- Offers a wide range of products
- Some customers report affordable rates
- Is in good financial standing as a company
- No premium or discount information is available
- Only serves three states
- Poor experiences with handling claims and customer service
New London County (NLC) Insurance is a company that serves Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. They offer policies for homeowners, renters, condo owners, and landlords. NLC sells its insurance through independent agents.
When you are shopping for a great rate on homeowners insurance, you need to make sure you are getting adequate protection. There are many companies out there that promise this protection, so learning more about them will help you make a secure decision.
Businessmen in Norwich, Connecticut, formed New London County Mutual Insurance in 1840 in order to insure local farms, homes, and public buildings, most of which were in rural areas. In 1958, homeowners insurance became a major focus for the company in Connecticut and they began operating throughout Southern New England areas. In 1985, NLC took its direction into personal auto insurance which made up 12% of the company’s business, and in 1990 a commercial package was introduced.
They were given a broader reach, however, when they became affiliated with the Hingham Group which brought four property/casualty companies (NLC, Thames, Hingham, and Danbury) together under the NLC president and the NLC management group.
Types of NLC homeowners insurance coverages
By choosing a homeowners insurance policy with NLC Insurance you get a standard homeowners insurance policy that comes with all basic coverages you can expect from most other insurers:
- Dwelling coverage – Basic homeowners coverage is provided for the house that is owned by the insured. There are not many specific details offered on the website.
- Other structures coverage – The other structures on the property are covered at up to 10% of the amount of coverage that you opt for on the main dwelling, e.g. detached garage, storage shed, playhouse, and swimming pool. You can purchase additional coverage if needed.
- Personal property coverage – Contents of the insured are reimbursed at up to 50% of the amount of coverage that you opt for on the dwelling. The items that will be covered include personal possessions, house furniture, and equipment to be used to take care of the residence.
- Loss of use coverage – In the instance that the house has been rendered uninhabitable and the insured is displaced then loss of use reimburses up to 20% of the amount of coverage that you have opted for on the house for the insured’s extra costs which may include the need to stay in a motel, meal costs, etc.
- Personal liability coverage – The plan provides personal liability coverage for the insured if there is an accident or injury to a guest while visiting the insured’s home.
This is a standard homeowners insurance policy. It appears that NLC Insurance is a simple and straightforward company, offering customers the protection they will need. They do have the option to add more coverages if you feel this is not enough. Since there is no way to get a quote online, you need to contact a local agent for more detailed coverage information.
NLC’s additional coverages
NLC Insurance does offer additional coverage options that you can add to your policy for more comprehensive protection.
- Personal property with replacement cost – If you need more personal property coverage, you can get the replacement cost contents endorsement. This covers your items at cost value without deducting any money for depreciation.
- Guaranteed replacement cost – You can get guaranteed replacement cost coverage. This will take effect in the event you need to completely rebuild your home after a covered loss. The policy will cover these expenses even if they exceed the dwelling coverage amount. This coverage extends at an additional 50%.
- Protection Plus – If you already know you want more coverage than a basic homeowners policy has to offer, NLC Insurance has a Protection Plus endorsement. They state this is a way to get all the additional coverages at a lower cost rather than paying for each one individually.
- Business – NLC provides coverage for conducting certain types of business out of your home.
- Identity theft – Fraud specialists who are highly experienced are brought in to assist with resolving the claim for you with this coverage.
NLC home insurance discounts
It is unclear if NLC Insurance currently offers discounts to customers. If you are looking to save money on your homeowners insurance, it would be best to contact an agent or the company directly to find out more.
There are many other similar companies that offer bundle discounts when you have more than one policy with the same insurer. There are also some that offer discounts for having protective devices installed. You can ask an agent if these are available.
NLC homeowners insurance premiums
The cost of insurance through NLC Insurance is unknown. Because they do not offer online quoting, the easiest way to determine how much a homeowners policy will cost is to get a quote through a local agent. You can specify the coverage you want and add any extras you need in the process.
Some customers have left reviews stating they have been customers for a while and are paying great rates. These customers praise the company for being affordable and having great coverage. It appears NLC Insurance is a good choice for many in the New England area.
NLC’s claims process
Many reviews online suggest that NLC Insurance is not the best when it comes to handling claims. Customers have reported abhorrent communication, leaving them in difficult situations that they had to deal with on their own. They were unable to get ahold of the company to settle the claims.
Others have stated the company does not pay out as they promise they will. This leaves a large financial burden on customers who are expected to be protected in the event a covered loss occurs. Customers warn that they would look elsewhere for insurance had they known the claims process would be this way.
They have also been known to non-renew customers after claims have been filed. This has resulted in people being dropped from having coverage, even if they have previously been insured for decades.
NLC’s customer service
The reviews on their customer service are mixed. While there are some people reporting no issues with the company and who find them very easy to do business with, others are not as happy with the customer service they have received.
People are frustrated by NLC Insurance’s lack of communication, stating it is difficult to get ahold of people when they need help. They do not recommend the company and seem to have similar complaints as those who had to file claims. As of April 2023, NLC has earned 2.6 stars from 36 Google reviews.
Financial strength
BBB
As far as financial stability goes, NLC Insurance seems to have better ratings in this department. They currently hold an A+ rating through the Better Business Bureau. Over the last three years, they have had one closed complaint on record.
AM Best
When looking at AM Best, NLC Insurance has a good rating. They have earned a B++, which indicates an overall positive outlook for the company. Their future outlook appears stable. However, this B++ rating was a downgrade that happened in June 2022. Prior to that, this insurer held an A- rating for several years.
Additionally, Demotech has given New London County Mutual Insurance Company an “A Prime Unsurpassed” rating.
The verdict
NLC Insurance is a company that provides homeowers insurance to those living in Southern New England. They offer basic homeowners insurance policies with the option to add additional coverage if needed. There are many ways to boost this protection, so customers will feel they are adequately covered.
It is unknown if they offer any discounts on their premiums, and there is no way to get a quote directly online. This leaves customers to call a local agent to get more information. It is always worthwhile to ask about any discounts you may qualify for if you are looking to save money on your premium.
Because NLC Insurance appears to be committed to protecting its customers, they offer a package that includes all of the additional coverage options they have at a lower rate than purchasing them individually. While it is unknown what this rate is, there is a sign that NLC Insurance does offer customers ways to save money.
Those who have filed claims with NLC Insurance do not have many positive things to say. Many are unhappy with their experiences, while some customers have even been dropped after several years with the company due to filing claims. A lot of people complain they did not get compensated in a timely manner when filing a claim.
The customer service reviews appear to be more varied, but a majority of people still feel their needs are not being met by the company. NLC Insurance does not have the best reputation when it comes to handling customer service requests.
