Canadian Direct Insurance Home Insurance Reviews

Worst company when it comes to claim. We had a bad hail damage on the roof gutters, siding and other material such as railing barbeque and some other stuff was damaged. They only want to pay for roofing, only part of damaged siding, they don't care if the colour matches or not. The other stuff that was damaged by hail they don't wanna cover
and they wanna deduct 5 percent deprecation on everything from demolition to material and labour. I am gonna almost pay 50 % of the actual damage from my own pocket which is ridiculous.
I think the government should step in. My neghbours are with a different insurance company and its totally opposite. Worst customer service.

I am from Fort Mcmurray so after having a claim with them after the wildfire every person who works for thus company has no compassion or a care in the world about any of their customers. I have soot and ash all over my house but their adjustors say that isn't so because they don't care to enter my house they only want to stand at the door step, when I asked about having it cleaned because my daughter has serious health issues I was told and in these words "that isn't our problem". I truly hope that the people who works for them never have to face a situation as we have and have to deal with themselves actually maybe that would be a good thing so they to can realize how we feel. The things the employees of this company have said to me is disturbing, it's rude, it's just plain ignorant I have had nothing but the absolute worst experience with them.

CDI has not been fair in its' dealings with us. Their policies are written in such a way that they can weasel their way out of paying anything. They make the claim process so complicated, and frustrating, that unless you are prepared to spend a bunch of time, energy and money trying to fight them, you will never be paid for damages to your home. Over the years we have had 3 claims, one for flooding in the basement($5000 damage, received $0 from CDI), one for a burst pipe in our ensuite bathroom that caused damage to the main floor ($2000 damage, received $0 from CDI, AND we received a bill from their restoration company who did nothing more that put fans on the floor to dry things out for $1500), and now we have hail damage on our roof (like everyone else on our street) and who is the only sucker whose insurance company won't pay for at least a partial roof replacement?.. ME, the only CDI customer on the street!! I strongly discourage anyone from using them as an insurance company... you are just throwing your money away.

First of all, the wait time on the phone is over 25 minutes and when I finally speak to an agent the experience become even worst. I told the agent that I want to get a quote for my new condo, he asked me if this is my primary residence or renting. I have not decide yet so I tell him

Me: "I have not decide yet but can I get quotes for both scenario."
Agent: "No, you can not get a quote if you have not decide yet".
Me: "OK, then please give me a quote as I will be the primary resident".
Agent: "But you just said you have not decide yet"
Me: "I made up my mind now to be live in the place"
Agent: "We have the conversation recorded, you said you have not decide yet so I can not give you a quote"
Me: "So what do you want me to do now? Am I not allow to buy insurance from CDI now?"
Agent: "Sure you can, but not in this conversation, you will have to call back again"
Me: "Cant I made up my mind right now?"
Agent: "Fine, may I have some information from you ...."

After waiting for 25 minutes, this guy just tell me to CALL BACK again because I said I have not decide yet in the beginning? After I said I made up my mind now, and we continue on with all the general question and information, he gave me a quote of $651 for a year for a 500 sq ft condo........(from my previous experience and friends around, it should only cost about $200-300)

I seriously think he was fooling around with me because I insist to get a quote (is it too much to ask for a quote after waiting for 25 minutes in the phone?)

HI Canada Direct. I USED to be (yes USED to) be a loyal home insurance customer of yours for about 5 years and would refer anyone I came across looking for insurance and great customer service to your company....now I do not. This year I ceased coverage with your company and now recommend friends and colleagues seeking advice on an insurance provider to go elsewhere. The reason--I hope someone will care to know and address the underlying issue/s----excruciatingly long wait times on your phone lines!!! I remember back in the day when CanadaDirect was the new bright star on the Canadian insurance scene and my calls would be answered promptly,,this year when I called several times with questions around renewal time the waits were minimum 50 minutes. WHO HAS THAT AMOUNT OF TIME TO WAIT ON HOLD? Noone? Hello Canada Direct Executive and staffers and shareholders/investors,,,do YOU like to wait on hold for 50 mins for any reason?? No, of course not,,,so just a note to figure out what is going on behind the scenes to cause these wait times and fix it. If you're looking for me, I've gone to Four-Square Insurance also out of Vancouver--give them a call and see how quickly they answer and the cool system that identifies the number you are calling from so that any customer service rep knows who you are and your policy immediately upon saying hello to you=== very efficient and personal. Thanks.

This is the worst possible company out there for home insurance. You'll buy insurance that covers basically nothing that's why premiums are so low. During June 2013, when Calgary experienced a flood, CDI was not there to help out at all. Avoided sewage back up claim until water was tested. No emergency clean up, or live out expenses offered. Took a year for them to write a cheque for sewage back up which they tried to weasel their way out of. No follow up or phone calls to check on your claim. Assigned an independent appraiser that doesn't work to help you. Consider doing all the work yourself if you have a home insurance claim (there is no broker looking after your case and CDI doesn't care because they want to keep their costs down). I switched my insurance right away after my experience with this company. Buyer beware. Pay more with any other company and avoid an extreme hassle if ever you need to rely on them. Better to have no insurance than to go with this company. CDI earns zero stars in my view for poor service and unreliability.

Been with Canadian Direct Insurance (CDI) for 7 years, all without a claim. Got a quote for substantially lower through Square One Insurance and sent it to them to beat using their "better by 5%" matching policy ($788/annun for CDI vs. $529/annum with Square One). In the end I was told by the insurance representative, Loida, that the CDI policy was charging me for a bunch of stuff that I was never going to use so I was better off buying insurance from Square One policy.

As a long time customer (I owned another home insured through CDI for 6 years prior as well) I would have thought that they would wanted you to return as a customer but they made it very difficult to renew at a competitive rate. It is a shame but I am excited to become a new Square One Insurance policy holder.

We have been with them for years. Unfortunately for us we didn't realize we were paying almost double for our insurance. Found alternate insurance for half the price. We couldn't believe it.
When it came time to cancel they are putting the first payment with the service charge on a PAC through our bank. Be careful. Make sure you give them proper notice for cancellation if you are on PAC, otherwise they will charge you and then reimburse you.