Ticker Car Insurance

FlyingDealsUpUpAndAway

I've been with Ticker for almost 3 years now. They have been my only insurer to date. I have moved house multiple times, and had no issue changing address, however this time they are telling me that to change my address via their 'in app chat' i have to pay a £15 fee, or by phone its £30. There is no other way to change my address (there is a section on the app for address changes, with a note saying that this feature is coming soon). I've put in a complaint with them through the chat because despite being told that I could change over the phone for £30, they don't have a number for people to call, they will call you when you agree to the £30 charge on the chat. When I protested initially, I was told that this was 'Industry Standard' despite the fact that the last address change wasn't subject to an admin fee over the chat. I've tried calling Trading Standards, but I get an automated message telling me that no one is available and then it disconnects. I wont be renewing the policy with them in April, but I also refuse to pay a ridiculous admin fee for something I am legally required to do. 

Alderbank

Moving house is not something you are legally required to do. It is a personal choice.

They're not charging you for moving house, they're charging you for the extra administrative cost of feeding your new address into their software, calculating the pro-rata cost of the change part way through the policy life, informing you of the change and collecting or refunding any change of premium.

What matters is what the policy T&Cs were when you renewed your policy last. If it said something like 'We will not charge an admin fee for change of address' then you have a case.

Did they point out any changes of policy at the time when you renewed? Insurers are looking to save money by tightening up on policy perks. Windscreen cover is becoming less generous, for example and Driving other Cars is becoming rarer.

MLDX1988

I have recently moved address and my son (17) has been charged £731 to change the address through ticker. he already pays £325 per month for car insurance with a black box fitted. The car is an old banger and worthless. He could only change address in the app which is confusing for him and the app said switch to monthly or annually payment. He thought it meant he was being charged £731 for annual car insurance not address change so was shocked when another £325 was taken from his bank. How is this legal to charge this kind of money? he hardly goes out because he is a quiet, anxious boy and his car is his freedom but also allows him to commute safely. Insurance companies are legal scams.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82084545#Comment_82084545

The majority of claims costs on Motor come from third parties suing you for hitting them… in most cases it really makes very little difference if you hit a cyclist at 50mph if you are driving an old banger or a £60,000 brand new car just off the forecourt

The original post complaint was in relation to administration fees. Your complaint is on the additional premium due because you've moved address to what the underwriter/insurer considers a higher risk address for some reason. Ultimately you have choices… seeing how expensive the insurance is going to be you could choose not to move, you can move and stay with the current insurer or you can move, cancel the current policy and buy another policy elsewhere with an underwriters who hasnt had such a bad experience in the area you are moving to.

By the looks of it you are paying £3,900 before the move and so a one off £731 additional premium for a change of address is a 18.7% increase which is far from massive compared to what a more significant change would be, like a small rural village to the centre of a hyper urban area could see premiums more than double.