Direct Line Having A Laugh...

Vern1961

Vern1961

Vern1961

Soldato
Joined
29 Mar 2007
Posts
4,645
Location
Swindon UK
So I just received my invitation from Direct Line to renew my car insurance...
Price has jumped from @£230 fully comp for a 1.6 Kia Sportage to @£320.
Immediately ran GoCompare and getting several quotes around the £200 mark.
Direct Line Customer services now shut this time on a Saturday evening so unable to give anyone a rocket immediately, but it will be happening Monday morning.
Really don't know how they can get away with this - been a customer with them over 20 years and last claim was 15 years ago.
 
Although it definitely used to be common practice, I thought insurance companies were now prevented from giving "new customer" discounts and hence ridiculous renewals?
 
Car insurance renewal prices being more expensive than the previous year is as old as the hills. In recent years there was some legislation that stated they were supposed to stop but that isn't the case and they have cracked on trying to rip people off who are too busy or lazy to shop around at renewal time in the hope that auto renewal catches them out.

Tldr, it's nothing new, always turn off auto renewal and set a reminder for 11 months to shop around for car insurance
 
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Oh yes, I know price gouging existing customers with a large increase has been a thing for a while and it is an annual ritual with car and home insurance plus broadband provider to haggle down to a sensible price. However I've never seen nearly a 50% increase come down the pipe!
 
Vern1961 said:
So I just received my invitation from Direct Line to renew my car insurance...
Price has jumped from @£230 fully comp for a 1.6 Kia Sportage to @£320.
Immediately ran GoCompare and getting several quotes around the £200 mark.
Direct Line Customer services now shut this time on a Saturday evening so unable to give anyone a rocket immediately, but it will be happening Monday morning.
Really don't know how they can get away with this - been a customer with them over 20 years and last claim was 15 years ago.
Click to expand...

I was with Directline paying around £300 for about 2 decades then all of a sudden it jumped to £550 despite nothing changing. Phoned them up but they wouldn't budge on price so went elsewhere!
 
So far... fingers crossed... I've not had the displeasure of this kind of experience yet - in over 20 years not had silly increases - unlike most in my family who rarely get more than 2-3 years tops before it goes up like 300% for no apparent reason and they have to shop around...
 
Iamzod said:
Underwriting criteria will have changed.
Click to expand...
Just for Direct Line?

I had same as OP, 550 one year for my boss with me as named driver. Called them to renew and they wanted 1100, complained and they recalculated and it went UP!

Moved elsewhere for similar to the original price, obvs.
 
Pick one of the £200 quotes and buy it, don't reward them buy calling them and haggling to see if you can stay with them.
 
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