Motor Insurance Price comparison sites ripoff and misleading public

Dookdik17095

I am renewing my car insurance ,, I usually start with Go Compare  but have also used Meerkats , Confused  etc

The problem is that once all details are inputed to the comparison site, a price is then shown for each insurance companies offer and they include  Breakdown recovery in that  price ....

However when you then proceed to next step with the actual insurer , the brakdown recovery is omitted and  a higher price is now demanded .

My daughter told me she had same problem when renewing her motorcycle insurance  2 months ago  and I have spoken with some friend who report same issue .

All of us have used price comparison sites in the past and never had this missleading  ripoff problem , If the Brakdown recovery was included on the price comparison quote it was also included in the insurance  for NO EXTTRA COST ..

I have spoken with Go Compare customer service but they  blamed the insures .. hmm 

at very least it is missleading at worse a complet ripoff ,, I have passed this on to BBC and trading standards

Olinda99

probably a mismatch of expectations 

you are expecting a free site which costs you nothing and which you are not compelled to use to act in your best interests, where are they simply present a list of options which you are free to evaluate and then accept or reject as you choose without penalty

flaneurs_lobster

If you are not happy with how the information is presented on the comparison sites then all you have to do is apply to the top 40-or-so insurance companies individually, their application forms will present you with every option and exclusion available which you can select from as you wish.

400ixl

Comparison sites give indicative prices, you have to go through to the insurers site to get a firm quotation. Comparison sites are trying to take multiple sites and aggregate the inputs to get quotes. It won't be 100% in some cases. 

born_again

Not come across that, but I always untick all extra add on's such as these on comparison site. If I want them. I just add them on ins co's site.

born_again

Not come across that, but I always untick all extra add on's such as these on comparison site. If I want them. I just add them on ins co's site.

Dookdik17095

You are all missing the point The breakdown /recovery was clearly included in the  different price quotes  as we had selected that option when filling out initial details ,,   so a quote for insurance was £384 including Breakdown  or £340 without  and that was shown on the quote screen .

but when moving to the actual next step of the actual insurance company to  pay for the quote the price then changed to £384 PLUS  £44 for breakdown cover ...

That is the problem 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hello OP

It's potentially a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, report via Citizens Advice but be aware enforcement of such things is sadly lacking.  

Aylesbury_Duck

Dookdik17095 said:

You are all missing the point The breakdown /recovery was clearly included in the  different price quotes  as we had selected that option when filling out initial details ,,   so a quote for insurance was £384 including Breakdown  or £340 without  and that was shown on the quote screen .

but when moving to the actual next step of the actual insurance company to  pay for the quote the price then changed to £384 PLUS  £44 for breakdown cover ...

That is the problem 

How much are you paying the comparison site for the service?  

Which comparison site is it that is compelling you to take out insurance at the next step?

Ergates

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Hello OP

It's potentially a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, report via Citizens Advice but be aware enforcement of such things is sadly lacking.  

That would only apply if it was the company offering the contact who presented the inaccurate price.  Go compare isn't that company and isn't acting as an authorised agent on their behalf.

If *I* told you that Currys were selling new 50" TVs for £100, and you went there and saw they weren't, it wouldn't be Currys fault or responsibility.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Ergates said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Hello OP

It's potentially a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, report via Citizens Advice but be aware enforcement of such things is sadly lacking.  

That would only apply if it was the company offering the contact who presented the inaccurate price.  Go compare isn't that company and isn't acting as an authorised agent on their behalf.

If *I* told you that Currys were selling new 50" TVs for £100, and you went there and saw they weren't, it wouldn't be Currys fault or responsibility.

Which part of the regs are you relying upon to make this statement? I don't see anything that suggests such, the regs mention the actions of traders and how they affect the transactional decision of the consumer (price comparison sites are traders).  

RE second paragraph, you aren't a trader so the regs don't apply.