Why do insurance companies do this? Bloody annoying!

Draeger

Draeger

Draeger

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Joined
4 Feb 2004
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Got my renewal in yesterday for my Aprilia RSV. Fully comp with protected no claims for £122. Nice letter accompanying it explaining that they have searched loads of insurance companies for me and that this is the best deal ever for my renewal. Its with Hastings Direct.

Anyway, its jumped about £30 since last year so I quickly hop onto Go Compare and chuck my details into ze clever search machinez. It comes up with several less expensive quotes, the top one being £83 with Bennetts. But what really narked me is that the fourth quote down is from Hastings Direct themselves for £86 for exactly the same policy underwritten by exactly the same people. Called up Hastings and the bloke on the end simply wouldn't budge on price citing 'That deal must be for new customers I expect'. I asked him if he would match it or the Bennetts price and he wasn't particularly interested. I just hung up on him after that.

So I'm off back to Bennets, was with them a couple of years ago and only switched to Hastings as they were cheaper at the time. How do these companies stay in business? I remember years ago if you remained loyal to an insurance company you would see your premiums reduce slightly or at least remain almost the same. But a jump of £30 for exactly the same policy with the same mob when they offer it via Go Compare for much less? Nah.....poke it.

Bloody annoying!! :mad:
 
Agreed, I change companies every year as well, only last year I forgot and it auto renewed which was annoying. The other annoying thing is that Hastings have the cheek to charge a £10 'Arrangement/Admin Fee' to renew my policy. £10 for pressing a key on a PC keyboard or clicking a mouse? Robbing gits.
 
Felix said:
Hasting will budge, I renewed mine a week ago and got them down on the price to match others.
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Interesting. The fella I spoke to had an utter 'couldn't care less' attitude and started prattling on about how it was still a very good price etc. Before I call Bennetts I might, maybe, possibly call back and see if I get someone more sympathetic. :cool:

Still annoying that they charge an 'arrangement fee' though but I guess everyone does that.
 
I was in the exact same position with Hastings (renewal quote via letter was more expensive than online quotes) and ended up phoning 3 times over a couple of weeks.

Rep #1 said that the price you see on the comparison sites is not what you pay when you complete the process (utter carp).

Rep #2 said that because I had already spoken with Rep #1 they had locked my quote and there was nothing that could be done to change the renewal price (more carp). I could if I wanted cancel my existing policy and take out a new policy through the online process at the cheaper price.

Rep #3 said no problem price matching the quote, re-instated my cancelled policy (following advice above) as it had some notes on modifications to my bike, and I ended up paying less for the renewal.

I've emailed Hastings Customer Services about this as it's either down to poor training or shoddy practice, however when I had to make a claim through Hastings I really couldn't have been happier with their service so they are still my preferred insurers.

I looked at Bennets but they wanted £100 more for the compulsory excess, they are very strict on any modifications made to the bike and when I phoned to go through my quote it was coming up more expensive on their system......

There were a couple of cheaper insurers but when I googled reviews for them the advice was don't touch with a bargepole.......

My advice if you want to stay with Hastings call back and maybe ask to speak with a senior advisor given that you know from other customers that the advice you have been given so far is not correct.
 
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If the difference is not too much, I do just stay with the existing company.
But the instant they start charging extra for things, bumping up renewals and coming up with hidden charges, I find someone better.

Bennetts were cheap to start with, but then they told me they were saving me 40% on my renewal, despite charging me an extra £130 over the previous year!
 
Draeger said:
Interesting. The fella I spoke to had an utter 'couldn't care less' attitude and started prattling on about how it was still a very good price etc. Before I call Bennetts I might, maybe, possibly call back and see if I get someone more sympathetic. :cool:

Still annoying that they charge an 'arrangement fee' though but I guess everyone does that.
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Definitely try again, also I asked them to beat the quote not to just match otherwise I may as well go off elsewhere. The guy I spoke to couldn't have been more helpful. Did the same last year, perhaps it is just luck who answers!
 
I did the same with renewal this year. I didn't even bother phoning them to ask them to match it, just phoned to cancel and stop the renewal going through, guy asked why, so I explained that I was getting a new policy through a comparison site, and would be with RAC, but was about £90 cheaper. He just said fair enough, and understood why I didn't bother to phone for them to try and match it as they wouldn't have been able to. Weird.
 
I think there are enough people that pay the higher price (being loyal) to cover the lower cost of the 'new-customer' quotes. Which is why they can't price match.

It's a bit of a con really but as the saying goes, buyer beware.
 
Pick the phone up. phone Hastings tell them your not happy with your renewal so you did a comparison search.

Tell them their price et voila your back insured with the same people for much less.

Stay polite and just realise it's a game - they all do it.
 
Had the same rubbish with Ensleigh last year. Renewal came at £550. Did a new quote on one of the comparison websites and the cheapest was £350 with Ensleigh as well! Spoke to them on the phone but the woman wouldn't budge. So just cancelled the policy and took up the one from online.
 
Ahh boohoo... you're insurance is pretty much nothing!

Mines $1260 and won't ever go down as the price you pay is the price you pay, there's no NCB here and getting old doesn't make any difference!

Stupid American drivers making my insurance so high, I paid 145quid in the UK for my CBR600RR fully comp
Gr.
 
acemastr said:
Ahh boohoo... you're insurance is pretty much nothing!

Mines $1260 and won't ever go down as the price you pay is the price you pay, there's no NCB here and getting old doesn't make any difference!

Stupid American drivers making my insurance so high, I paid 145quid in the UK for my CBR600RR fully comp
Gr.
Click to expand...

but you don't pay road tax:p and its nicer weather,even if its full of gun toting maniacs !!
 
acemastr said:
Ahh boohoo... you're insurance is pretty much nothing!

Mines $1260 and won't ever go down as the price you pay is the price you pay, there's no NCB here and getting old doesn't make any difference!

Stupid American drivers making my insurance so high, I paid 145quid in the UK for my CBR600RR fully comp
Gr.
Click to expand...
I'll trade you our 'cheap' insurance for some of that there sunny weather you've got!
 
acemastr said:
Ahh boohoo... you're insurance is pretty much nothing!

Mines $1260 and won't ever go down as the price you pay is the price you pay, there's no NCB here and getting old doesn't make any difference!

Stupid American drivers making my insurance so high, I paid 145quid in the UK for my CBR600RR fully comp
Gr.
Click to expand...

I fully sympathise with you m8, I remember paying a grand to insure a BMW K100 when I was 19 so I feel yer pain! ;) I'm almost 44 with a gazillion years no claims which helps. :)

I've not phoned them back again yet to see if I get a more receptive staff member, I've got until the 1st of April so no mega rush. I'll give them another go but if its the same story again I'm off back to Bennetts. :cool:
 
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