Helen Phipps

Commercial Director at Comparethemarket

Car and home insurance expert

Having worked in both sides of the industry, Helen’s a real insurance expert. She’s worked directly with several insurance providers and now Comparethemarket. She’s always searching for the cheapest prices for customers and is passionate about saving people money.

Being married with two kids, Helen knows all about the cost of living and the benefits of having the right products and insurance for the whole family.

Helen’s background in the industry

“I’ve worked in this industry for over 15 years, with previous roles with insurance providers including Aviva, RAC and Hastings Direct. I’ve been with Comparethemarket for over nine years, as a car and home insurance expert and Commercial Director.”

Helen’s experience

Helen at Comparethemarket

Starting as Head of Home Insurance, Helen was responsible for delivering the right products at great prices for customers, ensuring they could save money on their renewal. As Head of Partner Relationships she went on to work with hundreds of partner brands across car, home, van, pet and bike insurance products.

Most recently, as Commercial Director, Helen leads the commercial proposition across all products, trying to find the cheapest prices possible for our customers. She also acts as a spokesperson for Comparethemarket on insurance products.

Helen at Hastings Direct

As Head of Commercial Trading, Helen was responsible for both van and car insurance across multiple sales channels, delivering both volume and value for these products.

Helen at RAC (as part of Aviva PLC)

During her four years as Senior Sales & Marketing Manager, Helen was focused on delivering great products to the right customers, ensuring her team hit commercial targets for the business.

Helen’s goal as Commercial Director at Comparethemarket

“My goal is to help you save money by continuously trying to get the cheapest prices possible. I’d love to save customers up to £1,000 each.”

Helen Phipps commenting on...

Single-item limit insurance

"Households should be careful not to underestimate the value of any expensive single items, such as jewellery or a big-screen smart TV. Most contents policies will have a maximum amount paid out for any one item. It’s often around £1,500, but could be lower or higher depending on the insurer.

High inflation means some possessions may now be worth more than the single item limit, so the policy will only partially cover the cost of a replacement. It’s worth checking with your provider if you have any questions about what your policy covers."

Damp in the home

“Condensation might be the most common cause of damp, but it’s also the most treatable. Reducing the amount of moisture in your home is the best way to combat condensation before it becomes a problem. Simple things like opening windows or using fans while cooking, keeping lids on pans or making sure tumble dryers aren’t clogged with dust, could help to eliminate damp and mould.”

Making home improvements vs moving house

“If improvement work is done on the home, you must inform your insurance provider of the changes made. Properties that are undergoing building work can constitute more of a risk to providers and, if you’re planning to undertake major works, it’s always worth notifying them.”

Should I move or improve?

Helen Phipps in the press...

How to keep your home safe from flood damage as UK endures massive rainfall... and why your home insurance policy might not pay out

Daily Mail

'Comparethemarket director Helen Phipps said: 'Flood cover is generally included as standard in most buildings and contents insurance policies.

However, it is important to check the level of cover in your policy wording or call your provider if you are concerned about exclusions.
Most policies do not cover damage to fences, gates and hedges. If you are unable to stay in your home while it's being repaired, it's important to check whether you are covered for temporary accommodation.'

Do YOU know how much a flooded home costs to repair - and is it covered on your insurance? With heavy rain forecast, here's what you need to know

This is Money

‘CompareTheMarket director Helen Phipps said: 'The Met Office predicts heavy snow and rain in parts of the UK this month. As this may cause some areas to be at risk of flooding, it is worrying to see over a quarter of homeowners do not have a good understanding of what their buildings and contents insurance cover includes.
With a fifth of homeowners also not knowing if they are in a high flood risk area, there is a danger that some households are not sufficiently aware of the risks they are facing.'

Everything you need to know about home swapping holidays

Good Housekeeping

“Don’t assume your home insurance will cover property letting or exchanges," says Helen Phipps, insurance expert at Comparethemarket. "It’s important to contact your provider to tell them about your intentions. Whilst some providers may allow you to extend your policy whilst you’re letting or exchanging your property, others may have different terms."

Articles by Helen Phipps

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