Warning on insurance excess

HOMEOWNERS are having to pay more excess when making claims on their insurance, according to new research.

Research firm Defaqto said more than half of home insurers now charged an excess of 100 or more, compared with a third three years ago.

It also emerged that eight out of ten travel insurance providers will charge more than one excess per claim.

Mike Powell, general insurance spokesman for Defaqto, said: "People need to ensure they read the details and smallprint before purchasing their insurance.

"They may think they're getting a cheap deal but often this is not the case.

"If anything in the policy is unclear they should contact the provider before they buy to avoid hefty fees should they have to make a claim."

He also warned that some insurers charge more than one excess for a single incident.