Churchill Insurance - Rip Off

[Sussex_Paul]

I've been dealing with my insurers - Churchill - over a matter that may affect a number of you.

I bought my Silver T180 as an ex-demo. It had the Chrome Side Bars already fitted (I probably wouldn't have had tham otherwise) and looked very nice thank you.

Changed my insurance details over to the new car as you do and left it at that.

Last week I got my renewal notice and noted in large print that any items not listed as standard must be disclosed otherwise my policy may be invalid.

Being an honest citizen I called Churchill and disclosed that I had non standard Tyrol Silver paint and the chrome bars fitted to my car. My renewal quote went up by £200 as they classed the bars as a body kit!! They even asked for an immediate payment of £32 to cover the next few weeks until my policy expires.

Clearly, this ensured I looked elsewhere for a better quote and I hav now saved over £400 by switching to Morethan, who do not class the chrome bars as a modification or a bodykit.

I know they say that it pays to shop around, but it may also pay any of you out there with any of the extra's on your Rav to check that your insurance company won't use it as a way of invalidating your policy!!

[sywy]

I'm afraid it's not only Churchill. A lot of insurance companies do this.

My last car (Mazda RX8) did not come with leather seats, but I specified them as an extra, and got stung by Admiral. I also had strakes (little chrome details on the side air vents) and also had to pay extra for those. The thing is, even tough you are paying extra to cover them, the insurance company will not replace them in a total loss claim :censor: As you say, !Removed! rip off!!

[SteveR.]

It's all too easy to get caught by failing to realise what is "non standard" and, presumably, give insurers a way to wriggle out of paying up in the event of a claim. I have a 4x4 that had bull bars fitted when I bought it (used). It was the manufacturer's own equipment and it never even occurred to me that it wasn't standard equipment, but I later found that I could have been in trouble had I had an accident. I subsequently discovered that replacing a rotting exhaust with a lifetime guaranteed stainless-steel one can bring higher premiums during that lifetime, because some insurers don't distinguish between that and a performance-enhancing "sports" exhaust.

It makes you wonder just how picky they could be if they were trying to find a way to wriggle out of a claim. Is an un-declared reversing aid, CD changer or SatNav "non-standard electrics"? What about using "pattern" parts when it comes to brake pads or exhaust rather than manufacturer's own brand? What if the manufacturer supplied Avon tyres but you replaced them with Michelin?

[sywy]

One bit of good news. In a sarcastic tone, i did mention I had got some car mats in my car, which were not standard spec, but an optional extra, and asked if i should pay an extra premium for them. They actually let me keep them in the car for free. How generous!!

[anchorman]

One bit of good news. In a sarcastic tone, i did mention I had got some car mats in my car, which were not standard spec, but an optional extra, and asked if i should pay an extra premium for them. They actually let me keep them in the car for free. How generous!!

You know that a magic tree air freshner could make you sneeze at the wheel so there's a hundred quid straight away :D

I am going to try Toyota next time. They seem competitive and should be happy with my Toyota reversing sensors!

[2.2 D4D]

churchill are owned by royal bank of scotland as are direct line/prudential/tesco/privilage

if you break your windscreen or any glass you must use approved repairer or they will only pay

£125.00 after excess and you will have to pay up front and claim back yourself. considering approved

repairer in our area is useless i switched to zurich and saved £100 also norwich union direct are doing

same on new policies

[Manxrav]

churchill are owned by royal bank of scotland as are direct line/prudential/tesco/privilage

if you break your windscreen or any glass you must use approved repairer or they will only pay

£125.00 after excess and you will have to pay up front and claim back yourself. considering approved

repairer in our area is useless i switched to zurich and saved £100 also norwich union direct are doing

same on new policies

My insurance is done thru Toyota Insurance, which is part of Royal Sun Alliance( also more than). I got a good deal out of them, and an even better one when I moved out to IOM( lot less premium). You also get with it a better scope with it being Toyota,s "own insurance"

Clare

[anchorman]

churchill are owned by royal bank of scotland as are direct line/prudential/tesco/privilage

if you break your windscreen or any glass you must use approved repairer or they will only pay

£125.00 after excess and you will have to pay up front and claim back yourself. considering approved

repairer in our area is useless i switched to zurich and saved £100 also norwich union direct are doing

same on new policies

My insurance is done thru Toyota Insurance, which is part of Royal Sun Alliance( also more than). I got a good deal out of them, and an even better one when I moved out to IOM( lot less premium). You also get with it a better scope with it being Toyota,s "own insurance"

Clare

I wondered if it was you!!! Moving over there is one way of getting that T180 cranked up or is it the first step towards RAV4 World.

Kind regards

[bitman]

also as a non brit those insurances are scammers...

i have my EU international licenses since 1982 (A, B, BE, B1, C, CE, C1E, D, DE & D1E) from The Netherlands. i'm living since 2003 in the uk. had to changed my EU license in a UK one in 2005 due my ADR license (transport of danger goods). drove lorries with danger goods around brittain...

and guess what... most insurances told that i have my license since 2005!!! what gives you a very high premium...

this is against the european law since EU licenses are tha same as UK license. i have all my vehilces insured with Lexus insurance (Royal Sun Alliance) why is accepting my license with no problem... and beleave me i tried many of then...

have fun and watch out for those scammers who rip you off...

[Manxrav]

churchill are owned by royal bank of scotland as are direct line/prudential/tesco/privilage

if you break your windscreen or any glass you must use approved repairer or they will only pay

£125.00 after excess and you will have to pay up front and claim back yourself. considering approved

repairer in our area is useless i switched to zurich and saved £100 also norwich union direct are doing

same on new policies

My insurance is done thru Toyota Insurance, which is part of Royal Sun Alliance( also more than). I got a good deal out of them, and an even better one when I moved out to IOM( lot less premium). You also get with it a better scope with it being Toyota,s "own insurance"

Clare

I wondered if it was you!!! Moving over there is one way of getting that T180 cranked up or is it the first step towards RAV4 World.

Kind regards

Yep, your,e right tis Clare. I,ve recently got a Teaching postion over here and it is a place to die for. It,s like the UK used to be. There are not very many 4.3,s on the roads over here and T180,s are none exsistant. We have a Toyota main dealer over here, but they are also Lexus dealers as well. glad you realised it was me I had to set myself up with a new internet provider as at the moment we only have Manx Telecom ( no BT thank God), so I thought I might as well give myself a new Username( as on R4W)

Clare

[anchorman]

churchill are owned by royal bank of scotland as are direct line/prudential/tesco/privilage

if you break your windscreen or any glass you must use approved repairer or they will only pay

£125.00 after excess and you will have to pay up front and claim back yourself. considering approved

repairer in our area is useless i switched to zurich and saved £100 also norwich union direct are doing

same on new policies

My insurance is done thru Toyota Insurance, which is part of Royal Sun Alliance( also more than). I got a good deal out of them, and an even better one when I moved out to IOM( lot less premium). You also get with it a better scope with it being Toyota,s "own insurance"

Clare

I wondered if it was you!!! Moving over there is one way of getting that T180 cranked up or is it the first step towards RAV4 World.

Kind regards

Yep, your,e right tis Clare. I,ve recently got a Teaching postion over here and it is a place to die for. It,s like the UK used to be. There are not very many 4.3,s on the roads over here and T180,s are none exsistant. We have a Toyota main dealer over here, but they are also Lexus dealers as well. glad you realised it was me I had to set myself up with a new internet provider as at the moment we only have Manx Telecom ( no BT thank God), so I thought I might as well give myself a new Username( as on R4W)

Clare

You've been watching too much "Castaway" and "Lost".

Good luck with the new position.

Cheers

[bitman]

sorry, but what's IOM?

[Peter (Preston)]

I used to work for Royal & SunAlliance, in their Engineering division, we still have all our insurances with them, car house etc. They have proved to provide good cover at reasonable rates and though I have only claimed once house insurance (Quick find me some wood) they were very good on sorting that out.

Wonder why I left???

Regards

Peter

[SteveR.]

sorry, but what's IOM?

Isle of Man.

[bitman]

thx :-)

[Manxrav]

thx :-)

Cheers, SteveR.

Biton, Isle Of Man is 60 miles from Liverpool and 60 miles from Dublin, It,s an Island in the Irish sea

Clare

[bitman]

thx :-)

Cheers, SteveR.

Biton, Isle Of Man is 60 miles from Liverpool and 60 miles from Dublin, It,s an Island in the Irish sea

Clare

Thx

[Avalon]

Cost me £80 additional for a set of wheels that weren't OE spec on the X's Renault and again Admiral wouldn't replace them in the event of loss with anything other than OE wheels ... I declared my Gekko air freshner, magic tree, fluffy dice, pg tips monkey and tesco car mat's, after each item and when the girl had finished laughing she asked if they'd increase the value at all !

I once got quoted £17,000 to insure my bike .... that was funny untill I realised they weren't kidding!