Car insurance admin fee for changing address

AppleChai

Has anybody successfully got one of these waivered? I am with 1st Central Insurance and they are trying to charge me £30 for changing my address, which I believe is excessive. After googling it seems the average is about £15, which would have been easier to swallow.

I have complained on their facebook page which led to someone calling me and explaining that to treat all customers "fairly" they can't waive the charge, but will pass it on to their complaints team to look at.

I suspect the complaints team will just echo that. I will explain that there is no way I will renew with them if they demand this charge, so they will lose £300 rather than £30, and I am also thinking of telling them I will take it to the Financial Ombudsman who have said these charges must reflect the actual cost to the insurer.

Is that the right way to go about it? What else can I try?

I know it's only £30 but as somebody who has never had an accident and lives in a very low crime area, these companies make enough profit from me without adding excessive charges

InsideInsurance

Why do you think their prices were the lowest?

Easy, and common tactic, cut your headline prices to win business but at a loss. You then attempt to recover the loss and turn it into a profit by increasing you other charges like admin fees

chanz4

FOS will agree with them if its in your terms and conditions

2Sheds

Just got charged £25 admin fee by Llyods for changing my address, but I did it online and no one was involved from Llyods can I charge them ?

chocolatelover93

It's in the T's and C's when you apply, I too am with them as they were the cheapest car insurance for myself and my hubby so it's gonna set us back £60!! In the long run should've gone with an insurerer that was a bit more pricey and would've saved money!!
Already had to pay £70 to change my name because I got married in April!!

lisyloo

Has anybody successfully got one of these waivered?

We got a cancellation fee waived when my FIL gave up driving at 85.
That was with Direct Line.

When I'm looking for insurance one of my criteria is reasonable fees.
It is often difficult to every single criteria satisfied but it's certainly something I consider.

forgotmyname

Average of £15? is that a made up number or statistics on the 1st central website?
£30 is fairly cheap.

Some companies do not charge a fee but you pay a higher premium in the first place.