Bennetts bike insurance.
Discussion
Has anyone else had any shocking experience with them? I'm thinking about continuing to take premiums despite being told I want to cancel the policy, being promised a return call 3 or 4 times and not getting one, and waiting months to be reimbursed money. They cite 'accounting and administration difficulties'.
Are they in trouble?
I would rather sell my bike than have to insure it with this lot again.
Are they in trouble?
I would rather sell my bike than have to insure it with this lot again.
Footman James are excellent for customer service, never had any problems with them. Also they do ridiculously cheap classic policies for Jap bikes over fifteen years old (blades, fzr 1000s etc) or european bikes over ten (ducati 916 anyone?).
I've also used them for car and classic car insurance too with no problems, and they even succesfully defended me against a spurious claim from a yuppy comedy jeep driver who bounced of my stationary campervan and tried to blame me (looooong story).
Currently with Carol Nash for two older Triumphs (1994 / 1995); both on one policy, fully comp, breakdown cover included, protected no claims, £170!
Never liked Bennets; never had a decent quote from them, never thought their staff knew what I was talking about, wondered if they knew they were selling bike policies and not mobile phones.
I've also used them for car and classic car insurance too with no problems, and they even succesfully defended me against a spurious claim from a yuppy comedy jeep driver who bounced of my stationary campervan and tried to blame me (looooong story).
Currently with Carol Nash for two older Triumphs (1994 / 1995); both on one policy, fully comp, breakdown cover included, protected no claims, £170!
Never liked Bennets; never had a decent quote from them, never thought their staff knew what I was talking about, wondered if they knew they were selling bike policies and not mobile phones.
.. al said:
Cheers all.
I wish Norwich Union still did their bike policies. I can't remember the name of them now, but they canned them about 10 years ago. Not 'easyrider'? I forget now.
Crikey, I remember the Rider Policy that covered you for any bike upto yep ... you guessed it 900cc!!!I wish Norwich Union still did their bike policies. I can't remember the name of them now, but they canned them about 10 years ago. Not 'easyrider'? I forget now.
Got the Car with Foorman James, they are really good, will try them for the bikes next time.
ChampagneCharlie said:
.. al said:
Cheers all.
I wish Norwich Union still did their bike policies. I can't remember the name of them now, but they canned them about 10 years ago. Not 'easyrider'? I forget now.
Crikey, I remember the Rider Policy that covered you for any bike upto yep ... you guessed it 900cc!!!I wish Norwich Union still did their bike policies. I can't remember the name of them now, but they canned them about 10 years ago. Not 'easyrider'? I forget now.
Got the Car with Foorman James, they are really good, will try them for the bikes next time.
I stopped using Bennetts many years ago, waiting ages on the phone for an advisor, never the cheapest policy, and I just got the impression they were a bit useless.
Been with Carole Nash for years now, no complaints so far although I've yet to actually claim through them (famous last words).
Been with Carole Nash for years now, no complaints so far although I've yet to actually claim through them (famous last words).
Bennetts are the broker from HELL ! Have still to send me a correct certificate, will lie to you, lie to the insurance company, will not return calls, will not record the correct info on your policy, just an insurance nightmare.
If you need to claim then it gets worse.
Don't take their legal protection policy, it will never pay out to provide you with a service.
If you need to claim then it gets worse.
Don't take their legal protection policy, it will never pay out to provide you with a service.
They are shocking. The word from the inside is the FSA have been called in more than a few times to sort them out.
I dragged them through court for negligent behaviour. They had agreed to pay my claim (after blaming me, then trying to say that that wasn't covered under a fully comp policy - horseshit!) but I was so furious I took them to court. They got blasted.
I'd never place any business with Bennetts or Highway ever again.
Good to hear the positive feedback on Footman James - i'll pass it along to them.
Ride safe...
Jack
Aon UK
I dragged them through court for negligent behaviour. They had agreed to pay my claim (after blaming me, then trying to say that that wasn't covered under a fully comp policy - horseshit!) but I was so furious I took them to court. They got blasted.
I'd never place any business with Bennetts or Highway ever again.
Good to hear the positive feedback on Footman James - i'll pass it along to them.
Ride safe...
Jack
Aon UK
Having a similar experience myself. Thought my renewal looked a bit steep. Went onto Bennett's own website and got a fresh quote - was over £100 cheaper than my renewal!!!
Needless to say, I wasn't best pleased. Phoned them and they promised to revise the price. Told them thanks but no thanks and that I didn't want to renew. 2 weeks later they automatically took the money anyway!
As it stands:
- Called them several times about my refund
- Got a recorded delivery letter saying I would get an immediate refund, but the figure was £20 short of what they took in the first place - that was over a month ago and still no money
- Called on Saturday to be told the payment had been processed on the 27th Dec, and my £20 cheque will follow, still nothing on my credit card or in the post though...
Not renewed the insurance yet, but looks like e-Bike insurance will get my money as they're cheaper than Bennett's and also include legal expenses + breakdown recovery.
As for Bennett's, can't say I'd ever go near them again.
Needless to say, I wasn't best pleased. Phoned them and they promised to revise the price. Told them thanks but no thanks and that I didn't want to renew. 2 weeks later they automatically took the money anyway!
As it stands:
- Called them several times about my refund
- Got a recorded delivery letter saying I would get an immediate refund, but the figure was £20 short of what they took in the first place - that was over a month ago and still no money
- Called on Saturday to be told the payment had been processed on the 27th Dec, and my £20 cheque will follow, still nothing on my credit card or in the post though...
Not renewed the insurance yet, but looks like e-Bike insurance will get my money as they're cheaper than Bennett's and also include legal expenses + breakdown recovery.
As for Bennett's, can't say I'd ever go near them again.
JackHolroyde said:
They are shocking. The word from the inside is the FSA have been called in more than a few times to sort them out.
I dragged them through court for negligent behaviour. They had agreed to pay my claim (after blaming me, then trying to say that that wasn't covered under a fully comp policy - horseshit!) but I was so furious I took them to court. They got blasted.
I'd never place any business with Bennetts or Highway ever again.
Good to hear the positive feedback on Footman James - i'll pass it along to them.
Ride safe...
Jack
Aon UK
yup highway have screwed me in the past too. i was driving a car that got rammed but the nutcase i was overtaking (on a dual carriageway) but they settled against me?I dragged them through court for negligent behaviour. They had agreed to pay my claim (after blaming me, then trying to say that that wasn't covered under a fully comp policy - horseshit!) but I was so furious I took them to court. They got blasted.
I'd never place any business with Bennetts or Highway ever again.
Good to hear the positive feedback on Footman James - i'll pass it along to them.
Ride safe...
Jack
Aon UK
w
rs, i always make the effort to tell people NOT to use them are they are worthless workshy tossers.I have been promised that many call backs from people who 'WILL' resolve my problems, its not true. I cancelled my policy months ago (they have that fact annotated on my records), yet they continued to take money from my account while I was away. They claimed that I hadn't returned my insurance documents when I cancelled the policy - what a load of boocks.
THEN.. when I did fax them the notification that I had lost the documents (I had to say that), although they stopped taking the money (this is back in Sept time), they refuse to return the money I have paid so far. They blame it on some accounting and manpower issue. I cannot.. CANNOT believe how a company can be this bad - this is beyond a joke. 3 months to return my money.. MY money??!! And they can't even be bothered to make a call, or write a letter.
When I told the team leader on my umpteenth call, or whatever, that I would not put the phone down and wait for another unfulfilled promise that a supervisor would call me, I was told that the (female) manager didn't like talking to customers. If they're all as p#ssed off as me, I'm not surprised. I was told that the MD was in a meeting and that my issue wasn't worth disturbing him about.
In my years of motoring and riding, I have NEVER come across a company which has been as shoddy, as incompetent and as unprofessional as Bennetts. Thank god I never needed to make a claim with them. I will be making an official complaint with a suitable authority in the New Year, we'll see how the manager likes chatting then.
My advice is: Don't use Bennetts, whatever you do. Bunch of cowboys.
ocks. THEN.. when I did fax them the notification that I had lost the documents (I had to say that), although they stopped taking the money (this is back in Sept time), they refuse to return the money I have paid so far. They blame it on some accounting and manpower issue. I cannot.. CANNOT believe how a company can be this bad - this is beyond a joke. 3 months to return my money.. MY money??!! And they can't even be bothered to make a call, or write a letter.
When I told the team leader on my umpteenth call, or whatever, that I would not put the phone down and wait for another unfulfilled promise that a supervisor would call me, I was told that the (female) manager didn't like talking to customers. If they're all as p#ssed off as me, I'm not surprised. I was told that the MD was in a meeting and that my issue wasn't worth disturbing him about.
In my years of motoring and riding, I have NEVER come across a company which has been as shoddy, as incompetent and as unprofessional as Bennetts. Thank god I never needed to make a claim with them. I will be making an official complaint with a suitable authority in the New Year, we'll see how the manager likes chatting then.
My advice is: Don't use Bennetts, whatever you do. Bunch of cowboys.
An update.
Despite being told by these clowns that the money HAD been paid back into my account and despite checking twice that it hadn't, I was eventually told that the money had been reimbursed to a card abd account (which I told them, didn't even exist anymore). I told them 3.. 4 times that I wanted someone from the accounts dept to contact me, because this was just the sort of thing I didn't want to happen.
Anyway.. I have just finished my 4TH call to them today, I have spent a total of 56' or so going around the Bennetts houses. At one point, I was even put on hold and forgotten about for so long (20'), that the phone went dead.
At 1632 hours, I spoke to the latest in a long line of customer service (ha) people who told me that (hey!) there has been a "systems errors" on your account, and that the problem has been escalated to "The Finance Manager". When was it escalated, I asked. Today, came the reply. At what time, said I. This afternoon, she replied. Precisely, at what time has someone escalated my problem.. I persisted. Er.. I'm doing it now, the girl retorted. If I hadn't persisted and persisted again and again today, absolutely NOTHING would have been done about my problem and STILL my £135 would have been swallowed in the Bennetts empire earning them interest.
I asked to sperak to the Finance Manager to find out what he was going to do about this. Lets remind ourselves, I had this 'systems error' story a couple of months back and received the 'Escalations' BS too. I was told that he wasn't in the building and so I couldn't speak to him (Bennetts obviously haven't grasped the full potential of the telephone yet). Anyway, I asked to speak to the Customer Services Manager. She was, I was told, in a meeting (again!). I suggested that it might be an idea if she pulled herself away from the table and started practicing customer services instead of talking about it.
"She doesn't deal with customers, our team leaders do. You have to go through them first" the girl said. "Can you look at your procedures book please, and tell me after how many months she decides to get involved.. I must be getting close" I ventured. Anyway, I have requested a call back at 0902 hrs tomorrow from the Customer Services Manager.
I thought I had seen it all with this lot, I really really did. Bennetts are shysters, pure and simple. I am staggered that in this day and age, a company can be this bad.. I am just soc ross that I even insure my bike with them at all. Does anyone know if I have grounds for compensation via the FSA? Or is being relieved of £135 for 8 months, part and parcel of a deregulated financial services sector nowadays? I still haven't even received my proof of NCD either!! Thats has cost me too.
I am so frustrated and p#ssed off with Bennetts. Sorry for unloading, but I'd rather do it to you lot than take it out on the dog!
Despite being told by these clowns that the money HAD been paid back into my account and despite checking twice that it hadn't, I was eventually told that the money had been reimbursed to a card abd account (which I told them, didn't even exist anymore). I told them 3.. 4 times that I wanted someone from the accounts dept to contact me, because this was just the sort of thing I didn't want to happen.
Anyway.. I have just finished my 4TH call to them today, I have spent a total of 56' or so going around the Bennetts houses. At one point, I was even put on hold and forgotten about for so long (20'), that the phone went dead.
At 1632 hours, I spoke to the latest in a long line of customer service (ha) people who told me that (hey!) there has been a "systems errors" on your account, and that the problem has been escalated to "The Finance Manager". When was it escalated, I asked. Today, came the reply. At what time, said I. This afternoon, she replied. Precisely, at what time has someone escalated my problem.. I persisted. Er.. I'm doing it now, the girl retorted. If I hadn't persisted and persisted again and again today, absolutely NOTHING would have been done about my problem and STILL my £135 would have been swallowed in the Bennetts empire earning them interest.
I asked to sperak to the Finance Manager to find out what he was going to do about this. Lets remind ourselves, I had this 'systems error' story a couple of months back and received the 'Escalations' BS too. I was told that he wasn't in the building and so I couldn't speak to him (Bennetts obviously haven't grasped the full potential of the telephone yet). Anyway, I asked to speak to the Customer Services Manager. She was, I was told, in a meeting (again!). I suggested that it might be an idea if she pulled herself away from the table and started practicing customer services instead of talking about it.
"She doesn't deal with customers, our team leaders do. You have to go through them first" the girl said. "Can you look at your procedures book please, and tell me after how many months she decides to get involved.. I must be getting close" I ventured. Anyway, I have requested a call back at 0902 hrs tomorrow from the Customer Services Manager.
I thought I had seen it all with this lot, I really really did. Bennetts are shysters, pure and simple. I am staggered that in this day and age, a company can be this bad.. I am just soc ross that I even insure my bike with them at all. Does anyone know if I have grounds for compensation via the FSA? Or is being relieved of £135 for 8 months, part and parcel of a deregulated financial services sector nowadays? I still haven't even received my proof of NCD either!! Thats has cost me too.
I am so frustrated and p#ssed off with Bennetts. Sorry for unloading, but I'd rather do it to you lot than take it out on the dog!
If its any compensation a modest policy change thru' Swinton Bikes, who I have been with for 5 years, into meltdown, end result being numerous frustrating calls as you have had,promised call backs/action not being under taken, policy documents sent out with errors on them and new copies with errors in different areas on them. etc etc
ALL of a bunch of shysters as well, so dont bother with Swinton Bikes and ill not bother with Bennetts mate....I feel your pain.
ALL of a bunch of shysters as well, so dont bother with Swinton Bikes and ill not bother with Bennetts mate....I feel your pain.
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