Footman James - any experience?
Discussion
My policy with RH has been creeping up over the years and Classic line dont seem to like my modifications either! I have just got a great quote from Footman James who seem to have a simple menu of additions and options.
Has anyone had any experiences of their claims and breakdown service? I would expect all to be fine, but thought I would ask first!
Thanks in advance.
Graham
Has anyone had any experiences of their claims and breakdown service? I would expect all to be fine, but thought I would ask first!
Thanks in advance.
Graham
I am with Footman James, excellent experience so far, no claims but all mod's accepted, agreed value and way cheaper than others I tried.
The also send me invites to events they hold round the country based on motorsports and classic cars.
I will renew with them even if not the cheapest next time around.
The also send me invites to events they hold round the country based on motorsports and classic cars.
I will renew with them even if not the cheapest next time around.
Used FJ for years but never made a claim so don't really know how good they are. But I find them pleasant and easy to deal with. Have used their breakdown once (not the Tvr
which was a local contractor, arrived quickly and took me straight home, no complaints.
They were seriously cheap for me this year too, less than £100 for 5k miles plus a bit more for breakdown.
which was a local contractor, arrived quickly and took me straight home, no complaints.They were seriously cheap for me this year too, less than £100 for 5k miles plus a bit more for breakdown.
I swapped from Mannings to FJ 2 years ago. Price very reasonable in fact best by far. I saved around £400 by swapping over. (Over 20 years old helped as it puts my Chimaera into a new classic car bracket) I like that you can bolt on extras such as european driving and breakdown cover etc when needed. I've never had to claim and hopefully never will.
gruffalo said:
I am with Footman James, excellent experience so far, no claims but all mod's accepted, agreed value and way cheaper than others I tried.
Same here.Chim 400 with mods declared, 5,000 miles limit, car kept on driveway (no garage), for £261. I haven't got around to joining the TVRCC yet so that's without any discount. Less than half the price that Classicline quoted.
I was extremely pleased with the price and found them very pleasant to deal with.
Guys, a word of caution!
Returning from Le Mans Classic this year, my mates Chimaera was lightly scraped in the hotel car park in Honfleur, where we had 2 nights to allow the ladies to get away from cars and petrol.;-).
This damage was only discovered in the afternoon on a return from a stroll around the town. There was nothing on the windscreen, or with hotel reception from the owner of the car doing the damage.
Luckily, the young lad on the hotel desk advised they had CCTV. Scanning the videotape, the damage was seen to be done by an '06 registered Bentley Convertible - - and the occupants were clearly aware of the contact between the 2 cars.
On return to the UK, my mate contacted his insurance advising he had video and still footage of the accident downloaded onto a memory stick. This was forwarded to the underwriters. The underwriters are Equity Red Star. It turns out both vehicles are insured with ERS. My mate is still waiting to get the go ahead for the repair. (In fairness, he is baulking to pay the policy excess, saying that as both cars are underwritten by the same company, it is a pointless exercise?)
My experience with Manning - underwriters Amlin, has been completely different....My point being that low price does not guarantee good customer service.
Nick
Returning from Le Mans Classic this year, my mates Chimaera was lightly scraped in the hotel car park in Honfleur, where we had 2 nights to allow the ladies to get away from cars and petrol.;-).
This damage was only discovered in the afternoon on a return from a stroll around the town. There was nothing on the windscreen, or with hotel reception from the owner of the car doing the damage.
Luckily, the young lad on the hotel desk advised they had CCTV. Scanning the videotape, the damage was seen to be done by an '06 registered Bentley Convertible - - and the occupants were clearly aware of the contact between the 2 cars.
On return to the UK, my mate contacted his insurance advising he had video and still footage of the accident downloaded onto a memory stick. This was forwarded to the underwriters. The underwriters are Equity Red Star. It turns out both vehicles are insured with ERS. My mate is still waiting to get the go ahead for the repair. (In fairness, he is baulking to pay the policy excess, saying that as both cars are underwritten by the same company, it is a pointless exercise?)
My experience with Manning - underwriters Amlin, has been completely different....My point being that low price does not guarantee good customer service.
Nick
Evanivitch said:
nawarne said:
Guys, a word of caution!
My experience with Manning - underwriters Amlin, has been completely different....My point being that low price does not guarantee good customer service.
Nick
And paying more guarantees good service? I think not.My experience with Manning - underwriters Amlin, has been completely different....My point being that low price does not guarantee good customer service.
Nick
However, I believe that the brokers that have been in the TVR business for a long time, are still in business for a reason. Mannings, for example, used to get Zurich to underwrite the TVR business and then switched to Amlin. I'd assume/hope the switch was done for sound business reasons as well as being able to offer their customers the same level of service?
Bottom line - what counts with insurance is the reaction/help/efficiency of the company when you have to make a claim.
Nick
nawarne said:
Bottom line - what counts with insurance is the reaction/help/efficiency of the company when you have to make a claim.
AgreedBoth Footman James and Mannings have been around for 30 years and both specialise in classic cars. For me Footman James was 75% cheaper and gave flexible options.
I believe the example about of your friends car is not one of their underwriters ( Ageas is the underwriter) but I would be interested to hear about any claim experiences regarding FJ.
I still need to sort this and have a couple of companies on the list to call. However, Classicline phoned me up yesterday to explain that they were more competitive than last year and were keen win my business. The outcome was they are the most expensive so far - without agreed value, still over £500 vs £420 for RH and £300 for FJ.
Explaining where they were with price, they said it was due to the 5.3 engine - they dislike such up-grades.
Explaining where they were with price, they said it was due to the 5.3 engine - they dislike such up-grades.
My only Tvr experience is with Mannings
It's the only time I've ever made a claim on my own insurance because I drove into a parked car, completely my fault,
My neighbours car,,,
My car was assessed and taken to Central Tvr for repairs within 2 days of accident, my neighbours car similar. Excellent service.
I've also had a new windscreen earlier this year, again no issues and paid up within a week. My insurance is still around the same price as it was when I first got the car with full no claims neatly 5 years ago, for me Mannings are a few quid more expensive but so far well worth that extra few pounds a year.
The simple truth is Mannings made me feel better after trashing my flipping Tiv, didn't quibble and accepted the not so cheap quote from central to do the work, they have a long history with Tvr and understand the need for exceptional quality repairs, I'd recommend them to anyone.
It's the only time I've ever made a claim on my own insurance because I drove into a parked car, completely my fault,
My neighbours car,,,
My car was assessed and taken to Central Tvr for repairs within 2 days of accident, my neighbours car similar. Excellent service.
I've also had a new windscreen earlier this year, again no issues and paid up within a week. My insurance is still around the same price as it was when I first got the car with full no claims neatly 5 years ago, for me Mannings are a few quid more expensive but so far well worth that extra few pounds a year.
The simple truth is Mannings made me feel better after trashing my flipping Tiv, didn't quibble and accepted the not so cheap quote from central to do the work, they have a long history with Tvr and understand the need for exceptional quality repairs, I'd recommend them to anyone.
I spoke with mannings today and it seems like really good cover in terms of choice of repairer etc. They wouldn't do Euro breakdown but included UK track days but still more than RH.
That said, speaking with them, it reminded me of how RH insurance used to be. I have had a classic policy of some sort with RH for nearly 14 years and until recently, I didn't even both getting quotes from other companies.
Not that long ago, it used to be two cars and one of those on the drive, 8000 miles total for £30 per month. Thankfully, I have never claimed but the service was astonishing.
I will have a last word with RH but it's probably FJ for the next year.
That said, speaking with them, it reminded me of how RH insurance used to be. I have had a classic policy of some sort with RH for nearly 14 years and until recently, I didn't even both getting quotes from other companies.
Not that long ago, it used to be two cars and one of those on the drive, 8000 miles total for £30 per month. Thankfully, I have never claimed but the service was astonishing.
I will have a last word with RH but it's probably FJ for the next year.
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