Every year it's the same BS

dunstonh

1. Every year (or every time the contract ends) utility (and insurance) companies just increase prices without properly informing customers and hope nobody will notice.

Well, that is not true for starters.

2. The new prices are usually significantly higher for existing customers than new customers. The couldn't give a crap about loyalty. It seems to be all about turnover.

That isnt true with home or car insurance but can be true in other retail/service areas.

does your 18 year ncb count as 18? Because I had 9 years ncb but when I had an accident, they deducted 3 and it became 2. (Yeah the maths 🤦🏻) because apparently 5 years is the maximum and they deduct from that. Which is super annoying.

Different insurers will work to different levels of NCD.    Its neither annoying or an issue as all insurers will accept records going back that verify your NCD to a level they require.  i.e. if going from one that prices upto 5 years to one going to 15 years, you just show include a copy of older renewal notices.   Easy.

moneytroll

QrizB said:

moneytroll said:

I am fed up that:
1. Every year (or every time the contract ends) utility (and insurance) companies just increase prices without properly informing customers and hope nobody will notice.

My experience is quite different.

Utility companies tell you your current tariff on every bill, and also whether switching to a different tariff would save money.

Insurance companies write to me a month before my renewal date telling me their new price for the coming year.

moneytroll said:

2. The new prices are usually significantly higher for existing customers than new customers. The couldn't give a crap about loyalty. It seems to be all about turnover.

For energy, this is against Ofgem's rules. Energy suppliers have to offer existing customers all the same tariffs that they offer to new customers.

In recent years, existing customers have even been offered "loyalty tariffs" that are cheaper than those offered to new customers.

It's not the case for something like Virgin Media. They hiked up my price to almost double (without telling me; which they in fact acknowledged). Then the new contract price they offer is still higher than new customers. After some haggling they reduced it (with some "special" and "personal" discount) but won't let me downgrade without making sure I still pay a premium. On top of that, the internet has had intermittent issues for the past 4 months and it takes 40 minutes to wait to speak to technical support...who won't help. I am still on hold, since this morning...Who tf has time for this !!!!!!

moneytroll

dunstonh said:

Different insurers will work to different levels of NCD.    Its neither annoying or an issue as all insurers will accept records going back that verify your NCD to a level they require.  i.e. if going from one that prices upto 5 years to one going to 15 years, you just show include a copy of older renewal notices.   Easy.

First of all, I don't have older renewal notices anymore (who keeps them?). Secondly, when you renew with the car insurance, it doesn't say anywhere whether they are pricing the insurance with 15 years or 5 years of NCD. i usually use a comparison website and my default settings are always set to the most current NCD. However when you actually buy the insurance, nowhere does it say that thye will actually only apply 5 years rather than 15 years. 

So last year, when I had the accident, the company deducted 3 years ((from 5 years), leaving me with 2 years. Even though i had 8 or 9 years NCB. So when it comes to renewal notice, they'll send me a letter saying that I only have 2 years NCB. So what good will the earlier renewal notices do?

robatwork

moneytroll said:

It's not the case for something like Virgin Media. They hiked up my price to almost double (without telling me; which they in fact acknowledged). Then the new contract price they offer is still higher than new customers. After some haggling they reduced it (with some "special" and "personal" discount) but won't let me downgrade without making sure I still pay a premium. On top of that, the internet has had intermittent issues for the past 4 months and it takes 40 minutes to wait to speak to technical support...who won't help. I am still on hold, since this morning...Who tf has time for this !!!!!!

Just on general levels of customer service and ability to get through to somebody 1) real, 2) comprehensible and comprehending and 3) able to make a decision - I have to say the worst 3 companies I've ever dealt with are all in the same sector. ISPs.  Leading the way by some distance is Virgin Media. Then it's Sky and Talktalk neck and neck for joint second to last. Horrendous experiences with all of them, and I'm really agreeable to deal with, honest. 

Old enough to remember when the 'Virgin' brand name actually meant the exact opposite.