Visit Cardif Pinnacle >>Name: Cardif Pinnacle Insurance No. of Reviews: 17
Formed in 1971 as Pinnacle Insurance Company Ltd, the general insurer was absorbed into the giant French banking group BNP Paribas in 1991, before re-branding itself Cardif Pinnacle in 2005. Operating from its UK headquarters in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, Cardif Pinnacle employs over 900 staff in Great Britain and Ireland and has overseas connections in both the Channel Islands and South Africa.
The company prides itself on being a leading global provider of specialty, warranty and special risks insurance encompassing:- Accidental Death, Personal Accident, Income Replacement Coverage, Medical Cash Plans, Medical Insurance for Employers, Pet Healthcare Insurance, Sports Injury Policies and Personal Accident Insurance. They also offer investment products direct to the public via independent financial advisors.
Helpucover - also sold direct to the UK public - is the name given to a range of products including Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance, Income Protection Insurance, Car Value Protection Insurance, Health Choices Plan and Lifetime Pet Insurance which was awarded "best buy" status by Which? magazine for its premium cover for both cats and dogs.
Their sister company, Financial Telemarketing Services, is a major provider of call centre outsourcing services to leading banks, building societies, insurers and intermediaries.
The growth of the company has been impressive, seeing Cardiff Pinnacle's gross written premium rise from £500 million in 2003 to over £1 billion in 2007. The insurer was given a Standard and Poor AA+ credit rating in July 2008, around the time of the birth of the phrase "credit crunch".
The claims management team provide an award winning range of services that include an in-house medical team and claimant texting facilities which is intended to speed up payouts on eligible policies when customers are at their most vulnerable.
Like several other insurers, Cardif Pinnacle invest in their local community. As the leading employer in Borehamwood and Galveston, Norfolk - Cardif Pinnacle take a proactive role in the sponsorship of many local sports including Boreham Wood FC and the Galveston Beach Volleyball Championships. They also provide a community police support car, in addition to sponsoring the maintenance of several roundabouts in Gorleston.
We're always concerned when financial firms produce branded products that aren't really their own company. The Help U Cover website (www.helpucover.co.uk) for example, lacks any parent company branding or imagery. Things get even more confusing when you hit their main site, www.cardifpinnacle.co.uk (www.cardifpinnacle.com seems to be a mirror of the .co.uk) as it links to pages within itself, the Help U Cover site and throws in a new one -- www.pinnacle.co.uk -- just for kicks. (Note: www.pinnacle.com is a completely different company!). Naturally, it may be easy to get lost so make sure and bookmark the page you're on if you're planning on returning later. †  Get News Updates on Cardif Pinnacle Insurance: |
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18/01/2010 If you are self employed - avoid them at all costs. I have had an insurance with them for 12 years to insure that my mortgage gets paid if I am out of work through sickness and unemployment. They want me to cease trading and therefore not be self-employed anymore. If I do this, I can no longer look for work (I am a carpenter and work through Agencies). Has anyone tried to sue them for false representation?