How does home insurance excess work?

[Skithepowder]

If I claim for something worth £400 on my home insurance and have an excess of £100, how does it work?

Do I get £300 from insurance because of the £100 excess?

Do I have to actually give the insurance company £100 or do they just minus it from what I'm claiming?

Thanks

[Buenchico]

Right first time. (The insurer simply deducts £100 from your payout).

Chris

[bednobs]

unless you are getting, say, a washing machine. Then you will have to pay them the excess

[boxtops]

Yep, they take the £100 from the claims settlement, so you get £300.

[gina32]

i think most insurers these days actually get the item you are claiming for and so before you get it you have to pay them the excess