Tesco car insurance, how not to treat an existing customer

hartleysjam

I have been insured with Tesco since I passed my test 8yrs ago, just brought a newer car and thought I'd transfer it over (which I have done prev) i had a quick scour online of a new quote with Tesco just to see roughly how much it would be and it gave me a figure of £339 which is less like for like then my current policy at the moment, Cracking I thought, I'll stay with them.
So i rang them up to swap over and they quoted me £500!!
I said to the rep but it's £339 on line and they said "i can't comment on new business" So I said surely for an existing customer for 8yrs with 8yrs no claims discount surely thats not right?? "I can't comment" was the reply I got.
I can't believe how badly companies treat existing customers.
So Tesco you've lost a long standing customer.:mad::mad:

huckster

Make a complaint to Tesco Insurers and see what they say. They should offer an explanation at least. It is not uncommon for existing policy rates to be different to new business rates for the same risk. Many companies do this. I.E they discount new policy rates to gain new business, but existing rates are not discounted, so you get quoted an increased amount for a change of vehicle.

What some companies will do, is allow you to arrange a new policy with them and allow you to cancel the existing policy, without the cancellation admin fee being charged. But you will probably have to complain first.

Sedgey

I would envisage that a written complaint about this would get you a refund to the original level quoted (new business). It would be common business sense to keep a long term customer happy for £161.

On the other side I've just left Tesco after several years and will never return! See my thread below for the long story.

Catden_2

Well that didn't for me, I rang them as I wanted to pay annually & add my staff discount of 10% which wasn't showing on my quote.
They wouldn't move a penny & they don't price match so there wasn't anything he could do. He even insisted I had had staff discount even though there are no deductions on my quote. :mad:
Could have saved over £100 by going with M&S standard, decided to go with their premium cover as it includes RAC, key cover, car replacement for 28days as well as the legal cover & NCP I had with Tesco I still saved £17.82 & no RAC to renew.
Lost customer never to return.:p

sarahg1969

If you've not checked every year for the last 8 years, then they've ripped you off every year since you've first renewed. Every insurance company does it.

Also, Tesco Underwriting was only set up on 2010/2011 (it's now an Ageas brand) - prior to that it was part of UK Insurance (along with Direct Line, Churchill etc), so you've not really been dealing with the same company all along anyway.

theloft

It is common practise for Car Insurance companies to offer really low rates to tempt you to them , BUT every year when it comes to renewing, the rate goes up, way over inflation. They must work on the principle that most people can't be bothered to go through the hassle of changing. The only company that has a reputation for not doing this is LV. I went to them last time for my car so will await this years renewal date with interest. I am just rearranging my wife's car insurance and have had to change companies every year for the past 5 years as her renewal rate always goes up, despite the fact she only does about 3000 miles per year and has not had any accidents or claims! So once again I am doing the rounds, using comparison sites, filling in masses of on line forms and of course this year, LV are no longer one of the cheapest ! Why do these Insurance companies do it, don't they want to retain their best customers ???

2Sheds

Just called them as my policy went up again not a lot but a little.

Thought they might match the quote of £40 less I had from Churchill but not interested one single bit.

I''l be moving on the house and contents next year too

samuela66

Yes they are a bunch of robbing sods, mine doubled with them when they sent me a renewal this year! Told them where to stick it :mad::D:D:D

jamhun

What you have to remember is that just like supermarkets, insurance companies will have their loss leaders. For a new customer the first years premium is cheap to get you on board, then once they have you, they are hoping that it will be to much hassle for you to change to another company. One other thing you have to look at is, how do they look after you? Price is not alweays everything.

James