Existing Direct Line Customers - Read This!!

starlette44

I'll probably get loads of replies telling me I could have got this cheaper anyway, but I've just discovered that I can cut almost £200 off my car insurance and get 0% monthly payments simply by cancelling my current direct line insurance at the end of my policy and starting up again online with them as a new customer.

I got my renewal doc through and realised that I was only going to get a £50 reduction from my last renewal. As I am a newish (3 years) driver and 21 this year, I was expecting it to go down quite a bit. I had gone online a couple of weeks ago to get a direct line quote to see what it would be when the document came through and the quote was almost £200 cheaper than last year so as you can imagine I was quite confused when my renewal document was much more expensive.

I called the call centre and they suggested that I cancelled the policy at its end date (31/05) and then go online as a new customer and sign up on there.

I couldn't believe it! One phone call to cancel it plus 10 mins on internet setting up new policy and I'm quids in!!

Result!! :rotfl:

Sagaris

Yeah - did that for my Mum with a Saga car insurance policy - trouble is they couldn't quite grasp the fact that the old policy was cancelled and they somehow managed to take an extra 3 months instalments for the old policy, even though she cancelled the DD for the old policy (and as an ex bank employee for the company that holds he account, she did do it properly!) Of course she was paying for the new policy as well and it took 3 months to sort out.
Well done on saving the money and thanks for the tip - but double check your bank account!

RibAd

Well done on saving money! However, make sure you have read all the assumptions online.... and the online discount will only apply if you renew online next yr. You could also tell the company that you have found a cheaper quote elsewhere with another company and they may have to match it (like the whole challenge churchill thing!) Both are RBS Group companies and shouldn't be giving you advise in the first place.

CFC

RibAd wrote: »

Well done on saving money! However, make sure you have read all the assumptions online.... and the online discount will only apply if you renew online next yr. You could also tell the company that you have found a cheaper quote elsewhere with another company and they may have to match it (like the whole challenge churchill thing!) Both are RBS Group companies and shouldn't be giving you advise in the first place.

RibAd, that's not giving advice - that's answering the customers question ie how can I get the same price as I can see online? Treating Customers Fairly is the principle involved.

As for Challenge Churchill - I found the renewal from them was for nearly £250 quid. Yes car insurance got me a quote with another insurer for £174. I asked Churchill to match it and they fell off their chair laughing - retentions couldn't get anywhere near it. I had the same experience with renewing my house insurance with Churchill, it was £50 cheaper to go with Marks and Spencer (not exactly the cheap and nasty end of the market!). I was the one laughing in the end though, because I went through Quidco. So not only substantially cheaper, but also KA-CHING!

Big discounts? That'll be new customers only!!!

RibAd

I'm afraid it is giving an opinion.... in no circumstance can you give advise. Yes, you can tell there is a website whereby there is a discount, but you cannot actually say you'll get it cheaper online as it may not be the case! (RBS Policy that you cannot give advise... and believe me 1 in 4 customers WILL ask for advise and most will complain we can't give advise!)

As for Retainers in Churchill Car Ins.... just not what it used to be! Bet great that you got a good saving!

cms558

Hi

I have read Martins article regarding life insurance, however the critical illness one is an old one, does anyone have any advice. Should I keep life and critical illness with the same company or split them off ?Do you have any links to articles etc ?
Thanks
Paul

CFC

RibAd wrote: »

I'm afraid it is giving an opinion.... in no circumstance can you give advise. Yes, you can tell there is a website whereby there is a discount, but you cannot actually say you'll get it cheaper online as it may not be the case!

Let's just agree to disagree...if any of my peeps didn't assist the customer to get what they asked for (ie the online discount) then I would believe that was a poor call and retrain them. Big difference between giving advice and giving accurate information on a non-advice sales line