Insurance disappointment

[M25VAN]

I'm normally a supporter of Footman James insurance but having just received my renewal notice, I see that the premium includes a £10 Arrangement fee! None of my circumstances have changed, they are exactly as last renewal, I have simply been invited to renew again. I'm wondering what arrangements the company had to make, apart from arranging for a letter to be sent, and that was to their advantage, assuming I renew. Why do people look to make money in these underhand ways? There was no mention of this last year. I'm damned annoyed about someone trying to get that bit extra.

I had this as well but what I don't like is the bits that I thought were covered such as driving to and from place of work are not included as standard. Also, you can't take off the breakdown recovery bit to reduce the premium.
However, I haven't found anywhere else cheaper for the options I am insured for. As soon as I mention drive to work/unlimited mileage and only car the reply is "can't do you on a classic policy" and the price rockets.

[les]

Can't be doing with this insurance haggling these days. Good local insurance broker,agreed valuations, 12,000 miles per year total,latest quote less than £270 for a modified Trav, a 2 Dr saloon, A30 and a Marathon beetle. No hassle. This on line stuff isn't always the cheapest or the best.

Well you can say that if you're happy with your deal but I bet you'd be haggling if you were not!

[Steamerpoint]

Well I just went for every day car insurance, found on a price comparison website. I didn't call them up to haggle the price as I felt that the anual premium of £58 fully comp was very reasonable.

[frame][/frame]

[MrIan]

I just had a look at that computer quote insurance . com site and I don't know if they always state the same but there were various assumptions taken on the quote sites part.
ie
One being that the vehicle has an ABS braking system !!
On a Moggy !! ?

[Steamerpoint]

Doesn't your Moggy have ABS then?

Just checked my detailed policy and the car details are correct. No ABS. No Airbags. No tracker fitted. No alarm. No imobaliser. Mechanical steering lock fitted when not in use. Etc.

I did put down an anual mileage of only 1000 miles though, which is probably enough for everyone.

We also live in a low crime area. The car is garaged day and night and the house, driveway and garage is within a gated and fenced area, so protected by a fair amount of security! I am also getting on in years, am an advanced driver and my last accident was over 30 years ago, so everything insurance wise tends to be cheap generally. I also pay less than £100 to insure the 2-year old Passat!

[mad-4-moggywhite-1]

I looked at Footman James but they were the most expensive and I could not see why they should be.
Regarding £10 fee they just bank on the fact that most people will have a winge but then let it go cos they can't be bothered with the hassle don't play into their hands! best to phone them and say you have a better quote see what they do, if nothing then walk away. I am with Chaucer v happy with them £66.

[MrIan]

So that's 2 with Chaucer at less than £70.

As said they do assume that people will just pay these 'set up' / 'admin' fees come renewal time to save the bother of going elsewhere. I can see why if they are a broker but then on the other hand you'd think they'd want to keep existing customers happy. The trouble is that doesn't appear to be the case in this day and age as I found on my renewal mentioned earlier. I got the same policy for £150 less from the same company just by searching for a quote and not bothering with the renewal.
It's wrong really as it's nowt but an additional money making ploy.

[MrIan]

Doesn't your Moggy have ABS then?

It does have A Big Steering wheel yes !!

[aupickup]

do chaucer do an only car policy and is that limited mileage

[les]

I'm all for a good deal but I'd get a bit suspicious if a premium is too low in comparison with other companies, it's worth remembering the test of insurance is the quality of the claim response, if unfortunate enough to need it. Of course that doesn't necessarily mean the dearer ones are the best but maybe a better chance they are.

[XWL61]

Is the Chaucer policy an agreed value policy?? I doubt it....

As Les says, the test comes when you have to make a claim......

Andy

[biomed32uk]

I dumped FJ this year, way too expensive and went with Adrian Flux, around £150 down to something like £97.

[kevin s]

I use diamond classic for my cars, not in a position to insure the minor yet but my Lotus Elan +2 comes in at just over £100 and series 2 landie cat around £80.

They were not so keen on the tr7v8 though, Peter Best insured that for £120. (thats for replacing asthmatic 2.0 litre with a 3.5 V8!).

kevin

[ianmack]

Can anyone explain the MMOCs relationship with Footman James? They seem to offer nothing that cannot be obtained elsewhere and their pricing is not particularly competitive. What exactly do they have to offer club members?

[aupickup]

have allways found the staff at footman james very polite and helpful
tho mustv admit the tenner was a bit much
may have to change next time tho

[mattyb]

I'm with RH - BMC didn't you have your TR7 with them ? no charge for policy amendments (ie swapping a vehicle ) pay £307 for a MGA Roadster - Mini 25 - Citroen 2cv and my 1959 2 door Moggy -fully comp - limited mileage - I can't drive them all at the same time... very pleased with the service

[Steamerpoint]

You know there is another theory! Some people buy insurance based on the service and perceived payout amount they may obtain in the event of a claim. Others simply want to be legal at the lowest possible price!

I had an accident 31 years ago when I was a teenager. I was only 3rd party insured anyway and my £400 Mini was written off so I was down £400. Had I been fully comp, my excess would have been more anyway, so forget it.

Since then, I have always shopped around for the best quote and tend to save at least £50 to £100 each year. That's thousands of pounds saved over the years.

Most insurers dislike paying out, but are legally required to settle a claim in accordance with the policy schedule. Any doubts about the quality of your insurance policy, check the schedule and do not get confused between the broker and the insurer underwriting the policy. Often the price you pay bares little relation to the service you receive later when you make a claim because the broker will simply pass you to the insurer claim line.

The broker is merely the middle man creaming off the top. They would rather make a fiver selling another policy, than making nothing if you go elsewhere, so shop around and then call them back to cancel your renewal. They often attempt to beat your best price!

As I am statistically unlikely to have an accident this year (Based on the last 31 years of driving), I'm going for the cheapest deals, be honest about the car, check the policy carefully when it arrives and relax for 12 more months.

[dalgrae]

My insurance renewal last year came with a £35 pound admin fee ,when I queried this it was waved,so this year the renewal arrived with the same admin fee and also a 13% increase in the agreed value change but I was not able to increase my vehicle agreed value to next year according to the insurance agent ,they eventually waved the agreed value increase and we agreed to reduce the admin fee to £10 .This brought the policy down to £98

[mad-4-moggywhite-1]

I tend to agree with you Steamerpoint no need to get hung up about insurance. Often whatever the price of the insurance the treatment you will receive once claiming will be afforded to all clients and all legal obligations of the policy must be adhered to by the insurer.
A fully comprehensive policy with agreed value insurance at the BEST price you can achieve is the way to go. I am currently as someone rightly pointed out not on agreed value insurance as my cars are not worth any where near what they will be once restored (ongoing at present) it would be false economy to pay the extra each month until such time as it is needed. I seem to remember thinking at the time that the extra cost for market value was reasonable too. £66 is what I am paying for my on the road car fully comp, and I shall be insuring my other on Monday morning with same insurer as I am finally going to pick her up from her previous owners garage! Hooray I'm so excited!!!

[Steamerpoint]

Congrats. Hope you will be happy together.