Help & Support - Customer Service

Deductions for payment of insurance premiums with Scotia Home & Auto Insurance are processed on the 5th of each month.

If a payment is returned by your financial institution due to Funds Not Cleared or Insufficient Funds, we will attempt to collect the same amount from your account 5-7 business days later - giving you another opportunity to have the funds available.

If, on the 2nd attempt, your payment is returned by your financial institution, your deduction will be subject to a handling fee. The missed deduction, along with the handling fee and any additional tax, will be spread equally over the remaining policy term - therefore increasing your subsequent monthly deductions.

In the event of multiple missed deductions, your policy will be cancelled by registered mail, in accordance with provincial regulations.

Please note, your financial institution may charge you for each unsuccessful withdrawal attempt, depending on your fee plan. An option to avoid this is to arrange with your bank for overdraft protection to prevent insufficient funds.

A Service Specialist can answer questions about your policy and premiums and help you get a claim started.

There are many things you can do to help you save on your insurance premiums, including:

For your vehicle:

• Combine coverage to activate discounts – the more insurance you purchase with Scotia Home & Auto Insurance, the more you save. Consider combining all of your vehicles plus your home insurance with us. 
• Purchase Accident Forgiveness – this coverage can help maintain the cost of your premiums after your first accident by protecting your driving record.*
• Maintain your driving record – driving carefully and following the speed limit helps avoid convictions which can negatively impact your vehicle insurance premiums.
• Consider insurance implications before buying and do some research about what vehicles are considered more or less expensive to insure.
• Purchase (and use) winter tires – using winter tires in extreme weather can minimize your chances of having an accident, which could increase your premium. Also, in certain areas of Canada, we offer an outright discount just for having them.**
• Choose higher deductibles – generally, if you choose a higher deductible, your insurance premiums will be lower.
• Driver's training*** – vehicle insurance can be expensive for newly licensed drivers. Taking a licensed driver's training course can help offset this.

For your home:

• Combine coverage to activate discounts – the more insurance you purchase with Scotia Home & Auto Insurance, the more you save. Consider combining your home insurance and your vehicles with us. 
• Inspect and maintain your home regularly – the things that reduce your premium are often the same things that you are already considering to keep your home safe and well-maintained for you and your family. By proactively avoiding perils, you avoid claims, and therefore avoid increases to your premiums.
• Consider insurance implications before buying – newer homes are generally less expensive to insure, because their heating, plumbing and electrical systems are likely to be in better condition than older homes. The location of your home can also influence insurance premiums.

At Scotia Home & Auto Insurance protecting you, your family and your assets with the best coverage we can provide is always our goal.

*Not available in Quebec. Please contact us at 1.833.235.2136 if you have questions about coverage in Quebec.

**Not applicable in Quebec. Winter tires are mandatory in Quebec.

***Not applicable in Quebec. Driver’s Training is mandatory in Quebec. 

In the insurance world, "personal articles" or "scheduled articles" are items covered by a special endorsement added to a policy. Some of these items are subject to special limits that may mean that you do not have the coverage that you need unless you purchase additional coverage. Examples are:

• Jewellery
• Furs
• Cameras
• Silver/goldware
• Sports equipment
• Fine art (including items like oriental rugs, as well as paintings, sculpture, etc.)
• Collectibles
• Computer equipment

We suggest speaking to your Service Specialist to discuss coverages and added premiums for these Personal Articles riders.

The higher the deductible, the lower the premium. When comparing policies, make sure you know what the cost of the deductible is. While a lower premium is tempting, make sure the deductible won't be too high for you to pay if you have to make a claim.

You can take some simple steps to avoid damage and claims. Prevention is much easier than fixing an issue, so it's worth taking action to:

• Get your furnace and heating system serviced regularly by a qualified servicer.
• Make sure your sump pump and line are working properly (not blocked or leaking)
• Keep your doors closing and locking securely, make sure they are easily accessed and open easily if needed; replace weather-stripping when needed
• Make sure any doors from the house to the garage self-close completely
• Cover outside of air conditioning units
• Clean leaves from eavestroughs, roofs and downspouts and make sure water drains properly
• Check chimneys for obstructions
• Drain and store outside hoses; close the water supply and drain the exterior faucet each autumn
• Store outdoor furniture, bbqs, etc. securely for winter

We’re dedicated to providing our customers with quality products and best in class service, which is why are excited to partner with a new insurance provider.

Unifund Assurance Company will now underwrite all Scotia Home & Auto Insurance policies, except in the province of Quebec where policies will be underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada.

You'll continue to receive exceptional service from Scotia and enjoy access to great-value products and new features.

Your existing policy will continue as is until renewal. Policies will automatically renew with the new service provider, starting from July 1 2019.

When you receive your notification of renewal for your current policy(ies), we will outline your coverage, applicable limits, any deductible that will apply in the event of a claim, and any exclusions. We encourage you to take a moment to read this information carefully, as some of your coverage may have changed.