Renewal: £614.80, Online: £397.50...!

[Fastra]

Well, pretty much as the title really.

Had my renewal come through from Privilege, probably up about £150 from last year at £614.80.

So did the usual, open up Chrome and do a new quote - came at £397.50*!


A 15 minute phone call later (due to the vast difference it involved a call to the underwriters to confirm) and they agree to match the online quote.
But why should I have to do this, the cheeky feckers!!!

How many people just renew without a second thought, but I suppose it's this apathy they prey on.

• 2009 Astra 1.8 (140!!!!! ), 44 years old, over 9 years no claims, protected NCB, legal cover & car hire, 2 car multi-discount.

[Mr Gear]

Fastra said:

Well, pretty much as the title really.

Had my renewal come through from Privilege, probably up about £150 from last year at £614.80.

So did the usual, open up Chrome and do a new quote - came at £397.50*!


A 15 minute phone call later (due to the vast difference it involved a call to the underwriters to confirm) and they agree to match the online quote.
But why should I have to do this, the cheeky feckers!!!

How many people just renew without a second thought, but I suppose it's this apathy they prey on.

• 2009 Astra 1.8 (140!!!!! ), 44 years old, over 9 years no claims, protected NCB, legal cover & car hire, 2 car multi-discount.

Auto-renewal price £497

Money-supermarket price £220

Fun fun fun.

[GroundEffect]

I thought your name was Fastra but then say it has 140BHP

[Fastra]

GroundEffect said:

I thought your name was Fastra but then say it has 140BHP

Irony, eh!

[Fastra]

[otolith]

I don't think there's much margin in people who can be bothered to shop around, they have to make it from those who don't.

[300bhp/ton]

Fastra said:

Well, pretty much as the title really.

Had my renewal come through from Privilege, probably up about £150 from last year at £614.80.

So did the usual, open up Chrome and do a new quote - came at £397.50*!


A 15 minute phone call later (due to the vast difference it involved a call to the underwriters to confirm) and they agree to match the online quote.
But why should I have to do this, the cheeky feckers!!!

How many people just renew without a second thought, but I suppose it's this apathy they prey on.

• 2009 Astra 1.8 (140!!!!! ), 44 years old, over 9 years no claims, protected NCB, legal cover & car hire, 2 car multi-discount.

renewals are ALWAYS more than new business. Until it's made illegal this will never change.

[PumpkinSteve]

£400 is still a bit much, no? I pay that and I'm 25.

[mattyn1]

Had exactly the same experience with Privilege, and I agree with you. They were certainly not the cheapest, but I used them last year, and they were excellent.

[Fastra]

300bhp/ton said:

renewals are ALWAYS more than new business. Until it's made illegal this will never change.

True enough.

They've always tried it on in the past, but it's only been £50-100 difference.
Not bloody £217.30!

[djdestiny]

300bhp/ton said:

renewals are ALWAYS more than new business. Until it's made illegal this will never change.

I can't for the day that people stop taking any notice of renewal pices!

[MrGman]

A guy i work with had exactly the same, renewal was up £100 online quote with that company was actually £150 down on his last premium.

A call to the company and he got it at the new online price. They said that his renewal was that price as it was seen as a extension to his old policy and the price hike was just inflation, whereas the online quote was a completely new policy.

[Fastra]

PumpkinSteve said:

£400 is still a bit much, no? I pay that and I'm 25.

I should add zero excess to that as well.

It's a pretty average to good price (another £50 to be had by going though Money Supermarket too), see below, although God Knows how anyone can quote over a grand ...

[DanDC5]

I had this last week, auto renewal price of £1129 on the Integra! Ring up to tell them I've had a quote of £860 and they discount it there and then with no effort. I went to the new insurance company as they then better the quote again t0 £820 and all my old one were happy to do was match the quote if I sent them written proof of the price. An attempt to better the quote would have stopped me changing insurance companies and they couldn't even be bothered to try.

[300bhp/ton]

Fastra said:

300bhp/ton said:

renewals are ALWAYS more than new business. Until it's made illegal this will never change.

True enough.

They've always tried it on in the past, but it's only been £50-100 difference.
Not bloody £217.30!

Or rather when the Government man up and stop it. At present its legalised robbery. How can it be just to sell the same product to the same person for two different prices, just dependent on how you ask them?

[Mr Gear]

300bhp/ton said:

Or rather when the Government man up and stop it. At present its legalised robbery. How can it be just to sell the same product to the same person for two different prices, just dependent on how you ask them?

The plonkers who don't check their renewal every year are probably propping up your premium helping get you and I a better price, so irritating as it is, we are probably the beneficiaries.

[PaperCut]

OP did you also go to firms that aren't on comparison websites? Direct Line for example? I found them much cheaper than anything Confused/Gocompare churned out..

[DaveH23]

300bhp/ton said:

Or rather when the Government man up and stop it. At present its legalised robbery. How can it be just to sell the same product to the same person for two different prices, just dependent on how you ask them?

Whilst I agree its an inconvenience I am lead to believe its called 'Business'.

[Fastra]

300bhp/ton said:

Or rather when the Government man up and stop it. At present its legalised robbery. How can it be just to sell the same product to the same person for two different prices, just dependent on how you ask them?

I think last weeks WatchDog ran something on this.
Same scenario, renewal much dearer than a fresh quote, and the Insurance representative tried to justify it as a new customer incentive thing. But then couldn't answer as to why, after a years time, the new customer is then seen as a cash cow and fleeced to high heaven.

[TheD]

Was this not highlighted on Watchdog recently. Some plonker from the insurance group fumbled and mumbled something about new customers but no loyalty for old