£100k home insurance quote leaves couple baffled

A couple were left reeling after getting a home insurance renewal quote of just under £100,000.

Peter Cunningham and his wife Patricia from Newry have insured their bungalow with Tesco for a number of years paying £580 for last year's premium.

This year's quote for £99,999 left the couple baffled.

Tesco insurance and money services told BBC News NI that "incorrect information" had been sent to Mr Cunningham, but said the company was "unable to renew" his home insurance cover.

When he received the renewal quote, Mr Cunningham said he thought the figure was a typo so called the Tesco helpline.

"The gentleman I spoke to in the customer call centre was able to confirm that I had been sent out a policy renewal.

"I got another letter afterwards, sending me the policy documents. So if it was an error, it was an error times two."

Patricia Cunningham said she saw the funny side: "I just laughed - I could not believe it."

But she was also worried by what may have happened had the couple not paid attention to the routine letter.

"If we had been away on holiday and it had automatically renewed, I don't know what would happen," she said.

"It's absolutely, totally outrageous."

Tesco insurance and money services said the letter had been an isolated error and it was "really sorry".

"The error was recognised almost immediately and an updated letter sent explaining that we were unfortunately unable to renew the customer's home insurance cover this year," the statement continued.

"Insurance providers regularly review underwriting criteria to make decisions based on a number of risk factors.

"Unfortunately, this meant that Mr Cunningham was declined for a renewal quote this year."

Mr Cunningham said he believed the refusal to provide insurance cover for the year ahead was because he made a claim after Storm Éowyn.

"First insurance claim we had in nine years, and it was a storm that nearly blew the whole island to a different position in the Atlantic.

"So you could make the assumption that you're being penalised for making a claim.

"We had an electric surge which blew all the electrics in the house.

"Tesco Insurance were fantastic, dealt with it incredibly well. It was just over £3,000 and it was paid out very quickly."

Tesco Insurance said the denial of a policy for this year was "not related to him having made a previous claim".

It has left the couple "disappointed" in the company.

"They've let themselves down in my eyes in this situation and once trust is gone, trust is very difficult for them to rebuild up again," he added.