Car Insurance

missrach82

Hi all

I am new here, so apologies if this isn't the correct forum or right etiquette. And please be kind even if you think I am a little daft/naive.

Please will you advise me on what to do, if anything. My job was made redundant and I am currently unemployed. I was there for six years but I only got minimal redundancy. I rang up my insurance company for another reason and I happened to tell them this and they have charged me £20 for the administration charges to change my document and bumped up my policy roughly £35 a month. I still have six months left on the policy and they have advised that this is non negotiable, even when I said I was unaware of this potential increase when I took this out. I can't afford an extra £35 per month - that is massive increase for myself, an unemployed single parent, as it would be anyone. I was told that if I wanted to cancel my policy I would have to pay the remaining six months anyway so I would not gain anything from this.

I know that they are right, companies always are, but is there anything I can do to appeal this? It is a massive shock and I just don't know what to do.

Many thanks in advance.

spiro

Unfortunately this is one of the unexpected pitfalls of being unemployed which lots of people appear to be unaware of.

Other than selling your car the only thing you can do is ensure you are claiming all possible benefits.

missrach82

Thanks for your reply.

In an ideal world, yes I would sell my car, but to be honest it is an S reg Astra therefore I wouldn't get much in return. I also live in a rural area which would limit job opportunities. Are there no loop holes to enable me to get out of this policy?

George_Michael

I don't know if it would work, (or if it's legal), but there is something that may be worth looking into.

Being out of a job always seems to cause a big rise in insurance premiums so how about seeing if you could get a part time "job" (maybe only 1 day per week) in a charity shop, school helper or somewhere similar. (if this is one of the options given for employment by your insurance company).

missrach82

Thanks George, however I am actively looking for 'proper' work right now. 7 CV's sent off in the past week and I have three interviews already linned up. Fingers crossed something materialises because of this.

brownie4583

Why someone's insurance should go up that much because they are/become unemployed is beyond me!!Totally ridiculous in my eyes!
Are they classed as a higher risk because they will drive more miles being unemployed?I would have thought they would drive less miles with the price of petrol,also your insurance is already calculated on the number of miles you cover in a year!
Also,if i have 2 weeks holiday off work could my insurance go up for those 2 weeks?
The mind boggles....any excuse to add money onto our policies as usual!
Unbelievable!!

Notmyrealname

brownie4583 wrote: »

Why someone's insurance should go up that much because they are/become unemployed is beyond me!!Totally ridiculous in my eyes!
Are they classed as a higher risk because they will drive more miles being unemployed?

No. Its because they're less likely to maintain their vehicle properly and there is the tendency for "crash for cash" by the less scrupulous unemployed.

brownie4583

So say i got £25,000 redundancy money then became unemployed,they are saying i will not maintain my car for that period?
Someone who is employed is just as likely not to maintain their vehicle i think.

rev_henry

Notmyrealname wrote: »

No. Its because they're less likely to maintain their vehicle properly and there is the tendency for "crash for cash" by the less scrupulous unemployed.

And gangsters and drug dealers are likely to be officially unemployed.

OP, I understand with some insurers its possibly to put your job title down as engineer/builder whatever, but still put unemployed, thus indicating that you are a skilled human being out of work rather than long term unemployed.

shaun_from_Africa

When applying for motor insurance, do insurers actually ask if you are in full time employment or do they just ask for your profession?

brownie4583

Profession i think because it always asks for your occupation and business when filling in quote online.