Forces Financial query

Forces Financial website reads:

link here

I recommended a friend to your site. On calling your free phone number he was told this is not the case and that he WOULD NOT be covered if he was under orders to deploy to the middle east.

For our benefit for for those who may be about to deploy and are under the impression they are covered can this please be mopped up and clarified.

 

Our position on this has never wavered – we offer immediate Personal Accident cover wherever you are deployed. This provides accidental death cover, and includes death by natural causes if you select the optional Life cover available with the Personal Accident policy.

We then recommend that on return from deployment our customers review their circumstances with us, and consider taking out term assured Life Insurance in order to guarantee the level of cover and premium for a longer, fixed period of time.

We’re sorry that our Call Centre appears to have given inaccurate advice on this occasion, especially as we have been providing this cover consistently since the first Gulf conflict. If your friend would like to PM us with his contact details we will give him a call and establish the exact circumstances in order to ensure this does not happen again. We know how highly valued this service is, and would not wish there to be any misunderstanding about our commitment to ensure cover for all those going to areas of conflict around the world.



Forces Financial is a trading name of Stuart Harvey Insurance Brokers Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registration number 301858. Registered Office: Globe House, 24 Turret Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1DL

 

Wasn't a pop, I noticed that you claimed to give immediate life cover. It wasn't realised at the time that this was part of a Personal accident plan.

They said life cover was available should it be linked to a mortgage, but the only other way around it was the Personal accident plan. They then said that death from natural causes wasn't covered, but accidental death (including deployment related fatalities) was covered.

Is there a life only policy, unrelated to mortgage protection available for troops warned for orders to deploy to the middle east?

 

FF,

Not related to this particular issue, other than it is insurance related, but perhaps you would comment on the following:

After being provided with my contents/kit insurance for the last 20 odd years, by variations of NAAFI, Norwich Union and now through you as a broker, I have now reached the stage where I will not be renewing my policy again.

This is not down to unsatisfactory service - in fact the single occasion on which I did claim the matter was dealt expeditiously and fairly. What has driven my decision now is the 33% increase demanded above my historic premiums, based on a decision by your company that NAAFI/NU had, in the past, incorrectly applied the wrong premium. After a great deal of wrangling with your company it transpired that you have 2 levels of premiums for those who live in SFA; one for SFA that lie within a fenced military base and a different one for the rest (the vast majority of the MOD SFA estate incidentally) that lie outwith this 'fenced perimeter'.

Aside from the fact that many other of your customers may not actually be covered by their insurance as they would not have realised that you apply this distinction, your policy is rather mean, unfair to the majority, and ultimately results in a totally uncompetetive product.

PAW

PS Why are you still using the NAAFI trademark on your documentation for UK customers?

 

I was told something similar when i rang up for a Life Policy, I couldn't get Life cover if i had been warned off for deployment.
However they could offer a Personal Accident policy but...... if i copped it i would only get upto 150K payout.

Having a very young child & husband I would require more than that, should the shit.e hit the fan.

The bird on the phone said someone else would ring me regarding the Personal Accident Cover.................. still waiting out.

If anyone can recomend/knows/have used a decent broker drop me a pm.

 

Any update chaps?

 

Dear Forces_Financial,

A key feature you seem to miss is loans to people on a BFPO address. I attempted a loan through a UK address but was fobbed off because I was not on the votal register. I then tried BFPO and the operator called Kevin had no comprehension of what I was talking about. I had to go to Halifax on my last UK visit and only by going into the branch and discussing, 1 to 1 did I get a loan.

I have an excellent credit history, own a house etc etc but found that my APR was higher as I had to go into a branch rather than a web-site (which obviously threw a techno wobble when I entered BFPO in the postcode bit)

One thing I see out here in Germany is young guys with no UK credit history having to get loans at really high APRs. I am talking 15-20% which is worse than some of those sharks on day-time TV. This is not their fault, just that they are young and only have a BFPO address!

Lending to squaddies must be a good deal, as long as you have their No, Rank, Name you can track them anywhere. Is this going to happen or are you just going to flog insurance?

 

Dear PAW

We have negotiated on a 20% perimeter discount for our Kit and Contents insurance customers if they live within military establishments in the UK and Cyprus, with obvious benefits to both our customers and ourselves. When providing a quote for a new policy we check whether you are living behind the wire, and if so we make the discount available.

Your point highlights the value of keeping contact details up to date so we can make sure that all discounts available are applied to your policy at the point of renewal, or in the event of a mid-term adjustment.

It’s good to hear that when you made a claim with us your had a good experience, and hope that you will be prepared to give us the opportunity to quote again in the future as we will have many new products coming on stream which will be both competitive and geared for your lifestyles.


Forces Financial is a trading name of Stuart Harvey Insurance Brokers Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registration number 301858. Registered Office: Globe House, 24 Turret Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1DL

 

Dear Cait

Great to hear from someone who understands just what level of Life cover they may need should anything happen – too many of us underestimate this.

Our levels of Personal Accident insurance with optional Life cover do provide a maximum payout of £150,000, which I think you might agree is better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick if you have to make provision at the last minute. But we spend a lot of time touring military establishments trying to get over the importance of taking out Life cover before deployment so all your circumstances can be taken into account and your preferred level of cover taken out over a term with all the benefits that go with it.

I can arrange a call for you Cait if you send me a PM.


Forces Financial is a trading name of Stuart Harvey Insurance Brokers Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registration number 301858. Registered Office: Globe House, 24 Turret Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1DL

 

We understand that its important to sort life insurance matters out long before a period of deployment, the concern was that the website clearly states life cover even if warned to deploy, then when you attempt to take a policy out, life insurance isn't available unless on the back of a personal accident plan.

Telephone numbers were then handed out for an alternate company within the R3 group.

Indeed £150,000 is far better than a poke in the eye, however I'm sure you will agree that if someone reads the website of a credible company stating they can be covered even if deployed it may take the importance away from prior, superior cover being taken out.

There are dozens of companies, touring camps, selling policies, be they kit insurance, life insurance, pension plans, and not so many endowments now, however the concern is the small print and how many of them truly cater for a family man / woman currently serving in todays climate.

My original post wasn't a dig, and in hinesight an email to the company making them aware would possibly be in order, but if the message gets across to just one man that you CAN'T get life cover from Forces Financial, unless piggybacked onto a personal accident plan then surely its a good thing?

 

Hi Bullshit

We are looking at all areas of insurance and financial services for the Armed Forces encouraged by the feedback we are receiving from all levels, so thanks for your input.

As you have a BFPO address you probably know that we provide over the counter banking and saving facilities through the Abbey agencies in our branches in Germany and Cyprus. We believe this is a vital service for families posted overseas, and will give your suggestion due consideration as we know loans are difficult to source, for a variety of reasons, for the group you have identified.

Forces Financial is a trading name of Stuart Harvey Insurance Brokers Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registration number 301858. Registered Office: Globe House, 24 Turret Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1DL

 

Minister_doh_nut

Your posts have highlighted the fact that our Life and Personal Accident pages on the Forces Financial website could benefit from some clarification, and these are now being reviewed and will be updated shortly. Our Call Centre team will also be given refresher training using your contact with them as a test case, so a PM with your contact details would be very helpful.

Our understanding is that the very limited number of companies prepared to provide Life Insurance cover for those under orders to deploy use their Personal Accident policy to offer a Life Cover option in these circumstances. So Forces Financial is not unusual in this, but we are unusual in making this cover available at all times, and in never having withdrawn it from the market place.

It is our priority to ensure all clients are advised and recommended to take out adequate Life cover before being put on orders, when there are many choices open to them. However, as a company we are proud that we do have a backup policy in the form of our Personal Accident policy with Optional life cover for those who have not sought cover prior to deployment. As mentioned earlier, we recommend that on return our customers review their circumstances with us, and consider taking out term assured Life Insurance in order to guarantee the level of cover and premium for a longer, fixed period of time.

We work hard to keep all contact channels open and available to servicemen and women being deployed – you can call us from Iraq and arrange immediate cover – and would not wish to discourage anyone from getting the cover, that we know from experience, can be a great support should the worst happen.


Forces Financial is a trading name of Stuart Harvey Insurance Brokers Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registration number 301858. Registered Office: Globe House, 24 Turret Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1DL

 

Still there?

This is causing confusion.

 

BiscuitsAB

Our website is still under review at the moment which I agree is not helping the situation, and the changes we wish to make to the Life insurance and Personal Accident insurance pages will clarify the points originally raised on this thread and repeated here.

We are not an IFA but a company which specialises in finding and delivering the most appropriate products for our military customers from major insurers. As such we have panels of insurers to call on to design products for us that meet your specific requirements.

With reference to your comments regarding mortgage protection cover we do have an insurer who will provide Life term insurance cover to those under orders if they have a mortgage. Cover can be arranged to a maximum value of £200,000. However, on top of the monthly premium a further cost is charged at the rate of £4 per £1000.

Lets take an example: if you had a mortgage of £150,000 the monthly mortgage protection premium would be say £30 for the sake of argument, and on top of this a further £4 x 15 = £60 would be applied, making the total monthly premium £90. This policy would pay out in the unfortunate event of a death in theatre once proof of mortgage had been supplied.

So anyone who has a mortgage but has not made any provision for life cover before being deployed can take this policy. Alternatively, you can bolt Optional Life cover onto a Personal Accident policy, which is open to those with or without a mortgage, and will provide up to £150,000 in the event of death at a total premium of £35.26 single standard cover.

However, if you can get ahead and take out Life insurance before you are under orders then you have a wider range of products and insurers to call on, as mentioned in earlier postings here.

All of this highlights the complexities of Life cover, and personal circumstances have to be fully explored to ensure individuals have the right policy. Anyone with queries about their requirements could send a pm and one of our advisors will call you.

We use and recommend the 15 times income calculation for clients with dependents looking for Life insurance cover for the following reasons:

Example calculation -
Annual salary of £25,000 x 15 = £375,000
Less
Death in service benefit (say 4 x income) of £100,000
Less
other Life policies sum assured of £50,000

In these circumstances we would recommend cover of £225,000 to support dependents in maintaining their standard of living ie accommodation, loans, bills, school fees etc


Finally, at the launch of Forces Financial in November 2006 the MD Al Voice said:

“I believe Forces Financial will provide the military insurance market with a much needed shot in the arm, as it is my fundamental belief that the Forces have not yet had solutions presented to them which fully recognise their uniqueness. Forces Financial has the expertise, distribution channels and influence to deliver this – in abundance. I am proud of the operationally focused protection we have always provided, but I believe I share with commanding officers a greater aspirational goal to enable those under their command to fulfil their financial dreams. My team and I will be consulting with service personnel at all levels to determine exactly how best we may achieve this together.”

Let us show you in the coming months just what we can do as a result of your feedback.


Forces Financial is a trading name of Stuart Harvey Insurance Brokers Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registration number 301858. Registered Office: Globe House, 24 Turret Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1DL