Hi,

I recently have applied for my first mortgage and it's going through the stages.

I have been recomended Friends Provident by my broker - I just wnated to know if anyone has used them. Or if you have any other insurers that you could recommend?

Thanks

S

Friends Provident are as reliable as any other insurance provider in the market. You will find that the advice was probably recommended on a cost basis. All brokers have access to most of the big names in life assurance and we do base our choices on the lowest cost as this is very important to 1st time buyers due to the the big plunge into "monthly commitments". To be honest they don't come up on my systems that much... Scottish Equitable and Legal & General are usually the names that pop up first. If your broker has a selected panel of providers then you may get better rates elsewhere.

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Regards

Ian

Hi again Ian.

I had another broker before my current one and the 1st broker recommended FP. I will be seeing my 2nd Broker on thursday to outline some other insurance providers. So hoepfully that would shed some light but I like to get a end opinion or in thsi case a third opinion.

I hope I don't have to pay any fees to the 1st broker as I no longer want to use them.

Thanks

Nothing wrong with getting more than one opinion, these are life changing decisions. If a broker charges a fee it will only be payable on completion...so nothing to pay if you decide to go elsewhere.

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Regards

Ian

Thanks for your help.

I've used Friends Provident - they offered the cheapest quote - and have found the customer service good. They called me first to arrange a suitable time to go through the details over the phone, then called me promptly on the arranged date. Of course, I've (touch wood) not needed to make a claim, so I don't know how they rate in that aspect.

Thanks - that helps - and when did you get your quote done if you don't mind me asking?

April 2007.

Hi again Ian,

I decided to go with L&G - as their policies were more flexible and easily adjustable to my needs - do you know roughly how soon after setting all this up will they start taking payments? My total bill will be approximatley £100 per month.

I'm trying to sort out my bills for my future *fingers crossed* home.

Wow!!! That is one policy you have taken out??? Payments will come out after you agree start date usually on the 1st of the month unless you have requested a different date. If you agree the start date to be today for instance the provider will normally take 2 months payments the following month, best to start the policy on the day that you have agreed for the payments to be taken.

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Regards

Ian

Oh no it's not for one.

It's for Home Contents Insurance, Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance & Mortgage payment insurance.

Is that still too much?

Actually are the last two the same thing? Oh this is so so so confusing!

Life assurance with or without CIC, payment protection and B&C. All depends on the level of cover, usually we would have 2 or 3 different providers, just one could prove to be expensive. Payment protection will have 2 levels, the standard 12 month cover or the longer term Permanent Heatlh policy, although this does not cover you for unemployment.

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Regards

Ian

Oh ok - this one/two protects me from unemployment and permanent or temporary illness.

Although I'm assuming you can chop and change once my mortgage has gone through.

I needed the unemployemnt added at present because I am not a permamnet employee. Once that changes I may review it.

Does it cost any money to change your policies?

Have you actually spoken to an advisor? you do not seem to know what you are spending your money on and the ongoing benefits etc...£100 a month is a lot of money to spend on something that you do not know the full details on!!

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LukeT