Advice on where to go for home insurance, who do you use and would you recommend them? I appreciate it is only opinion and personal experience but any advice would be welcome.
As to brokers, they do not exist in the same way as in the UK. Here the vast majority of insurance offices are agents for only one company and can only offer the insurances offered by that company. They are not allowed to sell insurance from anyone else although they can point you in the right direction. The only option is to visit as many as you can, in your area, for ease of contact, and then see if any of them speak English.
As a matter of interest we use Allianz in Eymet where the boss speaks English, we have used them for ten years now, have had one motor claim and one break in and have had no problems.
As to using web sites, we tried that with health insurance and are still, a year later, getting cold calls offering health insurance. I tell them all the same thing, "I have just renewed my policy - sorry" and they go away.
Good hunting.
Yes English speaking would be great but I do have a very good French friend who has offered help. Bless her !
We first used La Mutuelle de Cluny when we had our house as a second home.
I appreciate that if you do not speak French sufficiently well you might want to find an English speaking company.
Thanks Jo
Our home insurance is with Axa. We are still living in Australia and still find it very easy to deal with them via e-mail.
We have also recently shopped around for health insurance as we most likely will not be eligible for the French Health System and found Axa to be the most helpful and the best price.
Cheers
Jo
We use La Mutuelle de Cluny .
I would investigate to se if there are any local Mutuelles near you.
We had a personal visit and we are now paying less for more cover.
ok, 'pm' me before you arrive and we can sort it out from there
Should be over middle June
would be nice - when are you over ?
A new law was introduced in Feb this year - la loi Hamon. As I understand it you can cancel anytime you like in writing - after the first full year.
Link to planet.fr article is here: http://www.planet.fr/assurances-votre-assureur-est-trop-cher-envoyez-le-balader.553490.1554.html?xtor=ES-1-556792[Planet-a-la-Une]-20140222
Hope it works!
Grahame if you're having ongoing problems it might be an idea to make a formal complaint. I think you can do it online from the AXA website (faire une reclamation). We're with AXA too and haven't had any problems. Then again we haven't had to claim (touchwood), nor have we tried to cancel!
I sympathise with your predicament. I have had a similar experience with Generali. The French laws on insurance are archaic and I understand the matter is being looked at. I rather suspect it was a timing problem with your cancellation. There are only certain windows of time in which to cancel a contract and if you don't adhere to these then they can charge you for the year under French law. I understand the times are 14 days either side of renewal or a letter recommandee sent just before two months of renewal date. ie 2 1/2 months before renewal date. I have just successfully cancelled some insurance on plumbing etc on my existing house as we are moving. I adhere to the regulations and was successful but I can tell you it was a "right performance"!
Think your point a very good one Karen, its not always about cheap but do they deliver and clearly yours have so another one to look into, thank you
Choices choices! So fortunate to have them. Really looking forward to life in France and learning French as I speak only a little presently. Maybe we could meet for coffee in st Julian when I am over would be great to put bodies to words from this site.
I have had a nightmare getting out of my AXA contracts and I wouldnt touch them! When I cancelled them by registered letter there was no communication from the company and they were still debiting my account, when I closed my bank account they sent me demands followed by threats of legal action, this is eight months on! their customer relations are appalling! They are still sending demands to my former French address when I have given them my new address..cancelling the home insurance and sending them the legal documents of sale , you would think someone would change my address, but no!
We have been with GAN, Generali and are currently with AXA. Curiously my retired AXA agent recommended MNA as being bery competitive and apparently you can barter. So give it a whirl.
No one has suggested the Pacifica insurances from Credit Agricole. We have been insured with them for 15 years and have all our policies with them. We know there will be cheaper(aren't there always?) but we have had several serious reasons to call on them i.e. new roof after 1999 Tempete with the money in the bank just 3 weeks later, car written off by another party,and a major water leak undermining old internal stone wall and each instance was met with speed from considerate and reassuring assistants, who could have linked us to English speaking agents if we had needed it.
Worth enquiring for 'devis'. They have a site online.
The idea is to find somewhere like St Junien with all the services on the doorstep,a larger city like Limoges down the road with an airport a short drive away. Close to Toulose would be handy as i'm a frequent visitor and Moissac is nice. Cahors is ok and Gaiilac looks promising but Albi had something about it, especially since they redid the centre. Montauban is a short drive from Toulouse and the centre is superb so another possibility !
I like saint Junien - was there two weeks ago drinking coffee waiting for the immobilisers to open Where further south takes your fancy? I have friends in moissac, near Toulouse they love it there.
Saint Junien, just a few kms from Blond. I used to have a place in Rochechouart which was nice but where I am now is a really nice town. I'm trying to sell to 'downsize' etc but i'm torn between moving further south just for a change or staying here.....