I read a few threads on insurance recently and took up the advice when my wife's insurance renewal hit the door mat, from Direct Line. First stop was the DL web site which came in £80 cheaper than their own renewal, but to be fair, that's with a £150 excess. Other quotes (confused.com and anyone I could think of) came in much the same, maybe up to a further £20 lower. I'm leaving out companies I've not heard of here.
So, worried that "it can't be right", wife rings DL, pointed out that web quote was £80 lower but had a voluntary excess, what would the phone quote come down to with a voluntary excess ? This is where the comedy starts. Because she is a "long term customer" they couldn't offer that option and told her to go with the web quote. She's done that, has all of her documents from DL and has been asked to provide proof of her NCB. She's sent them a copy of her postal renewal !
DL were polite and courteous throughout but they're just relying on all of us being too lazy to logon / phone up. That's £80 in my pocket (alright her purse) instead of theirs and I'll be doing something similar when my renewal comes in.
So - thanks everyone. Virtual pints all round.
John
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Sorry to deviate from the subject a little, just that you've reminded me about something on the subject of proving the no-claims.
I've just renewed my insurance with Norwich Union, after 3 years with CIS. When I paid for my NU insurance, I wasn't told anything about proving my no-claims when I had my pack through or since. I even had to phone them up to "upgrade" my NCB to 4 years as I was unsure whether the pass-plus still counted, but according to CIS (who do all their NCBs in %'s btw) it still did after 21. Again, I was sent nothing or told nothing by NU about proving the extra year NCD.
I'm half tempted to phone up again and "correct" it to 5 years. How do they know I'm telling the truth?
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Mike Farrow
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Mike - I'm with NU now and they haven't asked me to prove my 1 years no claims from Tesco. I'm sure they would in an accident though!
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Adam
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I'm sure they would in an accident though!
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I'm sure they would as they would also check the DVLA to see if you've had any more points/convictions that were hitherto undisclosed. Come claim time, they'll find out anyways, so if you don't provide proof to them or tell them about those points - you've just handed them the biggest outer there is.
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Im not plain stupid, just a special kind of stoopid.
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I also used to be insured with Direct Line, and decided to shop around at my last renewal. Using confused.com, I went with NU, saving me about £80.
I did phone DL and asked if they would match, but it was just "No, our policy is not to match other quotes", which seems rather silly. I had been with them for at least 10 years.
As has been stated above, there was no mention from NU of proving the NCB at time of renewal. In the event of an accident, how do you prove NCB? Would it be OK to just send a copy of my last renewal from DL showing NCB earned or would I have to contact DL for something more formal?
Incidentally, one of the questions from NU related to where the car is kept overnight. Now, usually, my car is garaged (I am the only person in my street who actually puts my car in the garage!) but not always. Occasionally, I leave it on the drive (eg when laying mice traps in the garage) and it will obviously not be garaged if I am away from home. Anyway, a quick e-mail to NU and they came back and said OK, no problem. Of course, if I need to make a claim relating to the odd occasion when it is left on the drive, I am not sure I could prove that it is only rarely that the car is not garaged. Just hope that never becomes an issue!
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Proving NCD can be a bit of a problem if they don't ask for proof when you apply. What I do is send a photocopy of my last renewal that quotes the NCD years and ask for an acknowledgment.
In the past I used to be asked to send the old renewal off - this was for both proof of entitlement and you loose the renewal to stop you getting the discount on another policy.
Last year, I had a problem with my ex insurer on one of the bikes who were reluctant to state the NCD on the renewal and when asked for it, said only 1 year when it was 6. The new insurer didn't worry too much - I think they phoned them for confirmation - maybe the 'insurers database' holds these details now??
Martin
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I'm sure they would as they would also check the DVLAto see if you've had any more points/convictions that were hitherto undisclosed.
Can they really do that? is there some form of loophole in the data protection act to permit this? I used to wonder when I was getting quotes and all I had to do was give the registration number and they would confirm the vehicle, but then I realised that they didnt have access (I think!)to details of current owner, i.e. personal data.
In a separate vein, I sometimes have trouble getting quotes when I am in the mood for a change of motor as some companies will not give a quote without a reg number. I want to find out if I can afford the insurance on a car BEFORE I go to the time/expense/hassle of finding one I like.
WTM
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Its simpler than that; they just insist on seeing your licence.
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