Vent about Insurance Companies!

Chucky1234

When I insured my car, I agreed a policy where I would have a black box in for 3 months to monitor driving style, then after 3 months it would be removed.

I put my estimated mileage at 10,000, the year before was 8,500 and I didn't envisage a massive difference so thought this was fair enough.

Paid around £850 for my annual policy and that was that.

When it comes to the time I have to send my black box back, they email me saying 'when you took out the policy with us, you estimated you would do 10,000 miles, however, we have reviewed your data and have decided it is likely to be around 11,500. We will be taking £69 on xxxxxx via direct debit

I understand it would've been in the terms and conditions I agreed to, and I understand they are well within their rights to do this, so no comments regarding this please.

Reasons why it annoyed me;
1: It asks for an estimated mileage, which I gave. It didn't ask for maximum miles I wanted to be covered for.
2: A 15% increase in miles isn't massive in my opinion. I'd fully understand if I had estimated 3,000 and was looking likely to hit 10,000, however 15% is pretty small in my opinion.
3: If it turned out I didn't use my car as much as I thought I would, would they email me and say 'you estimated 10,000, however you are only likely to do 3,000, as a result we are refunding £xx'? Absolutely not. I am not saying for 1 minute that this is what they should do, just that it is a similar thing.

I know the charge is only around 9% of the overall charge, so not saying they have charged me too much. More the fact they have charged me for it in the first place.

I have paid it, I'm not asking if they are allowed to charge me extra or not.

Would people be annoyed if the same situation happened to them, or was it perfectly reasonable what they did?

Autumnella

I would be annoyed. Have you tried calling to dispute it? One of the many reasons I would never ever have a black box.

Chucky1234

Autumnella wrote: »

I would be annoyed. Have you tried calling to dispute it? One of the many reasons I would never ever have a black box.

I didn't. It was a couple of months ago, only just got round to posting it though. They did say in the email if I wanted to dispute it then let them know and I could keep the black box in for longer, however, all this would've done is back up their point that I would do over 10,000 miles.

Just thought it was a bit nit-picky but I guess that's one of the reasons they were so much cheaper than everyone else.

forgotmyname

formal complaint, it will cost them more than £69

Chucky1234

forgotmyname wrote: »

formal complaint, it will cost them more than £69

Would anything come of this though, if it is covered in their T&C's?

HiToAll

Its in the T&Cs and are well within their rights to do this.

pappa_golf

tell them that you have 4 weeks holiday booked in "xxx month" , this was accounted for when you gave your estimate , and as such you anticipate 9,950 miles this year

Chucky1234

HiToAll wrote: »

Its in the T&Cs and are well within their rights to do this.

I haven't disputed this at all.

My post was more to find out if people would be annoyed if they estimated their mileage and the insurer comes back 3 months later and says its likely to be slightly higher, we are charging you £xxx.

I am fully aware they are within their rights to do this.

Chucky1234

pappa_golf wrote: »

tell them that you have 4 weeks holiday booked in "xxx month" , this was accounted for when you gave your estimate , and as such you anticipate 9,950 miles this year

Haha I wish I thought of this at the time. To be fair to them, they did say I could keep my black box in if I wished for it to be reviewed further, I refused however, one reason being I didn't want a black box and the second being I don't have to worry about how many miles I do now.