Car insurance from First Direct

whisper_bar_lover

Hi

I used all the comparison sites recommended for car insurance on the site in March 2011. I cannot remember which site I got the final quote from but decided to go with First Direct as I was quoted £275.47 as opposed to my current renewal notice of £449.21. A day or so later I added legal expenses cover of £15, total £290.47. Only now have they sent me a letter this week saying I need to pay another £165.81 in the next 7 days. They say that the terms of the offer was based on the renewal policy of my previous policy which was £449.21. Why on earth would I want to pay the same amount as the year before to renew my policy? Secondly, why has it taken them until now to inform me of this? Are they now going to charge me the extra for the past few months based on the previous policy if I cancel the policy? I certainly did not notice this in any documentation but looking back at the email they sent me to confirm the insurance once I had paid for it, it says

We will offer you a motor insurance renewal quotation of 15% lower than your current insurer's invited renewal premium for second and subsequent policies and we will match the terms of your existing policy as closely as possible. This offer is subject to you providing sufficient evidence of your current insurer's invited renewal premium.

I did provide evidence, my policy was not for a second policy (I have 1 car in the household). I find this very misleading! I find no mention in the terms & conditions. Have you any advice?

Thank you!

thenudeone

If they quoted £275 then as long as you gave all the required information honestly, that's what you should pay. End of.

dacouch

They agree to beat the renewal quote from your existing insurer, not your cheapest new quote from different new companies

mikey72

If First Direct quoted £275 as a new customer, it would appear that should be the price you should pay.
Just because they have an offer to beat a renewal quote doesn't give them a right to increase the premium to match when they have sight of your old renewal.
Possibly a call to advise them you took out a new policy, and weren't using their pricematch offer is required.

Hammyman

If you have already taken out the policy and paid, they have agreed to the terms, a contract has been formed and they cannot alter it for any reason other than increased risk.

Its like going to Tesco, buying a can of beans then getting a bill the following week because they decided they priced them wrong.