Car insurance renewal 'haggle'

icarusi

I was considering cancelling and renewing with 'another' but decided to give the current firm another chance. The re-quote wasn't much better but as I began the cancellation process, there was a brief interlude of music, after which a discount was magic-ed to match my best quote.

Obviously there needs to be a customer phone line for this to work, although given enough lead time may work with an online-only firm, and you do need some genuine quotes to work to, as you may need them if the 'haggle' doesn't work.

Last year the 'current' firm had renewed, beating my best comparison quote, so finger crossed for another claimless year.

I was asked who the best quote was from but there were 3 of them and I prevaricated on names just in case any were subsidiaries of, or linked to, the current firm.

This 'proof of NCD' thing needs sorting though. All insurance providers should have commonly acceptable PONCD documentation! None of this 'what's acceptable and what isn't'! Also 'when' it's provided should be mandated so that the previous firm provides it in good time for the current firm, without the policy holder being hassled and threatened with cancellation or premium hike due to tardiness of the previous firm.

rs65

Just use your renewal notice as proof. You should have received it in advance of renewal.

icarusi

rs65 wrote: »

Just use your renewal notice as proof. You should have received it in advance of renewal.

I was expecting to, but not enough detail for the next quoter, hence the rant about a 'standard' PONCD doc.

eg.:-

is from a policy that expired within the last 24 months

isn’t already in use on another car insurance policy

been issued by a UK or EU insurer (or an insurer from a country the DVLA includes in their license exchange scheme)

shows your name as the policyholder and is earned by you

shows the number of years no claims discount you are entitled to

shows discount earned on a private car and not a company car, motorcycle or van

shows your car registration number

shows your postcode

shows your previous insurer's name

is in English language.

666diablo

I agree with you.

The new insurers always ask for an original posted to them?

If Insurance companies actaully had the insurer as their main focus, it would be an easy thing to put in place. They will have your details and the name of your previous insurers to contact for PROOF.

Regardless, of advertising. The companies will view you as a £ sign only and will do as little as possible.

It also gives them extra ways of finding out something that coudl be used to invalidate your claim, should you make one in the future.

Be in no doubt that if your claim does not fit into a pre defined box (or in-house procedure) or is not crystal clear the fault of the third party, they will turn on you and make you drop the claim and accept some form of penalty. If they can't, then theres still your next years premium to attack.

The big YELLOW ELEPHANT hounded me to drop my claim over the next five years. I was caught inbetween waiting for a result and dropping the whole thing by leaving.

Either way they won and up until that point I had 8 years ncd.

The whole industry is a joke. All be it a very profitable Joke.

icarusi

666diablo wrote: »

I agree with you.

The new insurers always ask for an original posted to them?

Not always. Now some want an e-version only.

Either way they won and up until that point I had 8 years ncd.

The whole industry is a joke. All be it a very profitable Joke.

Along with auto-renewal, PONCD is a money making opportunity to charge further for cancellations or document changes, much on par with the airlines 'hidden charges', banks unauthorised overdafts etc. to fleece the unwary and even the wary.

I have many years of NCD but different policies have different maximums and I've always had 'protected' yet one year 'protected' status was omitted despite me requiring it.