Hi there Huckster and any others qualified

Life is supposed to be easier with all our modern aids to communication. There are so many web sites offering to compare various services varying from every day shopping, through power suppliers to insurance. One such is that on which we are discussing our problems. Enquirers will discover that quite a number of the policies on offer are quotations from Insurance Brokers, not the actual underwriters, this does not aid the purchaser as the two offer such variations. Of course it is vital to compare every item of cover, most surprising is the variety of complulsory and voluntary excess on claims. Experience of the lack of value buying a NINE year Protected No Claim Discount when it can be offset by an increased premium leads to the economics of my accepting a higher excess total.

At one time being an Insurance Broker was an honourable occupation. Operating from an independant office my own relied upon local advertising and clients recommendations, most proud of the fact the he had studied and passed exams for membership of his professional association. He retired, profitably, when his office and agencies were taken over by a public company, I do not think there are many small businesses left in this area, no real knowledge or research, just 'Computer Says', Little Britain absolutely right. Another form of cover I considered when the cost of the premium looked as if it would exceed the true value of the car was very near the minimum legal requirement, Third Party Fire and Theft. Contrary to a long held belief this actualy proved to be more expensive than fully comprehensive, there was nobody who could explain this anomaly so my interest became purely academic.

Laurie Mac

Laurie Mac

Your comments do not surprise me. I have had 5 different Insurers in the last 5 years and have kept the premiums roughly the same. At each renewal as they raise the premium, I go elsewhere. Insurers do have a tendancy to offer a low premium at the start and then gradually increase. I think they hope people, particularly those paying monthly by Direct Debit, will renew automatically. I don't pay by DD or accept any automatic renewal process.

Policies are not identical, you really do have to read thoroughly to compare like for like. Even with one underwriter, there can be differences, i.e excesses can be variable in both amount and how they are applied. The comparison sites are useful to find out roughly which Insurers are offering the better deals. I always will however, check the site of the Insurer and read through the policy summary of cover/wording.

It is also worth going back to using a broker. Brokers have moved on quite alot in recent years and can offer a wide choice of different Insurers and policies. Find a broker using BIBA site. http://www.biba.org.uk/ConsumerHome.aspx

Huckster

Have just been through the maze of renewing Car Policy.

After previous problems caused by a minor accident, last year managed to obtain policy at £156, half previous insurers offer. Now renewal has been offered at £374. There was a TV advertisement where an odious salesman excused higher charges by explaining how hooks were baited with a view to landing a big one. So true to life, now I must set off on the rounds of Internet Sites. What a range of prices for an identical policy, still with the maximum No Claims Discount, from a low of £270 to a high of £451. Odd that the £270 was from my current insurer, naturally I accepted and was passed to the call centre, on explaining my needs the quote rose to £342

The next best quote of £315 was from the Underwriters who had actually issued the current policy,this is a company which mails me direct but have previously been found rather expensive. First day having been spent without great success and with time in hand, another was devoted during which I made a telephone call to the second best which produced a price of £293. Feeling that progress was being made I contacted others who had sent me offers by land line, none were acceptable which I explained to the operator I was talking to. Eventually they started calling back with better offers, the best was from the underwriter of the current policy who finally came up with £230, they now have my business. Problem is what will I have to do next year, is this another baited hook? With nothing better to occupy my time almost two days spent on internet and telephone, had I not had the time how much more would I have paid happy in the thought that I had been favourably treated by the current insurer?

Laurie Mac

Warning to readers!

Much more important to impoverished owners of old jallopies like myself. How much is the premium for this Comprehensive Insurance before the NCB? They do not willingly disclose this, only the final figure. My first cover was taken out in 1939 with Avon Insurance, 7/6d cover on a Coventry Eagle Motor Cycle I had purchased for 30 shillings, a fair proportion of the cost if I wrote it off.

I have owned many vehicles since then from 1928 Austin Seven, toured Italy in that one without a claim on my green card, to 1961 Rolls Royce, the cheap old bangers did not need more than the legally required 3rd Party Cover, some were so decrepit even the possibility of Fire/Theft was not worth covering. Certainly had I known that I would be paying over £1000 for a Comprehensive Policy covering a car worth £300 at best, it would never have been contemplated. As it happened I still have not enquired for the 3rd Party Cover as by shopping around I halved the quotation.After deductions I am paying around half the real value of the car, more in keeping with my 69 years experience in keeping down motoring expenses. Should mention HM George VI covered me for over 5 years of my accident prone youth, and he never had to pay out either!

Laurie mac.

i Think it should be made law that when you enquire to make a possible claim that when its borderline, eg, cost of excess and cost of repair are comparable that insurers are forced then to give you the details of how much your base insurance will be next renewal proving the customer with an informed overall cost, Had i been informed the base would rise i would not have claimed, as the claim has now cost me the same as if i had this repair done myself, I do however admit they couldn't be faulted with the claim procedure, vehicle was collected and returned in a good state - 1 part of the mirror and the fact it doesnt fold properly,,,, and zen wise its not a thing im going to dwell on , thanks for everyone who has contributed to my questions, johnnie

I deal with insurers on a daily basis and beleive me NU are the worst I have come across. They will ensure that Solus deal with all repairs and you are certainly not the first to complain about their repairs. If I were you I would certainly shop around.

thank you dave

thought your explanation was simple & clear- very easy to understand

Have just had 33.3% increase in Premium after 75% Protected No Claims Bonus. Had never realised full TOTAL cost of Comprehensive Premium which had never been stated in writing. Had to ask after minor claim, bump at petrol pump, 3rd Party "M" Registered Ford Escort suffered broken side light lens.As expected elderly Ford without a single undamaged panel. Not a mark on own car a "J" registered Renault. True value of both cars under £300 if 'written off'. Unfortunately both vehicles same Insurer so £250 repair paid without question. Now find full Comprehensive Cover without Discount would be over £1,000, quite ridiculous when total loss if beyond economic repair would result in £300 maximum pay out after negotiation.

Laurie Mac

Just giving an example with figures....It's easier to digest than words ;)

not only late but dave you have just repeated the same point although worded differently,

insurer has raised premium cos customer made claim.

ncd protection protects the ncd so he gets same discount but on different premium.

Just showing you an example to hopefully clarify that for you.

No Claims Protection guarantees to keep your level of discount the same ie 9 years or (60%)

Example :

Before accident - 9 years NCD (60%) of base premium, lets say £450 giving you a price of £180

Wheras after the accident the base premium has risen the discount has stayed the same. So now you get 9 years (60%) of £600 giving you a price of £240.

NCD protection only keeps the discount from the base premium the same, nothing stops the insurers from raising the base premium. I think I'm a little late in posting but hope that helps =)

Thanks for explaining, its as i suspected, over all if they insist of having and using there own repairer and not a main dealer im concerned as the vehicle is £64k that it wont be repaired properly, if they cant even fit a wing mirror without leaving parts off it, then i might as well throw caution to the wind and go for the VERY LOWEST QUOTE i can find. The only reason i claimed, it was borderline cost wise, but having them collect, do the work and return the car completed was the main reason, the fact ive a £80,00 increase, and i have to take it back to fit 1 part they missed, and then take it vw to finish the job properly 1 day off work for me, has made it more then if i had just paid for it outright,,,,,, Regardless of the bodged repair i was going to stay with norwich union , this increase has tipped the balance, and im walking (oh! and bad karma to the person that cut of my wing mirror ):<) caio johnnie

johnnie the upshot of it is you have not been conned..it works the same way with every single insurer.

even the ones who falsely advertise never to put up premium jsut because claims are made always find a way around it.

PROTECTED NO CLAIMS DISCOUNT IS JUST THAT..doest protect your premium,the bonus stays so your premium doesnt go up but the claim still goes against your overall record so your premium still goes up although not as much as it would do if you lost some or all of your ncb.

if it protected your premium it would be premium protection but it never has been the case.

in most circumstances id say £80 rise aint that bad,but your company norwich union are one of the move expsenive around so id do a good shop around anyway and save some serious money.

HELLO Im insured with Norwich Union, recent vandalism caused me to claim, i have a policy with protected my no claims bonus policy, although my no claims bonus of 64% has been protected they have re evaluated my quote for this year and changed the amount to another £80.00 more, I thought the whole idea of no claims protection was that you policy charges would not rise the following year due to a claim, YES that have still given me my full no claims bonus, NO but my policy renewal is still £80.00 more, I feel conned, especially as they used there own repairers Solus in Norwich, the wing mirror has a huge part missing, and doesn't fold up like it should do, so im faced with main dealer to finish the job for me, My house , Van, and 2 cars are all with Norwich union,,,,,, and will change insurers