The importance of honesty for insurance customers
August 28, 2007 by admin
Filed under News, News-Insurance
Many consumers in the UK take out life insurance policies each year, and taking out this type of policy usually involves providing the insurance company with a variety of details about your health and lifestyle.
The cost of this type of insurance cover can vary depending on the company that you go through, as well as on the details that you provide to the insurance company with regards to your health and lifestyle. It is thought that a certain percentage of shoppers may miss out or change vital information in a bid to get cheaper premiums, but experts warn that this could end up being a waste of money as the information that they provide – or fail to provide – could invalidate their cover in the event that a claim needs to be made.
One independent financial adviser has warned that consumers must ensure that they provide up to date information that is accurate and honest when they are applying for life insurance to ensure that their premiums are not wasted altogether.
This includes providing accurate information on their lifestyle, such as their smoking and drinking habits and also any dangerous pastimes or hobbies that they may have. He added that if a claim is made and the insurance company discovers that important information was withheld, or that the applicant was not truthful, then the company is not obliged to make a payout despite receipt of insurance premiums.
He said: “All life insurance policies are underwritten at outset. So if you don’t partake in, say, climbing or mountaineering when you apply for your policy, but then subsequently you do, then that’s fine, nothing wrong with that. But whatever the situation is when you apply for your policy, you must be totally honest, otherwise you may invalidate your claim. The insurance company won’t pay your claim if they found out you lied to them when you filled the form in. People have got to be totally honest when they fill their applications in.”
Tom Smith
28th August 2007
