The Great Hastings Direct Rip Off!

stugib

twincamms wrote: »

I called them and asked what was his reward for good driving, they said a cheaper up front premium and a better discount if he stays with them next year.

Does that really not make sense to you? Would you have preferred to pay out the £4000 up front and got money back if he stuck to a good standard of driving?

twincamms wrote: »

My only gripe is that insurers shouldn't be able to impose such stringent conditions when they've taken so much money off you and that it's weighted in their favour if you do wrong your penalised but if you do well you're not rewarded.

You think you should be rewarded for driving to a good standard? You've already been 'rewarded' by being given a hefty discount up front. Then driving to a good standard should be expected, not rewarded!

gazza246

I made the mistake of canceling my motorcycle policy two thirds into the 12 month policy....told by hastings that i would not be getting a refund ,that's fine i never expected one but a week later i received a nasty letter saying legal action could be taken if i did not pay the £35 cancellation fee...so i phoned a complained and was told the fee was for cancelling my insurance contract early and for doing so in-curd a £35 fee.............sooooo i pay £200 cash up front for 12 months use 7 months get no refund but i do get a £35 fine for cancelling a contract early....needless to say i will never use them again....

twincamms

stugib wrote: »

Does that really not make sense to you? Would you have preferred to pay out the £4000 up front and got money back if he stuck to a good standard of driving?



You think you should be rewarded for driving to a good standard? You've already been 'rewarded' by being given a hefty discount up front. Then driving to a good standard should be expected, not rewarded!

I think my comments are being misconstrued.

Ok, my point, I say to a child, be naughty and you'll be chastised, you will be reprimanded, smacked, sent to your room, grounded, have pocket money stopped, privileges removed, etc. However, if you're good you get nothing, you don't get any of the above, how is that child incentivised?

Don't like that example? A dog. You don't listen to your master or perform, you'll not get fed, get kicked, shouted at and treated poorly. Jump through hoops, take instruction, protect your keeper and I won't do any of the above.

It goes hand in hand, you can't just penalise people, they need to be recognised, rewarded and insentivised.............

twincamms

gazza246 wrote: »

I made the mistake of canceling my motorcycle policy two thirds into the 12 month policy....told by hastings that i would not be getting a refund ,that's fine i never expected one but a week later i received a nasty letter saying legal action could be taken if i did not pay the £35 cancellation fee...so i phoned a complained and was told the fee was for cancelling my insurance contract early and for doing so in-curd a £35 fee.............sooooo i pay £200 cash up front for 12 months use 7 months get no refund but i do get a £35 fine for cancelling a contract early....needless to say i will never use them again....

At last!

Someone who gets it.

HASTINGS DIRECT are a rip off insurer who will never get any repeat custom from me. Poor customer service will only damage your business..............

stugib

twincamms wrote: »

It goes hand in hand, you can't just penalise people, they need to be recognised, rewarded and insentivised.............

Surely your incentive is not to lose some of the the discount you've already been given up front?

Maybe the Government should give tax refunds to those who don't break the law!

twincamms

stugib wrote: »

Surely your incentive is not to lose some of the the discount you've already been given up front?

Maybe the Government should give tax refunds to those who don't break the law!

There's no up front discount, it's a racket, ripping off young drivers cause they can, anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded...............

Anyone who disputes this answer this.

I passed my test in 1989 aged 17. I purchased my first car, a Lancia Y10, 1 litre FILA Edition, ex demonstrator, 2600 miles on the clock, I paid £5200 for it. I insured it with the Co-Op for £182 fully comprehensive. You just remember stuff like this.

My son passed his test in August 2013 aged 17. I purchased him a Fiat Punto 1.2, 68,000 miles on the clock, 03 plate, cost £950. I insured it with black box for £2600.

Do the maths? How has the percentage ratio of insurance to the value of the car changed so much? How has the risk increased so much? I worked and paid my way, how is a 17 year old expected to fund this today?

I'm really interested in your views, I must be living in a time warp, I just don't get what has changed so much..........

Smithers37

twincamms wrote: »

There's no up front discount, it's a racket, ripping off young drivers cause they can, anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded...............

Anyone who disputes this answer this.

I passed my test in 1989 aged 17. I purchased my first car, a Lancia Y10, 1 litre FILA Edition, ex demonstrator, 2600 miles on the clock, I paid £5200 for it. I insured it with the Co-Op for £182 fully comprehensive. You just remember stuff like this.

My son passed his test in August 2013 aged 17. I purchased him a Fiat Punto 1.2, 68,000 miles on the clock, 03 plate, cost £950. I insured it with black box for £2600.

Do the maths? How has the percentage ratio of insurance to the value of the car changed so much? How has the risk increased so much? I worked and paid my way, how is a 17 year old expected to fund this today?

I'm really interested in your views, I must be living in a time warp, I just don't get what has changed so much..........

They're not ripping off young drivers; insurance is based on risk. Younger drivers are of a higher risk and so they pay a higher premium. Do you think insurance companies should be run as a charity, or is it just your line of work that should make a profit?

You're making the mistake of thinking that a value of a vehicle somehow should inform the insurance premium - it doesn't, well not really.

The size and power of a vehicle can have a great effect on a premium but only because of the risk involved. To an insurer there isn't a lot of difference between a £100 car and a £20K car when they have to pay out in to the millions in injury costs etc. In fact, a cheap old car can sometimes cost MORE in premium than a new car due to the old car almost being guaranteed to be a CatD write off if it's ever in a accident.

I laughed at the a ratio-to-value idea, wouldn't it be great if insurance was as simple as that? Unfortunately there's no such thing as a ratio of premium-to-value because you're not insuring your car, you are insuring the risk of using the car. A comprehensive policy will cover your car as well of course, but the risk of paying out for your car is very little in comparison to all the other insurable risks that come with a policy.

roonaldo

twincamms wrote: »

No 1: Bus passes are for peasants and pensioners.

Ridiculous comment. Not everyone can afford to run a car.

No 2: My kids aren't Boy Racers.

The industry disagrees and takes the view that younger drivers are higher risk. You may well be right but only their driving history is going to prove this through age/experience and gaining no claims bonuses.

No 3: I pay the Insurance Stealers because it's a legal requirement.

There was no legal requirement for you pay X thousands of pounds for a policy. There was an option for not taking it. You have fallen into their hands by paying this.

No 4: Anything else?

No

twincamms

Update!

My sons renewal is up this Friday. He's been driving a full year with a telematics box and scored GOOD to EXCELLENT every week. His renewal came through from BELL Insurance at £1064 third party fire and theft. I thought this was good considering his first year with them at 17 was £2600. However, they said to get this price he must retain the box. No way is this happening because the curfew is too restrictive and he has a Saturday job in a supermarket and finishes at 2230 putting him in the no drive curfew.

So! I went on confused and we have got him a renewal for £784 fully comp without a box. This is with one years no claims and now aged 18. The funniest bit it's that it's with a sister company, Admiral Insurance, the mind boggles..................