The mysteries of Insurance renewals

[Jim]

This is for a commercial panel van not a motorhome

Insured year 1, it was around £350. Lloyds

Year 2, they auto renewed it, I was busy, didn't notice till a month or so later that they had charged me £528. Robin barstewards. Made even worse, that the wheels never turned all year! Made a diary note to check it this year

Year 3 they just tried it on again quote came in at £691. I was ready this time. I called and asked them to get it lower than the year one price or cancel. After an age of negotiation, well just me saying "you must be joking" they eventually after speaking to the supervisor and making me a special case came down to £616.43. I declined.

Compare the market, all the same details, named drivers, everything exactly the same. The very same company, Lloyds were second cheapest at £312.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our insurance tried to increase the price for the second year, I rang them up armed with a quote from Confused. Com. They matched it and I haven't had any bother with them since. They must have ticked the 'tight git' box on our account

 

[carolyn]

I know , we have the same every year with Admiral on a little old Renault clio which we still call the childrens’ car. They also underwrite Bell and Elephant so I do the price comparison before I phone them.

This year , because our youngest had moved home from Uni due to Covid they couldn’t come close so I did a new quote as a new customer through Topcashback and got another £35 back ! Still with Admiral , I told them on the phone I was going to do it, the young chap just laughed, his computer just couldn’t cope with all the changes I suppose.

 

[Wack]

It's a con , they hope you pay by direct debit and either don't notice or can't be bothered to go though the 30 questions on the various sites

By law you have a 14 day cooling off period so if you cancel at day 12 they can only charge you for 12 days only some of them have got wise and nowcharge you a non refundable admin fee to set the policy up.

 

[Holly's mum]

I was insured with More Than for several years with my car, each year the renewal would come in much higher, each year I went onto comparison sites and More Than would come out near the top as cheapest and they would even ring me to see if I was going to take out the 'new' policy. They couldn't price match on my existing policy but were happy to set me up as a 'new' customer each year, totally bonkers.

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[125BEER]

Last year I missed the renewal date by one day with Saga.They had offered a nearly 2/3 year fixed deal that wasn't far off the mark.Rang them "no that offer has expired ..no....no. so I said bye bye..and ended with Performance Direct.

 

[Gellyneck]

This is for a commercial panel van not a motorhome

Insured year 1, it was around £350. Lloyds

Year 2, they auto renewed it, I was busy, didn't notice till a month or so later that they had charged me £528. Robin barstewards. Made even worse, that the wheels never turned all year! Made a diary note to check it this year

Year 3 they just tried it on again quote came in at £691. I was ready this time. I called and asked them to get it lower than the year one price or cancel. After an age of negotiation, well just me saying "you must be joking" they eventually after speaking to the supervisor and making me a special case came down to £616.43. I declined.

Compare the market, all the same details, named drivers, everything exactly the same. The very same company, Lloyds were second cheapest at £312.

Lost count of the number of times I've went with the same insurer but taken out a new policy through a comparison site because it was cheaper and the best.
However, this year was a new one on me. Renewal came in (can't remember the exact figures so say) £300. So phones up the insurers to say going to cancel as cheaper elsewhere (£240). Asked where, yourselves. OK I am not allowed to price match with ourselves but if you pay the best price I can give you £260 I can then put it through as a "subsequent price match" and you'll get the difference credited. Within a week the credit was through and paid the £240 but still with same policy.
Happened twice with the same insurer, eSure.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Quotemehappy has for the past 3 years been very competitive.
This year the premium increased by £2.50
Which still beat the comparison sites by about £25 for better cover & lower excess.

 

[andy63]

This is for a commercial panel van not a motorhome

Does it matter ..? To me I cant think of many less honorable proffesions..
Out to take your eyes out at any opportunity..
My apologies to anyone on here involved in it but It's how I see it..
Absolutely nothing for any loyalty..just take advantage of any opportunity..
The only cavet to that is there are many who do I'm sure take any opportunity to scam the insurers so possibly we are where we are because of that sort of mentality..
Little rant over for today

Andy.

 

[berni109]

No mystery about it just trying to take Joe public for a ride.
How much did my pension increase in the last 12 months - not even 25% of the premium increase.
Unfortunately it seems the only way is to do as suggested above and play them at there own game.

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[Podney]

Surely we all know by now that this is how it works,rightly or wrongly. Some people seem to spend more time on trivia than they do on their personal financial affairs......at their peril unfortunately. Put a note in your diary 3 weeks before the renewal dates of your vehicle insurances and you won’t be caught out,then go on comparison sites,then do the deal.
Do the same for your leccie and gas.

 

[Jonno1103]

My car insurance renewal through Budget dropped a fiver this year. 2019/'20 - £281.58. '20/'21 - £276.73.

MH insurance through Comfort is £335.16, last one was £327.41.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Caravan guard renewal increase of £1.50 not too fussed about that

 

[Spriddler]

I have to go through the rigmarole of changing insurers every year for my house, motorbikes and cars. I won't do auto renewal.

MH insurance through Comfort is £335.16, last one was £327.41.

The only insurance I don't have to worry about is with Comfort for the m/h. Over 7 years it has only increased less than a tenner a year.

 

[Keep Right On]

This is for a commercial panel van not a motorhome

Insured year 1, it was around £350. Lloyds

Year 2, they auto renewed it, I was busy, didn't notice till a month or so later that they had charged me £528. Robin barstewards. Made even worse, that the wheels never turned all year! Made a diary note to check it this year

Year 3 they just tried it on again quote came in at £691. I was ready this time. I called and asked them to get it lower than the year one price or cancel. After an age of negotiation, well just me saying "you must be joking" they eventually after speaking to the supervisor and making me a special case came down to £616.43. I declined.

Compare the market, all the same details, named drivers, everything exactly the same. The very same company, Lloyds were second cheapest at £312.

Dual pricing( the practice of charging existing customers more than new ones) has been outlawed by the FCA. Auto renewal while not outlawed is frowned on and many insurers are stopping the practice. Complain to the Ombudsman(get some paint to watch dry while you wait) and report them to the FCA

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[Janine]

I actually enjoy renewal time when I can sort the best deal and then play companies off against each other.

It did come back to bite me this week though - I decided to make sure I had the details of all my insurances on my phone.

Unfortunately, I had mislaid the email with the details of my car insurance and, for the life of me, couldn't remember who I was insured with. Luckily I knew the month it was due so could search my bank statements and find the payment.