Direct Line Car Ins: take note!

RnRman

I changed to Direct Line car insurance last year on the basis of a reasonable quote. Im retired and always seek a good deal. Absolutely nothing has changed since last year, no claims, same car etc etc yet my premium for the coming year has risen just over thirty percent . Thats right 30% !. Of course I contacted Direct Line and complained asking what possible justification was there for such the outrageous premium hike. The answer was...they couldn't think of one. There were apologies and much talk about algorithms and how many cars like my small 1.2 Suzuki might have been in collisions etc. Nothing mentioned about me or my complete lack of 'own fault claims' Whatever there was to be no reduction in the cost. I add here that it comes to mind that I had a similar experience with Direct Line some years ago. I have stumped up as Ive left it late to phone around other companies but may yet go all through that tedious business of getting another quote elsewhere, there is a cooling off period. Ive had it with Direct Line.

dunstonh

Of course I contacted Direct Line and complained asking what possible justification was there for such the outrageous premium hike. The answer was...they couldn't think of one.

And you think that the short term contract worker answering phones would know the answer to that?

Nothing mentioned about me or my complete lack of 'own fault claims'

Insurance is not so much about you though. Its the collective risk pools that you are placed within.

Amst

Having worked in insurance for a long time, I'm amazed at the (selective) memory loss people suffer from when renewal time comes around. In the first year they like the quote as it has a 20% introductory discount (without mentioning the obvious - you are paying less than you should as an incentive to buy). Upon renewal time, lo and behold, it's 20% higher - what could be the reason behind that?!

Insurance can be a shady business but they're pretty open when it comes to pricing if you've got a brain in your head that is.

mattk_180

There will be over 100 different reasons your premium has gone up. The call centre operator just likely didn't have them written down on their script to tell you them coherently.

DCFC79

A bit ott much, insurance has increased for other people, just take your business elsewhere, oh wait you cant as you left it too late.

cajef

Yes Direct Line are terrible.:eek:
After ten years with them and always coming up a little bit cheaper than the comparison sites my renewal came and it was more than a £50 increase, found the cheapest online quote rang DL and they immediately matched the quote, so I ended up paying slightly less than last year.:p

Aretnap

RnRman wrote: »

Im retired and always seek a good deal.

RnRman wrote: »

I have stumped up as Ive left it late to phone around other companies

These two sentences don't seem entirely consistent with each other...?

("Phone around" - that takes me back. Does anyone still do it? The internet has made life so much easier...)

oscarward

I'm with direct line, renewing a few week ago. The renewal had jumped by about £200 over last year, about 30% rise, but a new quote with DL was £400 more.


Looking at comparison sites and the usual suspects not found on them, the closest was Aviva who were a few pounds less. I don't consider really cheap quotes because they are cheap for a reason, I was with 1st Central about 10 years ago :-( . Given the DL policy of not charging an admin fee for changes I stayed with them.


So yes insurance has gone up a lot this year and the renewal was the best option for me. But you pays your money.....

indesisiv

It all depends on your risk pool!
I have just got my DL renewal through which is £11 cheaper than I paid last year. And incidentally is the cheapest price apart from one company on confused, and compare the market. Aviva is over £50 more.