Another Comfort Story (1 Viewer)

[motorhomer]

Just got a quote from Comfort as my current policy is due for renewal. Quote seemed good and I was inclined to accept it.
But.......
I had read the fine print in the policy on the website and it allowed any number of days overseas. Or so I thought.
When I re-read the policy they quoted me for, I was surprised to find that it limited you to 90 days overseas - not enough for me.
It turns out that Comfort offer 2 different policies, called Horizon and Twilight, Twilight is for van conversions, which we have, and Horizon for coachbuilts. Horizon is unlimited overseas, twilight is 90 days. I spoke to them and asked about this. They explained that they automatically choose to policy most suited to your vehicle. I asked if I could have a Horizon policy on a van conversion, they said firmly NO!
So if you have a van conversion and go overseas for more than 90 days do not go to Comfort!
Logic??? I cannot see any.

 

[DigglyDog]

There is no logic - we are going down to Albania soon, and checking our cover, insurance on the vehicle is excluded for Albania, green card for Montenegro at a cost of £22.50 per week plus £20 admin charge, but our MC Assist with them covers all these countries specifically.
It seems they won't cover the van. only breakdowns.
Go figure, eh

 

[Stroppy Bird]

I wonder if that's something new. I renewed in March and have the Horizon policy on a van conversion.

ETA

Just been on their website and it does make a difference if you select motorhome or campervan to get your initial quote. Can't remember if there was this option to select between the two when I originally took the policy out.

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[motorhomer]

I wonder if that's something new. I renewed in March and have the Horizon policy on a van conversion.

ETA

Just been on their website and it does make a difference if you select motorhome or campervan to get your initial quote. Can't remember if there was this option to select between the two when I originally took the policy out.

Don't think it does. At the top level you can select motorhome or camper. But if you select motorhome you then have to choose what sort of motorhome from quite a long list, and the second 3 are various forms of camper. Select those and you still get the camper insurance even if you start with motorhome.

 

[Stroppy Bird]

Don't think it does. At the top level you can select motorhome or camper. But if you select motorhome you then have to choose what sort of motorhome from quite a long list, and the second 3 are various forms of camper. Select those and you still get the camper insurance even if you start with motorhome.

In that case I must still be on the Horizon policy simply because that was the only one they had when I took the original policy out. Think I've been with them about 3 years now.

 

[SpeedyDux]

My Comfort documents appear to be a Horizon policy. Strange, because it was a new policy for a PVC from June 2017. My previous Comfort policy was for a VW campervan and that was cancelled when it was sold, resulting in a 2 month gap so no continuity except being allowed to use the part refund of premium.

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[Go Humberto!]

Be aware when having Windscreen "chip repairs".

I thought I was doing everyone a favour by having my Hymer A class Windscreen repaired (Chip fills). Comfort refused me cover because I had 3 such claims.

Next time I'll just wait until the windscreen cracks and the insurer can stump up a few grand instead of a few hundred.

Apparently a claim is a claim, regardless of whether it's a £100 chip repair or a £40,000 write off. Ridiculous

 

[MillieMoocher]

Hmmm @Go Humberto! - think they might be being a bit economic with the truth here...

You’ve not mentioned over what period the 3 claims were, but insurers would not anticipate more than 1 windscreen claim per customer every 5 years on average.

So your claims experience makes you an “outlier from the norm” which is really the issue. Had you put 3 full windscreen claims in during the same period then you’d have the same issue...

There are of course plenty of brokers out there who specialise in motorhomes, Comfort will have their acceptance parameters set by the insurers they use and others might have agreed different criteria - even with the same insurer.

 

[Go Humberto!]

Hmmm @Go Humberto! - think they might be being a bit economic with the truth here...

You’ve not mentioned over what period the 3 claims were, but insurers would not anticipate more than 1 windscreen claim per customer every 5 years on average.

So your claims experience makes you an “outlier from the norm” which is really the issue. Had you put 3 full windscreen claims in during the same period then you’d have the same issue...

There are of course plenty of brokers out there who specialise in motorhomes, Comfort will have their acceptance parameters set by the insurers they use and others might have agreed different criteria - even with the same insurer.

My point is that in trying to save everyone some money, on a full A-Class screen replacement, I had chips repaired. Because Windscreen repair doesn't affect "No Claims Discount" I had (wrongly) assumed that it wasn't a claim as such.

There's no room for intelligence on their system. A claim is a claim. Pisses me off a bit given there are hundreds of thousands of people driving cars without insurance.

Lesson learned. I'll just let any chips accumulate until the whole screen needs replacing and stick them for a few thousand quid.

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[MillieMoocher]

I take your point @Go Humberto! but the real point is that such a high frequency of windscreen claims would make any underwriter question why you present a different (to them worse) risk than the standard risk (which would account statistically for 95% of the policies on the books. )

I’m not looking to pick a fight or anything but being a former underwriter I too would want to know why you have had the number of claims (the cost and type is totally irrelevant) which makes you sit outside the norm.

I too get hacked off with the uninsured drivers situation, those that don’t actually bother having cover are only the tip of the iceberg. There’s probably as many again who are driving with invalid insurance due to non disclosure of claims, use of vehicle, garaging location, prime driver and so on. It’s a massive problem!

 

[irnbru]

I moved address and comfort wanted an extra £400 which was double my yearly premium and 3 months in. I got a quote from comfort for a 3rd price when I called and queried it I was told it was a lesser policy with a different company. It still suited my needs so ask if you ring what they have to offer.

 

[TerryL]

I had a chip within the defined "no-go" area and the screen was replaced by Autoglass, who handled everything. Three weeks later I got another chip but this time outside the swept area so it was repaired - Autoglass handled it all again. I'm with Comfort but it doesn't seem to have made any difference.

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[RidersofRohan]

We have moved house, not very far admittedly and the premium hasn't changed. That's with comfort.

 

[scotjimland]

Post Code can make a big difference to premium .. check yours here>

Car Insurance Postcode Risk List

Every area in the United Kingdom is risk assessed by insurance companies based on their crime and claim statistics. Your postcode can have quite a substantial effect on your insurance premium even if you are a very safe driver.

Broken Link Removed

 

[TerryL]

Did with me. Sorted it by asking them to consider the FULL postcode, not just first half. Apparently I'd moved from lowest risk to highest risk in the North East!

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