Check A Payment Protection Policy Very Carefully Before Buying

by: Simon Burgess


A payment protection policy is taken out by those who have credit repayments to make each month and who wish to protect those repayments. A policy can be taken out to cover against being unable to work if you should have an accident or get ill, or become unemployed through no fault of your own.

However, there are certain conditions that could mean a policy would not benefit the individual. Due to the exclusions present in all policies designed to safeguard payments, you have to check the cover thoroughly before taking it out. Those individuals who suffer from a pre-existing illness, are of retirement age, only work part-time or are self-employed would certainly have to read the small print very carefully. The cover can be valuable and give a much needed income, but only if the policyholder meets the set criteria. It is also worth nothing that statistics show that only 4% of those who take out a policy actually claim on it. Furthermore, 25% of those who do make a claim find their claim rejected by the provider.

You should also make sure that you are not covered for being unable to work by some other means. Around 85% of employers will actually offer much more than the statutory sick pay they have to pay out. Those who are extremely lucky will find their employers will pay out a full wage for a certain period of time. This of course means if you are able to get back to work quickly you would not need a protection policy.

If you believe protection cover would benefit you then go with a standalone provider for a quote. Protection products can be extremely expensive but by choosing to shop around for your quotes with an independent provider you can save as much as 80% on the premiums. While you can take cover alongside the loan at the time of borrowing this could mean you would pay five times more than you would if you shopped around.

The high street lender can play many tricks when it comes to offering protection. Some will work out how much the insurance would cost and then add this onto the amount you are borrowing. This means that instead of quoting you a monthly premium for the cover you will be paying interest on it. On the other hand, a standalone provider will give you a quote for monthly premiums. This is based on the monthly amount of your debt and your age at the time of applying. In some cases the savings you make are immense.

Another huge benefit of going with a specialist provider for your protection quote is that they are more ethical. They will ensure that consumers have access to the FAQs regarding a policy and will explain the technical jargon in plain English, which takes the confusion out of buying a policy.

The majority of policies offered by an independent payment protection specialist will begin to provide the policy holder with a tax-free income from between the 30th and 90th day of being incapable of working. The policy gives peace of mind and allows the individual to relax and concentrate on getting well without financial worries. The pay out would last between 12 and 24 months depending on the terms set out by the provider. You can find the terms and conditions in the key facts that are supplied by the provider on their website before signing up for cover. This makes comparing and deciding if a policy is value for money so much easier.