Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Mr Skrunts]

I think Berties peoblem now is he is being victimised for not having a job.  Thier theory is being out of work is you must be up to no good.

If you remember on Swiftcaer the other week I went through every job listed and being an engineer was the cheapest insurance, where as being unemplyed they refused you insurance.

[ZurichConnectBenR]

it may still be worth going through the quote again to make sure that all the details are correct but even if its too high for you this year then please don't write us off forever, insurers are constantly looking at their rates and very often an insurer who is uncompetitive one year can then become competitive the following year.

I hear what you are saying about the overall price though, insurance premiums are on the increase generally, and pretty significantly too.....sadly this is as a result of a couple of things which are happening across the industry
- the number of people claiming for bodily injury (whiplash etc) has risen quite dramatically over the last couple of years
- there are a lot of accident management groups actively trying to 'help' customers get more out of their claim and earning commission from hire car companies and solicitors etc for referrals
this has meant that the cost of claims has increased a lot and the insurance industry is losing a lot of money.
there is a link here if you are interested in reading a bit more about it
http://www.zurich.co.uk/home/mediacentre/generalinsurancenewsreleases/retail/Zurich+leads+the+market+on+personal+lines+motor+rating+action.htm
and in the general press
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/car-insurance-premiums-rise-26-per-cent-as-legal-bills-soar-1976358.html
the leading insurers are always looking at ways to try and stop any fraudsters that stage accidents to make money and also to try and get people involved in an accident the right treatment as quickly as possible to keep the costs down, its definitely something we are looking at at Zurich Connect but its such a big problem that companies and consumers need to work together in order to keep the prices down.

p.s. its definitely always best to declare the modifications. My VXR has uprated exhaust, cooler, springs and remapped ECU plus a couple of other toys and I told my insurers because I couldnt bear it if it got totalled and they didnt pay out. And to be honest I got a pretty good deal using a specialist broker that deal with modified cars.

anyway...hope this helps

regards
Ben

[Mr Skrunts]

I got a massive drop in my premiums by changeing from December to May for renewal.

Would be interested to find out if annother change to a different time of year would benifit.

[Andy B]

it may still be worth going through the quote again to make sure that all the details are correct but even if its too high for you this year then please don't write us off forever, insurers are constantly looking at their rates and very often an insurer who is uncompetitive one year can then become competitive the following year.

I hear what you are saying about the overall price though, insurance premiums are on the increase generally, and pretty significantly too.....sadly this is as a result of a couple of things which are happening across the industry
- the number of people claiming for bodily injury (whiplash etc) has risen quite dramatically over the last couple of years
- there are a lot of accident management groups actively trying to 'help' customers get more out of their claim and earning commission from hire car companies and solicitors etc for referrals
this has meant that the cost of claims has increased a lot and the insurance industry is losing a lot of money.
there is a link here if you are interested in reading a bit more about it
http://www.zurich.co.uk/home/mediacentre/generalinsurancenewsreleases/retail/Zurich+leads+the+market+on+personal+lines+motor+rating+action.htm
and in the general press
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/car-insurance-premiums-rise-26-per-cent-as-legal-bills-soar-1976358.html
the leading insurers are always looking at ways to try and stop any fraudsters that stage accidents to make money and also to try and get people involved in an accident the right treatment as quickly as possible to keep the costs down, its definitely something we are looking at at Zurich Connect but its such a big problem that companies and consumers need to work together in order to keep the prices down.

p.s. its definitely always best to declare the modifications. My VXR has uprated exhaust, cooler, springs and remapped ECU plus a couple of other toys and I told my insurers because I couldnt bear it if it got totalled and they didnt pay out. And to be honest I got a pretty good deal using a specialist broker that deal with modified cars.

anyway...hope this helps

regards
Ben

I hear what you say, but IMO Insurance Co's don't always help themselves. Claims can take an age to go through while cars are sat in a compound waiting to be assessed for weeks, all adding to the cost due to storage fees. The left hand hasn't a clue what the right hand is doing. In the case of my wife's accident last year, the insurers of the car that hit my wife arranged for a courtesy car to be dropped off at our house when her car was to be collected for repairs within a day or so. Our insurers were still dithering. As it happened I told the repairing garage where to go as I've had previous 'experience' of them

[ZurichConnectBenR]

Hi Andy,
I can definitely empathise with that point about insurers not helping themselves. often the time when you need them to be slick and efficient the most, during a claim, is when things start to go wrong. and its usually because they try to overcomplicate or do things which they think are saving them money but which simply dont make sense for the customer.
and the issue with personal injury claims has come from the fact that in the past insurers havent proactively managed third party injuries which created a gap for these 'accident management' companies to exploit. There is legislation coming through which will make insurers act much faster on  claims and hopefully mean that claimants get quicker decisions.
Ihope that your wife's bad claims experience wasnt with Zurich Connect, I'm sorry if it was. We are also seeking feedback from our customers about when things go wrong so if it was then I'll certainly pass it on.
regards
Ben

[Mr Skrunts]

Lol, my 1st Carlton, someone ran into the back of me the 1st day I went out in it.

Insurance took it and tried to give a noddy car, I refused this and accepted a Primera, after 3 weeks of waiting I rang the insurers who passed me on to the assesors whose receptionist refused to let me speak to the assesor and said they dont talh to clients.

THis went on weekly till week 7 and I heard a guy talking insurance jargon near the receptonist, I asled to speak to him, she refused, I demanded.  He basically told me they were issues regarding the exhast, he said the were replacing the back box, back panel, boot lid and bumper, but allthough the middle section of the echast had been damaged it was also corroded.

He put me on the spot and said if I agreed to pay for the part they would fit it free of charge.  So I put him on the spot and asked how much it was, I was told £38, then I asked how much my car hire was, he told me £90 per week for thier company deal.

So, I then said the last 4 weeks had cost the insurance claim £360 where as an exhuast section would have cost them £38,  my next question was, how much longer will I be driving the hire car. I was was then told my car would be ready in 10 to 14 days. 

[neilr]

Ever since i started driving at 17 I was told my insurance would get cheaper as I get older. It just doesnt happen Im now 50 and every year without fail it gets dearer with all companies coming out with lame excuses as to why its has to increase. The answer is simple they want to make huge profits and they get away with because it is a legal requirment to have it. I believe its the same with fuel because we dont make enough fuss about the cost or boycott as I have in the case of BP. There is supposed to be competion but how can there be when prices are almost identical. Monopolies commission what a waste of time.

Rant over

[Andy B]

....
I hope that your wife's bad claims experience wasnt with Zurich Connect, I'm sorry if it was. We are also seeking feedback from our customers about when things go wrong so if it was then I'll certainly pass it on.
regards
Ben

No Ben. It was Admiral, who I have to say weren't actually that bad, they just needed a bit of a kick at times  . I partly upset the applecart though as I took the car to where I wanted it assessing rather than their own 'experts'     

[joshwyatt]

Insurance is the biggest outlay I have.
I was 18 when I had my first car owned by myself - FX02 XAO, Omega 2.2 CDX saloon manual, group 13 insurance. At the time I was a student, it cost me £340 per month with Swinton. After 6 months cancelled that, then took out cover with Elephant.co.uk who were better, I paid £180 per month.

Then a change in family circumstances meant I could no longer go and study Law, then this opportunity to become a motor trader appeared.

This year, I've paid £6071 for third party only motor trade insurance with Tradex. My postcode, 0X5 1AQ, isn't particularly high risk and I only work in the motor trade...no other job.
However, this does allow me to drive unlimited engine size. Tradex initailly wanted to restrict me to 1.4, I said that was usesless as my private car is a 2.2. So finally they agreed for just over £6k I could have unlimited engine capacity...which I use, 3.0 TD6 Range Rover, Merc's, V6 Omega's etc.
Being 20 (29/12/1989) I accpet the fact that insurance will be an issue because of my 'inexperience', but I still think £6000 is a lot of money.
However, I know people who insure 1.6 Focus' same age as myself for just under £2000. So in the grand scheme of it, £6000 isn't that bad.

[ZurichConnectBenR]

thanks Andy

[ZurichConnectBenR]

neilr - sorry you feel that way
its true that insurance companies have a pretty bad rep....almost as bad as banks and I know it'll be no consolation but the UK car insurance industry has been run at a loss for about the last 10 years....the vast majority of insurers have lost money based on the prices charged vs the cost of claims and running the business.
still doesnt make premiums feel any cheaper and with a heavily modified astra I share your pain but i can assure you that there isnt anything like the profit in car insurance that you might think.
i'm all for consumer action though but please dont not insure though ....all those claims which are caused by uninsured drivers still have to be paid for and that means everyone elses premiums go up even further

[neilr]

Ben I understand you but insurers are underwritten so the risk is spread so losses are not as great as stated. My first job was in undewriting so am aware of what goes on. On the subject of uninsured I have been hit by one in past so am aware of that. If premiums were more reasonable more would buy.And finally I am looking to change to Axa shortly for both migs as the are cheaper than anyone else at present.

[ZurichConnectBenR]

glad to hear you've found a better deal Neil.
i'm nervously waiting on my renewal premium for early june ....if mine rockets I may have to look at selling mine, i can just about to put petrol in it these days
and didnt mean to teach you suck eggs (proverbially) re: the insurance model - you are right, insurers do reinsure to spread their risks and can improve their profitability that way, like all businesses ...they have to generate a profit in order to satisfy a shareholder and remain financed to continue trading. there are a few industries out there under the spotlight on profit levels such as oil companies, banks etc. not sure that insurers are viewed the same way (yet) but maybe if the cost keeps rising then they will. its a tough business to be in but I'd rather be in insurance than tax inspection, traffic wardening or law

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

E-Sure ....£155....fully comp....myself and wife.

[STMO999]

I've never had a really expensive quote from any ins company. I have been driving for 40 years and the most I have ever paid is £450pa. When wifey had a crash in January, aviva were exceptional. Everything was sorted over the phone by me, they didn't even speak to the wife. Courtesy car was here in two days and the car fully repaired and valeted in ten days.
Remember, we are talking January here. Two weeks of ice and snow. They must have been inundated with claims.