Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!

Subject: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 05:54 AM

As ther are a lot of older people on Mudcat from the Uk, I thought I would mention this.

I have car insurance with SAGA. It is fully comp with 60% no claims social domestic and pleasure 10000 miles pa with legal protection, Replacement car extension for theft/total loss, replacement car category upgrade (becuase my legs are too long to sit safely in a small car, so I need like with like), and Saga Breakdown Assistance Premier.

They have just sent me a quote for renewal as it is due in July.

They have increased my total amount by 25% and want £681 for the year. Excess is £100

I have since got quotes and have one from Churchill like for like with SAGA for £457.

I have talked with SAGA and slated them and they were unable to bring their quote down to what I would have to pay Churchill.

So I will join Churchill.

However, I always thought that SAGA were supposed to be looking after the older generation. They need to wake up.

Anybody who accepts this 25% or more car insurance increase, must be mad. So make sure you do not accept what your insurance company renewal quote, without firstly, reasearching other companies.

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: nickp
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:00 AM

A number of times I've got a cheaper quote only to be told by the company I was leaving in disgust 'we would have matched that'. Why didn't they offer me a lower quote in the first place!!! I probably would have stayed with them.

Hopefully the new law (as of June 20) where a car on the road must have insurance because they are comparing all the databases will bring premiums down. Call me a cynic but I have my doubts...

Nick

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Dead Horse
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:09 AM

Never accept the first quote, always shop around and save.
It also may be worthwhile to delete cookies before returning to a site as they may otherwise stick to their first quote (I did this when booking hotel accomodation and got a better deal)

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Crane Driver
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:19 AM

Churchill are just as bad. My renewal quote is up nearly 40% on last year, despite no claim and nothing changing. The only way apparently is to change insurer every year, which I'm quite prepared to do. They all offer one-year discounts if you switch, so that's obviously what they want us to do, right? I'm also having to change electricity supplier this summer. It's just part of 'rip-off Britain'

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:19 AM

Its the Claims Management companies who are cusing this - They offer to do all the running around , and get you an Expensive Hire car for the duration , and DONT try to speed the repairs up , so your Ins Co
gets a HUGE bill for the car hire .
Mate of mine running a Citroen Xsara was offered a bloody Range Rover , and finally got a Toyota Prius after a LOT of arguing !
And that was on someone else's insurance ! I bet he still loses his No Claims though !!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:24 AM

I insured with SAGA when I turned 60, one year only as they increased premiums for no reason, I now insure with 50plus Insurance Group, significantly cheaper than SAGA for the same cover.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:28 AM

Pip's car is with Saga and she got a good deal. She is a new customer though and I suspect that's part of it - I don't think loyalty pays...

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:42 AM

It's become a, "change your company every year" or get done for massively increased premiums.

Have Watchdog done anthing on this situation?

I will have a look at 50plus.

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: The Barden of England
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:50 AM

Mine went up 33% for no reason other than that's what they do, so I did shop around and got like for like for what I paid last year. Up theirs every year I'm afraid.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 06:55 AM

One of my Volvos (the 765T) is now down to under £100 for the year - but that's on a very limited mileage - via Adrian Flux who tried to stitch me up on the agreed terms but after I got ratty they bottled it. Neither of the others is over £250 - and that includes the pretty quick 940 Sport Edition on a 10,000 mile limit. The 745GLT (the twin-cam) is a bit less. Both with Endsleigh - discovered by the use of meerkhats.

Don't get me started on the subject of Aviva - but I think I have nearly finished taming them...

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 07:06 AM

It's been my experience that everything in the UK is over priced!

We have three cars all fully insured for under a thousand dollars a year.

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 07:52 AM

I think the real problem is that y'all can't drive. I mean you drive on the wrong side of the road and that's just guaranteed to fuck you up.


Spaw

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 08:13 AM

Cheeky git Spaw :-) I would say that we are better, becuase we are used to driving on the left or right, depending on which country we are in. It's only a short hop over to France and many UKers travel over there by car and also The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany to name but a few.

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: scouse
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 09:11 AM

Well done Arthur__itis calling the Netherlands by it's correct title instead of the many little Englanders thinking of it as Holland. I live in Leiden, Zuid Holland. Amsterdam is in Noord Holland.
says he with Tongue in cheek!!!

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:46 AM

LOL I know Phil as I lived in Amsterdam for 13 years and my wife is an Amsterdamse or as the Amsterdamers born and bred in Amsterdam would say "Mokumse" (that is a bit like a person born and bred in Birmingham being called a brummie by a brummie).

Saw Queen live in Leiden, many years ago when I was living over there. It was magic.

Groetjes

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 10:51 AM

Thanks Dave H for the tip. I rang 50plussers and got quoted a like for like with Saga for £413. That will suit me down to the ground. Saved £267.
Cheers

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Will Fly
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 11:12 AM

My recent renewal (with Liverpool Victoria) was £340 for a 2002 Audi A4 and £260 for a 1987 240 Volvo Estate - still a hike on last year's figures but not as bad as some I've heard of.

The most recent farce was with the RAC (UK car breakdown company). The March 2011 renewal cost was £180 - for a member of 20+ years. At the same time, they were offering new members a full RAC membership for around £100 as an incentive. So I phoned them up and said that it wasn't fair that long-standing members with little use of the servoce should pay so much more than new members - and that I was going to change to the AA. They immediately offered to reduce it to £120 - which I accepted!

I'm told that, on average, car insurance rates have risen by 37% over 2010 rates. Best to really ask around but, of course, the really cheap quotes are usually accompanied by a hefty excess...

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Gurney
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 04:20 PM

A point of order. Insurance co.s are pretty much international these days, and internationally, they are suffering some expense with their re-insurance. New Zealand earthquakes, Australian floods and fire, ditto in America... Reinsurance is a gamble, and they must rob Peter to pay Paul.
When I was 'The Man from the Pru.' many years ago, it would have made them very happy to make 10% profit on General Branch insurance, which includes all property including Motor. (As opposed to Life Insurance, which is where they make most of their money.)
My own insurance (NZ) will be going up "at least 20%" on my two vehicles and home. Which probably means 40%. But at least it will do some good in Christchurch.

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 04:52 PM

I wish I had the money to support such things, but I don't. So unfortuantely I have to look after my spending and if one insurance company tries it on, they lose my business.

Subject: RE: Tech: Car Insurance UK overcharging!
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 08:51 PM

I'm looking to change in August, after being ripped off last year.

I was, up till last August, paying £196 for full comp on a three litre Ford Scorpio. I changed to a two litre diesel and my premium went up to over £300, and now I'm facing another 40% rise.

The laugh is that I hear that third party fire and theft is now near enough equal in cost.

That means that the major risk is third party claims, so the value or age of the insured's car should have little effect, but when I changed cars to a lower powered model, I was told that the 50%+ increase was due to the difference in value.

The biggest mistake that this country ever made was to revoke the law which debarred Lawyers and Doctors from advertising and touting for clients.

We seem to have more no win no fee ambulance chasers, and more quack cosmetic surgeons, than we have teachers. You can't stub your toe without being hounded by one or the other proclaiming their wish, in one case to make you rich, and in the other to help you spend your winnings.

Don T.