought the house 12 years ago. You need to be a member to get the member discount. I have no idea whether they would be competitive or not with your alternatives but I have had no complaints (but no claims either). In some ways, I am thinking BCAA should be competitive as an exclusively BC regional player......but that is simply a supposition.

June 24, 2024
8:13 pm
everhopeful
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I use Square One for tenant insurance (contents) and really like how everything can be tailored online to get the exact coverage needed, and can see what add-ons do to the premiums to the penny.
I have no claim experiences, so I would feel I would need to do more backchecking before insuring an entire dwelling with them.
When I had questions about aspects of evacuation order coverage (I live in BC Interior) their responses were quick and on point.

June 25, 2024
9:01 am
Dean
Valhalla Mountains, British Columbia
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GR said

Check https://www.squareone.ca/

H.O. in Vancouver; serving B.C. to Quebec; no experience with claims, thankfully.  

Interesting and Thanks, but Square One is not an insurance company ... they're a Brokerage.

But I might just give them a try, anywayz. sf-smile

    Dean

sf-cool " Live Long, Healthy ... And Prosper! " sf-cool

June 25, 2024
6:27 pm
BlueSky
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Dean said
.
We also live in the BC interior ... rural Nelson/Castlegar area.

We're looking at a 30% Increase from Intact Insurance for next months renewal, in spite of No Claims and a spotless record. Hence our reason for going shopping.

Thanks for the responses ... I'm taking notes sf-smile

    Dean

  

It goes without saying that the property, contents, as well as its location, will affect the insurance premiums. I have been with Belair Direct for many years. Very seldom claims, but usually due to prolonged power outage. This company offers the normal coverage one seeks, and the premiums one can live with. Several years ago, we added home insurance to our existing car insurance with Belair Direct. We had no hassle claims, and was easy to deal with them. If not mistaken, they were bought off by Intact Insurance several years ago, but maintained its operations under its name. Have not received the renewal yet, as many would know premium increases are not only to pass on inflation costs, but most importantly, to cover the company liabilities for paid claims. All I can say is try them out.

June 25, 2024
7:01 pm
Dean
Valhalla Mountains, British Columbia
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Thanks for that BlueSky

I'll start the BelairDirect quote process, first thing in the morning !

    Dean

sf-cool " Live Long, Healthy ... And Prosper! " sf-cool

June 26, 2024
9:10 am
bhuc
Toronto
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Beware with Belaire direct.
They tried a bait and switch scam with me.
Belaire would not commit to a firm price until the underwriters reviewed my application.
Thinking this was just a formality I gave them my banking info for billing.
After they got my banking info they wanted to up the price significantly.

The reason they said was the month I got my licence to drive from 50 years ago (like I would remember this date ) did not match exactly to what ministry of transportation had on record.
Suffice to say I was livid at their tactics

At that point I canceled the policy which was not even active for another 3 weeks.
Cancelling the policy was not as straight forward as you might think, it was painstaking and stressful.
Once they get your banking info, the billing system kicks in and its a not a given they can reverse it.

Buyer Beware

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