Car Insurance Woes - Nothing wrong just a whinge

Somerset

I've got a headache !. This isn't a complaint or anything, just wanted to share my saga.

Collecting a new (for me) car this evening and spent 4 hours sorting out insurance cover today. We live in the sticks, have one car and O/H works unsociable hours so bit the bullet and bought a second, so one of us isn't always stranded.

Started at 11 am. Followed Martin's guide, did moneysupermarket then confused then the third ( can't remember name ). Cheapest was £300 odd. On third site because the NCB question was different, I suddenly realised the 3 years NCB I'd put in for the first two was wrong - the NCB goes with the car not me ! Duh. So I redo the first two and the cheapest is now £500 odd ( cos no NCB on the new car ). Think I'd better double check this, so ring Diamond, my current insurers and ask if my understanding is correct. Answer yes, but they might be able to give me 3 years NCB on the new car if I give them the business. Great !! So ring the number given, explain, go through the questions and with the 3 years NCB reducing the new policy it comes to £700 odd.! Ummm, no thank you.

So go back to the cheapest on Moneysupermarket which was M&S, click and confirm details etc and price is £500 odd with 0 years NCB. So I think I'll do Quidco and get £35 back - it'll be something. So I resubmit via Quidco and sure enough my quote is £650 ............ what? So I write the two references down and ring M&S to query - thought I might get them to honour the £500ish quote less £35. Reallllyyy bored girl couldn't understand my problem ie why I'm questioning getting different quotes for the same info.
First she says ''it's cos you're using Moneysupermarket/Quidco '' I know but that doesn't answer the question.That is my question.
Then she says the moneysupermarket quote isn't a quote, it'll change when I go into their site - till I explain I'm in their site, this is their reference for this price and another reference shows a different price.
Then she loses all pretence at interest and just keeps saying do you want me to proceed with the lower price.
But I've lost the will to live and say 'no' I'll do it online.

So I do it online, play with the excess ( it was set for £350, bought it down to £50 and the price didn't change ?? ), accepted it, paid, waited for policy documents to be processed and ....... computer crashed.

Anyway, all done, policy is live. But started 11am, finished 2pm, have a headache and missed my brekkie !! Just needed to have a moan - sorry.