Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.To provide information on consumers' experience, knowledge and attitudes in relation to insurance policies of five different types. The types of policy covered are: 1. Life assurance policies 2. Endowment assurance policies 3. Home insurance (buildings) (Householders survey only) 4. Home insurance (contents) (Householders survey only) 5. Motor vehicle insurance
Main Topics: Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions a) How people have taken out their present policy(ies) b) Who advised them and what advice they were given c) Policy holders' awareness of specific clauses in their policies d) Problems that have arisen when making a claim on their policy e) Other difficulties members of the public have had to face in connection with insurance f) Attitudes of non-policy holders to each type of policy and the way in which they would obtain such a policy. Survey consists of 4 separate questionnaires. Variables common to all include: whether informant holds a policy or whether he/she has ever held a policy - if applicable; reason for no longer having one is given. If respondent has never considered taking out a policy, reason' is stated and a record is made of how he/she would go about obtaining one should he/she so decide. Particulars of policy held: company with which policy is held; annual yearly premium on policy; method of payment (e.g. by Giro); whether paid by instalments; if so, frequency of payment is recorded; total sum assured on policy; date policy was taken out. Procedures followed when taking out policy: whether and by whom prompted to take out policy; objectives in taking out policy; decision stages involved in first taking out policy; from whom received advice (8 categories). There is a separate section on insurance brokers, where applicable. Knowledge of policy: particularly, cover of policy; facilities linked with policy (e.g. life insurance policy and mortgage facility); amount which would be received if respondent stopped paying premiums before policy maturation date. Also, familiarity with policy document is tested (e.g. the last time that holder read or even looked at the document, and where it is normally kept). Claims (except in life insurance questionnaire): number of claims made on policy; value of claim; whether handled by self; circumstances leading to claim; difficulties experienced; eventual outcome (e.g. claim met in full) and knowledge of the termaveraging' on claims. Attitudes: circumstances in which respondent might decide to increase the value of his/her policy; whether he/she has ever contacted the insurance company with a view to modifying policy (if yes, who contacted and number of times is recorded); whether respondent thinks that the company should contact policy holders from time to time or whether it should be left to the holder to contact the company. Satisfaction with people who may have been contacted at some stage in connection with policy is gauged on a 7-point scale (people listed are: insurance broker; insurance agent; bank manager; solicitor; other professional adviser). Background Variables Sex, age cohort, marital status, occupational details (including industry, job description and status, qualifications obtained), social grade, household status (i.e. sex, ages, number, occupational status, marital status, relationship to informant), home tenure and area of residence.
Quota sample
interviewing was carried out in 50 constituencies chosen to be representative. Within each constituency a sample of streets was drawn with the streets selected with a probability proportionate to the number of addresses in the street. The respondents were a quota sample of 12 heads of households per area selected from the sample of streets by a method that left at least three addresses between successful contacts
Face-to-face interview
