Providing you have checked that the type of cover would be suitable, there are exclusions and different types of protection, you would have peace of mind. Loan insurance would give you a tax-free income after a pre-defined period of waiting. With the majority of policies, this is between 30 and 90 days of continually being unemployed or being declared unfit for work. Once the cover has started to provide benefit, it would continue to do so for between 12 months and 24 months. You have to read the key facts that are supplied with the policy to find out and this is also where you can find exclusions that can apply.
Loan insurance does not have to be taken out at the time of borrowing. In the majority of cases this is often the dearest way of protection your borrowing. Some high street lenders will add cover onto the cost of the loan and then factor in the interest. When this is done, the protection could almost double the cost of the cheap loan. The cheapest premiums are to be found with independent providers but again they vary so shop around for the cheapest quotes. As the standalone provider only sells payment protection policies they back up their products with essential advice and knowledge in regards to the products. This means you make savings while getting a quality product and make savings. In some cases, this can be hundreds of pounds, so it does pay to shop around.
There have been problems in the past with payment protection insurance. The problems have included cover being added onto the loan or mortgage without the consumer being aware. High premiums have been charged for the cover. In addition, very little information was given to the consumer at the time of buying. When the investigation started into the sector in 2005, the Financial Services Authority laid out recommendations for firms to follow. While some have changed their ways, others are still falling short. The Financial Services Authority fined several well-known high street names in 2007 and they continue to watch over the sector. Meanwhile the Competition Commission is also conducting an in-depth review of the sector.
It is imperative to remember that loan insurance can do the job it is intended to do. All that is needed is for the individual considering buying it to read the information that a specialist payment protection insurance provider will make available and to ensure that the cover fully meets their needs. Check out the premiums, start and end times of the cover; and watch out for any exclusions.
Simon Burgess is Managing Director of the award-winning British Insurance, a specialist provider of loan insurance, mortgage protection insurance and income protection insurance.
