RIAS? No, No, No!

WhiteHorse

A relative is moving house in the near future. She has motor insurance with RIAS.

She advised them of the impending change of address and was informed that for the three months remaining on the policy, they would require a further £230. This, it was claimed, was due to the change of postcode.

Now, a certain increase due to increased risk is perhaps understandable. But this raised her annual premium from £230 to £1200! (Amazing, given that other friends in the same area pay only £300).

She asked to speak to a manager.

The manager than repeated the same story, adding that "very few insurance companies will offer car insurance at all for postcodes in that area".

So, according to RIAS, the entire East Midlands finds great difficulty in obtaining any car insurance at all.

RIAS? Forget it.

vaio

it might be that they really don't like the new area or it might be that they are unfairly taking advantage of the fact that you are a captive audience and they think they can charge what they like.

If it's the former then it's all above board and there is nothing you can do, if it's the latter then I'd say they are in breach of the FOS requirement to treat customers fairly.

You can find out which is the case by doing a couple of dummy quotes, one in the old post code and another in the new one. If the difference really is 500% then you'll just have to pay, if the difference is significantly less then you should pay and then complain that they are unfairly taking advantage of an existing captive customer and if they don't refund or explain why then you will escalate it to the FOS