Important Note:

It is your responsibility to ensure that the payment protection policy that British Insurance offers is suitable to meet your needs. Accordingly, it is very important that you carefully read the Policy documentation, to enable you to make an informed decision before you complete your application. The policy wordings are available once you have selected the policy you require. All our policies have a 30 day cooling off period during which time you can cancel your policy if it does not meet your requirements and any premiums paid during that time will be refunded, unless you have made a claim.

If you require further information, or if you have another question or query not covered below, please don’t hesitate to contact us in the following ways:

• By telephone on: 08450 175 178
• By email at: mail@britishinsurance.com

1. What is this insurance designed to do?

Payment protection insurance is designed to provide you with an income when you cannot work due to an accident or sickness and/or unemployment. At British Insurance we offer two types of payment protection cover: mortgage payment protection which can cover your mortgage payment (you can choose to increase this by up to 25% for related expenses) and income payment protection on which you can cover any outgoings for loan payments, credit card payments and even household bills and school fees, as well as your rent or mortgage.
back to the top

2. Where can I find the policy wording for the policy I wish to apply for?

The policy wording that relates to you is dependant on the product options you select. You will be able to access the policy wording and policy summary after you have used the quick quote facility. However, please note, if you change the criteria for your quote, the insurer and the policy wordings may change. Don’t worry, we ensure that you can read the wording, and the eligibility criteria again before you commit to buy. There is also a 30 day cooling off period at the start of the policy, during which you can cancel and get a full refund, so long as you have not made a claim.
back to the top

3. Do I need a mortgage, loan or credit card to be insured under this insurance?

To apply for mortgage payment protection cover, you do need to have a mortgage on the residential property that you occupy, and it can only cover your monthly mortgage repayment plus up to an extra 25%. However, for income payment protection you do not need a mortgage, which means you can protect your credit card payments, loan payments and even household bills and school fees. For both covers, you will need a regular, taxable, monthly income.

Important Note: If you make a successful claim under British Insurance Protection, benefits will be paid directly to you and not to a mortgage or loan provider. Accordingly, please be aware that this will mean that as you are in receipt of an income, your eligibility for State ‘means tested’ Benefits such as Income Support, may be affected. If you require further details, you should check with your local Job Centre Plus.
back to the top

4. Can I have joint cover?

British Insurance does not offer joint cover. Each person wishing to be insured needs to take out a separate policy.
back to the top

5. How do I transfer cover from my current insurer?

You can transfer your cover from another provider, which means that the initial exclusion period for unemployment may not apply. Full information on the eligibility requirements for transferring may be found in the Policy Wording relating to the insurance you wish to buy.
back to the top

6. What types of cover are available under this insurance?

For both income payment protection and mortgage payment protection, British Insurance offers the following three cover options:

• Accident, sickness and unemployment cover
• Accident and sickness only cover
• Unemployment only cover(except for 180 day excess)

back to the top

7. When does this insurance start to pay benefits?

There are 5 excess period options:

Back to day 1
If you are entitled to benefits (entitlement commences after the first 30 days of you being unable to work) you will be paid the benefit on the 31st day back to the first day you could not work.

30 days excess period
If you are entitled to benefits you will be paid the benefit on the 61st day from the 31st day you could not work. The benefit payable in the first month of entitlement will depend on the insurer - please check your policy details.

60 days excess period
If you are entitled to benefits you will be paid the benefit on the 91st day from the 61st day you could not work. The benefit payable in the first month of entitlement will depend on the insurer - please check your policy details.

90 days excess period
If you are entitled to benefits you will be paid the benefit on the 121st day from the 91st day you could not work. The benefit payable in the first month of entitlement will depend on the insurer - please check your policy details.

180 days excess period
If you are entitled to benefits you will be paid the benefit on the 211th day from the 181st day you could not work. The benefit payable in the first month of entitlement will depend on the insurer - please check your policy details.
back to the top

8. How much benefit can I insure?

The maximum monthly benefit that you can insure under Income Payment Protection Insurance is £1,500 or 50% of your gross monthly income, whichever the lesser.

The maximum monthly benefit for Mortgage Payment Protection is £2,000 or 50% of your gross monthly income.
back to the top

9. How long does this insurance cover me for?

All Mortgage and Income payment protection policies British Insurance offer will pay claims benefit for up to 12 months.
back to the top

10. How long does this insurance last?

The policies offered are on a rolling contract that operates on a monthly basis and continues for each month that you pay your premium. Cover can continue until you retire, reach the age of 65 or until you or the insurer cancel. Further information, about the end date of cover, may be found in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

11. Am I eligible to receive benefit under this insurance?

You are only eligible to receive benefits under the payment protection policies that British Insurance offer provided that you meet certain conditions. It is therefore essential that you satisfy yourself that these conditions apply to you, for further information please go to ‘Am I eligible to claim?’
back to the top

12. When can I claim for accident and sickness benefit?

Under the payment protection policies that British Insurance offer you are eligible to claim for accident or sickness benefit if you are unable to work in excess of the number of days you selected as excess period because of an accident or sickness. Further information, about when you can claim for accident and sickness benefit, may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

13. When can’t I claim for accident and sickness benefit?

Like all accident and sickness policies, the payment protection policies we offer contain exclusions which mean that in certain circumstances you will be unable to make a valid claim. Further information, about when you cannot claim for accident and sickness benefit, may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

14. When can I claim for unemployment benefit?

You are eligible to claim for unemployment benefit if you are unemployed for longer than the number of days you selected as the excess period. Further information, about when you can claim for unemployment benefit, may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

15. When can’t I claim for unemployment benefit?

Like all unemployment policies, the payment protection policies British Insurance offer contain exclusions which mean that in certain circumstances you will be unable to make a valid claim. Further information, about when you cannot claim for unemployment benefit, may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

16. When can I claim for carer benefit?

The policies we offer you allow you to claim for carer benefit if you have to leave work to become a carer for longer than the excess period chosen. Further information, about when you can claim for carer benefit, may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

17. When can’t I claim for carer benefit?

Like other policies, the payment protection policies British Insurance offer contain exclusions which mean that in certain circumstances you will be unable to make a valid claim. Further information, about when you cannot claim for carer benefit, may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

18. How long do I have to wait before this insurance covers me for unemployment or carer benefit?

The policies we offer, like all similar accident, sickness and unemployment insurance policies, have an ‘initial exclusion period’ at the start of the policy. This means that during the first 120 days of cover, it is not possible to make a claim for unemployment or carer benefit. Further information, about when you can and can’t claim for unemployment or carer benefit, may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

19. How do I make a claim?

To make a claim under the policies we offer is a very straightforward process. All you need to do is call the claims line number as found in your policy documents. Further information, about how to make a claim, may also be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

20. How do I change my monthly benefit?

To change your monthly benefit under the policies we offer is a very simple process. All you need to do is call the administrators for your policy, whose number can be found in the policy documents. Further information, about how to change your benefit, may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

21. What if my circumstances change once I am insured?

It is very important that you inform the underwriters, (or their administrators) of any changes to your personal circumstances, such as a change to your address or employment status. This is not a complete list and if you are unsure as to whether something is relevant, you should always disclose it. Failure to do so could invalidate a future claim. Further information about what to do if your circumstances change may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

22. How do I cancel this insurance?

You can cancel your cover under the policies we offer at anytime by writing to the underwriters for your policy, details of which can be found in the policy wording. In addition, you have a cooling-off period of 30 days at the start of your policy, during which you can cancel and get a full refund. Further information, about your cancellation rights, may be found in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

23. How do I make a complaint?

In the unlikely event that you wish to make a complaint about the policies we offer, or the service you have received, the companies involved will do all that is possible to put things right. Further information, about how to make a complaint, may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

24. How do I pay for this insurance?

The only way to pay for the payment protection policies offered by British Insurance is by monthly direct debit.
back to the top

25. Where do I find the important definitions?

Under the policies we offer, like all similar insurances, certain words and phrases have important meanings given to them and can be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

26. Where do I find information about the insurance contract?

Information about the insurance contract may be seen in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

27. Who underwrites this insurance?

We have selected a number of insurers, including Allianz, Great Lakes Reinsurance, Alpha and Lloyds (Association of). The insurer for your policy will depend on the type of policy and cover you require. Further information about the insurers may be found in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

28. Who administers this insurance?

We have selected a number of insurers and their administrators include Wessex Group, First Assist, Trent and MMS (Marketing & Management Services Ltd). The administrator for your policy will depend on the type of policy and cover you require. Further information about the administrators may be found in the Policy Wording.
back to the top

Please note this FAQ section is intended for general guidance only. As each insurer may have different definitions, you should double check the policy wording before you complete your application.
Get a quote >