13 January 2010

Home Emergency Claims Soar During Cold Snap

• Home emergency cover available with M&S Home Insurance

The freezing conditions across the UK this winter have led to a large increase in the number of householders making home emergency insurance claims including for burst pipes, according to M&S Home Insurance.

New figures from M&S Home Insurance reveal that the most common type of home insurance emergency claim over the 2009 winter months was for water claims, including burst pipes.

David Wells, M&S Head of Insurance, said: ‘We have seen three times as many home emergency claims during the winter compared to the summer months, including a 200% increase in the number of claims for water damage such as burst pipes.

‘We're expecting the number of claims to increase throughout January and February as the severe weather puts a greater strain on central heating systems and household plumbing systems.

‘At this time of year, if you don't have emergency insurance cover, unexpected plumbing bills are not going to be welcomed. Certified plumbers called out to fix a leaking pipe can charge around £65-£85 an hour subject to where you live in the UK–and, depending upon how long it takes to repair the problem, costs can add up.  That's also assuming the actual emergency call out is free.'

M&S Home Insurance customers have the option of adding home emergency cover to their policy, giving them extra protection against home emergencies such as plumbing problems relating to leaking pipes or failure of the central heating system or boiler.

M&S Money suggests the following simple steps to minimise the risks of home emergencies during cold weather conditions:

• Know where your main stopcock is and make sure you can turn it off and on
• Avoid frozen pipes – insulate pipes to stop them from freezing
• Give your heating system a regular MOT – during periods of very cold weather boiler condensate traps or discharge pipes may freeze and prevent boilers from operating  
• Maintain your roof and exterior of the home – clear guttering and drains from leaves and other blockages
• If you're going away, leave the heating on to maintain a constant temperature of 15 degrees centigrade and remove/raise the loft hatch to ensure that the loft space is kept warm to prevent pipes freezing in the loft area.

Marks & Spencer home insurance is available by telephone on 0800 068 2742 and online at www.marksandspencer.com/homeinsurance

ENDS

For further information please call the M&S Money press office:

Liz Neild on 01244 686 068
liz.a.neild@mandsmoney.com

Simon Coughlin on 020 7992 1574
simon.coughlin@mandsmoney.com

An ISDN line is available for broadcast interviews

Notes to Editors

1 2009 figures based on claims made by M&S Home Insurance Policyholders with Home Emergency Cover. M&S home insurance policies are provided by AXA Insurance UK plc.
2 Indicative hourly rates range from £65 in the Midlands, £69 in the North West and £85 in London.
3 Home emergency cover underwritten by Partner Assistance SA.
4 Home emergency cover can only be added at new business or renewal.

M&S Home Insurance - Key Features

• Unlimited cover on buildings and contents, limits apply to money and liability cover.
• No policy excess to pay except £1,000 for subsidence, heave and landslip claims, voluntary or compulsory excesses may apply
• M&S Home Insurance Premier Cover has been Five-Star Rated for features and benefits by Defaqto, an independent research company
• Save 20% when you apply online (available to new customers only) - discount is subject to minimum premium
• M&S Cardholders will receive 1000 M&S points, when they take out a new policy
• Customers have the option of taking out Home Emergency Cover and Legal Expenses Cover when buying your Home Insurance

M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc, making 2010 the company's 25th anniversary.

The company is a top-ten credit card provider and the second-largest travel money retailer in the UK.  M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including home insurance and car insurance, as well as loans, savings and investment products.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC. HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 8,500 offices in 86 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$2,422 billion at 30 June 2009, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world's local bank'.

M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

M&S home insurance policies are provided by AXA Insurance UK plc. Terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations apply. Calls may be monitored and recorded.