PPI Insurance: Understanding What it is and How it Works

Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) has been the subject of countless controversies and discussions over the years. It is a form of insurance and is designed to cover an individual’s repayments on loans, credit cards, and mortgages in case they are unable to do so due to unforeseen events such as illness, redundancy, or death. PPI has been mis-sold to millions of people in the UK, leading to many people making claims for compensation.

What is PPI insurance?

PPI insurance is a type of insurance policy that enables individuals to protect their loan, credit card, or mortgage repayments in case they are unable to pay them due to unforeseen circumstances. These circumstances typically include illness, accident, redundancy, or death. The idea is that if an individual has PPI insurance, their repayments will be covered, and they will not fall into debt or default on their loan, credit card, or mortgage payments.

The insurance policy typically covers the individual for a specific period, usually up to 12 months or until they can return to work.

However, PPI insurance has come under scrutiny in recent years due to widespread mis-selling. Many individuals were sold PPI insurance policies even though they would not be able to make a claim, or the policy was unsuitable for their particular circumstances. This resulted in millions of people making successful claims for compensation.

How does PPI insurance work?

PPI insurance works by protecting an individual’s loan, credit card, or mortgage repayments in case they are unable to pay them due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, accident, redundancy, or death. The insurance policy covers the individual for a specified period, and if they are unable to pay their repayments during this time, the policy will cover their payments, allowing them to avoid defaulting on their repayments.

In theory, PPI insurance is a valuable product that offers peace of mind and protection to individuals who are worried about their ability to repay their loans, credit cards, or mortgages. However, due to widespread mis-selling, many individuals have been sold PPI insurance policies that do not offer any value or protection.

How was PPI insurance mis-sold?

PPI insurance was mis-sold to millions of people in the UK over the years. There were several ways in which PPI insurance was mis-sold, including:

Way PPI was mis-sold
Description
Sold alongside loans, credit cards, or mortgages without the knowledge of the customer
Some banks and lenders added PPI insurance to loans, credit cards, or mortgages without the customer’s knowledge, and the customer only found out about it when they checked their statements or received a letter from the bank or lender.
Sold to customers who did not need or want it
Some banks and lenders sold PPI insurance policies to customers who did not need or want them, either because they already had cover elsewhere or because they did not understand what the policy covered.
Sold to customers who would not be eligible to claim
Some banks and lenders sold PPI insurance policies to customers who would not be eligible to claim, such as those who were self-employed or had pre-existing medical conditions.

These are just a few examples of how PPI insurance was mis-sold. As a result of widespread mis-selling, many individuals have made successful claims for compensation.

How to check if you were mis-sold PPI insurance

If you are unsure whether you were mis-sold PPI insurance, there are several ways to find out:

  1. Check your loan, credit card, or mortgage agreement to see if PPI insurance was added without your knowledge.
  2. Contact your bank, lender, or credit card company to find out if you have a PPI insurance policy and whether you were mis-sold it.
  3. Speak to a claims management company that can help you make a claim for compensation if you were mis-sold PPI insurance.

If you were mis-sold PPI insurance, you may be entitled to compensation. This compensation can be substantial, so it is worth checking whether you were mis-sold PPI insurance.

FAQs

What is the deadline for claiming compensation for mis-sold PPI insurance?

The deadline for claiming compensation for mis-sold PPI insurance was August 29th, 2019. However, if you have exceptional circumstances, you may still be able to claim compensation.

How much compensation can I receive for mis-sold PPI insurance?

The amount of compensation you can receive for mis-sold PPI insurance varies depending on your individual circumstances. However, many individuals have received thousands of pounds in compensation.

Can I make a claim for mis-sold PPI insurance if I no longer have the loan, credit card, or mortgage?

Yes, you can still make a claim for mis-sold PPI insurance even if you no longer have the loan, credit card, or mortgage.

Do I need a claims management company to make a claim for mis-sold PPI insurance?

No, you do not need a claims management company to make a claim for mis-sold PPI insurance. However, they can be useful if you are unsure how to make a claim, or if you need help gathering evidence.

Can I make a claim for mis-sold PPI insurance if I have already received compensation?

No, if you have already received compensation for mis-sold PPI insurance, you cannot make another claim.

Conclusion

PPI insurance is a type of insurance policy that is designed to protect individuals’ loan, credit card, or mortgage repayments in case they are unable to pay them due to unforeseen circumstances. However, PPI insurance has been mis-sold to millions of people in the UK, leading to many people making claims for compensation.

If you are unsure whether you were mis-sold PPI insurance, it is worth checking as you may be entitled to compensation. The deadline for claiming compensation for mis-sold PPI insurance was August 29th, 2019, but if you have exceptional circumstances, you may still be able to make a claim.