Can I get home contents insurance if I have a criminal record?
Have you had any contact with the police or the justice system as a suspect in the past 8 years? If so, you have a criminal record, and it may be difficult to get home contents insurance. Difficult, but certainly not impossible. If a standard insurer won’t cover you, you can always turn to De Vereende Insurance Company. Read here to find out how to get home contents insurance if you have a criminal record.
My home contents insurance was denied because of a criminal record
Has your home contents insurance been denied because of a criminal history? That’s because insurers view people with a criminal history as a greater moral risk. They assume that someone with a criminal record is less likely to adhere strictly to insurance rules or pay the premium. Insurers are very cautious about this, because the risk to them is greater than usual. Based on underwriting questions, the insurer assesses whether or not to issue a policy. For example, they examine whether your criminal history is relevant to the type of insurance you’re applying for. Is the risk too high? If so, they won’t issue you a policy. If the insurance company does approve your application, certain conditions will apply, such as a higher premium.
Am I required to disclose my criminal history when purchasing home contents insurance?
If you have a criminal history, you are required to disclose it if the insurer asks. This is because your insurer does not have access to your criminal record. They are not aware of your criminal history beforehand and therefore have no way of assessing the risk they face. If you withhold information when applying for insurance, you are committing insurance fraud. If you’re caught committing insurance fraud, your problems will only get worse. That’s why it’s always best to fill out the application truthfully.
What are the consequences if I don't disclose my criminal record when applying for insurance?
If the insurer discovers that you have withheld information—whether intentionally or not—they can cancel your home contents insurance immediately. You will then no longer be entitled to a payout in the event of damage or an accident. You will not receive a refund of the premium you paid, and you will have to pay for any damages yourself—even if they occurred while you were still insured. In addition, you will be registered with Stichting CIS. This means that every insurer can see in the CIS database that you have committed fraud. As a result, it will be even more difficult for you to obtain home contents insurance in the future.
Is there really no way for me to get home contents insurance from a regular insurance company?
It’s not the case that a criminal record automatically means you can no longer get coverage from a standard insurance company. Every insurer has a different underwriting policy. Depending on the offense and how long ago it occurred, a standard insurance company may still accept your application. However, if you have a record of fraud, no insurer will be willing to accept you. In that case, the risk is simply too great for them. Fortunately, you can still turn to the insurance company De Vereende. They specialize in high-risk cases and, in principle, accept everyone. The costs will, however, be higher than usual. The higher the risk for the insurer, the higher the premium.
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When can I take out home contents insurance again with a traditional insurance company?
In general, a criminal record often expires after five years, and after five years you should be able to purchase insurance from a regular insurance company. However, if your offense occurred less than 8 years ago, you must still disclose it to the insurer. You could then apply for a VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct) to demonstrate that your past does not pose an obstacle to obtaining insurance. The insurer can then decide for itself whether or not to insure you.
Criminal record? Get your household property insurance through Alpina!
Are you having trouble getting home contents insurance because of your criminal record? At Geennee.nl, you can always get insurance to protect your belongings. Ideally, we’d like to help you get insurance from a traditional insurance company. If that really isn’t possible, you can take out home contents insurance through us with De Vereende. That’s because Alpina is an agent for De Vereende. Calculate your home contents insurance premium online right now through De Vereende!
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