Loyalty doesn’t pay with breakdown cover

knightyknight

Just had an AA quote for family breakdown renewal. Last year it cost £215. This year the AA wanted £344. 

One phone call later and they’ve now offered me 1 year for £229. 

I think that’s despicable - loyalty doesn’t pay. What about people who don’t/can’t query the price? 

I’m still looking to see what’s the best option - in general I switch between the AA and the RAC. 

Insurance companies are now told they can’t differentiate between new and old customers - will this apply soon to these firms?? 

Ebe_Scrooge

I'm afraid this is hardly breaking news - there are dozens of stories on this forum about exactly this.  Historically, loyalty has never been rewarded, particularly for any insurance product.  Just switch each year, or haggle.  Yes, it's a faff, but that's the way it goes.

Either that, or switch to one of the other "smaller" firms.  Personally I've been with AutoAid for years, and it's just a fixed fee every year, no sudden increases on renewal (the only time it's increased has been when their actual price, as advertised on their website, has changed).  It's just one fee for everyone, no messing about with special deals and bonuses and what-not.

Archie_Duke

knightyknight said:

Just had an AA quote for family breakdown renewal. Last year it cost £215. This year the AA wanted £344. 

One phone call later and they’ve now offered me 1 year for £229. 

I think that’s despicable - loyalty doesn’t pay. What about people who don’t/can’t query the price? 

I’m still looking to see what’s the best option - in general I switch between the AA and the RAC. 

Insurance companies are now told they can’t differentiate between new and old customers - will this apply soon to these firms?? 

Agree with @Ebe_Scrooge that many people will have been aware of this for years (c.f. Motor Insurance & Home Insurance, to name a couple of other examples).

For quite a while I used AutoAid but now Like a lot of people I now get it provided with my motor insurance.

Car_54

knightyknight said:

Just had an AA quote for family breakdown renewal. Last year it cost £215. This year the AA wanted £344. 

One phone call later and they’ve now offered me 1 year for £229. 

I think that’s despicable - loyalty doesn’t pay. What about people who don’t/can’t query the price? 

I’m still looking to see what’s the best option - in general I switch between the AA and the RAC. 

Insurance companies are now told they can’t differentiate between new and old customers - will this apply soon to these firms?? 

From the AA website "Automobile Association Developments Limited, trading as AA Breakdown Services, is an insurer of breakdown assistance services cover ..."
So maybe it applies already?

Stubod

...yep, lots of previous threads on this. AA have been doing this for years, every year they quote me a massive renewal increase, every year I phone them up and say I am leaving, and every year it's then reduced to more or less what we paid the previous year, (some times even less), and I have had to do this every year since as long as I care to remember.

Just another example of taking your customers for mugs....

motorguy

knightyknight said:

Just had an AA quote for family breakdown renewal. Last year it cost £215. This year the AA wanted £344. 

One phone call later and they’ve now offered me 1 year for £229. 

I think that’s despicable - loyalty doesn’t pay. What about people who don’t/can’t query the price? 

I’m still looking to see what’s the best option - in general I switch between the AA and the RAC. 

Insurance companies are now told they can’t differentiate between new and old customers - will this apply soon to these firms?? 

It always bemuses me how companies and businesses complain about customers not being loyal but at every turn they shaft the repeat customers.

The AA have been notorious for doing that for years, if not decades, mind you.

Definitely check around for best prices.

Use the MSE guide to get the best price.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/breakdown-cover/

Aretnap

The new regulations requiring new and existing customers to be offered the same terms apply to home and motor insurance only. Not breakdown or any other type of insurance cover. 

https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2021/12/important-rule-changes-to-the-pricing-of-home-and-private-motor-insurance-coming-in--on-1-january-2022--abi-publishes-guidance-for-consumers/

Bigwheels1111

knightyknight said:

Just had an AA quote for family breakdown renewal. Last year it cost £215. This year the AA wanted £344. 

One phone call later and they’ve now offered me 1 year for £229. 

I think that’s despicable - loyalty doesn’t pay. What about people who don’t/can’t query the price? 

I’m still looking to see what’s the best option - in general I switch between the AA and the RAC. 

Insurance companies are now told they can’t differentiate between new and old customers - will this apply soon to these firms?? 

You are being done up like a kipper.
Family membership for 4 with all options added is £129.50, until the 29/04/22

Bigwheels1111

Can be forward dated by 2 months so if done on the 29/04/22, can be set to start on the 26/06/22.
Get the wife, son, daughter etc to take out a new policy.
Dont forget Quidco or topcashback.

anotheruser

Not sure why people think being loyal equals a discount.
It may have done 10 years ago but it isn't really the case today.
Hence you have to call up and haggle like a market seller on price.  They've figured most people will just accept any old price and that's that.