Insurance renewal

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Mon 12 Jan 2009 20:36
Insurance renewal - woodster
Got my renewal through at £265. Not too bad. However, did the online thing and got the same company quoting £223 for exactly the same cover. Phoned them up, confirmed all the details and just before payment told them I wouldn't be taking up their posted renewal offer. Quite an argument when they told me I had to go through 'certain procedures' and they tried to refuse selling me cover at £223. held my ground, told them they may have to go through certain procedures, but that I was not compelled to do so! They have sold me the policy, but I await a letter telling me otherwise. Anyone got any knowledge of my position if they try to cancel?? I guess they have no compulsion to sell at any price, but they have now apparently taken payment.

Edited by Pugugly on 12/01/2009 at 20:37

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Mon 12 Jan 2009 20:41
Insurance renewal - daveyjp
Why didn't you just buy it on line for £223 and save the hassle of a phone call and a dispute?
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Mon 12 Jan 2009 20:56
Insurance renewal - woodster
I wanted to make a small but significant change that there wasn't the facility to do online, otherwise I would've done. Equally, I was thinking of paying then declining the renewal, but feared they'd end up taking renewal payment and I'd have all the associated hassle. I'll update when I know.
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Mon 12 Jan 2009 21:22
Insurance renewal - martint123
When this happens to me I usually end up changing insurers at the same time because there is normally a competitor at the same price or better.

When I phone up to cancel the renewal (just to make sure and auto-renewal doesn't happen) I often get the comment "You should have phoned and we would have matched the price" to which I reply "if you had quoted a reasonable prince with the renewal you would have had the business".

I live in the hope that one day someone will realise what is happening (but I doubt it).
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Mon 12 Jan 2009 21:28
Insurance renewal - captain chaos
Just had my insurance renewal through, very competitive and no reason to change anyway (I've been with them for years). Out of curiosity I went on their website and noticed that they offer an extra 10% discount if you buy online. Might try telephoning them tomorrow to see if I qualify for a good old-fashioned loyal customer discount
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Mon 12 Jan 2009 22:21
Insurance renewal - rtj70
When my wife's renewal came through I checked the obvious (usually cheaper) alternatives - most were more. Then checked online with her current one. I could get it £70 cheaper with a few changes and only £50 excess (still protected max no claims discount).

Just to be sure I phoned up (it was free) and they suggested they could match it - but then realised it was that much cheaper! So said buy online but let them know we didn't need the original posted renewal anymore.

So some are fine with buying online to renew. It even had a reason for the quote to fill in as "existing policy holder" and an existing policy number box.

The irony is they said it was cheaper because nobody involved but:

- They posted two reminders in the meantime
- Answered that phone call to me
- Telephoned to chase up the initial online quote I did - after I'd taken it out and negating the need to call
- Sent a letter confirming the old policy was not going to be renewed
- Had to let me phone up to correct the reported accidents (non-fault) - two appeared twice.

Now have (and not been asked for return of) about 4 insurance policy documents!

Edited by rtj70 on 12/01/2009 at 22:23

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Mon 12 Jan 2009 23:29
Insurance renewal - Andrew-T
>Did the online thing and got the same company quoting £223 for exactly the same cover.

I don't think this is unusual. The excuse I have had is 'that quote was off the old system'. But there was no real difficulty about getting it accepted.
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Tue 13 Jan 2009 09:33
Insurance renewal - Armitage Shanks {p}
I did the haggle about the difference bwetween renewal offer and on line quote and got £60 of a £190 premium! This was with LV
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Tue 13 Jan 2009 11:49
Insurance renewal - L'escargot
I've just got an online quote from my current insurer, The Co-operative Insurance, and it's slightly greater than 20% lower than last year's renewal premium, whereas the on-line saving offered is up to 10%.

There's something wrong somewhere.

(And they'll offset 20% of my car's CO2 emissions. whatever that involves doing.)

Edited by L'escargot on 13/01/2009 at 11:52

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Tue 13 Jan 2009 12:14
Insurance renewal - DP
I use a price comparison site and renewed SWMBO's policy last month. We beat the renewal price by £90 (like for like cover) and I noticed her existing insurer appeared in the list £50 cheaper than the renewal quotation they'd sent her.

For me it just takes any trace of guilt out of the decision to take my business elsewhere.

Cheers
DP
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Tue 13 Jan 2009 21:25
Insurance renewal - doctorchris
Can I recommend using the comparison websites to find the cheapest cover, then joining a cashback website to obtain a further discount by way of the cashback.
I discovered that Swiftcover were by far the cheapest insurer for me this year. I was then able to obtain a cashback of £22.50 as well. OK, the cashback payment can take as long as a few months to come through but it is worth waiting for.
My research points towards Quidco www.quidco.com/ as being the best cashback site. It is run on a not for profit basis with them taking £5 per year off your cashback to finance the site.
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Tue 13 Jan 2009 21:28
Insurance renewal - rtj70
But all should know that not all appear on comparison websites.
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