Check your insurance renewal

[Studio25]

Too many people just let their insurance renewal roll over without checking if they can get a better deal, but I've just had a massive shock when I actually read more than just the premium amount.

I just got around to renewing my car insurance and looked at the notification sent from the current insurers. £664.03 seemed quite steep so I went through the comparison websites to see if it was “representative”.

Not at all. One popped up for £315 !!!

Went to look at the renewal notice again to see if I’d missed something - it turns out there was a “Renewal administration fee” of £145.82

That’s really taking the urine! When it came to the end of my mobile minimum term, I got a really good offer to keep me signed up. With these insurance people, I have to pay 28% over and above my premium just for the privilege of them keeping my business.


On a related note. I ended up going with Aviva via Swinton at less than half the price. The meerkat page went straight to Swinton's summary page where it showed a vehicle and insured summary, a T&Cs checkbox and a "buy now" button. I realised there was nothing about my LPG conversion so I went back to the details page and checked over everything. The LPG was on, everything else was correct so I just ended up clicking "Next" a few times. When I got to the last page, the premium had gone down even further (by about £30). The moral? If you do decide you're going to buy insurance after using a comparison site, check your details before committing - you might get a further discount.

Plus I get a cuddly toy for the dogs to shred...

[gpick24]

I was with Swinton for a long time, always happy with their quotes (around £300) so didn`t really bother shopping around (just laziness on my part) until one year it went up to over £500. I asked why and they had no reasonable explanation only that it was "their best quote", so went on go compare and found another insurer who quoted about £280. Swinton rang me again asking if I wanted to take their quote and when I told them about the new quote I had they reduced theirs back down to around £300 again.
I told them if that had been your first quote you would still have my business.
I use comparison sites every year now (got £30 for the Meerkat toy on ebay this year)

[Barrie Yates]

Check your AA renewal as well - they are now operating an automatic renewal. Went from £62.32 last year to £252.98 this year and it had already been taken out of my account - told that the difference was because I received a 75% discount last year as a new customer. Needless to say they got told where to stuff it and I did not intend to go with them this year. Outcome being a full refund and membership cancelled.
As regards insurance - been with Aviva a few years now - renewal quote £442, with 7 years no-claims. Now checking around, Privilege £303, Churchill £313. Haven't finished checking yet but will try Swinton.

[gpick24]

I get free AA cover with my bank account.

[maxthecollie]

We have found Saga with the best quotes

[US Angel]

I thought it was just here in the USA that they ripped you off
I always try to speak to someone to answer the questions I have

[maxthecollie]

They all sent out high renewals and when challenged they will tell you " We may be able to knock some of that" Well why not do it in the first place. If my insurance does that I tell them I am changing because they do not look after loyal customers.

[Barrie Yates]

Just checked on Swinton - they suggested my current insurer - Aviva. Their quote was £40 dearer than the renewal notice from Aviva.

[Morecambe Ex Pat]

I usually play that game with the AA, Over £200 gets to less than £100 after some negotiation but the last renewal didn't go that way. They kept above £200 and I too got the excuse that last year was an offer to new members only, although I had been with them for 25 years. They stuck to the guns so I went to Green Flag and got an introductory deal from them.

Can anyone justify big companies spending vast fortunes to attract new customers whilst letting existing customers just slip away?

[maxthecollie]

There is just no loyalty for existing customers.

[Studio25]

Originally Posted by gpick24

I use comparison sites every year now (got £30 for the Meerkat toy on ebay this year)

Really??? The dog might have to chew an old sock full of rocks then...

[gpick24]

Originally Posted by Studio25

Really??? The dog might have to chew an old sock full of rocks then...

Can`t find the ebay listing so checked paypal, sold for £26 + £2.80 delivery so not quite the £30 I said but still better than nothing.