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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NI insurance bills '£700 higher' | NI insurance bills '£700 higher' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Consumers in Northern Ireland are paying up to £700 a year more for insurance than people in the rest of the UK, according to a new study. | Consumers in Northern Ireland are paying up to £700 a year more for insurance than people in the rest of the UK, according to a new study. |
| The Consumer Council says people pay 84% more on average (£282) for car insurance in Northern Ireland than in the rest of the UK. | The Consumer Council says people pay 84% more on average (£282) for car insurance in Northern Ireland than in the rest of the UK. |
| The report also found households in NI pay nearly 40% more in total on car, contents and building insurance. | The report also found households in NI pay nearly 40% more in total on car, contents and building insurance. |
| The council wants an investigation into the price discrepancy. | The council wants an investigation into the price discrepancy. |
| Eleanor Gill, chief executive of the Consumer Council, said: "The car, contents and buildings insurance market is clearly not working for consumers. | Eleanor Gill, chief executive of the Consumer Council, said: "The car, contents and buildings insurance market is clearly not working for consumers. |
| "Compared to Great Britain, households here are paying nearly 40%, leaving consumers £160m worse off per year. | "Compared to Great Britain, households here are paying nearly 40%, leaving consumers £160m worse off per year. |
| "While we are all hit hard, some households are hit particularly hard." | "While we are all hit hard, some households are hit particularly hard." |
| She said these included those in rural and low income areas. | She said these included those in rural and low income areas. |
| Peter Staddon from the British Insurance Brokers' Association said it was 'disappointing' that consumers in Northern Ireland are more for their insurance. | |
| He said the association is committed to working with the Consumer Council on the issues raised in the report but said price comparisons don't tell the whole story. | |
| "All policies are different and provide different levels of protection. Purchasing a cheaper policy can be a false economy, which could leave consumers without adequate protection. " |