Changing job description for cheaper car insurance... how far is too far?

thegadgetlad

Hi everyone, looking to get first-time car insurance shortly. Upon searching for a premium I found that by changing my job description from 'Window Cleaner' to simply 'Cleaner' I could knock about £400 off my cheapest quote (brought it down from around £1600 to £1200). Would you say that this would be a wise thing to do, or do I risk problems further down the line? In my mind it's technically true albeit a little misleading, but do you think it would really be that big of a deal?

Many thanks in advance.

Zorillo

No, that's misrepresentation and would see you get your policy cancelled. A window cleaner and a cleaner are both clearly defined trades and not the same thing.

csgohan4

I hope you haven't been using your real details in those quotes as there is anti fraud algorithms

elsien

Window cleaner, carrying ladders around, visiting multiple properties a day, far more so than your average cleaner. The premiums are probably that much higher for a reason.
Have you looked at adding a named driver with a clean driving record to your policy? That can bring it down a bit.

Kynthia

Would a reasonable person think your job description was accurate? No I don't think most people would think "cleaner" was an accurate description for a window cleaner.

marlot

If you offered other services, then Handyman might work? But I too think cleaner isn't appropiate.

System

elsien wrote: »

a clean driving record .

Cleaned by a professional document restorer perhaps? Or just a wipe with a J-cloth?

Brummie85

I have a similar dilemma with my insurers.

I rang to get a quote to renew today and they are well off the price of the competition.

To try and get a better deal, I let them do a multi-quote to include my home insurance, which is with them but as another brand.

They mentioned that on my car policy I am described as a handyman, but on the house insurance I am down as a Technical Engineer. The handyman option wasn't available when seeking the house insurance, so the engineer description was the other closest and most honest one I could have chosen.

They tried to get me to pay £30 to change my occupations to match. He got a bit ranty and implied I was acting fraudulently, until I explained that for my work activities both descriptions are true of my role. We do a lot for our customer. Over the weekend I was removing and replacing several hundred rusty screws from a decked walkway. But then I also do more complicated work such as conducting maintenance and repairs to motors, lighting etc. He then just told me to be careful of how I describe myself in future and gave up chasing me for the extra money.

Pointless anyway. Even with the multi-policy effect they were still £150 more and the cover would only run until 6th July (when I took the house policy out and it's due to renew), effectively asking me to pay more for only 10 months cover.

dacouch

A handyman is not a technical engineer