Insurance company f*****g fantasists
Discussion
When I bought the RT last year, I was two months beyond the statutory limit for recognising my 7yrs NCB. That was very annoying indeed. I rang around and Bennetts gave me a reasonable quote considering they counted me as a first year biker on a 1200cc, albeit a fairly pedestrian one. 407 quid fully comp with compulsory 250 quid excess and a voluntary 150. I can live with that.
The renewal came through yesterday. Bennetts are pleased to inform me that I need not do anything at all, my auto-renewal will kick in two weeks time and as reward for my first year of trouble free biking, the premium has DOUBLED to 947 pounds with a compulsory 450 pounds excess plus 150 voluntary. Had someone actually reviewed that (an actual person), surely the letter would never have been posted, as it was clearly a waste of money.
I rang them last night, of course "due to higher than usual call volumes, we cant take your call right now but will have someone call you back within 24 hrs" which is a s
t service provider's way of switching your phone call from a time that is convenient to you, to a time that is convenient for them.
Cant wait for the phone to ring, I'm like a coiled fking spring. 
The renewal came through yesterday. Bennetts are pleased to inform me that I need not do anything at all, my auto-renewal will kick in two weeks time and as reward for my first year of trouble free biking, the premium has DOUBLED to 947 pounds with a compulsory 450 pounds excess plus 150 voluntary. Had someone actually reviewed that (an actual person), surely the letter would never have been posted, as it was clearly a waste of money.
I rang them last night, of course "due to higher than usual call volumes, we cant take your call right now but will have someone call you back within 24 hrs" which is a s
t service provider's way of switching your phone call from a time that is convenient to you, to a time that is convenient for them. Cant wait for the phone to ring, I'm like a coiled f
king spring. I cant understand why they do this? do they just hope that nobody bothers to check the renewal in the hope that the policy starts before the customer realises then has to pay an extortionate cancellation fee??
Doesnt seem like a good way to do business and expect customer loyalty to me
Doesnt seem like a good way to do business and expect customer loyalty to me
tom_e said:
I'm not sure why you're surprised or annoyed. Every insurance company on the planet pulls exactly the same thing come renewal time hoping people are too lazy to check the quote or change suppliers.
Just vote with your feet and move to someone else.
Thas whats so baffling about it for me though! - instead of keeping a happy customer for another years business, they bump up the renewal which immediately makes them unhappy and look for another quote! madnessJust vote with your feet and move to someone else.
You would be surprised how when you do get in contact they often immediately slash money off the renewal price and you are left wondering why you didn't have the better offer in the first place.
Like has been said above, they prey on the apathy of the general public when it comes to sorting out insurance.
Like has been said above, they prey on the apathy of the general public when it comes to sorting out insurance.
Its like that carphone warehouse advert, don't ask don't get, when it should be don't try to rip me off in the first place. Really puts me off a company when they try that, I'm less likely to do business with them in the future, but then I guess they don't want my money, just the lazy who will just auto pay the increase.
I have just had a good experience with Bikesure/Flux.
Renewal due on 11th July. 2015/16 premium was £519 for a 2014 MV F4RR 1000cc and a 2009 MV 312RR on a multibike policy. Renewal was £347. However I am selling the 2014 so now only need the 2009 covered and it dropped again to £154.
Overall well happy with that.
Note I am an old geezer and its kept in a brick garage with chain and disc lock in a low/no crime area so cannot be compared to on street parking in London.
A
Renewal due on 11th July. 2015/16 premium was £519 for a 2014 MV F4RR 1000cc and a 2009 MV 312RR on a multibike policy. Renewal was £347. However I am selling the 2014 so now only need the 2009 covered and it dropped again to £154.
Overall well happy with that.
Note I am an old geezer and its kept in a brick garage with chain and disc lock in a low/no crime area so cannot be compared to on street parking in London.
A
GO COMPARE!!!!
No, seriously, GO Compare.
Add your details once, and then every year, logon, click the refresh quote button and see who's offering cover at a resonable price this year.
Use this information to either swap insurers or haggle your existing down to a sensible number.
I hadn't insured my bike for nearly 3 years. Rang Carole Nash to see about re-insuring, no problem, £220 odd pound. What!!!, that's double what I'm expecting to pay based on Go Compare. Had a chat and we agreed on £150 odd. Sorted.
I do the same with all my car insuarances as well to make sure I'm not getting ripped every time I renew.
No, seriously, GO Compare.
Add your details once, and then every year, logon, click the refresh quote button and see who's offering cover at a resonable price this year.
Use this information to either swap insurers or haggle your existing down to a sensible number.
I hadn't insured my bike for nearly 3 years. Rang Carole Nash to see about re-insuring, no problem, £220 odd pound. What!!!, that's double what I'm expecting to pay based on Go Compare. Had a chat and we agreed on £150 odd. Sorted.
I do the same with all my car insuarances as well to make sure I'm not getting ripped every time I renew.
tom_e said:
I'm not sure why you're surprised or annoyed.
Why shouldn't you get annoyed at a company attempting to rip you off, and blatantly lying in the process (e.g. our 'best' price)?If all supermarkets tried to charge you double the amount for your groceries every time you shopped there, would it not annoy you?
Insurance companies are all
s of the highest order IME.OP in standard insurance premium policy renewal shocker.. lol seriously its as if you're the only one right?
You have to shop around for cars and bikes each and every year. I've not known an insurance company to offer a good renewal quote initially - they pray on the thick, stupid and lazy who'll just accept its the best price they can do.
You either get them to reduce/match a competitor or you walk away to the competitor.
At least they didn't refuse cover on renewal for no real reason which I've had before.
Also changing bikes and them saying they won't cover the new bike mid policy.. leaving you having to cancel and start a brand new policy after only 2 months of 12
had that this year too.
I told my car insurance company to go forth recently when they simply couldn't get close to matching a quote from a supermarket bank, the quote offered to me with 5mins work on one of the insurance comparison sites. When I went to the actual new insurance company site to take out the policy and double checked the quote I got it even cheaper.
The only reason the old company got repeat business last year was that they sent me a cheque for £100 after 3 months which made the premium acceptable/competitive and required me to do nothing... they wern't able to offer this anymore they said so I walked away.
You have to shop around for cars and bikes each and every year. I've not known an insurance company to offer a good renewal quote initially - they pray on the thick, stupid and lazy who'll just accept its the best price they can do.
You either get them to reduce/match a competitor or you walk away to the competitor.
At least they didn't refuse cover on renewal for no real reason which I've had before.
Also changing bikes and them saying they won't cover the new bike mid policy.. leaving you having to cancel and start a brand new policy after only 2 months of 12
had that this year too.I told my car insurance company to go forth recently when they simply couldn't get close to matching a quote from a supermarket bank, the quote offered to me with 5mins work on one of the insurance comparison sites. When I went to the actual new insurance company site to take out the policy and double checked the quote I got it even cheaper.
The only reason the old company got repeat business last year was that they sent me a cheque for £100 after 3 months which made the premium acceptable/competitive and required me to do nothing... they wern't able to offer this anymore they said so I walked away.
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