Using data from its Aequos database, The Research Department reviews some of the products in the home, motor and credit card protection market, including Man Utd's household policy

Car manufacturer motor schemes
Many motor manufacturers have moved into the area of insurance, primarily to assist with selling more new cars, but a number now offer insurance after the typically "free" initial period.

We analyse some of the schemes available, as well as WhatCar? magazine's policy.

The Ford scheme is underwritten by NU, while the Land Rover and Volvo schemes are both R&SA policies, as is the What Car? scheme.

Clearly the three manufacturer schemes analysed are among the best in the market. Covers which set them apart from most of the market include:

  • high levels of cover for audio equipment (all offer unlimited cover for manufacturer fitted equipment)

  • lock replacement cover of at least £500

  • none of them has excesses for wind-screen replacement

  • Volvo and Land Rover policies offer unlimited foreign use, while the Ford policy allows trips of up to 90 days each, all as standard

  • The Ford policy also provides transport home for driver and passengers in the event of an insured accident.

    Credit card payment protection
    Most credit card providers are very keen to get customers to sign up for payment protection, to cover their repayments in the event of accident, sickness or unemployment. But how many customers actually check to see what they are getting for their money, or even if the cover is suitable for them?

    We analysed the policies of some of the leading credit card providers. Key features of the better policies in this market include `back to day one' cover for both accident and sickness (AS) claims and unemployment (U) claims, benefits accruing on a daily, rather than monthly basis, and short excess periods before claims become payable.

    Key benefits of the Bank of Scotland policy include:

  • High monthly benefit (10% of outstanding balance) in the event of a claim

  • Short excess period (14 days)

  • Back to day one cover, with benefits thereafter accruing on a daily basis.

    The Co-op policy is let down by the fact that it pays only half the monthly benefit that the Bank of Scotland (BoS) card would pay (5% of outstanding balance). Given that the price of cover for these two cards hardly differs (73p per £100 of balance for BoS, versus 72p for the Co-op) it initally appears that the Co-op card is twice as expensive for similar benefits.

    Both the Morgan Stanley and MBNA covers pay only 3% of the outstanding balance as a monthly benefit in the event of disability or unemployment.

    Man United in household
    Almost every major brand in the UK seems to be branching out into financial services as a means of increasing revenue. Most football clubs already have their own branded credit cards, but few have moved into insurance.

    Now Manchester United have just launched a new home insurance product, underwritten by Zurich. One of the key selling points is that Zurich will allow a £10 discount on renewal if Man Utd score more than 45 home goals this season.

    We compared the contents cover against leading direct providers. Key benefits are:

  • Good sums insured based on bedrooms (£35,000 for one to three bedrooms and £45,000 for four or five bedrooms)

  • No claim discount of up to 25%

  • £200 of emergency call-out cover

  • World-wide money and credit card cover up to £500 each as standard in contents

  • Single valuables limits of £2,500 per article, set or collection.

    Notes

  • These charts use The Research Department's unique Data Numerical Analysis (DNA) scoring system.

  • DNA illustrates the relative positioning of a product based on selected criteria.

  • The criteria used in this chart are a representative sample only and may not be relevant in all cases.

  • Other criteria are available and may give different results.

  • When used to match products to a client's circumstances, DNA can show how closely a product matches those requirements

    • Topics