Rising Bills

knspol

Allira

Our house insurance went up by 24% having gone up by 25% the previous year. They immediately dropped the increase to 11% after a phone call!
We have not claimed, are not on a flood plain or any other high risk area.

Time to look at comparison sites. Unfortunately none of us can do that with Council tax or water rates.

You could ask to be put on a water meter.

My house insurance rose considerably last year and when I queried it they decided it was best to reassess which ended up with them quoting the rebuild value as almost double what it was previously! The price they quoted could not be correct as it's way over whatever I might get from the sale value. By the time these new details were known it was too late for me to go through getting new quotes from other companies so I agreed to pay the new premium. Needless to say I'll be going to another company this year.

Our company, Prudential, informed us they will not be doing house or home insurance any more and the new quote was from Direct Line.

Time to shop around.

I provide bill reviews for people and am horrified what some people pay. Bband go up without individuals being fully aware, same with phones and many people are so very worried how to pay the water. I’m retired but do a side job just to pay the extra bills! Crazy and wicked with so many increases and so worrying that people are not able to get financial help.

Wonder why prudential not doing home insurances?

Messyme

Wonder why prudential not doing home insurances?

I don't know.
We were surprised.

U K Insurance Limited will no longer be offering Prudential home insurance policies. However, U K Insurance Limited also underwrites Direct Line branded policies, and as a customer of Prudential home insurance, you may be provided with a quote for a new Direct Line home insurance policy at renewal (subject to U K Insurance Limited’s usual underwriting criteria). If this change affects you, you don’t need to do anything at this stage. Direct Line home insurance will send you a quote around 21 days prior to your renewal date.

At a much higher premium!

I blame Thatcher for all the privatisation of utilities, who thought private companies would be more interested in the consumer than their shareholders? Water is an essential not a profit making luxury. Thames water recently left us without water for days- it was horrible, plus all the deliberate sewage spills and ruining the beaches and rivers.

Thousands of people in North Wales were left without water for 5 days last month Vegansrock.

Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) are not for profit so don’t be thinking they’re any more efficient than those paying dividends to shareholders!

On a good note my car insurance went down.

I went on a comparison website in October last year when my car insurance was due. The downside of that was that I was deluged with emails - some from ‘ real ‘ insurance companies, but the majority were scams. Obviously, my search put my details out there. They haven’t quite stopped yet, but at least only a couple a day generally, as opposed to between twelve and twenty.

grannybuy
Next time you’re searching for the best price of something, clear that history each time, that’s how they are tracking you.
Or use DuckDuckGo as your search engine. No tracking using that.
I hope you don’t accept any cookies. That’s another way they track you.

Pantglas2

Thousands of people in North Wales were left without water for 5 days last month Vegansrock.

Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) are not for profit so don’t be thinking they’re any more efficient than those paying dividends to shareholders!

Let's not forget that welsh water also owns the maintenance company they use, which IS all about the shareholders and profit..

Disgusting that tv license is going up. I can't even see bbc programmes. Most of the tv is not worth watching, it's mostly repeats. The people who work at the bbc earn far too much money too

MaggsMcG

On a good note my car insurance went down.

I use an app called DriveScore that monitors my driving and my score enabled me to get a lower quote for my insurance.

My car insurance went down too and I got a refund for overpayment.

I have just received my yearly water statement from United Utilities.
I have a water meter and at the end of the billing year I am £115 in credit.
My monthly DD has gone from £38:85 to £61:50.
Well that’s the pension rise gone in one blow.

Mollygo

My car insurance went down too and I got a refund for overpayment.

The insurance companies are going through considerable restructuring to reduce the risk due to large scale disasters and events, so far my insurances havn’t increase a lot but I am conscious of the risk. Do not leave renewal until the last minute get quotes around a month before if you want the best price. If your existing insurer seems high ask for a loyalty discount.

David49, that’s good advice. I had 5 days left, so I was doubly surprised to get a refund.

No. A month before will NOT get you the best deal. Read and listen to what Martin Lewis says about best times to shop around for car and home insurance.

Silverbrooks

No. A month before will NOT get you the best deal. Read and listen to what Martin Lewis says about best times to shop around for car and home insurance.

It usually works for me, but I should read Martin Lewis’ advice.

Silverbrooks

No. A month before will NOT get you the best deal. Read and listen to what Martin Lewis says about best times to shop around for car and home insurance.

Tell us what is the best time please.

David49

Silverbrooks

No. A month before will NOT get you the best deal. Read and listen to what Martin Lewis says about best times to shop around for car and home insurance.

Tell us what is the best time please.

Anything between 20-27 days, but according to Martin Lewis 21 days is the sweet spot

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202503/medium-d549rc-screenshot-2025-03-06-at-15-41-14.png https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202503/medium-87r5g4-screenshot-2025-03-06-at-15-41-23.png

Thank you GG.

Here are the graphs from MSE. Dark blue one car insurance, grey one home insurance. MSE say:

As for why the super-prepared are being penalised with higher prices for getting a quote 30 days in advance, it's basically because there are fewer insurers returning quotes at that stage.

I recently paid £700 for car insurance and £400 for MOT, Service, new battery - add road tax and petrol - nearly £200 pm. I could probably sell the car and put the money away for taxis ……..worth considering

My house insurance has just gone up to unacceptable levels so I have shopped around and gone elsewhere . Looks like a better deal too. I think Martin Lewis said about 14-21 days when I looked this morning.
What a mind boggling job it is comparing deals. Some companies were charging double for what looked like similar terms.
My broadband isn’t going up though but they tried hard to get me to upgrade my package.

council tax up by a whopping £34 a month over 10 months. New build so up to date valuation, not like the barrister and family who live in a quant old cottage, nor the family of 4 working adults who live in the same area