MSE News: Revealed: Millions face paying insurance firms admin fees of up to £50

takman

agarnett wrote: »

I will admit I have fallen into the trap of talking about pricing levels, but you seem to be totally fixated on price rather than on injustices of commercial malpractice (wrongdoing).

Are you one who knows the price of everything, and ... etc...?

How many motor insurance claims have you experience of presenting and seeing to a conclusion? (just to remind that that's the other side of the deals people do ).

When I said clever buyers buy at trade prices, I should also have prefixed that by urging that clever buyers discern between products and players and wrappers and outsourced services and then buy their preferred package (not the cheapest) at as close to trade price as possible.

I completely agree with the last paragraph and that's what I do every year at renewal.

That's why I always focus on the total price of the package and compare it with the total price of other similar packages. Which is why I was making the point of ignoring any "fees" or "discounts" as they are irrelevant when all you need to compare is the total price.

I have never had to make a Motor Insurance Claim ever so I wouldn't know what "dodgy" practices happen during the process.

rudekid48

agarnett wrote: »

I am far from naive when it comes to insurance underwriting - I spent half a career doing it!

Was any of that within the last 10 years?

agarnett

What do you want to know that for, rudekid? I think it is fair to take it from your username that you are of some younger generation, so perhaps you might tell us what you've learned of about principles and practice of insurance and the difference between right and wrongdoing in your short years and apply your knowledge to the matter under discussion rather than the persons discussing it?

rudekid48

agarnett wrote: »

What do you want to know that for, rudekid? I think it is fair to take it from your username that you are of some younger generation, so perhaps you might tell us what you've learned of about principles and practice of insurance and the difference between right and wrongdoing in your short years and apply your knowledge to the matter under discussion rather than the persons discussing it?

I asked as your understanding of the current motor market seems dated. Don't doubt that you have experience in the field but am hazarding a guess that it was a while ago.

You shouldn't read too much into usernames either, otherwise I would have to guess that you are a miserable old racist with a downtrodden wife, although you could call me a "scouse git" as that would fit....

agarnett

rudekid48 wrote: »

I asked as your understanding of the current motor market seems dated.

What on earth do you think you are talking about? What enables you to cast aspersions like that so easily? You implied you've never claimed on a motor insurance? (as the virgin said to the bishop!). Do you want me to tell you what it's like, Squire?

Have you not even helped someone navigate their way to a successful claim (that's what insurance is for )? Are you an insurance practitioner of any sort? Maybe you've seen a few photographs ? (Nudge, nudge, wink wink ... !)

As an old lag, I get consulted when insurance claims become necessary in my family, so I've been involved in 4 testing claims in the last four years with four different brands. I know how to interpret and assert contract wordings i.e. how to hold insurers to contracts and how to straighten out any middlemen.

When I speak with representatives from the insurance industry, due to a kind of osmosis that often pervades between those with a history of professional study, coupled with experience, age and wisdom, versus youth, laziness, fear, ineptitude and inexperience, the general trend is that they quickly learn from me and not the other way round What's your excuse? :rotfl:

Now then - back to the beginning - I have never paid a renewal fee, which is what this thread is about. I have of course paid Insurance Premium Tax. I don't get a choice about that.

However, I do get a choice about a renewal fee. If my existing insurance brand at my next renewal told me that the renewal quote now included a fee from a rudekid48, I'd naturally query it, not look at the bottom line and ignore rudekid48's fee!

Why should anyone pay a rude renewal fee? Who'd actually receive it? How would they have earned it? Who else earns out of the rest of my renewal quote? Do they earn their bit? How?

If the practice cannot be quickly and succinctly justified then it should be promptly outlawed - same as spurious fees levied by banks on current accounts and card accounts, or by airlines.