Is it time to claim back PPI?

May 29th, 2011

It can be quite tough finding another source of money to pay the debts you have incurred especially when you lose your job unexpectedly due to different circumstances. If you want to avoid the trouble of not being able to meet your repayments on time, you should think about buying payment protection insurance. This insurance policy can help you pay off your debts on time even when you don’t have any source of income but this is for a limited time only.

Usually, ppi can cover from 12 to 24 months depending on the PPI policy you will be purchasing as well as the company you will be buying it from. This is enough time for you to stand on your own two feet again and be able to meet your obligations on your own. Most customers who take this loan prefer to have the security it provides them with especially during times of financial problems.

Payment protection insurance, in truth, is not for everyone. If you are wondering whether this is the ideal choice for you, here are some pointers to help you decide.

First, does your company have policies in place for their employees? If it does then you might want to find out what do they cover. If their policies cover accident and sickness then you dont have to purchase full coverage for your PPI.

Second, do you have the financial capability to pay your payment protection insurance? Bear in mind that PPI policies can come at a high price and if you are not financially capable of purchasing one, dont force yourself. There are other cheaper alternatives that you might want to look into instead.

Third, do you have any existing insurance policies that have the same coverage as PPI? If yes, then you dont have to buy payment protection insurance at all. You will only end up paying twice which defeats your goal of saving in the first place.

You should think about these things when you are planning on buying PPI for your repayments. Although there are lots of benefits to be gained from this type of insurance policy it would be pointless to buy one especially when it is beyond your means or when you already have a pre-existing policy already.

Thousands of people often buy PPI policies along with their mortgage, loan and credit card premiums in the hopes that they will be paying off their debts in time so their credit history wont be affected. However, if the insurance company you bought it from actually misleads you in the first place, you will find that you cant make any claims at all.

There are lots of instances where payment protection insurance is mis-sold so you should be on your guard when shopping around for one. Keep in mind that PPI is not required before taking out a loan or mortgage so when the insurance company says it is, stay away from it.

Be wary of insurance companies that dont ask about your medical history and even your employment status. Remember that there are pre-existing medical conditions that are not covered by ppi and if you are already unemployed before you buy PPI, you wont be able to use it.

If you have been mis sold payment protection insurance, now is a great opportunity to claim back ppi. You can either try to do this yourself or if you don’t have the time and the inclination you can instruct a claims management company to do it for you.

Different Types of Payment Protection Insurance

May 29th, 2011

No one likes having debts, especially if the borrowed amount is huge. Even so, there are circumstances that will force people to apply for loans because of circumstances in their lives.  Since those who borrow money are usually those who are already in financial problems, they want to take steps in order to see to it that their debts will be repaid on time, and one way to ensure this is to purchase payment protection insurance.

Payment protection insurance, otherwise known as PPI, is a type of insurance policy designed to provide coverage for a persons debt repayments, in the event of unemployment, illness, injury, or death. There are three kinds of PPI: income protection, mortgage protection, and loan protection.

Income payment protection insurance is a monthly payment that is made to support income deficiencies due to unforeseen circumstances, particularly job loss. The amount provided for by insurance companies for income payment protection insurance is usually 50% of the policyholders monthly income. These policies are usually designed for short-term benefits, compared to income protection insurance which are long-term and can extend up to retirement.

Mortgage payment protection insurance supports the mortgage loans made by the policyholder. Purchasing of MPPI will guarantee the insured that the property he or she has bought using the mortgage loan will not be foreclosed even if he or she is unable to make the monthly repayments. The coverage is usually 75% of the monthly income of the policyholder.

Loan payment protection insurance has the broadest coverage out of all the three different kinds of PPI. It can cover as much as 100% of the debt obligations of the policyholder, with an additional 25% of the monthly income of the insured for any other expenses he or she might have incurred.

All of these payment protection insurance policies are short-term in nature. The premiums are paid on a monthly basis, but the timeframe may depend on what is stipulated in the insurance policy. All of these policies also cover the same circumstances: illnesses, accidents, involuntary redundancy, and death. The three different kinds of PPI also have the same exclusions and requirements. For example, those who are unemployed, retired, or self-employed at the time they took out the loan may not be protected by PPI. Pregnant women and those who have pre-existing conditions may also be excluded based on the stipulations of the insurance policy.

There is no question that PPI offers a lot of benefits to consumers. Unfortunately, this has been used to take advantage of buyers who dont know any better. In fact, payment protection insurance is actually the most commonly mis-sold type of insurance policy today. Several moneylenders offer PPI to their clients not because they need the coverage, but because the lending institutions actually get more money from the PPI than from the interest of the loaned money. Others would suggest or imply that borrowers need to get the insurance in order to have their loan approved, which isnt actually true. Some even sell policies to people who are obviously not covered by the policy due to the exclusionary clauses. Even with the involvement of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), there remain cases of people who bought PPI without being covered by it or who actually bought the policy without their knowledge.

In spite of these problems, PPI remains to be a helpful tool, especially for individuals who are concerned about making debt repayments. Possessing this type of insurance policy might even spell the difference between keeping your home or losing it as a result of your mortgage loan repayment issues. Even so, try to check all the details involved in your PPI so you can be sure that it actually provides coverage for your unique needs.

Three Basic Types of PPI

May 29th, 2011

Payment protection insurance is a type of insurance policy that offers coverage for loans, mortgages, and credit card debt in the event of unemployment, disability, illness or death. It is important to note, however, that there are different types of payment protection insurance policies and they offer different coverage depending on the terms of the policy. While PPI is typically sold by lenders alongside a loan, mortgage, or credit card application, you can also opt to get a stand-alone policy, which is actually much better, as you can choose your insurance provider and the terms that are best suitable for your needs. Below are the three basic types of payment protection insurance:

Income Payment Protection Insurance

It can be very difficult to lose your job, especially since losing your job does not mean that the bills will stop arriving every month or that your family wont need money for their needs. Income payment protection insurance, as the name suggests, offers coverage for any of your bills in the event of income loss. It is important to note, however, that you also have to choose the type of coverage you want. You can choose coverage in the event of redundancy, illness or disability, or involuntary unemployment. However, you can also opt to choose all three covers if you want to ensure that you are covered regardless of the reason for unemployment.

Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance

If you have an existing mortgage but you have lost your job due to illness or disability, mortgage payment protection insurance will take care of your mortgage fees for up to 12 months, provided that you are eligible. You can also opt to extend the period of coverage depending on your preference. If you dont want to end up losing your house because you are unable to pay for your loans due to any of the aforementioned circumstances, then it is best to have your mortgage covered.

Loan Protection Insurance

This type of PPI policy will cover all your existing loans in the event of redundancy, illness, disability, involuntary unemployment or death. It can be difficult to come up with the money to pay off existing loans especially if you are unable to work due illness or disability. Loan payment protection insurance will provide coverage for your existing loans should you find yourself in any of these situations. It also offers covers benefits for up to 12 months or you can ask your insurance provider for extended coverage for an added fee.

If you plan to get payment protection insurance, then you should carefully choose from the aforementioned types of PPI policies. Keep in mind that it is best to get a policy from an independent insurance provider, as lenders tend to be shady when selling such policies to their customers. The number of mis-sold PPI policies is enough proof that a lot of lenders sell PPI to take advantage of their clients.

It is also best to get in touch with the Financial Services Authority and ask for a listing of all available policies and their corresponding rates so that you can choose the best available plan for you. One of the primary issues with PPI is the fact that most policies are ridiculously overpriced so you should make sure to shop around first if you want to find an insurance provider that can offer the best possible rates for you. If you really want to get payment protection coverage then make sure to check if you have an existing policy first, as your lender may have signed you up for a policy without consciously being aware of it. If have not been mis-sold PPI, then you are free to get a policy from an independent provider right away but if you have an existing PPI that was mis-sold to you, it is best to settle it first to avoid having to pay for double premiums.

Understanding payment protection insurance

May 29th, 2011

Nothing can be more burdensome than losing your job while in the middle of paying for an existing loan obligation. Just imagine constantly worrying about where to get the money so that you can meet your credit deadline apart from finding money for all the other needs of your family. What’s worse is that you end up exhausting all your financial resources and all that is left to do is to declare bankruptcy to avoid any possible lawsuits. But there is a way to avoid all these. If you really want to secure your credit payments, then the one thing that you can do is to secure payment protection insurance.

What is payment protection insurance?

As a special kind of insurance policy, payment protection insurance or PPI is ideally offered to people who are planning to apply for or who already has existing loans, mortgages, and credit cards. This is because what this insurance provides is coverage for credit payments when loss of income befalls on the policy holder. This means that if you have payment protection insurance, you can be sure that your credit obligations will be constantly met if you lose your source or regular income due to factors like physical disability, sudden illness, accident, or even death. With PPI, you can be sure that your credit payments are continually paid for as longs as stated in the insurance policy.

How to secure PPI?

Clearly, payment protection insurance can really be beneficial not only for securing your loan payments but also for giving you peace of mind knowing that no matter happens, you will properly be assisted. So, if you are considering on getting this kind of insurance, then here are some simple tips:

  • PPI can be secure din two ways. First is from the credit companies themselves. Naturally, they will want to make sure that they will be paid with the money that their clients loaned so they encourage their clients to avail of the insurance policy. But if your credit company does not offer you with PPI, then you have the option of securing the insurance from an independent insurance company as well.
  • Over the years, there have been a few cases of PPI mis-selling, policy holders were not able to make claims for their insurance policies because they were not aware of what PPI really entail. To avoid this, you must remember to have a full understanding of the insurance policy before purchase. It is essential that you read terms and conditions provided in the policy thoroughly. Go over the provisions repeatedly until you have fully grasped what PPI can give you. Read even the fine print at the bottom of the page to check for loopholes in the policy. This way, you’ll know when you can avail of the insurance claims and you can gauge whether you can truly use the insurance policy to your advantage.
  • It is important that when purchasing payment protection insurance, you are currently employed and is not in risk of losing your job soon. Employment status is one of the factors that insurance companies look at when processing claims. PPIs purchased during the time of unemployment, self-employment, or retirement are deemed ineligible for claims.
  • Of course, you need to consider your budget when planning to secure payment protection insurance. Remember that you have to pay for it along with your loans and your other expenses so it is important if you can make sure that you will be able to pay for it as well. At the same time, compute all your existing loan obligations first before purchasing. This way, you’ll know how much coverage you will require from your payment protection insurance.