Insurethebox BONUS miles scam

ym

I've just received 0 bonus miles, despite perfect driving. They have now told me that the bonus miles are weighted, and because I drove between 9pm and 11:30pm, I lose all my bonus miles.
I took out the insurance on the phone, and asked them about the bonus miles. They didn't say a word about losing miles, and even when I called them this week, pretending to be a new customer, they just said I would get fewer miles. They misled me to think, that since there are 5 points of driving that they look at, if 1 is poor, I will still get 80% of the points.
Also, if you go over the miles you end up paying far more than any other insurance.
They told me they are receiving LOADS of calls from customers who are upset about the amount of miles they received.
They pointed to a clause - which seems to have been added very recently - which can be understood to possibly mean that driving late will lose all the bonus miles.
I cancelled, and took out with Confused/Tesco for the same price!
I'm now fighting the costs of cancelling, etc, but they didn't even answer my email.:mad:

sally_baylis

ym wrote: »

I've just received 0 bonus miles, despite perfect driving. They have now told me that the bonus miles are weighted, and because I drove between 9pm and 11:30pm, I lose all my bonus miles.
I took out the insurance on the phone, and asked them about the bonus miles. They didn't say a word about losing miles, and even when I called them this week, pretending to be a new customer, they just said I would get fewer miles. They misled me to think, that since there are 5 points of driving that they look at, if 1 is poor, I will still get 80% of the points.
Also, if you go over the miles you end up paying far more than any other insurance.
They told me they are receiving LOADS of calls from customers who are upset about the amount of miles they received.
They pointed to a clause - which seems to have been added very recently - which can be understood to possibly mean that driving late will lose all the bonus miles.
I cancelled, and took out with Confused/Tesco for the same price!
I'm now fighting the costs of cancelling, etc, but they didn't even answer my email.:mad:

You must be doing something wrong. My younger son is with Insurethebox. He mostly drives his car in the evening as he uses public transport to get to work and he has scored an average of over 60 bonus miles per month. He says it is brilliant

ym

That's exactly what I mean. If you drive like a commuter, you get 0 bonus miles. They are not giving bonus miles to regular drivers, only those that drive very little - to the people that don't need the bonus miles.
If I drove 10 miles a day, they know that I won't use any bonus miles, so they would give me extra miles!

paddyrg

Isn't it up to the company how they award a "bonus", it is a "bonus" after all, not a part of the calculated deal (or is it?), so is a sales incentive to get low mileage users to drive more, get hooked, and spend more money!

Spiderham

paddyrg wrote: »

Isn't it up to the company how they award a "bonus", it is a "bonus" after all, not a part of the calculated deal (or is it?), so is a sales incentive to get low mileage users to drive more, get hooked, and spend more money!

What they said.

I'd imagine their actuaries and statistical analysis show the driving times you state are indicative of a poor risk (I'm not commenting on your personal ability just the general trends). This would mean they wouldn't want to "reward" this segment.

Insure the box is a really new entrant to the motor insurance market and it is interesting what they are doing. The guy who runs it has a lot of experience and is well respected [please note I have nothing to do with Insure the Box]. The insurer is offering the bonus miles to try and entice the type of driver they like into being loyal and the limit is there as this is what they have shown/feel works best for them.

It's all up front [I assume] when you buy the policy about the limits and they are under no obligation to give you the bonus miles. Regarding your 5 areas issue and you feeling they should still give you 80%, it is completely up to them how they work out the algorithm for bonus miles.

sarahfw

ym wrote: »

I've just received 0 bonus miles, despite perfect driving. They have now told me that the bonus miles are weighted, and because I drove between 9pm and 11:30pm, I lose all my bonus miles.
I took out the insurance on the phone, and asked them about the bonus miles. They didn't say a word about losing miles, and even when I called them this week, pretending to be a new customer, they just said I would get fewer miles. They misled me to think, that since there are 5 points of driving that they look at, if 1 is poor, I will still get 80% of the points.
Also, if you go over the miles you end up paying far more than any other insurance.
They told me they are receiving LOADS of calls from customers who are upset about the amount of miles they received.
They pointed to a clause - which seems to have been added very recently - which can be understood to possibly mean that driving late will lose all the bonus miles.
I cancelled, and took out with Confused/Tesco for the same price!
I'm now fighting the costs of cancelling, etc, but they didn't even answer my email.:mad:

totally agree - this really seems like a big scam. Response to complaints is poor as well - the whole system they have is shoddy to saw the least. The miles are not updated on any set or consistent format..they award bonus miles as it suits and basically force you into buying really expensive top ups. We are taking this further as soon as we finally receive a response to the complaint we filed we will go to the insurance ombudsman.

Clairbear0688

You know what you were signing up for, the insurance is advertised as being good for those who do around 6000 miles a year, those who don't drive at silly hours and those who drive carefully. I drive at commuter times so am in the amber on that section but green in all others. The fact you drove after 11pm is what has put you into the red. Statistically this is when most accidents occur for young drivers. If you want bonus miles the compromise is you drive at better times.

Some insurers of this nature would charge you for going out at this time, so in all fairness all you have lost out on is something that is an added bonus. You want the bonus do what is required to get them! Fairly simple really. If you need a policy wih more there are plenty that would charge double what you are propobly paying so i feel it is a great service and the bonuses are incetives to improve the conition and times at which you drive and it is your choice to follow those.

Clairbear0688

And as for expensive miles 18p a mile is not expensive an extra 1000 miles for £180 still keeps the policy cheaper than most would charge. If you drive 10,000 miles plus a year you shouldn't have opted for this type of insurance. I would be very suprised if the ombudsmen would award anything in these circumstances due to the nature of your driving and the nature of the insurance. Sorry but that is the reality of it, it is cheap as long as you fit the criteria. Smple.

dacouch

Let me guess Claire, you work in Insurance and quite possibly Insurethebox.

If the OP had not had the major points of the Insurance explained on the phone and not explaining about losing miles / implications of driving at certain times, then the Ombudsman would likely rule against the Insurer, the FSA would also be interested

dark^knight

The name 'insure the box' makes me laugh...what a stupid name :rotfl:

michellerussell

Clairbear0688 wrote: »

And as for expensive miles 18p a mile is not expensive an extra 1000 miles for £180 still keeps the policy cheaper than most would charge. If you drive 10,000 miles plus a year you shouldn't have opted for this type of insurance. I would be very suprised if the ombudsmen would award anything in these circumstances due to the nature of your driving and the nature of the insurance. Sorry but that is the reality of it, it is cheap as long as you fit the criteria. Smple.

Umm.... I wonder who you work for... Could it be 'Insure the box' by any chance??

18p per mile...... more like 41p!!