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Author Topic: Insurance - it pays to phone!  (Read 3098 times)

FullLeatherJacket

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Insurance - it pays to phone!
« on: January 26, 2009, 10:51:28 am »

Just had renewal notices for the house building-and-contents, and the car. The house insurance premium had increased by exactly one third since last year (we made no claims during the year and there was no change in the cover), while the car remained about the same as last year.

Rang the company ref the house insurance and made my best Colonel Angry of Tonbridge Wells noises about the "totally unwarranted hike in the premium; there's a financial crisis going on out here, don't ya know, eh, what?" "Would you like to speak to our Loyalty Advisor?" said the nice lady. 'Loyalty Advisor'? This was a new one on me, so I agreed. Ten seconds of Frank Sinatra later, and a smooth lady came on and immediately  knocked £140 off the total of £472; no change in the cover - just for the sake of asking!!
 
On a roll, I rang the motor insurance people and got 10% taken straight off the renewal quotation, again just for the cost of the call (or was it an 0800 number?).

Moral is not to pay up without ringing the beggars first - unless you own a brokerage!

BTW I actually blew both  of them out, went to another big-name company for both policies and saved myself a total of £297 (nearly 40%).

Suit yourselves, eh?

FLJ
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2009, 11:03:17 am »

Sounds like you got a good deal FLJ. Now, When we want a new ESC, sound unit, complicated electronic gizmo etc. we'll just phone you up and....

Colin
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tigertiger

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2009, 11:09:01 am »

This is common practice in the home insurance game. Most people pay by DD, and also feel safe with certain names. And many never challenge.

And as with the car industry, new policy holders often pay less than existing customers.

So phone around.
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malcolmfrary

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2009, 11:27:42 am »

The insurance companies over the past few years have shown a tendency to offer renewals with various types of unwanted and probably totally useless cover at inflated prices.  As far as I can tell, insuring against Luddites falling from a passing jet on a wet Thursday is a very good bet for them, but of little practical value.  The same applies to much of their little extras.
This years search for car insurance yielded a £40 reduction along with an introductory offer of free cover for the extra that would have resulted in a £40 increase.  As it turns out, with the same insurance company, but via a different brokerage house.
When ringing around, be careful to avoid companies with premium rate numbers (i.e. any that you have to pay to ring) and those who advertise on the TV, and avoid accepting the first offer.
I do sometimes wonder at the TV lot - what company are those poor suckers with who are saving several hundred pounds?
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barriew

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2009, 12:02:42 pm »

Ever since the broker in the next office to ours declined to take on the office insurance because he couldn't beat the renewal premium I had, I have trusted him. Just arranged annual travel insurance with him - saved £40 off the cheapest quote I got off the net, and more than that off the supposedly specialist over 60 insurers. And its with a big name company, and if anything goes wrong Jim will be there to sort it out :-))

Barrie
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BobF

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2009, 01:20:27 pm »

My mother has had an accident policy for many years. Currently she pays approx. £150 per year. Two months ago she fell and broke her arm and shoulder. She has just received her cheque for £125 !!! She has probably spent more than that heating her house as she has been stuck in doors. Plus Taxis to and from the hospital etc.
She will not be using them any more.
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nhp651

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2009, 01:27:55 pm »

I don't think I have stuck with the same insurance company for two years running on either car or house ins. for years. they treat you like imbeciles so I show ABSOLUTELY no loyalty to anyone of them. I shop around and usethe web finders these days for a good deal./ >>:-(
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2009, 02:02:24 pm »

When we want a new ESC, sound unit, complicated electronic gizmo etc. we'll just phone you up and....

.........ask for our Loyalty Advisor..............  :o

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tigertiger

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2009, 02:03:00 pm »

When we want a new ESC, sound unit, complicated electronic gizmo etc. we'll just phone you up and....

.........ask for our Loyalty Advisor..............  :o



Mrs Jacket?
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das boot

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2009, 02:11:14 pm »

When we want a new ESC, sound unit, complicated electronic gizmo etc. we'll just phone you up and....

.........ask for our Loyalty Advisor..............  :o



Mrs Jacket?

Whoa there Mark..you'll have him doubling the prices!!!


Rich
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2009, 04:46:09 pm »

Quote
Whoa there Mark..you'll have him doubling the prices!!!

Actually, I was waiting for the (up to) 90% off sale.  :-)
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omra85

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2009, 07:55:51 pm »

If he doubles the prices, he can have a "Yer buy one - yer get one free" sale, but he'd still have to put ANOTHER 50% on to cover the costs of the marketing campaign  :-)  {:-{  :((  >>:-(  <*<

Danny
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: Insurance - it pays to phone!
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2009, 09:20:13 pm »

I am keeping a list, you know, and I still haven't forgotten that picture-caption debacle  <*<

".............and you, boy! Vot iss your  name?......."

"Don't tell him, Pike!"

FLJ


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