[Closed] Home insurance - are M&S still good?

Good yes, but Pedal Cover (I think, that doesn't sound quite right... 😕 ) always come out very favourably these days.

Try pedalcover as they're underwritten by AXA (same as M&S) but insure the bikes fully and are easy to deal with.

Didn't M and S put a £1000/1500 limit on bikes??.
I was with them, I go through a broker (Adrian flux) now. No problems, but thankfully not had to try them out!

John Lewis Specialist insurance has been good for me.

Anything above £1000 has to be listed specifically, but they were still good value for me with two such bikes. (I've been with them since the unlimited cover days, and could have kept that policy going - it's not available anymore unless you've never moved off it - unlimited rebuild costs, £1,000,000 contents cover etc. but that would have been £400 so not worth it for my little house 🙂 )

NFU Mutual as Contents Cover only are brilliant, they were excellent dealing with our claim, didn't have to go through Wheelies or anyone else, just got cash. Plus they allowed a clause for no depreciation in value on the bikes, so in ten years time if my bike gets stolen, I get a brand new one, worth what I paid for it.

Their buildings cover is expensive however.

We're with MS, very good apart from they use Wheelies for any bike related claims. Unfortunately this is where a good insurer suddenly gets ruined thanks to the frighteningly bad service (I've had a very bad run in - basically if it's a low end off the shelf bike you're ok, but anything high end or custom then you're in a world of difficulties).

We tend to move between M&S and John Lewis. Really can't fault either.

Thanks for this, useful info here.

bramblesummer - what was the issue you had? Was there some small print that the bike insurer used to wriggle out of paying? Cheers.

I've just recently renewed and Direct Line were cheapest for me. They had a £1k limit but you can add named bikes over that which I did.

I priced up M&S recently £150 without the 2 bikes and £850 with. Waiting to get a quote from JL (needs phone referral), tbh I will probably leave the bikes un-insured as the actual requirements probably aren't do-able (bikes now stored in a lock-up rather than a garage)

I'd recommend pedalcover, underwritten by AXA, great people to deal with, when you phone up for a quote you speak to the guy who runs the company. Unfortunately they couldn't quote me as we have had a claim over £10k in the last few years (burst pipe at MrsMomos house) and AXA won't underwrite for them under these circumstances. But by way of apology for not being able to quote he sent me a nice letter and a phone cover!

Pedal Cover as mentioned above is Broker who has a AXA policy tailored for bikers. Bikes under 10K dont need to be listed. Cover is very good and very competitive compared to others I tried. In my second year with them however haven't had to claim so cant comment on that aspect however Darren is super helpful and its nice to have a persona touch rather than big faceless corporation.

With Pedal cover here too, bikes unspecified up to 15k in the house/out buildings or up to 9k locked up outside.

Very helpful service from them

We went with John Lewis Specialist - NOT normal John Lewis.

Mainly because M&S had upped bike cover costs, and limited what they covered (e.g. from outbuildings) and most importantly we have canoes and kayaks as well.

£400ish a year for 7 bikes, 2 open canoes and 5 kayaks, plus great house and buildings cover. M&S wanted more just for the bikes and more basic cover; specialist canoe places wanted £120+ a year per boat(!).

Who did you go with momo? I'm in the same position as you and just got another £850 renewal notice from M&S - which will be harder to afford this year.

Pedal cover, not a great start. Did a quote 4 days ago and heard nothing.

We're with MS, very good apart from they use Wheelies for any bike related claims. Unfortunately this is where a good insurer suddenly gets ruined thanks to the frighteningly bad service (I've had a very bad run in - basically if it's a low end off the shelf bike you're ok, but anything high end or custom then you're in a world of difficulties).

Yeah, had a similar run in with them about 11 years ago, doesn't sound like they have changed much. Managed to get everything that could possibly be wrong as wrong as it could be to the extent that they didn't seem to think there was anything amiss about a bike with no seatpost. A supermarket special BSO with the forks turned looked like a masterpiece of mechanics next to the haphazard collection of "assembled" parts I recieved. Unfortunately a lot of underwriters use them but you are legally entitled to take your business elsewhere, you are not bound to their suppliers despite any protests to the contrary.

Found out they are our cycle to work suppliers (as their alter ego, Cycle Solutions), to say I'm hesitant to use them is an understatement but surely they can't mess up a factory boxed bike?

Anyway, back on topic, we went with Aviva after M&S started asking for silly money and have been with them ever since, Pedalcover wanted far too much when I last quoted, guess my relics aren't what they are catering to.

The AA have been good for me. Have 2 good bikes insured anywhere as long as they are locked up including outbuildings. Despite a big claim 18 months ago, buildings and insurance is £300.

Another for AA. Inside & outside contents, buildings insurance and £6k of listed bikes in an outhouse and on the car roof covered - £455 total.

Aviva great for me.

Oodles of contents and building cover. Unlimited number of unspecified bikes covered to £1500 each away from home if locked to something 'solid'. Added my Bird this year, also covered away from home.

£170 per annum. Sounds cheap compared to others.

Anyone found alternative insurance with decent cover AFTER a big claim within five years?

When we renewed John Lewis Specialist was about half the price of our M + S requote and it gave us much better cover. Tried John Lewis normal insurance and they put us onto their specialist branch.

Just switched from M&S to Pedalcover - Darren is super helpful and we more than halved the renewal premium quoted by M&S.

Go with PedalCover. We have actually claimed through them for a property related claim. Super helpful and super efficient. As the wife said 'Really nice to deal with people who actually give a sh!t'.

Just set up a new policy with Hastings Direct.
Underwritten by AXA, new for old, no limit on garages and outbuildings, accidental damage home/away.
£240 for the year including 2 named bikes and some named jewellery and electronic goods away from home.