Have you haggled your way out of insurance admin fees?

sarah_2-2

When I tried to increase the amount of contents insurance on my house insurance, I was told my premium would go up by £20, and I'd be charged a £19.50 broker fee. I questioned it, as it seemed a bit ridiculous, and they reduced the broker fee to £10. Not much but it all helps!

dunstonh

scarlet_macaw wrote: »

Admiral seem to be one of the worst on this. I got charged an admin fee for changing the registration number of my car - no actual changes to the policy, same car, same particulars, just put a personalised plate on it.

But why should others pay for your admin?

Quentin

dunstonh wrote: »

But why should others pay for your admin?

This board and more particularly this thread is dedicated to saving money.


Your question is inappropriate in this forum.

rs65

Quentin wrote: »

This board and more particularly this thread is dedicated to saving money.

But I save money if other people pay for their own admin.

Although, it may be useful to others if posters said which insurer waived or reduced the fee.

Quentin

rs65 wrote: »

But I save money if other people pay for their own admin.

That's hardly the point of the thread! You would save too were you able to haggle your way out of paying.


But interesting to now see 2 insurance insiders apparently unhappy that this cheeky charge is getting an airing (and how to avoid it getting a more widespread airing too) on this money saving website.

dunstonh

Quentin wrote: »

This board and more particularly this thread is dedicated to saving money.


Your question is inappropriate in this forum.

It is appropriate as there appears to be a misconception that explicit fee is more expensive than higher premium with no fee.

But interesting to now see 2 insurance insiders apparently unhappy that this cheeky charge is getting an airing (and how to avoid it getting a more widespread airing too) on this money saving website.

who says we are unhappy. I would much prefer to pay a charge when I create the work than have a higher premium with no charge because I am paying for everyone else.

Didne

Easy Easy Easy! Insure with National Farmers Union (nfu mutual) and they don't charge admin fees! Through 5 years of seasonal work with the same company which involved me moving house twice a year, to a different UK location for for 8 months each summer, then winter at my parents they not only did all my address changes for free, but took my regular in-and-out of work status in their stride and were totally sensible and ok with it. Their customer service is great and their renewal quotes keep on beating anything anyone else can offer. They do all sorts of insurance but iVe only tried car insurance so far : Highly recommended. Didne

sh0597

I don't see how it can cost £30 to perform an admin operation. Seems like blatant profiteering.

InsideInsurance

Quentin wrote: »

But interesting to now see 2 insurance insiders apparently unhappy that this cheeky charge is getting an airing (and how to avoid it getting a more widespread airing too) on this money saving website.

I havent seen anyone unhappy that its getting an "airing"?? If one of those two is supposed to be me then I was even one of the first to say how I'd avoided paying it myself too.

What did used to be more cheeky was the pre ICOB state where fee and premium didnt have to be broken out from each other. The fee was often there but could be concealed simply by saying that changing address was going to be £40 whereas now, if asked or when put in writing etc, it has to be stated as a £20 AP and £20 fee.

If you assume that the admin fee would be justified as the total cost of running the service staff, including the full support network along side them divided by the number of changes per year it would be interesting to see what the number comes out at. Similarly would people be willing to wait longer in telephone queues in exchange for lower fees, ie reduce the number of staff thus reduce wastage but consequently increase waiting.

dunstonh

I don't see how it can cost £30 to perform an admin operation. Seems like blatant profiteering.

There is still some cross subsidy in effect with admin charges. i.e. the person on the call that takes 5 minutes pays the same as the person on the phone that takes 45 minutes.

Insure with National Farmers Union (nfu mutual) and they don't charge admin fees!

Generally, you dont buy NFU on price. You buy it because of their quality coverage and service. The admin fees are typically charged by those looking to get their premium down so they appear higher up on the comparison websites. NFU use the other pricing model of covering the costs in the premium which everyone pays whether they create admin or not.