I don't belieeeeeve it! (as Victor would say)

[Raffles]

With it being Fathers Day today, I had a visit from both my sons, and ended up getting a good kicking for being a 'silly old fart'!

Having had to get another car a couple of months ago, my dear old Volvo, which I'd had for 20 years, didn't want to play anymore, I got an 04 reg Toyota, so nothing spectacular, but the insurance went up by £20 per month until renewal this month. Recently had the renewal quote of over £1,000 (auto-renewal), and I've been with them nearly 30 years and no accident claims, just a few breakdown calls. When I mentioned it to the lads, they looked at me as if I needed a brain transplant, as they'd both changed their cars recently and were paying less than half of that.

So, they guided me through the comparison website and I'm ending up with a quote of just over £300 with another well known insurer for the same cover, although I need to watch out for seagulls!

Plus next week I'm telling my mobile phone provider where to stick their ariel 
What price loyalty to these businesses, eh  Plus I may get a furry animal to stick on the mantlepiece.

[thebishman]

Well done kn sorting it raffles. Theres loads of people that still jist let it auto renew every year.

Cooincidently ive just had to do mine this weekend. Went up 175 quid!! Comparision sites hit hard...noted down cheapest price. Which was 50 odd quid lower than last years...called current company...and some how managed to just deduct 200 odd quid off the renewal price. Bloody criminals!

[Postmodern Smoking]

Yep, it's disgraceful that most companies these days see contract renewal as a cash cow, which they are happy to milk. Whilst some people are prepared to shop around (the right thing to do), others assume (incorrectly) that their renewal will be fair... it often isn't! Lots of people end up paying waaaaaay over the odds.

[thebishman]

Jun 18, 2017 19:30:01 GMT Postmodern Smoking said:

Yep, it's disgraceful that most companies these days see contract renewal as a cash cow, which they are happy to milk. Whilst some people are prepared to shop around (the right thing to do), others assume (incorrectly) that their renewal will be fair... it often isn't! Lots of people end up paying waaaaaay over the odds.

They called it "tax increases" to me on the phone. My response was "what a crock of shite". The bloke paused...and continued to then work out a good deal for me lol

[Postmodern Smoking]

Jun 18, 2017 19:33:37 GMT thebishman said:

Jun 18, 2017 19:30:01 GMT Postmodern Smoking said:

Yep, it's disgraceful that most companies these days see contract renewal as a cash cow, which they are happy to milk. Whilst some people are prepared to shop around (the right thing to do), others assume (incorrectly) that their renewal will be fair... it often isn't! Lots of people end up paying waaaaaay over the odds.

They called it "tax increases" to me on the phone. My response was "what a crock of shite". The bloke paused...and continued to then work out a good deal for me lol

A vulnerability tax maybe.... makes my blood boil! .... I think your response was more accurate than theirs!

[thebishman]

Jun 18, 2017 19:39:05 GMT Postmodern Smoking said:

Jun 18, 2017 19:33:37 GMT thebishman said:

They called it "tax increases" to me on the phone. My response was "what a crock of shite". The bloke paused...and continued to then work out a good deal for me lol

A vulnerability tax maybe.... makes my blood boil! .... I think your response was more accurate than theirs!

The older i get the more forward im getting

[ghostrider1971]

Although I'm, thankfully, not a car owner I understand the big increases this year are due to a change in the compensation system for deal with personal injury in car accidents.

Government changes the rules - Insurers must make gazillions in profit - the punter has to pay....as usual

[Raffles]

ghostrider1971 I understand that premiums have to go up from time to time, but why do they abuse their long term customers, are we just that stupid? (I guess I've answered my own question, yes I am!)

Just read this from the covering letter from them...

"You have been with us for a number of years. You may be able to get the insurance cover you want at a better price if you shop around"

WTF...

[ghostrider1971]

Raffles - I totally agree with you.

The automatic renewal is one of the sneakiest tricks - along with increasing IPT every year (I worked in Insurance before I got in to teaching...)

The insurance company argue they don't want to leave people without legal cover - their euphemism for massively increasing prices and hoping people don't notice.

Any kind of personal insurance (car/house) should, IMHO, be reviewed every year as people are always doing new business deals.

Sadly no loyalty from the companies in that game

[charliehorse]

Last time I did the comparison thing for car insurance I continually got quoted higher prices than my renewal ? Closest was £10 dearer.

This year at house insurance time I ended up (after a long conversation with the poor bugger I got through to) with a 'loyalty discount' bringing the price down to less than I paid the year before

[gill2009]

  A newer car Raffles...could this hopefully   mean you may come to Vapefest...I so need a Victor Meldrew kinda lovin 

[Raffles]

Jun 18, 2017 20:31:15 GMT gill2009 said:

  A newer car Raffles ...could this hopefully   mean you may come to Vapefest...I so need a Victor Meldrew kinda lovin 

Gill, I'm in the same position as last year... dog/house sitting for the eldest, and despite GunJack 's very generous offer, I doubt it. But, believe me, you won't be missing anything!

[gill2009]

Jun 18, 2017 20:41:59 GMT Raffles said:

Jun 18, 2017 20:31:15 GMT gill2009 said:

  A newer car Raffles ...could this hopefully   mean you may come to Vapefest...I so need a Victor Meldrew kinda lovin 

Gill, I'm in the same position as last year... dog/house sitting for the eldest, and despite GunJack 's very generous offer, I doubt it. But, believe me, you won't be missing anything!

  



  I was so hopeful *story of my life

[striker42]

Insurance companies are qualified in pissing down your back and trying to tell you it's raining. Glad you've got it sorted out at a decent price Raffles . That will keep some shekels in the kitty for a bit more of your favourite tipple. I wouldn't term the situation as the boys giving you a kicking, they were probably a bit upset and disgusted that you were being ripped off to such an extent, maybe the look on their faces wasn't so much that you need a brain transplant, more the bigwigs of these companies need a kick in the kahunas for their willingness to rip off the sometimes unaware, general public. At the end of it all, you've two sons looking out for and looking after their old man, that my friend, is priceless.

[Raffles]

Jun 18, 2017 21:15:20 GMT striker42 said:

Insurance companies are qualified in pissing down your back and trying to tell you it's raining. Glad you've got it sorted out at a decent price Raffles . That will keep some shekels in the kitty for a bit more of your favourite tipple. I wouldn't term the situation as the boys giving you a kicking, they were probably a bit upset and disgusted that you were being ripped off to such an extent, maybe the look on their faces wasn't so much that you need a brain transplant, more the bigwigs of these companies need a kick in the kahunas for their willingness to rip off the sometimes unaware, general public. At the end of it all, you've two sons looking out for and looking after their old man, that my friend, is priceless.

Thanks striker42 , yes, I know they were only looking out for me, but did they have to make this bottle of Glenlivet so bloody hard to get into! I'm out of the cheap stuff, and now resorting to DIY instruments to open the bottle!

Phew... success!