Marks and Spencer M&S Insurance Ageas

steven0121

Hi,

I was wondering if it is common knowledge that M&S has little to nothing to do with the insurance they sell?

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1. When I took my car insurance out with M&S was I actually taking my insurance out with M&S?

You purchased your policy online on 18 January 2016 with M&S Car Insurance. I can confirm that at the time you are taking insurance out with M&S Car Insurance who are an intermediary/broker. M&S Car Insurance offers insurance with a panel of insurers. The services we provide are outlined prior to sale in our specimen documentation and in our policy booklet.

2. Can you please answer exactly how M&S are involved in my insurance policy?
M&S Car Insurance as an intermediary, are responsible for the sale and general administration of your policy. In the event of a claim we refer our customers to the relevant department, insurer, personal injury as applicable as these parties have the expertise to handle the many different aspects of a claim.

3. Can you please provide a detailed reply as to who Ageas are and what their relationship is to M&S?
As explained previously M&S Car Insurance offer insurance through a panel of insurers. Ageas is one of a our panel of insurers and quoted the lowest price for the details you provided.

4. Can you please provide a detailed reply as to who BISL are and what their relationship is to M&S?

BISL Ltd is part of the BGL group. BISL Ltd offer an administrative service for companies such as M&S who wish to offer an insurance product to customers.

5. Can you please provide a detailed reply as to who BGL are and what their relationship is to M&S?

BGL group own BISL Ltd, they are not related to M&S but we arrange and offer insurance services on their behalf.
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eddddy

BISL administer insurance for a number of brands, about 3 or 4 years ago, the list included:

· Auto trader
· HSBC Car Insurance
· Barclays Motor Insurance
· iBuyeco
· Bennetts
· Lloyds TSB Car Insurance
· Budget
· M&S Car Insurance
· Bradford & Bingley Car Insurance
· Pearl Car Insurance
· Dial Direct
· Post Office Motor Insurance
· Ecoinsurance for Cars
· RAC Car Insurance
· Halifax Car Insurance
· Yesinsurance.co.uk


But Brands sometimes change the insurance companies they work with, so that list may be out of date now.

And BISL then use a panel of insurers to underwrite the policies. (So your M&S car insurance might actually be underwritten by Allianz, for example.)

And FWIW, M&S don't really have a bank either. HSBC is the real bank behind M&S Bank.


It's about capitalising on the M&S brand.

kingstreet

My wife's car insurance renewal is in front of me.

M&S administered by BISL and the underwriter is Zurich. We were aware of it at the time of purchase.

FutureGirl

M&S basically put their name on someone else product. It's all it is.

It will tell you on the website, on your policy documents, and on almost all correspondence who the actual underwriters are.

It' likely BISL are a broker that M&S use, and Ageas are the actual underwriters / insurers of the product. So, if you need to claim etc, you'll always be put through to Ageas, who will answer the phone as M&S.

M&S is a supermarket... why would they know anything about insurance? It's just a way for them to branch out and get more business.

In fact if you go on their website, it says it almost at the top of the page it is administered by someone else.

steven0121

Thanks all, I thought when I was buying Marks and Spencer it had something to do with them. It seems not?

kingstreet

That's right.

Some firms stick their name on anything to make extra money. The supermarkets are probably the biggest exponents of white-labeling.

steven0121

I guess all money grabbing !!!!!s that go under a name you thought you may trust screw people over? Marks and Spencers M&S included? Two months on and they are still avoiding paying out, that is now near 5 months after my car was stolen. And yes I have the police report.

Avoid M&S Marks and Spencer insurance bank ect at your own risk

paddyandstumpy

If this is relating to the same car policy you reference in your first post, have you complained to Ageas?
They are the insurer, they will be responsible for paying a theft claim.