warning on car insurance

chas1937

On Monday my friend got a quote from leading broker online and accepted she would have £100 excess on it.On going over all the details they seemed fine but when the papers came through next day there was an added £250 compulsory excess.On phoning company up about this she was told you must have ticked box that says you have read terms and conditions.This she had done but we didnt notice they were in 3 parts and coming back online once you tick 3rd part it comes up showing that excess.Now most folk might look at terms etc but with all the jargon usually just tick box and take it as ok.So please always check them out.Fortunately when she phoned she got someone who knew what they were talking about and managed to get that one cancelled and another with just the £100 excess but they could have just held her too the 1st one.SO BEWARE

Astaroth

It goes for anything though not just motor insurance, you should read the terms and conditions and not just click the "accept" button

livinginhope

Hi chas1937,wasn't Endsleigh insurance was it? I've had this problem with them after going through confused.com,I put 100 excess,when I accepted quote the page with the terms and conditions wouldn't load,so called Endsleigh,they said yes 100,on getting my policy there is a 250 compulsory and 100 voluntary,been arguing with them ever since with no luck.Not happy!

Astaroth

The £100 you put in is the voluntary excess which is what they have set it at as requested.

In addition to the voluntary excess there is occasionally compulsary excess which as the term suggests you have no option or control over. The most common reasons for these is either young/ inexperienced drivers or the type of vehicle you have (high cost or performance or convertable).

If you were unable to load the T&Cs page prior to accepting then why didnt you call them to find out what they were before buying? Even if you did buy and then call them you would have the legal 14 day cooling off period from 1) the date you received the docs or 2) the date the policy starts which ever is the later.

livinginhope

Hi Astaroth,I DID call Endsleigh to clear this up,but they told me the excess was 100 they made no mention of the 250 compulsory excess.BTW I have never had a policy with compulsory excess,I have no idea why this is on this policy,I have been driving for 20 years have maximum NCD and a clean licence.I have been calling and calling to talk to someone about it,get passed around to many call centres,in the end wrote a letter,now the 14 day cooling off period has passed,I cannot cancel without a VERY hefty charge,I tried to cancel the day the papers came through but they said there would be a 50 charge,the insurance was only 170 for the year.

rdwarr

This is particularly true of Tesco Value Insurance. My quote had a £525 Compulsory Excess on it!

chas1937

It was Swinton that my friend was with but she was lucky in that they cancelled that one without charge and gave her another with just the £100 excess

Astaroth

rdwarr wrote:

This is particularly true of Tesco Value Insurance. My quote had a £525 Compulsory Excess on it!

But that is a significant part of the "value" offering and why the prices are so much cheaper than their standard product.