Car Insurance Article Discussion

lisyloo

There are rules regarding sending renewal notices to client that all insurers and brokers are supposed to abide by.

I don't live in a perfect world, so for something as important as car insurance I prefer to keep my own records and be pro-active rather than leave it to chance.
If you don't mind getting prosecuted and having your car crushed then rely on the post and a fictional perfect world.

benjaminM

lisyloo wrote: »

I don't live in a perfect world, so for something as important as car insurance I prefer to keep my own records and be pro-active rather than leave it to chance.
If you don't mind getting prosecuted and having your car crushed then rely on the post and a fictional perfect world.

The point being you do have cause for complaint if the rules are not adhered to. If customers reported these incidents to the fsa then the insurers or brokers would be in breach of icob regualtions. The rules are there so that customer are treated fairly, if this is not the case then the fsa need to be informed. If we don't complain then we only have ourselves to blame.

Quentin

benjaminM wrote: »

The point being you do have cause for complaint if the rules are not adhered to. If customers reported these incidents to the fsa then the insurers or brokers would be in breach of icob regualtions. The rules are there so that customer are treated fairly, if this is not the case then the fsa need to be informed. If we don't complain then we only have ourselves to blame.

Who has got the time and inclination to get involved with the fsa just because their renewal notice arrives later than 21 days before the policy expires?

Most people will be unaware of this pointless and unenforceable "rule".

And by the time you wrote in your complaint, and awaited a reply the renewal would have turned up anyway!

Much easier to cut to the chase and phone up to discover your renewal quote if time is the essence!

mikey72

Quentin wrote: »

Who has got the time and inclination to get involved with the fsa just because their renewal notice arrives later than 21 days before the policy expires?

Most people will be unaware of this pointless and unenforceable "rule".

And by the time you wrote in your complaint, and awaited a reply the renewal would have turned up anyway!

Much easier to cut to the chase and phone up to discover your renewal quote if time is the essence!

If it's a trend, as it could well be, to suck in auto-renewals at a vastly inflated premium, it does need reporting.
I agree it is easier to phone up, but usually to refuse the offer as you know you're going to find a cheaper quote anyway. (Probably on-line with the same company)

benjaminM

The fact that some insurers/brokers flout the renewal rules for their own benefit is not a reason to accept it. I agree that complaining is not going to help you time wise in resolving the situation but it will bring the regulation breach to the attention of the FSA. The problem today is that customers have just got used to poor service from insurers and brokers. I personally think it is not acceptable. Renewals are transmitted to brokers electronically well in advance of the 21 days. There is no excuse if your renewal arrives late. The holding back of renewals for time delaying tactics is clearly against ICOB rules and goes against the TCF guidelines as set by the FSA.

My advice, dont stand for it, they are clearly taking the mick to make it dificult for you to shop around which goes against what this website is all about, SAVING MONEY!!!!

lisyloo

The point being you do have cause for complaint if the rules are not adhered to.

Good point.
I hope the people that experience this problem do complain.

My advice, dont stand for it, they are clearly taking the mick to make it dificult for you to shop around which goes against what this website is all about, SAVING MONEY!!!!

I agree with you.
I haven't experienced this trend myself, but then I do try to pick decent companies rather than the cheapest.
I also change my address properly and open and read all my post.

Many of the people on here who have problems have not kept their details up to date or read their post properly - we see it time and time again.

But I agree with you Ben, if people perceive a problem then they should complain.
However the very people that can't be bother to be pro-active about their insurance and pick the cheapest company to the detriment of all other factors are very unlikely to be altruistic about making a complaint.

lynnpin

Steve_xx wrote: »

I don't like these continual payment mandates that insurers like to invoke in order to help themselves to your bank account. They ought to be outlawed unless you specifically select that you wish to pay in this way.

Totally agree. It should not be a condition of insurance acceptance and there should be a choice to opt out.

I have never before needed to inform an insurance company that I am not accepting their renewal price. I just go elsewhere and they find out when the due date has passed. Now I am actually going to have to inform them I don't want to renew every year otherwise I'll be billed for it regardless!

lisyloo

It should not be a condition of insurance acceptance and there should be a choice to opt out.

There is choice in the market place already.
Choose a company that doesn't do this (esure, sheilas wheels and ecarinsurance are 3 I can name off the top of my head, if you pay annually).

Steve_xx

lisyloo wrote: »

There is choice in the market place already.
Choose a company that doesn't do this (esure, sheilas wheels and ecarinsurance are 3 I can name off the top of my head, if you pay annually).

When I said that there should be a choice I meant for that choice to be available at the point of provision of the quote and I meant that no company should be able to automatically assume the right to help itself to your cash when it feels like it.

This sort of thing is nothing less than sharp practise and it ought to be outlawed.

lisyloo

When I said that there should be a choice I meant for that choice to be available at the point of provision of the quote and I meant that no company should be able to automatically assume the right to help itself to your cash when it feels like it.

Continuous authority is very common.
For example magazine subscriptions, RAC/AA cover.
For many people it's a useful feature.
Some people like to stay with the same insurer and need do very little.
Some people would actually find themselves uninsured.
It has some positive features that some people like.
You have the right to disagree, but it's not going to be banned just because you don't like it.
You're going to ahve to manage it for the time being.
It's not that difficult to stick a date in your diary and read your post.

This sort of thing is nothing less than sharp practise and it ought to be outlawed.

On the whole it certinaly is not.
You get a renewal notice before your renewal.
It's generally one side of A4 with "what to do next" written in bold fron (hardly small print).
So not only do you agree to it up front, you also get a reminder at the time as well.
You can in addition keep your own records (which I do) rather than rely on the post (which I prefer not to).
If the companies do it according to the law, then it's not sharp practice and it's useful to some people.

Where companies have borken laws or guidelines then you should make complaints to the relevant authoritiy to clamp down on the rogues, but that isn't the majority of companies that operate it legally and offer a useful service to loyal customers.