Car insurance companies using cookies to dupe me?

voyagerman

Hi.

I have just passed my car test and was insured on a 3.9l van which was insured as a campervan, all in it was just over £1000. I have sold the van, now looking to get a car, a smart car or a BMW 3 series, all were coming in at the same price. As I kept putting in cars into Compare the Market the price kept going up until it got to about £8000 at which I just turned the computer off in disgust, my frined said they use cookies to track my history? What is going on..

Just after I sold the van I put in details for an old merc car, and it was about £1500.

What can I do now to get back to that region? £1500 range?

I have cleared cookies and cache, restarted Firefox etc but this morning it was up at £8000... Just ridiculous.

Any help I'm thankful for.

forgotmyname

Not just cookies. Your internet connection, the data you provided in the quote and even your PCs unique identifier.

voyagerman

Hi.

What is my bets bet here then?

Use another compute?
Give it 1 week time pass till I try again?
Change any details?

GingerBob_3

Always clear cookies to start with. It's perhaps the most effective way to tackle the crooks, but as noted above, be wary of the other issues as well. Here's another tip; never use comparison sites with genuine data. To start with use bogus, but realistic, data when obtaining a quote (nearby address, DoB out by a few days - that sort of stuff). Only when you've chosen the provider should you put in the real stuff (after clearing cookies and maybe rebooting the router) - and then if possible go direct to their site.


And - the airlines and no doubt others are also shafting you with this cookie stuff, so take the same precautions when booking a flight.

voyagerman

OK do moving on from now...

Should I give it a 1 week cooling off period?

Then totally reboot everything?

GingerBob_3

voyagerman wrote: »

OK do moving on from now...

Should I give it a 1 week cooling off period?

Then totally reboot everything?

Maybe try another comparison site (with bogus data to start with). In the meantime, reboot the lot before using the previous site.

dunstonh

As I kept putting in cars into Compare the Market the price kept going up until it got to about £8000 at which I just turned the computer off in disgust, my frined said they use cookies to track my history? What is going on..

A number of providers have anti-fraud software in place which captures changes people make on applications. Not things like excess amounts but key underwriting data. If you do this, they will increase their premiums to reflect the level of potential fraud you are looking to commit.

I have cleared cookies and cache, restarted Firefox etc but this morning it was up at £8000... Just ridiculous.

Did you do the quotes in your real name and use the correct address?

Its not about cookies etc. Its your details you input that are used.

voyagerman

Yes I used my real name and address... I wasn't aware they were a bunch of fraudsters themselves.

So what, use a different name and address? Then what, call them up and say 'hi I'd now like to give you my real name'?

So how long do I have to wait? Will it ever 'cool down'?

forgotmyname

Real name and address used, your options are companies that do not use comparison sites.

GingerBob_3

forgotmyname wrote: »

Real name and address used, your options are companies that do not use comparison sites.

Well, as I mentioned earlier, bogus info to start with, so not real name or anything else. I always do this, and I've yet to see any adverse effect such as a reduced number of quotes being provided. Given the way these crooks in the insurance industry operate, this should be standard practice to obtain initial quotes.

dunstonh

Yes I used my real name and address... I wasn't aware they were a bunch of fraudsters themselves.

They are not. They are protecting themselves from fraudsters who input multiple quote requests in an attempt to change the price rather than reflect the facts.

So what, use a different name and address? Then what, call them up and say 'hi I'd now like to give you my real name'?

Yes to different details. However, when you want to proceed use your real details.

So how long do I have to wait? Will it ever 'cool down'?

Typically between 3 and 12 months. Or use a different quotation site or provider.