Admiral Car Ins. admin.fee

diamond_dave

Admiral insurance want to charge me a fee of £17.50 for adding commuting for my daughter for the remaining 6 months of the policy.( She may or may not even use it, but I don't want to run the risk). The actual cost of the ammendment is only £2.10, so the total seems out of all proportion. I know that most insurers charge a fee, but I was hoping to get it reduced. I did ask the young lady whether she would reduce the fee, but she said that it was a standard amount. However, the certificate states " ...we may charge an administration fee of UP to £17.50." Who should I speak to to try and reduce it? Can I go over the operator's head to speak to a supervisor? Is there a better time of the day to negotiate?

Quentin

Don't waste any more time! (Unless you value your time at £0/hour!!)

(And a £17.50 admin fee is quite cheap these days)

InsideInsurance

Not talking about Admiral in particular but in many cases the "up to" is used in the cases of changes that result in a reduced premium of below the admin fee, they then curtail the admin fee to simply cancel out the return premium (eg doing a change of address results in a £15 RP and a £17.50 admin fee so a net £2.50 to pay, they waive the £2.50 to leave a nil balance).

As per Quentin, time = money, how much is an hour of your life worth?

_Andy_

diamond_dave wrote: »

Admiral insurance want to charge me a fee of £17.50 for adding commuting for my daughter for the remaining 6 months of the policy.( She may or may not even use it, but I don't want to run the risk). The actual cost of the ammendment is only £2.10, so the total seems out of all proportion. I know that most insurers charge a fee, but I was hoping to get it reduced. I did ask the young lady whether she would reduce the fee, but she said that it was a standard amount. However, the certificate states " ...we may charge an administration fee of UP to £17.50." Who should I speak to to try and reduce it? Can I go over the operator's head to speak to a supervisor? Is there a better time of the day to negotiate?

Negotiate what? They're clear in the terms that you quote they may charge a fee of up to £17.50, which they've done, so no surprises there.
Presumably then you'd prefer higher premiums for everyone and no admin fees?

diamond_dave

Perhaps we should call this site "MoneySPENDINGexpert.com!! Why would it be ok to save 20p off a bottle of washing up liquid or 50p off a packet of crisps but not acceptable to attempt to negotiate a the non-payment of a totally unfair administration charge?
Anyway, I called Admiral again, was polite and asked whether they would be prepared to waive the charge. Not only did they agree to this but also the extra for changing the insurance.
So, 1 x free call and no charge for changing my insurance. Well done, Admiral!

_Andy_

How is it unfair exactly?

adamc260

diamond_dave wrote: »

totally unfair administration charge?

Cheap premium... expect a cheap policy that claws the money back should you make amendments.

It's set out very clearly in their documentation.

diamond_dave

Ok Ryanair's "administration" charge is fair, is it? What's the difference? Suck it up, guys. You're wrong and I've got what I wanted - no admin. charge!!

dunstonh

The actual cost of the ammendment is only £2.10, so the total seems out of all proportion.

The risk of the policy has nothing to do with the cost of implementation.

Perhaps we should call this site "MoneySPENDINGexpert.com!

Or stupidPEOPLEwhoDONTreadTERMS.com or IwantSOMETHINGforNOTHING.com

Why would it be ok to save 20p off a bottle of washing up liquid or 50p off a packet of crisps but not acceptable to attempt to negotiate a the non-payment of a totally unfair administration charge?

Since when is paying someone a charge for work that you create unfair?

You're wrong and I've got what I wanted - no admin. charge!!

And the cost is passed on to everyone else in increased premiums in future. Yep. Very fair because you got what YOU want.

chib

I've been with Elephant and Admiral for about five years, the initial premiums are good (Compared to competitors!) but I also experienced the high admin fee. Not a lot that you can do about it.

Parking_Trouble

chib wrote: »

I've been with Elephant and Admiral for about five years, the initial premiums are good (Compared to competitors!) but I also experienced the high admin fee. Not a lot that you can do about it.

The OP clearly proves that to be wrong.

No harm in asking, or even being a bit assertive.

If you don't ask you don't get.

Leave the T&C's lovers to roll over and take it.