Disgusting Customer Service
I took out my policy with Home Protect due to the price and easability of taking out the cover. The people I spoke to on the phone about the cover were polite and friendly and answered any questions that I had. So I bought my cover feeling confident that I was with a professional and friendly company who would look after me should the worse happen.
However when it came to actually claiming off of my home insurance it was like dealing with a completely different company!
The company (whilst third party) who were tasked by home protect to board up the damaged window had to be called out twice, once because the board slipped down causing the window to not only be exposed to the elements but it also meant that window could not close leaving the house unsecure. The second time they were called I was told there was nothing further that could be done, even though I could easily get my hand through the gap and open the window, this also meant the cold air was constantly flooding into my home during winter.
Not Home Protects fault I hear you thinking to yourself - correct but Home Protect were unsympathetic when I called them to complain about this poor service that I was receiving telling me that I had to deal with the third party direct rather than through them. Both companies added salt into the wounds by quoting a waiting time of three weeks before a new window could be fitted. Three weeks with a pretty unsecure home with the cold winter air streaming through a poorly boarded window just seems ludicrous but again there was "nothing more that could be done". The third party also then decided to charge me for the cost of the window.....not HP. When I called both companies to query this HP had no idea what they were doing, the Third Party Company (TPC) said that they would do all the work for cheaper than my excess meaning I wouldn't have to go through my insurance. I called HP to explain this and was told that this was "normal". Seeing as I wasn't aware that I could get the work done privately anyway I started investigating to see if I could get the window replaced privately. I called a local company that could come out the same day, get the measurements and fit it the following day. What price do you put on that sort of peace of mind? Everything? Lots? Apparently not as much as the TPC were quoting for a three week wait.
This seemed like the most local approach from all angles. I therefore called HP to say that I didn't want to go through with the claim and was told that this was fine and they would stop the process, however because the TPC had boarded up the window I would have to pay that cost, I asked for the invoice cost of this work before making a final decision and was told the price, it wasn't too and to avoid the three week wait decided to get it done. HP said they'd transfer me to the TPC, explain everything and then I'd pay the amount. Great! I thought. I'm getting somewhere with this ...... WRONG!
The TPC tried to charge me more than I was just told! I explained the conversation I'd had with HP and they said that the cost was this much and I'd have to pay it. I called HP to explain and was told they would talk to the TPC and I'd be called back within half an hour. Two hours later I hadn't heard anything so called HP, I explained what had happened and was told that the lady that was dealing with it all was on the phone and they'd get her to call me straight back. Three days passed before we finally called HP to get an answer and again was told that the lady in question was busy and I'd be called back. Nothing once again, which prompted me to email a complaint about all this extra added stress at what was still a traumatic time for us.
Amazingly I had a phone call back, from someone else, who had been tasked with explaining how to make a claim to me....... I stopped them in their tracks and explained the situation. They then continued to ask the same question (who the TPC were) several times in the same conversation, despite being told repeatedly and although this information was clearly available from my complaint email that he had and also the notes on my record.This conversation took over two hours because we went round in circles too many times. We then had to talk to a manager because it was getting ridiculous. The manager looked at all the information and subsequently had to admit the mistakes and misgivings of HP and they (reluctantly) agreed to pay the difference in the price that I was quoted and the price the TPC quoted.
At not one point throughout this whole experience did I have an apology for the poor customer service, the mistakes made by HP or any sort of assurance that this would not happen again.
There is no way that I would ever renew my policy with this company and would strongly advise aganist with having your homes and contents "looked after" by this company. Even AXA should be ashamed of this shamble of a company.
January 8, 2016
Unprompted review