Insurance insanity

[Andy M]

After a bit of web surfing I came to the conclusion that as I'm now older I'm better off with two bikes on one policy (protected NCB fee is less than the second policy approach). So, I ring the brokers tell them the quotes I've had and what I want to do. The ******s wanted to charge me £35 to cancel the second policy! I owe them if I cancel cos the returned premium is £20!

I'm lucky, I'm switching MZ no.2 onto the Triumph policy. MZ no.1 can stay insured without risk of a claim against it as it's currently a stripped frame. The policy simply runs out in a few months (during it's rebuild) and they can whistle for their £20. The unlucky would have to gauge the risk of having two policies on one bike (illegal? If not a PITA if you claim) against the savings or cancellation costs. It's a b****y good way to keep your premiums up don't you think.

It then gets better because this particular broker fixes big chunks of the policy against both bikes. I'd have a £550 excess on a £300 MZ due to an effect of the protected NCB. Unprotect the NCB and the excess is £200. Find the logic there!!

I told them to stick to sponsoring the t**s and cars TV channel and am now back with Carole Nash (on zero excess).

It's utter lunacy, but it's what I've come to expect from the In-Sewer-Ants.

Andy

[mav617]

Andy,

I had a similar unpleasant experience with Bennetts. When will they learn that if they treat you like s*** when you're cancelling a policy that you are much less likely to ever come back, especially when you're cancelling cos the bike you insured has blown up or been thrown down the road and is no longer useable? Whereas if they play nice you might one day return to the fold. It's not a good way to run a business and I doubt it's cost effective for them in the long run.

[Steffan]

The irony for me is that I started out with CN nearly ten years ago and I have not found anyone who can match them for my circumstances. I do the ring around every year and every year they come out ahead or they sweeten it a bit and I stay put. It troubles me sometimes but as my policy is protected and getting cheaper every year I haven't got that much to worry about.

[boze]

i got a hella cheap quote from http://www.ebikeinsurance.co.uk cheapest ive ever had, id give them a look if youre renewing, it cant hurt

peace

damo

[squirrelciv]

Here's another bit of madness for you. Just replaced Bennetts with Churchills for dolly's insurance as Churchills beat them by 34 quid. As I was putting the new documents away and ripping up the old ones I discovered Churchill had put my business with the same insurance company Bennetts had the year before!!! I had asked Bennetts if they could get near Churchills price and they said an absolute NO!NO! Just goes to show you get nowt for loyalty nowadays, it's all about new customers (sigh)

[Andy M]

Here's another bit of madness for you. Just replaced Bennetts with Churchills for dolly's insurance as Churchills beat them by 34 quid. As I was putting the new documents away and ripping up the old ones I discovered Churchill had put my business with the same insurance company Bennetts had the year before!!! I had asked Bennetts if they could get near Churchills price and they said an absolute NO!NO! Just goes to show you get nowt for loyalty nowadays, it's all about new customers (sigh)

I've beaten them before simply by typing my details into their website as though I was a new customer. You tended to save up to maybe a tenner compared to ringing and asking. When the new documents came through,I justed fill in their old policy number as proof of NCB on their new forms!

I think their bonus structure will be based on new business not the overall. Not a good idea when it gets this out of hand IMHO, but who ever heard of an insurance broker going bust!

Andy

[Simon#83]

i got a hella cheap quote from http://www.ebikeinsurance.co.uk cheapest ive ever had, id give them a look if youre renewing, it cant hurt

I almost went with this company as their quote came out cheaper than my current insurer Carole Nash, but watch out if you need European breakdown cover and you've got an older bike! They charge an additional £49.99 for European breakdown cover (CN is included) and it doesn't cover bikes over 10 years old (no good for me as one of my bikes is 11 years old).

Simon M