Another insurance quote madness thread

[TwigtheWonderkid]

OK, I know it's been done to death, and I'm not expecting any replies, but thought I'd share.

A friend is selling his MX-5, a nice car at a reasonable price. It would be a 2nd car, and never having owned 2 cars before, I only have 1 lot of bonus. So I thought insurance might be a bit steep. But just me and the wife, both mature drivers with a clean record. I set myself a mental limit of £300 for insurance, any more than that and I would pass on the car. Don't know how much I'd use it anyway.

So I contact my existing provider, explain the position and ask for a quote for the MX-5 as a second car. He calls back 10 mins later with a quote of £877. So I say ok, thanks for your time and go to leave it there. Then he asks if I will be buying the MX-5 and I tell him that I'd set a limit on insurance of £300 so I won't be getting the car. He asks me to hold on, I hear him tapping a few buttons and then about 20 seconds later he says, "I can't get it below £300 but I can do it for £309."

£877 to £309 in 20 seconds without me even trying. I wonder if I start haggling properly they might end up paying me. As it happens, he sold the car to someone else anyway.

Mindboggling.

[DaveH23]

Without wanting to sound like an arse they are a business trying to make a profit.

I placed a deposit on a Mazda 3 MPS between xmas and new year to be picked up on the 02/01/13 and was happy enough with my quoted price of £640. When I went to see the dealer prior to picking it up he said that I get 7 days free driveaway insurance so took that and then re ran my saved quote through to start a week later on the 07/01/13 and it dropped from £640 to £520.

Same site, saved details just changed the policy start date, I would assume the drop is due to the increase in cliams around new year through drink driving etc.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I agree. They're entitled to charge whatever they like. I'm entitled to say no thanks and they're entitled to make me a counter offer. That's business.

I just thought a drop from £877 to £309 in 20 seconds was a bit extreme.

[Superhoop]

DaveH23 said:

Without wanting to sound like an arse they are a business trying to make a profit.

Same site, saved details just changed the policy start date, I would assume the drop is due to the increase in cliams around new year through drink driving etc.

But assuming you have a 12 month policy, you'll still be insured over the New Year in 12 months time, albiet at the end of your policy, rather than the start - In which case it should make no difference

[Yell_M3]

Yeah, they just up'd the excess from £100 to £650 and hope you won't notice!

[ikarl]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I agree. They're entitled to charge whatever they like. I'm entitled to say no thanks and they're entitled to make me a counter offer. That's business.

I just thought a drop from £877 to £309 in 20 seconds was a bit extreme.

The £877 was probably the start price for your risk. The £309 sounds like they may have matched your bonus on a second car (introductory dicount)

[Mr2Mike]

DaveH23 said:

Without wanting to sound like an arse they are a business trying to make a profit.

Do you think it would be be acceptable for other businesses to run this way? Would garages, plumbers and electricians attract more customers by putting 150% on top of their quotes, and then dropping them back to normal when the customers tell them they are too expensive?

They may be attempting to make a profit, but giving stupid quotes as a matter of course does not give a good impression of the business.

[DaveH23]

Mr2Mike said:

Do you think it would be be acceptable for other businesses to run this way? Would garages, plumbers and electricians attract more customers by putting 150% on top of their quotes, and then dropping them back to normal when the customers tell them they are too expensive?

They may be attempting to make a profit, but giving stupid quotes as a matter of course does not give a good impression of the business.

Mr2Mike said:

Do you think it would be be acceptable for other businesses to run this way? Would garages, plumbers and electricians attract more customers by putting 150% on top of their quotes, and then dropping them back to normal when the customers tell them they are too expensive?

They may be attempting to make a profit, but giving stupid quotes as a matter of course does not give a good impression of the business.

I never said I agree with it far from it infact! The OP never said it was a renewal it was his first quote.

Your right it doesnt give a good impression! So bad the OP still went with them. Insurance is something you need by law so they can and do charge what they like. If you dont like it, dont drive.

Simples.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

DaveH23 said:

Your right it doesnt give a good impression! So bad the OP still went with them.

No I didn't. Read the story!