Just been royally screwed for insurance

steve!_10

Attn mods: Please feel free to move this to the insurance forum if you feel it more apt.

Anyhow, I've just moved from St Albans to Borehamwood, so I figured I'd best let everyone know (as you do), e.g. banks etc., I called Direct Line where they gave me a semi-grilling, and after the conversation ended they'd screwed me for £106! That was the last thing I was expecting.

It was because of my new location, increased milage and an admin fee.

Is there anyway of getting this back or reduced? I find it a little steep, especially since I just thought it was the right thing to do. As if moving to Borehamwood wasn't bad enough already, there's no need to compound my misery.

My policy was over £800 anyway, all paid upfront. Could I use that as leverage saying I'll cancel unless they refund me part or all of it?

And does anyone not sympathise at all, and just think I should stop wasting everyone's time?

Be brutal if you must!

Cheers.

blue_haddock

The only hope of a reduction is asking them to waive the admin fee - the rest of it will be to do with increased risk - travelling more miles so more risk of an accident and possibly the new area is a higher crime risk.

If you threaten to cancel they won't be scared - by the time they take out admin fees and anything else they can think of you'll be lucky if you see any refund of premium.

Heads they win, tails you lose.

waster_2

Have some sympathy but think you are on a loser. Increased insurance premiums is just one of the possible implications when you relocate. You are rated on a number of factors including the type/class of vehicle, area where you reside, mileage, driving record, cliams history, etc. In your case your move has resulted in a review of your mileage and residential risk factors. Unfortunately the risk is now greater to insure than in St Albans (the merits or otherwise of the rating system is another argument!!). A good analogy is when you change your car. If you insure a 10 year old 1000cc Fiesta and then the following week win the lottery and buy a nice Bentley, Roller, Porsche, Ferrari or similar would you still expect your Fiesta insurance to cover you without any payment of an addition to the premium? Probably not? And the same principle of risk assessment is involved in your circumstances.

You may find that your council tax is higher in Borehamwood but would not, I assume, expect to still pay what you were paying in St Albans? So the same applies to inurance too.

On a brighter note, if you move to a less riskier area often you will get a refund on your premium.

You have nothing to lose by challenging them though and they may reduce the additional charge as a gesture of goodwill, especially if you are a long standing client. Good luck

rdwarr

A lot of insurance companies now go on the "Inside the M25" factor which may have come into play here. Should have moved to Stevenage :rolleyes:

Omertron

Despite paying up front, you could cancel your insurance (and recieve a refund minus an admin fee) and look else where. Have a look on one of the insurance comparison sites (such as confused.com) and see if they are way off what you could be paying.

Is the extra £106 for a full year or not? You'll need the figures to work out if you'll be better of changing companies or not. By shopping around you will no doubt find a company that is cheaper than your current one.

Good luck

Apple_2

Got stung by my insurers when I notified them I had changed cars/wanted to switch the cover. The new one was a lower risk group than the old so no charge there, but I got done for the admin fee which I think was £ 40.00 ish. Was like talking to a brick wall so I'd think you're chances are low.

JimArnold

I left direct line a while ago - they seemed to offer cheap insurance up front but couldn't be relied on to assist or even stick to what they said previously. It worried me what would happen if I ever had a claim. However in this case I don't think there are many insurance companies now that would treat you much differently, A few years ago I was insured with Eagle Star (?may not have been) when I moved and as there was only 10 weeks left to renewal they waived any increase due.


Anyway other than echo what has been said and check on the amount of any admin fee I suspect you'll have to wait until next renewal date and take your business elsewhere

Gem_

Thats nothing - when I moved from Stoke to Bradford (both horrible neighbourhoods in insurance terms) my premium went up by 100 % !!!

I would agree with the above posts, apart from the admin fee there is nothing you can do. Insurance is risk assesment after all and if you move then the risk is obviously going to change.

you have my sympathy

G

tonys_3

Just as well you did confirm your move since in the event of you having had to make
a claim,they would no doubt have refused to pay out.And that could have cost a lot more than £100 or so. Yeah -I know it still rankles.
Perhaps after the courts look at bank rip off charges,someone will get round to the Insurance companies rip offs as well.