Dial Direct 'FREE' Breakdown Cover - Not!

nardo15

As an existing customer of Dial Direct for Car Insurance, I receive a renewal letter stating the quoted price for the coming year. The letter states the inclusion of "Complementary Breakdown Cover" within the price of approx £270. Accompanying the letter is a flyer with the words 'SAY YES! to free breakdown cover when you renew with Dial Direct' and goes on to state what this covers on the reverse. As a curious consumer, I went online to seek alternative quotes using my exact circumstances and one of the quotes listed on a 'sweep site' was from Dial Direct. This was followed up with a quote through the post showing the same cover (give or take a pound or two) BUT broken down into (approx) Comprehensive cover at £185, Legal Protection at £13 and Breakdown cover at £69 which makes up more or less my quoted renewal amount. Both quotes underwritten by NIG. If the Comprehensive cover is £185, how can they claim that the breakdown cover is free? Surely by quoting the insurance at £270 with free breakdown cover is completely misleading? I telephoned the Customer Services desk, but they were adamant that having obtained a quote online, it was a different deal altogether, and could not see my point that they are 'hiding' the additional £69 from me as an existing customer whereas, as going the other route I had a choice whether to include breakdown cover or not. (For your information, I have taken out the cover as quoted online and saved myself the £69 as I can get full RAC cover for next to nothing using Tesco Vouchers!)

impy78

Hiya,

It's not that the breakdown cover costs anything at renewal...BUT Dial Direct increase their commission on renewal policies, so even if you remove your breakdown, you will be charged the same...for 50% of customers, they don't offer the free breakdown at all, and the prices are just as high.