Insurance woes... and rant!

[Gachet]

ZOLLAR said:

Faust66 said:

Is there any form of life lower than a fking insurance agent? I bet they all sleep like fking babies!

Utter ing, fking tts!!!

May God rot the balls of 'em! (if they have any that is... somehow I doubt it).

bdS!

Based on your post I'd say yes, you.

He's only this upset as the renewal premium is more than his car is worth.

[Tyngwndwn]

Saga quoted me £215 f/comp on the golf, £42 down on last year.

Maybe you will have to just get older......who knows.

[eldar]

My insurance is 25% less than the VED. I know which is the rip off

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Faust66 said:

I want TPF&T cover.

Have you thought about trying fully comp? in my experience this makes it anything upto £2000 cheaper (yes i did put two thousand pounds!)

Also increase your excess, if your fully comp and you don't want your car repairing then you don't have to pay your excess (tried and tested when a van decided to do an emergency stop and caught me out, also checked with current insurance co, they won't charge me if i don't want my car fixed/replaced!

I'll swap you for my insurance which is currently £1800 and will be going up at renewal time due to the points edo mentioned above!

[Faust66]

Petrolhead_Rich said:

Faust66 said:

I want TPF&T cover.

Have you thought about trying fully comp? in my experience this makes it anything upto £2000 cheaper (yes i did put two thousand pounds!)

Also increase your excess, if your fully comp and you don't want your car repairing then you don't have to pay your excess (tried and tested when a van decided to do an emergency stop and caught me out, also checked with current insurance co, they won't charge me if i don't want my car fixed/replaced!

I'll swap you for my insurance which is currently £1800 and will be going up at renewal time due to the points edo mentioned above!

Aye, have tried fully comp quotes - they come up far higher than TPF&T. I assume this is due to the modifications on the car. Raising my excess doesn't seem to make much difference. As the car is only worth about £1200, I don't want a 750 excess which is what one company wanted.

1800 quid? Jesus mate, I feel for ya! What car is that for?

One of the reasons I always stick with older Fords is because I want cheaper insurance and parts prices etc, hence me being pissed off when this ain't the case.

I've spoken to Adrian Flux and they've managed to get my quote down to approx 380 notes.

It's a week later, I've obviously calmed down a bit... I'm still far from happy though.

[Vron]

mike9009 said:

Hi Faust

A couple of 'tricks' may work. A few others have found that TPFT cover is more expensive than fully comp. Also, putting a car in a garage seems to cost more than on a drive way. There should be a sticky of what things can have positive (legal) impact on the renewal cost.

Worth a punt - although maybe you have already tried this?

Mike

Eh? How can it be cheaper to have a car on the drive rather than in the garage?

Just as an aside we have a daily snotter - 2003 Focus Diesel. Last year was £160 fully comp with Tesco. Renewal this year (for 4th April) with Tesco is £250. 20 mins on the 'Net and got it for £181 with First Direct.

You always have to shop around at renewal time - and don't bother with comparison sites either, go direct.

[ZOLLAR]

Gaz. said:

ZOLLAR said:

Faust66 said:

Is there any form of life lower than a fking insurance agent? I bet they all sleep like fking babies!

Utter ing, fking tts!!!

May God rot the balls of 'em! (if they have any that is... somehow I doubt it).

bdS!

Based on your post I'd say yes, you.

With respect, if you have a deeply unpopular occupation or employer you either need a thicker skin or turn the other cheek. If Joe Bloggs gets that letter through the door saying his renewal is up 100% despite his personal circumstances have not changed or have even improved, a bit of a vent isn't going to come as a surprise. Joe Bloggs isn't expected to know that you bods have lost £1.20 for every pound received for the last 15 years, or that your investments have tanked or that Lehman's collapse has left your employer staring into the financial abyss or that the ambulance chasers & fraudulant bodyshops & mickey taking claiments are the true villans, with the unisured being the icing on the cake. All he sees is your names on the letterhead and that his best quote has doubled in 12 months.

We can rant and rave fairly understandably at most people, but we can also see the other side of the fence, the OP needs to see yours but you could see his too.

I perfectly understand the reason for a rant and a rave I on occasion like to have one myself however I don't make it personal.
I could have easily replied with expletives such as the Op used however I didn't its not my posting style.
I regularly see posts and topics slagging off the industry that's perfectly fine I understand that the majority of people tend not to have a strong grasp on how insurance works.


People regularly slag off insurance representatives but are more than happy to accept advice from myself or other insurance industry posters, so perhaps a little bit of politeness would get you alot more help?.
At the end of the day its just an insurance quote don't get so stressed out if you're not happy vote with your feet

[OMNIO]

Vron said:

Eh? How can it be cheaper to have a car on the drive rather than in the garage?

Just as an aside we have a daily snotter - 2003 Focus Diesel. Last year was £160 fully comp with Tesco. Renewal this year (for 4th April) with Tesco is £250. 20 mins on the 'Net and got it for £181 with First Direct.

You always have to shop around at renewal time - and don't bother with comparison sites either, go direct.

Because insurers get tons of claims from Mavis and Bob who have reversed their car into the garage wall. Or from someone whos child trows the door open and bangs it against the garage wall.

Also I've heard that parking on the street is now the most favoured by insurers. reason being that if your car is amongst others would be theives wont know which house to steal the car keys from.

[bozmandb9]

Faust66 said:

it's the dreaded time of year... yep, shopping around for quotes.

Adrian Flux: renewal price of £480 (was £240 last year!!! Been with 'em for 4 years).

The car is a modified Sierra XR4x4 2.9 and I want TPF&T cover.

I'm 36, 4 years no claims, no accidents or claims in the last 5 years with a clean licence, I also live in an OK area... how the fk can these bloody isurance companies justify these fking prices?

Highest quote I've had was for £8797!!! Yep, a shade under 9 grand for a 21 year old Ford! Holy motherfking Jesus bd st!

Is there any form of life lower than a fking insurance agent? I bet they all sleep like fking babies!

Utter ing, fking tts!!!

GET A QUOTE FOR FULLY COMP. Then let us know how much you've reduced the quote by!



May God rot the balls of 'em! (if they have any that is... somehow I doubt it).

bdS!

• mops brow and lights a tab to calm down

[Faust66]

ZOLLAR said:

Gaz. said:

ZOLLAR said:

Faust66 said:

Is there any form of life lower than a fking insurance agent? I bet they all sleep like fking babies!

Utter ing, fking tts!!!

May God rot the balls of 'em! (if they have any that is... somehow I doubt it).

bdS!

Based on your post I'd say yes, you.

With respect, if you have a deeply unpopular occupation or employer you either need a thicker skin or turn the other cheek. If Joe Bloggs gets that letter through the door saying his renewal is up 100% despite his personal circumstances have not changed or have even improved, a bit of a vent isn't going to come as a surprise. Joe Bloggs isn't expected to know that you bods have lost £1.20 for every pound received for the last 15 years, or that your investments have tanked or that Lehman's collapse has left your employer staring into the financial abyss or that the ambulance chasers & fraudulant bodyshops & mickey taking claiments are the true villans, with the unisured being the icing on the cake. All he sees is your names on the letterhead and that his best quote has doubled in 12 months.

We can rant and rave fairly understandably at most people, but we can also see the other side of the fence, the OP needs to see yours but you could see his too.

I perfectly understand the reason for a rant and a rave I on occasion like to have one myself however I don't make it personal.
I could have easily replied with expletives such as the Op used however I didn't its not my posting style.
I regularly see posts and topics slagging off the industry that's perfectly fine I understand that the majority of people tend not to have a strong grasp on how insurance works.


People regularly slag off insurance representatives but are more than happy to accept advice from myself or other insurance industry posters, so perhaps a little bit of politeness would get you alot more help?.
At the end of the day its just an insurance quote don't get so stressed out if you're not happy vote with your feet

Good post.

I can see your position - unfortunately I do tend to get a bit narked when I consider that I'm being ripped off through no fault of my own.

I know what it's like to be unloved by joe public - I'm a civil servant (not that my original post was particularly civil!).

Ho hum.

[geeteeaye]

OMNIO said:

Because insurers get tons of claims from Mavis and Bob who have reversed their car into the garage wall. Or from someone whos child trows the door open and bangs it against the garage wall.

Also I've heard that parking on the street is now the most favoured by insurers. reason being that if your car is amongst others would be theives wont know which house to steal the car keys from.

I doubt 'tons' of people make insurance claims for scuffing a garage wall or a ding caused on the edge of a door by a child - the excess and hike in premiums at renewal would preclude it in the majority of cases.

Parking on the road may make it more difficult to know which house the car belongs to, but if they wanted the car that much they'd simply wait in the morning to see who came out to the car, or knock on a door and make up some story about it having a flat tyre and is it their car. The disadvantages of parking on-road are much more significant claim-wise - vandalism, hit and run, breaking into the car. Lastly I checked when this discussion came up last time (I garage the car every day) and for me the quotes are as I'd expect: garaged cheapest, on drive next and on-road most expensive. So it must only be in certain areas or certain cars that buck the norm.

[gareth.e]

I think the whole insurance sector made a loss last year or some crap so everyones hiking the prices

[ZOLLAR]

Faust66 said:

Good post.

I can see your position - unfortunately I do tend to get a bit narked when I consider that I'm being ripped off through no fault of my own.

I know what it's like to be unloved by joe public - I'm a civil servant (not that my original post was particularly civil!).

Ho hum.

Thank you , I do understand the frustration faced by the general public with regards to insurance, Unfortunately at the moment many of the reasons for increases in cost at the moment are beyond insurers control.

[Dave_ST220]

gareth.e said:

I think the whole insurance sector made a loss last year or some crap so everyones hiking the prices

Rather amazingly my insurance is lower this year than I paid last year. Last year they upped the premium 100% IIRC, this year they tried it again. Difference was this year I got a quote much lower. Driving since 17. Never claimed, I'm 36.

[R1 Loon]

Gaz. said:

With respect, if you have a deeply unpopular occupation or employer you either need a thicker skin or turn the other cheek. If Joe Bloggs gets that letter through the door saying his renewal is up 100% despite his personal circumstances have not changed or have even improved, a bit of a vent isn't going to come as a surprise. Joe Bloggs isn't expected to know that you bods have lost £1.20 for every pound received for the last 15 years, or that your investments have tanked or that Lehman's collapse has left your employer staring into the financial abyss or that the ambulance chasers & fraudulant bodyshops & mickey taking claiments are the true villans, with the unisured being the icing on the cake. All he sees is your names on the letterhead and that his best quote has doubled in 12 months.

We can rant and rave fairly understandably at most people, but we can also see the other side of the fence, the OP needs to see yours but you could see his too.

The rest of it's true, the bit in bold isn't though. Insurers invest money in absolutely guaranteed payout government bonds, minimal risk but minimal return too.

OMNIO said:

Because insurers get tons of claims from Mavis and Bob who have reversed their car into the garage wall. Or from someone whos child trows the door open and bangs it against the garage wall.

Also I've heard that parking on the street is now the most favoured by insurers. reason being that if your car is amongst others would be theives wont know which house to steal the car keys from.

Nothing like a good made up urban myth is there?

[rash_decision]

Maybe if Insurance companies tightened up on the spurious and unsubstantiated claims, then our premiums would come down??

I have lost count of the folk I've spoken to over the past few years, who jump on the "whiplash" bandwagon, or claim for existing damage along with their accident claim?? A friend of a friend, had a very low speed accident on a petrol station forecourt, at no more than 5mph apparently, minimal damage to his front wing, but managed to get himself £2700 for whiplash!!! I know for a fact that he never had any, as he told me all about it one night, boasting about his new found wealth!! I've also had quotes for damage to my car, and friends and family's cars over the years. The quotes always drop substantilly when the estimator finds out that it's not insurance that are paying, but the owner. So the repairers are screwing the insurance companies as well!! It's a vicious circle!!

My one major gripe with a rise in premium was a couple of years ago. My car was parked, perfectly legally, with noone in it. There was a delivery van parked behind me (we were rear bumper, to rear bumper), and the woman jumped into the van, stuck it into reverse instead of first gear, and reversed straight into my car!!!! I was willing to have the company owner pay for the damage, but there was more damage than we could see, to my bumper, so the cost was £1800, and had to go through the company's insurance. Anyway, fast forward to the renewal date. My premium went up by £180 because of this incident!!! Because, as I was told, I was a "statistic"!!!! So my premium went up, and I'm sure the van owner's hiked as well!!!

So careful drivers are still being penalised for dishonest repairers, and dishonest claimants!!! I don't know how we resolve the issues!!

[julian64]

ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.

There, I think I've covered everything.

[R1 Loon]

rash_decision said:

Maybe if Insurance companies tightened up on the spurious and unsubstantiated claims, then our premiums would come down??

I have lost count of the folk I've spoken to over the past few years, who jump on the "whiplash" bandwagon, or claim for existing damage along with their accident claim?? A friend of a friend, had a very low speed accident on a petrol station forecourt, at no more than 5mph apparently, minimal damage to his front wing, but managed to get himself £2700 for whiplash!!! I know for a fact that he never had any, as he told me all about it one night, boasting about his new found wealth!! I've also had quotes for damage to my car, and friends and family's cars over the years. The quotes always drop substantilly when the estimator finds out that it's not insurance that are paying, but the owner. So the repairers are screwing the insurance companies as well!! It's a vicious circle!!

My one major gripe with a rise in premium was a couple of years ago. My car was parked, perfectly legally, with noone in it. There was a delivery van parked behind me (we were rear bumper, to rear bumper), and the woman jumped into the van, stuck it into reverse instead of first gear, and reversed straight into my car!!!! I was willing to have the company owner pay for the damage, but there was more damage than we could see, to my bumper, so the cost was £1800, and had to go through the company's insurance. Anyway, fast forward to the renewal date. My premium went up by £180 because of this incident!!! Because, as I was told, I was a "statistic"!!!! So my premium went up, and I'm sure the van owner's hiked as well!!!

So careful drivers are still being penalised for dishonest repairers, and dishonest claimants!!! I don't know how we resolve the issues!!

How do you propose that an insurer challenges the whiplash claims? There will be a full medical report supporting the claim and no doctor will go against it.

To run a claim to court (win or lose) will cost in excess of £5000 in fees, these fees are rarely if ever awarded to the insurer even on winning and they still end up paying the compensation and the other sides costs if they lose.

Effectively arguing the toss simply costs more. This is where the legal profession and spurious claimants have all of us over a barrel.

[julian64]

R1 Loon said:

How do you propose that an insurer challenges the whiplash claims? There will be a full medical report supporting the claim and no doctor will go against it.

To run a claim to court (win or lose) will cost in excess of £5000 in fees, these fees are rarely if ever awarded to the insurer even on winning and they still end up paying the compensation and the other sides costs if they lose.

Effectively arguing the toss simply costs more. This is where the legal profession and spurious claimants have all of us over a barrel.

I have an answer for that.

Make whiplash following an accident something that loads future insurance for the claimant.

I have never in the last fifteen years, ever had someone present to me and say they were responsible for the accident, and that they had whiplash.

It seems only victims get whiplash.

This will obviously be very hard on genuine claimants, but I think the number of fake claims reported are now so vast they have effectively destroyed any credibility in the condition.

[R1 Loon]

julian64 said:

I have an answer for that.

Make whiplash following an accident something that loads future insurance for the claimant.

I have never in the last fifteen years, ever had someone present to me and say they were responsible for the accident, and that they had whiplash.

It seems only victims get whiplash.

This will obviously be very hard on genuine claimants, but I think the number of fake claims reported are now so vast they have effectively destroyed any credibility in the condition.

How do you do that, without falling foul of the DDA?