Something odd about Vitality Life

zapfool

I'm about to sign up at a Virgin Active gym, and noticed that if I have a Vitality Life, life insurance policy I can save 50% on the gym membership. Seems like a no-brainer so I got a quote on the Vitality Life website and called the number to discuss it. The number I called only appears after getting the quote - 0333 920 6065.

I expected to go through to a call center, but instead someone called Adam Klein picked up and told me he'd have to call me back - first red flag. Why does a seemingly large insurance company apparently have one guy answering the main quote phone line?

Adam then called me back, but I missed the call so he left a voicemail. On the message he said I could call him back on a new number - an 0208 one, so not the number I called the first time... - or he said I could email him on an email address that ended @gecapital.co.uk - second red flag. Why is the number different and who are GE Capital?

I decided to look into this a bit more and found a sketchy YouTube video. I can't post it as I'm a new user here, but if you go to YouTube and type in "Pruhealth | Vitality | Life and Critical Illness Cover | Life Insurance Protection" you can find the video - it's Adam! Really shoddy video talking about the discount benefits of a Vitality Life policy and posted by Genesis UK, who I assume are GE Capital? Starting to look like Vitality Life are a one man band in the UK.

I also looked at their Trust Pilot page and they've been absolutely slated by near enough everyone. They have 2 pages, again I can't post them because of the new user link posting restriction, but a quick Google will find them!

Not really sure what to make of all this. Are they a legitimate life insurance provider? Why is Adam seemingly the only person representing them in the UK? Why does he work for a company called GE Capital and not Vitality themselves?

Would be great to hear anyone else's thoughts, thanks!

Quentin

Looks like you have seen good advice on what to do about this outfit from reading their reviews!

TSx

Vitality Life are huge and have a significant workforce in the UK.

I suspect for whatever reason, Vitality Life have referred you to a financial advisor rather than selling you a policy directly. Genesis Capital are probably just a small operation - many advisors are. You could always try ringing Vitality Life directly to see if you can purchase from them if you're still interested.

DCFC79

Contact vitality life via the number on the website.

zapfool

Thanks for the responses guys. TSx, your response is interesting. There isn't any need for me to be forwarded to a financial adviser. I'm going to try calling them on the number on their homepage, rather than the one that appears on the quotation page.

Weighty1

Vitality Life have a body of self employed consultants who are tied to them for their life, serious illness and private medical insurance. Are you based on London? Maybe the system is clever enough to refer you to the nearest local consultant?

The Vitality Life proposition is an excellent one in theory. Trying to find an adviser who can explain the benefits in less than 20,000 words may be difficult though as it's becoming increasingly more complex to the point that their own tied consultants have difficulty explaining it.

zapfool

I am based in London. I have now called Vitality Life directly and signed up for a policy with them. The policy comes with a whole bunch of benefits, including rewards for tracking your health. It's a bit like having one of those driver tracking boxes in your car to get cheaper insurance premiums.

I have a feeling the negative reviews are more a case of customers not understanding what they're paying for, rather than them being an accurate representation of Vitality Life's service.

They could definitely make more of an effort to explain who their consultants are to save confusion in future.

dunstonh

It's a bit like having one of those driver tracking boxes in your car to get cheaper insurance premiums.

And more expensive if you fail to do what is required.

I have a feeling the negative reviews are more a case of customers not understanding what they're paying for, rather than them being an accurate representation of Vitality Life's service.

You are probably right. It is not your normal life assurance policy. You cant just apply and forget. You need to maintain a standard and some people wont.

Weighty1

Just remember, a lot of the benefits are contractual. There was a bit of an uproar the other year because the criteria for qualifying for the free cinema tickets became more stringent. In addition to this some of the gyms which used to qualify for half price membership changed hands and members could no longer receive their discounted premium.

It's a really good idea, however, I think Vitality have just gone a little bit too far and made it too complex.

zapfool wrote: »

I am based in London. I have now called Vitality Life directly and signed up for a policy with them. The policy comes with a whole bunch of benefits, including rewards for tracking your health. It's a bit like having one of those driver tracking boxes in your car to get cheaper insurance premiums.

I have a feeling the negative reviews are more a case of customers not understanding what they're paying for, rather than them being an accurate representation of Vitality Life's service.

They could definitely make more of an effort to explain who their consultants are to save confusion in future.