Talking of insurance, my household insurance is due for renewal at the end of this month and I received the renewal notice a couple of weeks ago. I got a shock because they'd hiked the premiums by 60%! I did no more than transfer my business to another company and I'm actually paying less for the same cover than previously. I don't know why they hiked it up but I can guess. In the postcode area there is the most expensive properties in Basildon, up to three quarters of a million each and they've just gone by the postcode.