Yes, by the initial stages they do show up quite well. I think the review area of MoneySupermarket should give a good indication over the coming months. To stress that is is only an indication. A lot of people regard 'Value for Money' as being cheap... it's not! It's the opposite. If you look over the review section, there are some with really bad rating in other areas but have selected good value for money lol. It's quite bizarre how people's minds work!!
The cancellation fee is appalling, and they should have telephoned the insured to let him/her know about the impending cancellation. The letter does inform of impending cancellation, but as the insured said, it didn't arrive... I bet my bottom dollar they didn't send it recorded delivery! The cheap companies never do! RE the excessive cancellation fee, the FSA can be contacted on this matter. Although all insurers have until December 2008 to comply with the Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) policy, the £50.00 is way above the average cancellation fee throughout the motor insurance industry. I'd strongly advise this, but only after the insured has it in writing that the £50.00 is a cancellation fee and not split.
Once a policy is cancelled, it's cancelled. It cannot be reinstated, it has to be re-setup again. They would probably waiver the fee if you took another policy out with them, but I don't recommend this.
I appreciate the comment RE: star performers being at the top end of the price range but it isn't always the case. QBE, HSBC, Groupama, Highway, Chaucer are usually within affordable reach and not a great deal more than the direct commercial marketed insurers. These companies can be sought through various intermediaries. Be aware that there may be stringent underwriting with these guys by means of security. They may dictate that you must have a specific alarm/immob. device in order for the vehicle to be covered for theft. This is usually for cars on the higher end of the market, however. I've known some people to refuse absolutely great cover because the likes of Budget, More Than, Swift, ECar have offered them a price as little as £20 less. When I hear about this from people, it makes me cringe, but theres not much by way of educating people. The telephone agent cannot comment on another insurer's practice, but can only highlight the basis of cover and the differences. Sadly, once somebody has it in their mind that they are going with the cheapest price, there's no stopping them! Whilst it's affordable to do so now, the full protection available isn't there; in turn potentially costing the insured more in the long run.
These shoddy companies reflect the industry in a very bad light. The insurance industry has bad press regardless because people only remember the claims that haven't been paid out, and not the high majority billions that are. It's human nature, we don't remember the dog that saved somebody's life as much as we remember one that took a life away.
Ho hum. Onward and upwards? lol