Rip off admin charges.........

derrick

raskazz wrote: »

:wall:

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

I said 'First reply' not 'first post'.

OK, misread!

However my reply #4 answers that!

I don't know why you lot bother, this is a money saving site!!! £25 for 5 mins work is outrageous and as such anyone has the "right" to comment.

raskazz

derrick wrote: »

However my reply #4 answers that!

Your answer in post #4 ("They would still be paying those even if the OP had not altered anything!") is nonsense though.

derrick wrote: »

I don't know why you lot bother, this is a money saving site!!! £25 for 5 mins work is outrageous and as such anyone has the "right" to comment.

You have the right to comment, absolutely. Just as everyone with half an ounce of sense has the right to point out that your reasoning is incorrect.

The way to save money in this case (as pretty much everyone else on the thread has pointed out ad nauseam) is to read policy documents and check the charges before you commit to the contract, not to moan about it after the event.

derrick

raskazz wrote: »

Your answer in post #4 ("They would still be paying those even if the OP had not altered anything!") is nonsense though.



You have the right to comment, absolutely. Just as everyone with half an ounce of sense has the right to point out that your reasoning is incorrect.

The way to save money in this case (as pretty much everyone else on the thread has pointed out ad nauseam) is to read policy documents and check the charges before you commit to the contract, not to moan about it after the event.

How is it nonsense? it is a fact!

How many times do you need telling?? reading, digesting and understanding the T&Cs will not make any difference to any ins company charging for a change of address, and that is what this thread is about!

Would you expect a supermarket, to charge you to exchange loaf,milk or anything you picked up in error? the ones we use don't, they just exchange or refund, they are still employed and doing a job of work!

dunstonh

Would you expect a supermarket, to charge you to exchange loaf,milk or anything you picked up in error? the ones we use don't, they just exchange or refund, they are still employed and doing a job of work!

The cost of the staff etc is built into the profit margin of the goods they sell. Just as it used to be with car insurance. It was hidden away in the premium. It was an implicit cost. Now it is stripped out and the price of insurance has come down to reflect that.

£25 fee is fine. It doesnt matter if it takes 1 minute or 30 minutes. The fact that computers can make it faster has little to do with it. It has taken expertise and cost to put that software in place and the staff to deal with the call. Plus, the provider is entitled to make a profit on that transaction.

olly300

That is garage costs per HOUR, not for 5 minutes work, and they are qualified people with certificates, the people doing the routine admin will not have,(or do not need ), much in the way of qualifications.

How do you know the people who work in administration end at insurance companies are not qualified or don't need qualifications?

I know people who have and do work in that industry at the admin end and they have all been at least degree qualified. Plus there is more to insurance admin then just call centre staff.

And one of my friend's who was a call centre/admin staff member was degree qualified and was told that they had to take financial qualifications if they wanted to stay working in the company. (They didn't and don't.) Their colleagues either had financial qualifications and/or a degree. This was due to the amount of regulation in the industry.

(I DO NOT work in insurance)

In addition the change of address is not just 5 minutes work in total.

They have to look at your new address and calculate whether your premium is going to increase.

Obviously computers make it quicker but then someone has to be paid to:
1. work out what the risk of your particular circumstances i.e. car make, car model, age at that new address, apply it to a mid term move and calculate it in monetary terms (I know an actuary*)
2. program the software for it and ensure the software is keep up to date and any glitches rectified (I know a IT Consultant* whose main job now as most systems have been in place for years is to ensure that the glitches are rectified.)
4. ensure the network runs efficiently (I use to know a networking person* who worked in insurance.)
3. ensure the admin staff have sufficient training and don't break the law.

If no-one changed their policy mid-term then this wouldn't be necessary and the company would save the cost.

It is a case of the OP reading the T&C of their policy before they take it out.

I moved house 2 times in one year and I was not charged to change my address and in fact on the first occasion I received money back. I was aware that I could have been charged up to £25 each time before I took the policy out. I was also aware that my circumstances where likely to change a lot over the year and went for a policy that didn't have large admin charges however it wasn't the cheapest or the most expensive.

One of my friends' who was with a different insurance company was charged £70 for doing this even though they moved to a lower risk area. They hadn't bothered to read the small print and just went for the cheapest policy.

*All these people are self-employed with lots of qualifications and experience so if they screw up the insurance company will/would sue them. They are highly paid because of their expertise, the fact that the insurance company doesn't need them all the time and they are willing to take the associated risks.

raskazz

derrick wrote: »

How is it nonsense?

It has been explained numerous times in this thread. At this stage I can only conclude that either:

1) Your predetermined bias against the insurance industry is clouding your judgement; or

2) You are a troll; or

3) [Bearing in mind the forum etiquette] You are not the sharpest tool in the box.

derrick

raskazz wrote: »

It has been explained numerous times in this thread. At this stage I can only conclude that either:

1) Your predetermined bias against the insurance industry is clouding your judgement; or

2) You are a troll; or

3) [Bearing in mind the forum etiquette] You are not the sharpest tool in the box.

Non of the above, although from your remarks 2) & 3) would suit you.

I am a fully qualified tradesman who undertook a full apprenticeship and have all the necessary qualifications to do the job I trained for.

It is no wonder that Britain is regarded throughout the civilised world as Treasure Isalnd, or from within as R O B,( Rip Off Britain ), as we get screwed by just about everyone, ins companies, banks, even the bl**dy Government

This is an open forum and there is no need to post derogatory remarks just because some ones opinion does not agree with yours, if you are happy for these parasitic, (for an explanation of parasite/parasitic see a dictionary), companies to rip us off then fair enough, they rely on the gullibility of people like you, but I and others have a right to voice our opinions on them, if you don’t like it, tough, the truth hurts.

In my opinion nobody is worth over £100 per hour, (even that is excessive).

Regarding T&Cs, I have explained my point re the Ops post, and moving address, don’t forget that T&Cs in a contract are not always legally enforceable, a point the banks are finding out re their “unlawful” charges, that is why we have the Unfair Contracts Act, and you cannot sign away your legal rights by signing a contract no matter what is in it!

brazilianwax

derrick wrote: »

In my opinion nobody is worth over £100 per hour, (even that is excessive).

And others' opinions will be different.

Unfortunately, most people (and I used to work for an insurance company) are only interested in getting the lowest price possible for their insurance - the level of cover and cost of changing aspects of the policy don't cross their minds.

Insurance companies aren't charities. They are businesses, and as businesses they pass their costs onto customers. At least with this charging structure they charge the people that use the system rather than everyone.

lisyloo

£25 for 5 mins work is outrageous

Hi Derrick,

I would agree with you if the payment was just for the labour but like many other people here I believe it's for lots of other costs as well.
Do you believe that the paper, ink, printers, computers, telephones etc. cost nothing to buy and maintain?
I personally believe that £25 is pretty cheap.

On a seperate note, what do you think is going to be acheived by discussing this further?
I have been listening and trying to keep an open mind to see whether any new facts have come to light in the discussion and I don't think they have (not for me anyway).

As these charges are legal and therefore have to be paid, then what do you think the purpose of further discussion is?

I am not sure that anyone here is going to change their mind and I don't think anyone here is influential enough to change things, so I'm starting to wonder if it's a waste of time.

Just my honest thoughts, no axe to grind.

olly300

Regarding T&Cs, I have explained my point re the Ops post, and moving address, don’t forget that T&Cs in a contract are not always legally enforceable, a point the banks are finding out re their “unlawful” charges, that is why we have the Unfair Contracts Act, and you cannot sign away your legal rights by signing a contract no matter what is in it!

I think you need to actually read the acts properly and the working interpret of them by the courts, financial ombudsman and most importantly the OFT.

For starters here's a link to the OFT guidelines on unfair terms in contracts which the courts use to make rulings:
http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/publications/guidance/unfair-terms-consumer/

Happy reading Derrick!