London Drainage Facilities (LDF) were surprised to find out millions of homeowners in the South-East of England are being wooed to sign up for cheap drainage cover by Thames Water, only then to find out their policy gets ten times more expensive after the first year.
LONDON, ENGLAND, JULY 2013
Thames Water has paired up with insurance firm HomeServe offering cover for drains, plumbing and some home emergencies.
However, although it seems cheap at £11.88 for the first year for a typical home, the cost will rocket to £100 in the second year if you fail to cancel it.
LDF stress it is important consumers understand the agreements they sometimes get pushed into before dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s as low-cost insurance is riddled with catches and small print.
Danny Fuller, Managing Director of LDF says: “Too often, these types of insurance are sold in the hope consumers will not realise they have existing cover or are protected by consumer law. In this case, homeowners may even be protected by their home insurance policy.
If not though, cheaper alternatives can be found elsewhere. At LDF, we provide preventative Pre-Planned Maintenance programmes and for any household, recommend they have a general drain service once a year. This would include a general flush of all main drains, with the cost minimal and the outcome reduced blockages and smells. Even better, this includes Unlimited Free-of-Charge Callouts to all serviced drainage. LDF never promote the use of chemicals due to the harmful effect they can have on the environment, the user and the drains they are used within.”