Insurance Rise

[Bper]

Started looking at car insurance quotes today and the rise from last year is ridiculous, what is the justification for such high prices. If these prices continue year after year insurance may well become unaffordable for most drivers.

[DAN@ADRIAN FLUX]

Hi.

Please feel free to give us a try for insurance if you haven't done so already.

Regards,

Dan.

[Bper]

13 minutes ago, DAN@ADRIAN FLUX said:

Hi.

Please feel free to give us a try for insurance if you haven't done so already.

Regards,

Dan.

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the reply please drop us the contact no on PM.👍

[Haliotis]

On 9/29/2023 at 8:00 PM, DAN@ADRIAN FLUX said:

Hi.

Please feel free to give us a try for insurance if you haven't done so already.

Regards,

Dan.

My home insurance is with Adrian Flux, so I tried them for a camper van insurance because Tesco Bank, my Toyota car insurance, do not cover camper vans, motorhome, etc.

They came back with £6,000 !!!  I found another insurer with an acceptable price.  A/F came back to me with a slightly lower figure, so I told them they were unrealistic and not to bother me again because I had found cover.

I have met other insurers who suddenly whack up the price, despite no change in circumstances  - not even having had any contact with them.  As for the comparison websites - I used to try three - I have found that direct contact offers better deals.

[Bper]

47 minutes ago, Haliotis said:

My home insurance is with Adrian Flux, so I tried them for a camper van insurance because Tesco Bank, my Toyota car insurance, do not cover camper vans, motorhome, etc.

They came back with £6,000 !!!  I found another insurer with an acceptable price.  A/F came back to me with a slightly lower figure, so I told them they were unrealistic and not to bother me again because I had found cover.

I have met other insurers who suddenly whack up the price, despite no change in circumstances  - not even having had any in contact with them.  As for the comparison websites - I used to try three - I have found that direct contact offers better deals.

Hi Albert,

Ironically I contacted them yesterday and was quoted over £100 more then the comparison sites. I asked why they are more expensive and was told they are more of a specialist car insurance broker.

Funny enough I have found a car insurance the same price as last year from the comparison sites. Still it may work for some others.👍

 

 

[Haliotis]

Hi Bob,

Frankly, car insurance has become a minefield; there’s no logic to the way these companies operate - except that everything is loaded in favour of the insurers, whichever way you look at it.

I feel that some regulation should be in force that curtails excessive premiums, but no government is likely to go down that route because, for working class people, it seems that owning a car is something we should not be able to afford.

[Bper]

1 hour ago, Haliotis said:

Hi Bob,

Frankly, car insurance has become a minefield; there’s no logic to the way these companies operate - except that everything is loaded in favour of the insurers, whichever way you look at it.

I feel that some regulation should be in force that curtails excessive premiums, but no government is likely to go down that route because, for working class people, it seems that owning a car is something we should not be able to afford.

Albert, I don't think many of us would disagree. insurance premiums have risen year on year and for many drivers this is now barely affordable. 

The whole insurance system is a cartel of the largest insurers and underwriters working in conjunction. No accidents or convictions year in year out and a good driving record seems to lead to higher premiums from your insurance company who when asked tell us, it is because the underwriters reassessed your area and found the area you live in was at greater risk due to a higher number of accidents then the previous year.

So for a good driving record we are punished by them by increasing the premiums. I agree I don't think the Government will interfere as to much money is involved.

It really is concerning to know how far these increases will continue to go. The only ones who will be left on the roads at this rate will be the very rich and this includes of course the insurers and underwriters 

 

[Haliotis]

Could the government have a hidden agenda?  Bob, taking your point that only the very rich will be left on the roads, could not this mean that the resultant massive relief in the volume of traffic would reduce/remove the need for further expansion of the road network, and give the environmentalists their wishes for significant reduction of atmospheric pollution.  ‘Just Stop Oil’ would also be overjoyed.  The only spanner in the works for government is, “How do we replace the considerable loss of revenue such a situation would create?”  So, whilst the government can ignore the unscrupulous ramping up of insurance premiums, they are at a loss about solving the above problem, PLUS the loss of the tax that these premiums attract.  Let us hope the government can’t balance the books on this one!

[Bper]

33 minutes ago, Haliotis said:

Could the government have a hidden agenda?  Bob, taking your point that only the very rich will be left on the roads, could not this mean that the resultant massive relief in the volume of traffic would reduce/remove the need for further expansion of the road network, and give the environmentalists their wishes for significant reduction of atmospheric pollution.  ‘Just Stop Oil’ would also be overjoyed.  The only spanner in the works for government is, “How do we replace the considerable loss of revenue such a situation would create?”  So, whilst the government can ignore the unscrupulous ramping up of insurance premiums, they are at a loss about solving the above problem, PLUS the loss of the tax that these premiums attract.  Let us hope the government can’t balance the books on this one!

Absolutely the reduction in traffic suits the global agends for climate change and air pollution. Regarding the loss of revenue from less cars on road, I suspect higher taxation hidden under the guise of clean air and pollution control taxation will be used.

Maybe even a green tax levied on your home per year but incorporated into your council tax is another way. However I guarantee that the think tanks have been milling over ever considerable way to raise any potential loss of revenue.

it may be well to ask yourself why and who is in control of this direction of global change and why is everything moving in this way.

[Haliotis]

Bper said, “It may be well to ask yourself why and Who is in control of this direction of global change and why is everything moving in this way.”

How does this sound?   All you need are a few nutty professors, some biased environmentalists, and a wimp of a government in power.  Add to that an Opposition which supports the environmentalists, which in turn puts the fear of God into the government, and you have the perfect storm.

Our solar system is not finite.  The Sun is about halfway through its life span. The number of people on the planet is growing fast, and forestation is being destroyed at a pace, both of which increase the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. But nobody seems to be thinking that Nature itself is driving these changes.  Most of the human race appear to think we are superior to the Natural World when, in fact, we are just one part of it and the part that is most effective in destroying the balance of that World.

If every ICE car in the world was scrapped tomorrow, I think the environmentalists would be disappointed with the minimal effects this would have.  What then would be their next target?

My own nutty answer to global warming, is to erect giant areas of aluminium foil in space, and reflect much of the sun’s rays away from the surface of Earth.  Even if that did work, there would still be a lobby finding fault with it - as there always is!  

[Bper]

I renewed my house and contents insurance a couple of months ago and used one of the cash back sites for the first time ever. Now I received £39 cash back and transferred it to my account with no problems 

In the process of doing so I wondered how these companies can rebate this amount and surely if they are also making a profit this can only come from higher prices being quoted by the insurance companies. this was one of the cheapest quotes at the time so unless I am wrong and there is another way they make money then are they one of the causes of inflated insurance that we all pay.

As I have also found a low quote for my car insurance next month and again if I go through a cashback site I will also get a larger amount then above.

Would welcome any comments on this.

[dannyboy413]

Somebody has to give the cashback company the £39 so that they can pass it on to you. If the insurance company charges 39 customers an extra £1, they have the £39 to give to you.

[Haliotis]

I have often found that call centre staff can give a £25 reduction without having to consult a manager.  So there is a £25 “freebie” for an insurance company every time a proposer takes up the premium without query.

[Bper]

Every year when I renew my Auris insurance, I look at the online customer reviews for claims to get an idea of how the company deals with paying out. I also look who underwrites the policy and their claim reviews.

I do the same on household insurance as well and the reviews from customers is really worrying.

Many of these companies have such bad reviews you wonder how they are still trading. Many of the largest insurance companies that years ago you would have total confidence in, have appalling reviews on claims etc.,

How has this market place become so toxic? Surely they can make a good profit and satisfy the customer without looking for excuses not to pay on claims. What can be done to change this?

 

[Strangely Brown]

I have just renewed cover for the RAV4 and there was a 50% increase this year. I was informed by the broker that prices are similarly increased across the board and that was confirmed by comparison sites which all quoted similar increases.

This is, apparently, down to increased repair costs that have come out of parts supply shortages and costs.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Bper]

9 minutes ago, Strangely Brown said:

I have just renewed cover for the RAV4 and there was a 50% increase this year. I was informed by the broker that prices are similarly increased across the board and that was confirmed by comparison sites which all quoted similar increases.

This is, apparently, down to increased repair costs that have come out of parts supply shortages and costs.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The worrying thing about this is when parts are more available the cost will continue to increase along with repair costs.

The insurance premiums have risen so fast over the last few years and nothing is being done to prevent this happening. Insurance has become unaffordable for many ordinary motorists and they are driving without it.

This raises the cost even further and acts as a double edge sword. 

[Big_D]

6 hours ago, Bper said:

Many of these companies have such bad reviews you wonder how they are still trading. Many of the largest insurance companies that years ago you would have total confidence in, have appalling reviews on claims etc.,

How has this market place become so toxic? Surely they can make a good profit and satisfy the customer without looking for excuses not to pay on claims. What can be done to change this?

They are still trading because, by law, we must have insurance. We have no choice but to buy from them.

[Strangely Brown]

On 10/5/2023 at 8:29 PM, Big_D said:

They are still trading because, by law, we must have insurance. We have no choice but to buy from them.

There is an alternative, albeit one that nobody but the very rich can afford. You can self-insure.

[Bper]

Looking at the insurance market this gives a little idea of how they adjust prices during the day. This market is totally stacked against us.

Lots more tricks they do as well but this might help some who are looking at insurance renewal.

Insurers adjust premiums according to the volume of people who’ve applied for quotes that day, as well as the demographics of the applicants.

If a glut of inexperienced drivers apply for a policy on the same day, it’s probable that the insurer will hike prices to limit take-up.

For that reason, daytime searches generally get you lower premiums than if you’re searching for the same cover in the evening.

[local hero]

I have recently been getting lnsurance quotes, I spent a WHOLE day on various sites, go compare, the AA, the meerkat one, direct  line, and my usual agent who wants £480 this year £260 last year, I filled in loads of quotations all the same questions finally decided on Churchill,  got as far as making the payment did my long number it then asked for 3d verification,pressed continue and screen went blank, tried other quotes who sounded good then wanted, £30 legal protection, £20 key cover,and ncb protection, on top of quote, I then went back to earlier quotes (that day) only to find they had gone up by as much as £50 WTF this insurance game is an absolute minefield,finally poured myself a huge G+T and felt a lot bette😥

[Haliotis]

We. Are looking at buying a motorcaravan and, to get a quote, it is necessary to give the reg of “the” vehicle.  As we have a specific model in mind, and Don Amott have an exact one in, I gave that.  Then I had to give a start date for the insurance.  So I gave 11 October, although the vehicle will not be ready until early Dec (service and prep. Etc) and I have a caravan to sell.  Obviously, I needed an insurance quote to confirm it was viable to continue, so my enquiry is not practical for the date I gave.  But I was told, if it was not taken up on the date, the quote would not be valid and could increase.  Bob, from your comments I can see how this can happen but, once a quote is given, if there are no changes in the proposer’s circumstances, why apply such silly conditions?

Whatever parameters the insurance companies use to set quotes, they are neither consistent nor logical in relation to the person who will be behind the wheel.

[local hero]

29 minutes ago, Haliotis said:

We. Are looking at buying a motorcaravan and, to get a quote, it is necessary to give the reg of “the” vehicle.  As we have a specific model in mind, and Don Amott have an exact one in, I gave that.  Then I had to give a start date for the insurance.  So I gave 11 October, although the vehicle will not be ready until early Dec (service and prep. Etc) and I have a caravan to sell.  Obviously, I needed an insurance quote to confirm it was viable to continue, so my enquiry is not practical for the date I gave.  But I was told, if it was not taken up on the date, the quote would not be valid and could increase.  Bob, from your comments I can see how this can happen but, once a quote is given, if there are no changes in the proposer’s circumstances, why apply such silly conditions?

Whatever parameters the insurance companies use to set quotes, they are neither consistent nor logical in relation to the person who will be behind the wheel.

Further to this I am picking up , my new 2nd hand car on the 11th October paying by bank transfer, so told insurance I wanted insurance from the 10th, I was told I cannot insure a car which I do not own, so I have had to tell insurance  that i am picking up car on the 10th whether or not this is going to throw up problems on the day I really don't know???

[Bper]

When you visit these sites information is stored on there servers hence price increase when you visit later. With modern AI even VPNs do not stop tracking completely.This is probably more apparent when booking a holiday or flight. Using multiple sites for comparison then comparing prices etc before you book is what most of us do. However when we revisit the sites the price has gone up. 

Train ticket sales are notorious for this as well. It really is difficult to circumnavigate these systems unless you know how to do this as they spend fortunes in programming,software and server technology.

 

 

[Haliotis]

STEWPOT, if you have already completed a contract of purchase with the seller then starting your insurance on the 10th is perfectly legal, because you are already the legitimate owner.

[local hero]

4 minutes ago, Haliotis said:

STEWPOT, if you have already completed a contract of purchase with the seller then starting your insurance on the 10th is perfectly legal, because you are already the legitimate owner.

I hope that's the case but I haven't actually paid for it yet,