Watch out for Tesco Motor Insurance

sspfin

I am writing to warn other people to stay away from Tesco Motor Insurance. Their prices may be cheap but they are nothing but hassle if you are involved in an accident that wasn’t even your fault.

My sister was involved in a pile up in January 2008 and even the police report on that day stated that there was no way it could have been her fault because several other vehicles smashed into each other and my sister was at the front.

Even though there is no scientific way that it could have been her fault, Tesco took her £500 excess anyway while they were “investigating” the incident. It is now November 2008 and after writing many letters to the Tesco Insurance people and Sir Terry Leahy, she still doesn’t have her £500. I have now written to the Financial Services Authority and Trading Standards on her behalf.

To compound this problem, Tesco gave her a quote of £900 for renewing her policy this year (up from approx £500) because she was involved in the incident. She was disgusted with this and had alternative quotes as low as £350 from First Direct. However, because she told them that Tesco still hadn’t cleared her of any liability, that made the prices shoot up to between £600-£900 again.

So not only are Tesco investing the £500 over the year, they’re causing policyholders to spend even more money unnecessarily on renewing their policies.

[FONT=&quot]My sister now has a new policy for £600 with Diamond Insurance; however, I would advise anyone to just stay away from Tesco Personal Finance at all costs.[/FONT]

raskazz

sspfin wrote: »

Even though there is no scientific way that it could have been her fault, Tesco took her £500 excess anyway while they were “investigating” the incident. It is now November 2008 and after writing many letters to the Tesco Insurance people and Sir Terry Leahy, she still doesn’t have her £500. I have now written to the Financial Services Authority and Trading Standards on her behalf.

This won't get you anywhere. If the damage is claimed for under the Tesco policy they are under no obligation to waive the excess even if liability is not in dispute.

lisyloo

Your sister may not be at fault, but until such time as they recover the money from the third party this remains as a claim against her.
That's the way it will work with any other company she goes to as well.

It's unfortauntely it's taken so long, but these things often do and £500 is not life and death is it?
If it is then she should sell her car and get a bus/car.
I'm not being nasty, but it's a fact of life that you can be exposed to these kinds of bills if you enagage in private transport.

Meadows

I would also say stay away from travel insurance, a work friend of mine took out travel insurance a few years ago, her husband had to have hospital treatment while on holiday, and she was asked to fax her receipt for payment of the insurance so they could pay the hospital, but as it was only a till receipt which wouldn't fax clearly she had to pay the bill & claim it back on return.
On submitting a claim when she came home, she found Tesco only gave her part of the claim back!

FH_Brit

Meadows wrote: »

I would also say stay away from travel insurance, a work friend of mine took out travel insurance a few years ago, her husband had to have hospital treatment while on holiday, and she was asked to fax her receipt for payment of the insurance so they could pay the hospital, but as it was only a till receipt which wouldn't fax clearly she had to pay the bill & claim it back on return.
On submitting a claim when she came home, she found Tesco only gave her part of the claim back!

Although you don't say if Florida, but some priciples are the same - Tesco through my experience are as good as any, not the best but good. let me know what they did not pay and I'll assist if I can. But my other thread below is worth a read.

Click Here for must-read information: Florida Medical & Travel Insurance

I am an Ex-Pat Brit (Hertfordshire) living and working in Florida. I work for a major Hospital group (7 hospitals and 14 urgent care clinics around the Orlando area) dealing with all you tourists that holiday here and then go home leaving medical bills behind you unpaid.

My job is to track you down and get the bills paid and I deal with UK insurers many times each day. No matter what your horror story is, I’ve heard them all and Brits usually have the same story to tell.

I am officially a Debt Collector, and that usually scares people. Don’t be worried, it is usual business here in Florida to use debt collection agencies. If you get a letter or call from a debt collector remember DO NOT IGNORE THEM – CONTACT THEM IN THE WAY THEY ASK – don’t assume e-mail is ok the privacy laws state we have to have a verbal confirmation or “ink” signature to confirm you are the patient or other person entitled to the information. The law is on their (or their clients) side, and in ANY case YOU the patient, are responsible for your own debts NOT your insurance company.

LilacPixie

I have to second the opinion of Tesco Car Insurance. Around 3 years ago royal mail decided to modify the postcode of my home. When informing TCI at the time of renewal the my postcode had actually change but address was the same the upped the quote by £172 from the renewal quote.

milkybars

This sounds like a right ordeal for your sister. I hope you get to the bottom of this but it's a nightmare that she's had to pay extra for this year's insurance because it hasn't been settled yet. I hope this is resolved eventually.

I have to say that Tesco were marvellous when I had to report an incident that turned out not to be my fault, I didn't have to pay excess and it didn't affect my no claims either. They arranged to have my car picked up from my place of work, provided me with a hire car while mine was being fixed and brought my fixed car back. And even after this they matched my cheapest quote with Tesco vouchers (that I'd use anyway) so I've stayed with them for a second year.

Our two stories sound like exact opposites!

Meadows

FH_Brit wrote: »

Although you don't say if Florida,

It was somewhere like Romania or Bulgaria, I think, can't remember as it was about 3 years ago.