shafted!

redux

katesmommy wrote: »

Hiya

I am 25 (well, 26 next week), been driving since 17. This increase is til the end of the policy year, I've already paid the year in advance (about £570 ish fully comp) the additional £580 is literally for the remaining 7 mths of the policy because I moved.

Obviously there are variations in premium between different areas, but I don't know what the full range is and that increase seems like a vast amount, heading for trebling it pro rata to a full year, over 80 quid a month extra compared to under £50 before.

I wonder if someone has calculated it wrong, or they are already also counting the effect of lost no claims bonus for the claim. I think it's worth a polite query on this point, separate to the other issues

missile

katesmommy wrote: »

I'm not sure, it's a new bumper, grill and possibly bonnet with a respray (metallic paint)

That will definately be more than £400.

You do not have to accept insurer's nominated garage.

You might like to do a comparison website check using your details but another name for insurance at your old and new address. That will confirm if Shielas Wheels are telling you porkies about the premium.

zappahey

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

Are you that anal you do that?

I did. Right after reading a similar story to the OP's, where the insurer refused to extend cover to the new address.

It also gives you a quick ready reckoner about the type of place you are considering moving to.

Nerja_2

warwicktiger wrote: »

I think what they're saying is as you hadn't informed them of your change in address 2 weeks ago, any claim since then could be voided.

Too true, you could have had the claim voided as you failed to notify change of address, which will be in the terms and conditions

But the OP claims that he/she did inform them by mail of the change of address.

vaio

yep, and has proof of postage to that effect and the insurer is willing to offer cover on the new address for an increased premium.

The question then becomes is the premium increase fair which is why the suggestion to run dummy quotes was made, to check that the insurer is not unfairly taking advantage of the OP captive punter status.

katesmommy

thank you for the replies.

Would a dummy quote be practical given the gender-equality increases?

Also, can they really charge me £580 extra (more than a whole year's premium!) just because I moved???

The dummy quote gave "unable to quote" both on the website and on the comparison sites, so I figure they might be telling the truth with regards to not insuring my area

shaun_from_Africa

Also, can they really charge me £580 extra (more than a whole year's premium!) just because I moved???

Yes, I'm afraid so.
If the £580 extra is in line with other insurers (and judging from you dummy quote attempts this may well be the case), you might be able to get this lowered by increasing the excess that you are prepared to pay.

You should call up your insurers and have a word with one of the reps and ask if there is any way that they could think of to lower your premium.

Indout96

Also, can they really charge me £580 extra (more than a whole year's premium!) just because I moved???

Yes provided that they would charge that amount (or refuse to cover) in that area and not because you have claimed.
I live in Bradford quite a way out of town but our postcode is BD2,just down the road the postcode changes (same road) and premiums drop as BD2 is considered city centre - it is 4 miles from centre. I work 1/2 mile from centre in BD4 and that would be cheaper but is an area you would not want to live in.
Insurers work on computers not in the real world.

Quentin

katesmommy wrote: »

thank you for the replies.

Would a dummy quote be practical given the gender-equality increases?

In your circs a dummy quote is useless, as your insurer is just doing you a special as normally they wouldn't take you on at your new address.

In view of the claim involving a third party, then it looks like you bite the bullet on this.

pulliptears

vaio wrote: »

you need to pay it but I'd also run some dummy quote with the firm to check that the extra premium is broadly in line with what they would quote a new customer.

If it isn't then they are unfairly taking advantage of your captive customer status and you should complain & refer to the FOS if they don't see sense

I did this once and got absolutely nowhere. My car was insured with Tesco. It was purchased as an ex demo from the dealer but for some reason they had taken off the alloy wheels which came on that model as standard. We insured the car and about 2 weeks later sourced the original wheels so put them on the car. Car was now stock. Exactly as it rolled off the production line.

For reasons that are now totally beyond me we informed Tesco who decided this now meant we owed them more money, from memory it was £80 ish. We reiterated this was a stock car exactly as it came out of the factory. No say Tesco, the alloys make a difference.

We run quotes and proved that this made no odds, we even showed them the brochure stating the wheels came as standard. They wouldn't budge so we went to the FOS. We had a letter back which, in a nutshell, stated they could do as they pleased.

With that we cancelled the insurance and went elsewhere for the same money and Tesco Insurance has been on my avoid list for many years.