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Direct Line: Home Insurance reviews

3.68
Based on 132 reviews, last reviewed 11th Oct 2024
50% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
No new 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
49%
See only 4 star reviews
21%
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8%
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3%
See only 1 star reviews
19%

Latest highest rating:

5

An excellent online portal An excellent online portal and a very easy renewal process. Reviewed on: 11th October 2024
John D's avatar
John D

Latest lowest rating:

1

No DL renewal despite 15 years of no claims. Direct Line didn't renew my buildings and contents insurance because it was a 2nd home, only used by us.We have had insurance with DL for 15 years sin... Read more Reviewed on: 15th March 2024
Edward Cunningham's avatar
Edward Cunningham

About this product

At Smart Money People, we collect Direct Line home insurance reviews from genuine policyholders. These insights can help you make an informed decision when selecting your next provider.

Direct Line offers three levels of home insurance cover, allowing you to pay for just the level of protection you need. Choose from Home Insurance, Home Insurance Plus and Select Premier. You may opt to take out either buildings or contents insurance, or a combined policy.

If you’re considering Direct Line as your new home insurance provider, find out what existing customers have to say. Our Direct Line home insurance reviews can give you insight into what you can expect from the company. Discover whether policyholders were satisfied with their chosen level of cover and find out about Direct Line’s claims process and customer service. Learn more about real customer experiences by reading our reviews.

Have you had a home insurance policy with Direct Line? Did you take out buildings insurance, contents insurance, or both? Which level of cover did you choose and were you satisfied with the level of cover you received? Did you need to make a claim on your policy, and if so, how was it handled? Would you recommend Direct Line to a family member or friend?

Write an honest Direct Line home insurance review today. Together, we can help people like you make better decisions.

Direct Line Home Insurance reviews (132)

Review of the Direct Line, Home Insurance:

So Helpful

5
Simple clear and very helpful communication Reviewed on: 4th September 2024

Horrendous Organisation

1
Absolutely dreadful experience when seeking Home Insurance as their Underwriters do not cover parts of N.Ireland but have happily took my annual fees for vehicle insurance. Will Not be renewing any other policies and taking my business elsewhere. Reviewed on: 4th January 2023

6months on and still no date for fix

1
Had a leak, they refused the repair quotes I got and finally agreed to have their contractors do the fix. That was over 8 weeks ago and still no date. I’ll be leaving Direct Line once this claim is finally sorted and will never buy any of their products! Reviewed on: 16th October 2022

very good service

5
Good to deal with and knowledgeable Reviewed on: 10th October 2022

Great customer service

5
This is a company I have used for the last few years. My experience has been a positive one Reviewed on: 15th August 2022

Access and Trace not covered - Terrible

1
We have a water leak but as it is under floor in the house, we have to determine, at our own expense, if damage has been caused before DL will pay a penny!! Last time I take DL insurance out. Reviewed on: 1st August 2022

The most appalling service I've ever had (and I'm 69)

1
I’ve been with Direct Line for car insurance for many years. I never had to make a claim, but they were always prompt on renewals etc, and given that they were cheaper on home insurance than my existing ones thought I’d make the switch (and their advertising was impressive, plumber turns up to fix the leaking tap while they’re still on the phone to the insurers etc). So they’re prompt at signing you on, but in our experience when it comes to making a claim the reality is utterly different. Their customer service has been the worst I’ve ever experienced (and I’m 69). We had a fire in our bedroom on June 20th – a mirror on the windowsill had reflected sunlight onto the curtains (very thick drape, like to have the room dark at night, not flimsy things) and set them alight. The fire spread up into the ceiling. Fortunately, and unusually, we were in the house at the time, and put it out, within minutes. As the fire had spread to the ceiling, we called the Fire Brigade, who said it would have taken hold in a few minutes and burned the place down, and we should really have just exited rather than trying to stop it. So there is still some damage. New curtains needed, new curtain rail, new carpet, replastering the ceiling, replacing an armchair and cushions, replacing panes of glass that cracked in the heat etc… Haven’t had a single response from Direct Line in nearly the two months of sending the claim in. Have spent hours on the phone with them (waiting for them to pick it up) and online with their virtual assistant. On two occasions when I managed to get through they said someone would be in touch within a couple of days, and nothing happened. On the third occasion, I got through on the phone after an hour waiting, got a claim reference, and was transferred to their loss adjuster, Sedgewick, who picked up the phone after another hour, and said somebody would definitely be in touch that day. That was a week ago. The bedroom is not uninhabitable for us. I realise it’s not a big issue, in that sense, in terms of house fires. Though I do miss sleeping without curtains. And there’s still the stink of charred furnishings – what are we meant to do with that, take them to the dump? Clear out the evidence of the fire? It just seems like if they never reply, most claimants are likely to give up. That’s their business philosophy. Because actually dealing with the claim would take vastly less time, all-round. Reviewed on: 19th July 2022

Most appalling service I've ever had (and I'm 69).

1
I've been insured with Direct Line on my car for many years, never had to make a claim. They always processed renewals etc efficiently, so thought I'd switch the home insurance to them as well, as they were cheaper. They process your application efficiently, of course, but then it recently came to the point of having to actually make a claim. We had a fire in our bedroom, a mirror had reflected sunlight onto our "thick drape) curtains, which caught fire. Fortunately, we were in the house, and able to put it out in minutes with buckets of water. The Fire Brigade said that if we hadn't, the whole place would have burned down (it had started to get through the ceiling). Sent through a claim to Direct Line the same day (June 20th), with photos of the damage etc. Curtains, carpet need to be replaced, some furniture, ceiling replastered etc. Have never had an acknowledgement of the claim. Over the following weeks tried contacting online, by virtual assistant, and by phone. Eventually got through to someone,who said someone would be responding in a couple of days. Zilch. Last week I tried again, and they eventually gave me a claim reference number and transferred me to the loss adjusters they use for this (Sedgewick), which took about two hours on the phone. The Sedgewick guy assured me that someone would be back to me later that day. Zilch. Trouble is, there are details that need sorting - like - the bedroom is not uninhabitable, but do we go ahead with getting new curtains before having the claim approved? - I struggle to sleep in sunlight. The charred stuff in the bedroom - do we just chuck it out, or do we have to keep it there as evidence? They are utterly useless, in my experience, a complete rip-off, relying on people just to give up on pursuing their claims, and I post this review in the hope that I can avoid you going through the same agony, or to encourage them to change their policies and take their jobs seriously. Reviewed on: 19th July 2022

Reasonably priced

5
Easy process, good price - what else can you ask for ? Reviewed on: 18th July 2022

good value

5
price for the cover provide very good Reviewed on: 18th July 2022

Home emergency cover

1
Absolutely useless, they pass the buck to Direct Line and vice versa. Seems DL contract with shoddy companies who fob you off using any excuse. If you have water leaking from bathroom to ceiling you would think it is covered, but not they. If you have another bathroom, even if it cannot be used because of physical issues they would try to weasel out of their obligation. Also, if you try to do some self help and isolate the fault whilst waiting for them sometimes taking hours to attend, that would stop it being classed as emergency and they would try to get out of their obligation. Reviewed on: 23rd June 2022

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