How does the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) affect the cost of your home insurance?
If you don't claim on your home insurance, you might assume that you’ll pay roughly the same when you come to renew, maybe even a little less. But that’s not always the case, thanks to a little-known database called CUE.
If you don't claim on your home insurance, you might assume that you’ll pay roughly the same when you come to renew, maybe even a little less. But that’s not always the case, thanks to a little-known database called CUE.
What is the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE)?
The Claims and Underwriting Exchange – or CUE – is a central database with details of all incidents reported to insurance providers.
CUE isn’t limited to home insurance. Introduced in 1994, the central database is run and managed by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), and holds millions of records for car, motorbike, home, travel and personal injury claims.
The main aim of CUE is to combat fraud. Access to a single source of information about policyholders and the incidents they’re claiming for can be helpful, if insurance providers suspect a claim is a bit fishy.
In 2022, the total value of known fraudulent insurance claims totalled £1.1 billion, with the average fraudulent claim coming in at a record £15,000.
Dishonest policyholders might think that exaggerating or falsifying a claim is a victimless crime, but that’s not the case. It means everyone else has to pay more for their insurance.
More home insurance words and phrases you want to understand better? See our home insurance glossary
How does CUE affect my home insurance?
Every time you report an incident to your insurance provider – say someone breaks into your shed or smashes a window in your home – it’s recorded in CUE, whether you end up making a claim or not.
This system is designed to weed out fraud – for example, someone might call to ask if a claim is covered by their insurance. When they find out it’s not, they could add the cover to their policy and then report the same claim, saying it happened at a later date.
When insurance providers spot ‘incidents’ on your record, they’ll often think there’s a higher chance of you making a claim in the future and so increase the cost of your insurance.
When you take out a new policy, it might be tempting not to tell your insurance providers about any claims you’ve made in the past. But, non-disclosure goes against the rules.
If you ‘forget’ to ‘fess up, your new provider can check on CUE and your policy could be invalidated.
Even if it means you have to pay a little more for your insurance, it always pays to be honest.
What do I need to tell my insurance provider?
In a nutshell, answer everything the insurance provider asks as honestly and accurately as you can when you get a quote. (But you cannot be held responsible for failing to provide information that wasn’t requested.)
The information you supply is used by the provider to calculate the cost of your insurance and the level of cover they can offer.
If you knowingly give your insurance provider wrong or incomplete information, they could refuse to pay your claim and invalidate your policy. It may also make it harder, not to mention more expensive, to get insurance in the future.
You'll also need to tell your insurance provider if your situation changes – for example, if you move house or buy a new car. It might not seem important to you, but it could have an impact on your policy and your provider may need to update your cover.
See more on how to avoid invalidating your insurance policy.
One way that could help cut the cost of your insurance is to use Comparethemarket. We work with a variety of trusted providers to bring you choice and value in just a few clicks. Compare home insurance now.
Information CUE holds on you might impact the price you pay for your insurance. But it’s worth knowing that not all insurance providers will interpret it in the same way – another reason to shop around.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check the CUE database to find my own claims history?
Yes, you can find out exactly what information CUE holds on you by filling out a Subject Access Request form on the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) website. However, it’s probably quicker and easier to ask your insurance provider. They should have a full record of your claims history, even if you’ve switched providers.
How long does CUE store my claims history?
Information about your past claims is held on the CUE database for six years from the date your claim was closed.
If an incident is reported but I don’t make a claim, will it still go on CUE?
Even if you decide not to make a claim, a reported incident will be logged with CUE and stay there for six years – no matter how minor. It’s up to insurance providers to then decide if there’s a risk involved that could affect the cost of your insurance.
How much will my home insurance go up after a claim?
It depends on the type of claim you make. If it’s a relatively minor claim for a one-off incident, your insurance probably won’t go up by much, if at all. If it’s a major claim such as flooding, where ongoing problems are likely, you’ll see a much bigger increase.
How can I stop my home insurance from going up after a claim?
One of the best ways to keep the cost of your home insurance down after a claim is to shop around for a better deal when your policy ends. While insurance providers may check your claims history on CUE, their views on past claims could vary. Shop around and you may well be able to find the same level of cover at a lower price from a rival insurance provider.
Anna McEntee - Insurance expert
Anna’s all about delivering fantastic insurance products at a great price. Value is the most important thing for Anna, as she cuts through the jargon and finds what’s most important and worth your hard-earned money.
Rachel Lacey - Insurance and money expert
Rachel’s a self-confessed money nerd who’s been writing about personal finance for more than 20 years. She spent 17 years writing for Moneywise, including a few years as Editor, and likes making complicated subjects like insurance, pensions, investing and tax, easy for people to understand.