I didn`t think my van insurance was up for renewal for a while - haven`t had any renewal notices yet.
Then, at 6.30 on Sunday evening, some young call centre employee telephones ( they can pick their times, can`t they?)
Wants to know if I`ve had my renewal quote, `cos it will be auto renewed with them on Tuesday, unless I`ve cancelled!
But I haven`t had any notice, I tell him. How much IS the renewal, so I can compare it.............
So they have to ask me all the questions about the vehicle, and me, and gawd knows what else ( I`d been on the wine for a while by that time!!!!) - and I remember thinking - if they`ve sent out a renewal price, how come they don`t already KNOW a price??
Anyway - dug the policy out tonight - doesn`t expire until the 26th!!!!!!! - plus their renewal is £100 more than I can get online
`phoned them - full of male cow poo, the lot of `em. They renew 14 days in advance, cos it takes that long to set up a DD, so they can take the payment from my account. And - amazing or what - they can match the other price I`ve had.
So - I`ve just emailed their complaints dept - after telling him where to put his quote ( after applying vaseline to the necessary areas)
Missus thought I should paste the email here..................
-------email begins
On a Sunday evening, I get a call, out of the blue, from your renewals dept; asking if i`ve had my renewal letter. When I say I haven`t; they tell me that my policy is due to automatically renew in two days ( i.e. tomorrow).
At this point, I ask what the renewal quote is, to allow me to make an informed decision, and compare it to other quotes. After going through the ins and out of a duck`s rear end, we finally get a figure – though, if you had a renewal pack coming out to me, surely you already KNEW the price????!!!!!!!
But the biggest issue is that you effectively give me 36 hrs or less to compare prices, and cancel if necessary – which I`m certain must be in breach of the insurance CoP; ( you can be certain I`ll be checking THAT).
In the meantime, I get quotes ( of almost 2/3 the cost of YOUR renewal) – so `phone up to cancel. After listening to some muzak ( aka suicide for the soul) for an interminable time, someone comes on the line, and proceeds to tell me that they might be able to match that – then shove me back onto the annoying noise for a while, so they can have a quick cup of coffee. When they return – surprise, surprise – you can match it.
At that point ( ignoring the fact that the excess if more than double my other quote), I`ve lost all faith in you. IF you could provide that price; then you could have provided that price to begin with – never mind all the white noise about “only being brokers” – we both know that the renewal prices are intentionally inflated, in order to make more money from the poor sods who don`t have the time to shop around; or who still believe they get looked after a la “brand loyalty”.
So I`m NOT impressed – as you might be able to ascertain. If it transpires that your renewals system does not comply with the relevant codes of practice; then I will be taking the matter further.--------email ends
:slap :slap :slap
Then, at 6.30 on Sunday evening, some young call centre employee telephones ( they can pick their times, can`t they?)
Wants to know if I`ve had my renewal quote, `cos it will be auto renewed with them on Tuesday, unless I`ve cancelled!
But I haven`t had any notice, I tell him. How much IS the renewal, so I can compare it.............
So they have to ask me all the questions about the vehicle, and me, and gawd knows what else ( I`d been on the wine for a while by that time!!!!) - and I remember thinking - if they`ve sent out a renewal price, how come they don`t already KNOW a price??
Anyway - dug the policy out tonight - doesn`t expire until the 26th!!!!!!! - plus their renewal is £100 more than I can get online
`phoned them - full of male cow poo, the lot of `em. They renew 14 days in advance, cos it takes that long to set up a DD, so they can take the payment from my account. And - amazing or what - they can match the other price I`ve had.
So - I`ve just emailed their complaints dept - after telling him where to put his quote ( after applying vaseline to the necessary areas)
Missus thought I should paste the email here..................
-------email begins
On a Sunday evening, I get a call, out of the blue, from your renewals dept; asking if i`ve had my renewal letter. When I say I haven`t; they tell me that my policy is due to automatically renew in two days ( i.e. tomorrow).
At this point, I ask what the renewal quote is, to allow me to make an informed decision, and compare it to other quotes. After going through the ins and out of a duck`s rear end, we finally get a figure – though, if you had a renewal pack coming out to me, surely you already KNEW the price????!!!!!!!
But the biggest issue is that you effectively give me 36 hrs or less to compare prices, and cancel if necessary – which I`m certain must be in breach of the insurance CoP; ( you can be certain I`ll be checking THAT).
In the meantime, I get quotes ( of almost 2/3 the cost of YOUR renewal) – so `phone up to cancel. After listening to some muzak ( aka suicide for the soul) for an interminable time, someone comes on the line, and proceeds to tell me that they might be able to match that – then shove me back onto the annoying noise for a while, so they can have a quick cup of coffee. When they return – surprise, surprise – you can match it.
At that point ( ignoring the fact that the excess if more than double my other quote), I`ve lost all faith in you. IF you could provide that price; then you could have provided that price to begin with – never mind all the white noise about “only being brokers” – we both know that the renewal prices are intentionally inflated, in order to make more money from the poor sods who don`t have the time to shop around; or who still believe they get looked after a la “brand loyalty”.
So I`m NOT impressed – as you might be able to ascertain. If it transpires that your renewals system does not comply with the relevant codes of practice; then I will be taking the matter further.--------email ends
:slap :slap :slap