There are numerous internet companies that claim to be able to find you the cheapest insurance, but I haven't come across any that will find you the best quality insurance. What I want is good quality insurance. Why does nobody advertise insurance on the basis of quality? They do with every other product.
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Marks and Spencers do (although not on TV).
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It's very difficult to know which is a best quality insurance unless you claim!
Just read the reviews of those who claimed and try to guess who is good.
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I've always worked on the basis of reasonably priced insurance cover and benefits provided by respected insurance companies - I might have to pay a bit more but, if it ever came to the crunch, I believe it would prove worthwhile.
Edited by Stuartli on 18/02/2008 at 09:52
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Perhaps there should be British Standards related to insurance, with insurers having to state clearly with which level/category their policy complied. That way customers could more easily compare policies from different companies.
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As insurance is regulated then the major part of the policy is effectively the same from all insurers, it's really only the peripheral features that vary.
I'm not sure Chubb advertise much at all (unless it's in First Class Inflight magazines which of course I don't get to see!) www.chubb.com/international/uk/individuals/motor.h...l but I've seen almost rave comments in another forum about how good they are on "prestige" cars, although the premium looked high (as you'd expect).
More generally, Defaqto 5 star rated policies www.defaqto.co.uk/corporate/products-and-services/...x is an indication of quality, but insurers may avoid terms like "best quality" in case people think that means "expensive".
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It is not in any insurance company's interest to pay out if it can in any way avoid doing so, and in my experience, any will take an opportunity to avoid or delay payment where possible.
I buy on price and features (excess, what's covered, benefits). I genuinely believe there's not much in it in other respects, and certainly don't believe the "big names" are any better. The likes of NU probably spend more on marketing than many smaller outfits turn over.
Cheers
DP
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You will not know how good the Ins Co is until you claim.
Then it is your luck whether you get a consciencious Claims Clerk or some bored individual who just cannot wait for 5pm and a night in the pub or whatever. The Ins Co may be fine but not all employees are dedicated or even interested in the policyholder.
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Two options:
use a broker, so that you can instruct them to find the coverage with underwriters that you want [i.e. best claims service of whatever];
or use Hiscox, which is the only main underwriting firm to sell itself on its claims service. It is mainly household but I'm sure they do motor too.
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I go for the cheapest and always get legal cover.
It really riles me, dropping five or six hundred quid every year on something that doesn't come in a big cardboard box and have a remote control.
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My sister had her car stolen and subsequently recovered last year
As she waited months for the subsequent damage to be sorted out my fatther summed the whole thing up when he said "She's now discovering what, we can save you £££s on your insurance, actually means"
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Chuffer - what an excellent point you make. Sometimes it's worth paying that little bit extra to go for the quality - it's just unfortunate that it's very difficult to tell from these comparison websites - you simply cannot beat personal recommendations.
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I now only go with the big names. I've found Direct Line to be excellent. A broken windscreen was replaced same day while I was at work.
I once got insurance from a firm in Manchester. The sloppy phone manner of the (female) staff did not inspire confidence. When I claimed for a broken side window (early morning), they could not get it done the same day. So the car sat in a company car park with a broken window, and filled with damp overnight. I had to take the train home. The next day I had to drive to a small back street work shop where some scruffy Herbert replaced the window, and left loads of broken glass throughout the interior. Never again.
Some years back I backed into another car. I exchanged details, then a few days later got a very menacing phone call from her insurer, threatening legal action if I did not return the call. It was from a Manchester based firm. He spoke so fast I could not understand the phone number he gave. I searched online, found the phone number of what might have been the company, but no-one answered despite more than 10 calls. Eventually I located the owner of the car I hit, rang her, and asked her for her insurer's number.
I now avoid any cut price firm and any in Manchester. (Prejudice maybe.)
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A colleague had his car written off whilst parked. A straightforward case that took his online insurer six weeks to agree. The company claims to provide cover swiftly, but the claims handling was dead slow.
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I have found no link what so ever to the price I pay as to the service I have recived. Therefore I am quite proud to shop on price to proved otherwise.
I have found two things worthy of mention ....legal cover in my case was next to useless and so this is purchased from cover from a motoring organisation at the same price but I feel more comfotable with their set up.
I avoid any insurance companies where possible who use one particular firm of glass suppliers .
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