UPDATED: Insurer (Shitcover) gets shafted for a change!

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Today I moved into the new place, and thought I should change my insurance details for the Accord.

 

I had gotten a quote from Shitcover that was about 18 quid lower than the price of my current policy with them, so I thought "great stuff, there's no admin fee for making changes online, so I should even get a bit of a refund here!". The "no admin fee" website came up with an extra premium of £67.48 that I need to pay them! It would be cheaper to pay the cancellation fees and just buy a new policy.

 

Of course I 'm not letting this go without a fight. I've already e-mailed them, and I will be taking this to trading standards/ombudsmen/whoever deals with this rubbish. Bastards!

 

I am sure that there will be someone shortly coming along to explain to me how there are little green men powering the Shitcover website, and that the possibility of even the tiniest refund increases their risk of hypertension, which in turns increases sick pay contributions on the part of Shitcover, which results in changing my premium being more expensive than buying a new policy.

[Bren]

Insurance companies exist for one reason only.

 

To make £££££.

 

Nobody is happy with the cost of insurance at the mo', and things will only get worse.

[CreepingJesus]

I'm with Swiftplunder too, and I sympathise entirely. The clauses and get-outs are world class, and yet, getting in touch can be tricky.

That having said, the one time I had to get in touch with an actual human being, she was great, and had my problem sorted in two ticks.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

They replied today with yet more nonsense. After reiterating my question (which, of course, they hadn't answer), I felt obliged to make a friendly comment in a postscript.

 

PS: I found this sentence of yours particularly indicative of your customer care skills as well as intellectual prowess and, last but not least, mastery of the English language:

"I understand your surprise that premiums may vary by moving only a miles away"

 

I guess that you must be some kind of mentalist, since I had never mentioned feeling any surprise at premium differences between different postcode areas. Please accept my congratulations on not only detecting my surprise, but also understanding it! It's rather refreshing to see that you understood SOMETHING, even if it happened to be totally irrelevant to the question you were being asked. I am, however, less certain about the meaning of "only a miles away". Since I'm a foreigner and English happens to be my second language, I suppose it is just a highly sophisticated phrase which I haven't previously encountered due to my limited education. I do apologise for the inconvenience, but would you be able to express your sentiments in a manner that would be more accessible to those whose command of the English language is not quite as supreme as yours?

[gtd2000]

They replied today with yet more nonsense. After reiterating my question (which, of course, they hadn't answer), I felt obliged to make a friendly comment in a postscript.

 

PS: I found this sentence of yours particularly indicative of your customer care skills as well as intellectual prowess and, last but not least, mastery of the English language:

"I understand your surprise that premiums may vary by moving only a miles away"

 

I guess that you must be some kind of mentalist, since I had never mentioned feeling any surprise at premium differences between different postcode areas. Please accept my congratulations on not only detecting my surprise, but also understanding it! It's rather refreshing to see that you understood SOMETHING, even if it happened to be totally irrelevant to the question you were being asked. I am, however, less certain about the meaning of "only a miles away". Since I'm a foreigner and English happens to be my second language, I suppose it is just a highly sophisticated phrase which I haven't previously encountered due to my limited education. I do apologise for the inconvenience, but would you be able to express your sentiments in a manner that would be more accessible to those whose command of the English language is not quite as supreme as yours?

 

Actually, you were doing rather well indeed, except for the comma following the word "and" ...perhaps that's a Greek thing?

 

I was with Swiftcover for 3 years, didn't have any problems with them and they were always the cheapest in my situation.

 

Unfortunately I had an accident in 2009 (found not at fault - hit by a bloody scooter rider in a T-boning incident) and when I was renewing my policy, I forgot to mention that I'd been in an accident - therefore revised my details to include "not being at fault" which increased my premium by 5 quid

 

For those that want to save a little extra - get your policy through beatthatquote.com - they'll give you 20 quid back after 3 months through some sort of cash back deal. That took my latest annual policy at Swiftcover down from 158 to 138 for my Hyundai Coupe (now sold).

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Actually, you were doing rather well indeed, except for the comma following the word "and" ...perhaps that's a Greek thing

 

Without being totally certain, I think it must be right, as it's not used to actually add anything, only to denote a break in the sentence (sentence, "last but not least", sentence continues).

 

 

For those that want to save a little extra - get your policy through beatthatquote.com - they'll give you 20 quid back after 3 months through some sort of cash back deal. That took my latest annual policy at Swiftcover down from 158 to 138 for my Hyundai Coupe (now sold).

 

There was supposed to be a 25 quid cashback through quidco...I signed up to quidco, but somehow didn't manage to make it work!

[gtd2000]

I'm not used to using a comma at all with "and" but after a spot of reading it appears that it can be applicable before the word "and":

 

I. Commas SHOULD be Used in the Following Situations

 

 

1) USE COMMAS to Separate Three or More Items in a Series

 

Examples

 

It is time for me to collect your papers, to read them, and to comment on your work.

We had soft-boiled eggs, tomato juice, and dry wheat toast for breakfast.

 

DO NOT use a comma to separate only two items in a series.

 

Examples

 

He enjoys skiing and running.

He knew that she was envious of him and that she would try to ruin his plans.

[gtd2000]

There was supposed to be a 25 quid cashback through quidco...I signed up to quidco, but somehow didn't manage to make it work!

 

They have some extreme examples of low cost insurance policies over at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com I've never used quidco myself but I've read about some amazing mobile phone deals using them.

[barefoot]

They have some extreme examples of low cost insurance policies over at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com[/url.

 

No, they claim to have some extreme examples of low cost etc.

 

and every last one of them is bollocks.

Don't waste your time trying to achieve anything like them

like I did

I paid £150 for a grp13 Scirocco - this was real

and then subsequently spent a couple of hours looking for the cheapest quote on grp1 Panda

Managed about £235

 

Martin whatsit is a wanker

[Alpineandy]

If they quoted you a reduction then asked you for additional premium, they're taking the pi55.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

If they quoted you a reduction then asked you for additional premium, they're taking the pi55.

 

That's exactly what they did- they're happy to sell me a cheaper policy, but if I want to change to it I have to pay extra! Better still, they refused to acknowledge it even after I emailed them. They confirmed the pricing is "correct"!

 

I gave them until close of play tomorrow to give me a reply that makes sense, otherwise they'll see me in court.

[Alpineandy]

Go through the correct chanels first ; http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

 

Going to court could cost you or them loads of money (which will give them another reason to put prices up).

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Cheers for that- didn't know that the financial ombudsman also covers insurance (I thought there may have been another ombudsman). However, I'd like to be able to embarass them a bit more. I guess I'll give a go at demanding the cancellation fees through the ombudsman before going to court.

 

The beauty of the small claims court -especially if you're an individual claimant taking on a big organisation- is that it's quite cheap, doesn't require a solicitor and takes place in the court that's local to a claimant. I took a 10k case against an airline a couple of years ago (although I think that was merely classed "fast track" and not proper "small claims")- they waited till the week before the hearing before deciding to settle in full without bothering to turn up, as they'd spend 20% of the claim amount sending their solicitors from London to Bradford for a day or two.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I can't believe these people. They replied again, still unable/unwilling to understand the point!

 

I'm seriously fuming now!

 

Cue

I did make sure to suggest that the e-mail gets passed to someone whose IQ exceeds recommended room temperature, but it seems like the temerature recommendation you were using was from a bloody igloo.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Bringing the matter to the attention of the Ombudsman, and the heavy use of legalese (seamlessly blended with insults ) in my e-mails seem to have finally paid off. More details tomorrow.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

GET IN!

 

After complaining to the ombudsman, the crooks at said insurance company replied with an intelligible letter and made me an offer as a "gesture of goodwill": they would waive the cancellation fees if I bought a new policy with them. I thought "that sounds good, I can always cancel the new policy within the 14 days cooling-off period", then I discovered their T&Cs include an admin charge of 25 quid for the privilege. Still, that was less than the admin fee for cancelling a policy after the 14 days, so I figured I'd go along with that and then demand the canx fee back or alternatively compensation for the time I wasted dealing with the bastards. I went online to buy a new policy, and they have blocked non-UK IPs! So I wrote yet another nasty e-mail, which secured me a reply with an offer to cancel the old policy without fee and without requiring me to buy a new one.

 

Result: I already have the NCD, the money is coming back to my credit card by the middle of the week, and the new trader policy goes into effect tomorrow. It's only 52.50 that I've saved, but I will admit to feeling quite chuffed about it.

[eddyramrod]

And so you should, that's a result! Shame you have to wave the big stick called Ombudsman before they treat you like a customer though... Sadly it seems to be normal in the insurance business.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

That swift cover lot are a joke. I tried to buy a policy off em once, but cos its all done over the internet, they would not sell me one on the basis that the internet connection I was using (which was a works one) was routed through the USA! So I rang em up and they said to buy the policy over the interweb. When i explained why I couldnt, they wearily explained it would take a 'very long time' to organise it over the phone and was defo not reccomended. I thought 'fuggin hell, if its this much of a war to give em some money i've got no chance of ever getting any back off em' so I gave up, what a pi$$ poor effort from their side.

 

All insurance companies are fuggin crims anyway.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

exactly. i'd love to be able to say "i ll never deal with the shower of shit that is swiftcover/AXA", but the truth is that i may well have to if i return to a consumer policy.

 

The entire insurance market's a joke- i've always only had 2-3 insurers offering me policies that were competitive- everything else has always seemed to be 40+% more, and i've had massive variations in adddress, occupation, car over the years...supposedly 'mainstream' insurers like esure (who had insured me a couple of years ago) or more (expensive) than won't even bother quoting me, despite a clean record and full ncd.

[John F]

Nobody is happy with the cost of insurance at the mo'...

 

I am.

 

I've got a Classic Multicar policy with Footman James – for which I need a minimum of three vehicles, one of which can be modern. Bizarrely, my 17-year old Calibra V6 is the "modern" car, since to qualify as a classic on this policy Vauxhalls have to be 20 years or older... unless they're a convertible!

 

Vehicles covered are a 1994 Calibra V6, a 1991 Maserati 222 SE and a 1966 Land Rover Series 2a 109", soon to be changed from 2.25 petrol to 200 TDi turbo diesel (no premium change). Insurance is fully comp., unlimited miles on all vehicles, use of other cars, UK and European breakdown cover, etc. - 635 quid

 

I was paying nearly 200 quid more than that for the Mas and the Cally separately, on limited mileage policies WITHOUT the use of other cars. I'm chuffed to bits

[John F]

I'm not used to using a comma at all with "and" but after a spot of reading it appears that it can be applicable before the word "and":

 

I. Commas SHOULD be Used in the Following Situations

 

 

1) USE COMMAS to Separate Three or More Items in a Series

 

Examples

 

It is time for me to collect your papers, to read them, and to comment on your work.

We had soft-boiled eggs, tomato juice, and dry wheat toast for breakfast.

 

DO NOT use a comma to separate only two items in a series.

 

Examples

 

He enjoys skiing and running.

He knew that she was envious of him and that she would try to ruin his plans.

 

 

This use of the so-called "serial comma" *before" and is pretty much restricted to US English usage, and as such should never be used by anyone with a sense of class & style

 

It isn't used in British English except to provide needed clarity, e.g. "We ate soup, chicken, fish and chips, and pasta."

 

But Luxo's comma *following* and was fine, it just served to place the phrase "last but not least" in parentheses.

[gtd2000]

As a previous Swiftcover customer I'm pretty sure this type of fiasco would occur with any given insurer.

 

Many of us are aware that they will charge you up the wazoo for any changes to the policy.

 

My own position is that the web based insurers should allow for certain changes (which are made via the internet by the client) to be made without cost.

 

After all you simply print off your own documents anyway.

 

**please note I've given up on the comma***

[maxpower]

i just renewed my insurance... quote was for just under £350... 5 mins on the phone and it ended up at £381.63

 

no wonder they can use 0800 numbers... they get £30/40 out of you when you call them

 

WANKERS

[Lankytim]

The wife had a renewal quote from swiftcover that seemed a bit excessive, we managed to get it £60 or so cheaper online from another insurer but when we rang swiftcover to see if they could better it they actually added another tenner to the quote! Goodbye swiftcover, hello e-car insurance!

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

My own position is that the web based insurers should allow for certain changes (which are made via the internet by the client) to be made without cost.

 

That is exactly what Swiftcover SAY they do. However, they have admitted in writing (in a roundabout but unambiguous way) that they don't actually do it.

[Timewaster]

I rang to ammend my classic policy this week (as I am now a married man) and they said the policy was now £6 cheaper but there is a £20 admin charge, to my supprise they waived the £14 difference.

Hurrah for Lancaster insurance!

Direct line (for the dailys) wasn't interested in the change and wont be updating anything.

All this week Mrs Tops has been in contact with all and sundry to change her name, so far not 1 has wanted money - although Satan Dan Dare are giving us a proper run around trying to update the mortgage.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

congrats on getting married, tontops! Hopefully you won't have too much interference in the automotive department!