Car Insurance bail hooks

[Lord Kangana]

I've been doing my annual trawl through what should be a simple task today.

To cut a long story short, do companies have a formula for your risk increasing after a number of years with them, and so up the premium accordingly?

Only, I'm the kind of person who tends to stick with the same company, because simply I can't be arsed with the hassle of switching.

But this year my re-quote went up over double the original price, in what would be the fifth year with them. The same thing happened last time I had to switch from Direct Line, who quoted me a ludicrous price for no change of circumstance after 4 years with them.

So the question is, am I unlucky, or is this normal?

[Lofthouse Lower]

Definitely more the norm.

Gone are the days of the wise hanging around with the same provider.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Bolton in general has markedly risen in premiums these last 12/18 months. Not just private car either, taxi insurance, commercial vehicle, motor trade etc.

[Athers]

Car insurance on avearge is up at least 35% I think I read.

I usually ring up and quote other company's prices or fiddle with the type of cover/named drivers etc.

[Lord Kangana]

I do all those things. But its a trend I've noticed when staying with an insurer (well its happened twice after the same period of time).

Let me put it simply, last year my insurance was about £400. The same company were quoting me £880 to renew, yet on the comparison sites, I could get it for about £425 (a slight increase on last year, same details). The same happened with Direct Line a few years ago. What I'm wondering is, are they working out some statistical probability that you're more likely to have an accident the longer you stay with them, and so they try to get you off the books?

[Annoyed Grunt]

I do all those things. But its a trend I've noticed when staying with an insurer (well its happened twice after the same period of time).

Let me put it simply, last year my insurance was about £400. The same company were quoting me £880 to renew, yet on the comparison sites, I could get it for about £425 (a slight increase on last year, same details). The same happened with Direct Line a few years ago. What I'm wondering is, are they working out some statistical probability that you're more likely to have an accident the longer you stay with them, and so they try to get you off the books?

It may be the case that the company you're with have lost money on your particular area, postcode. In which case, they will offer a higher quotation so you move.

[Lord Kangana]

That might be it.

[davroduk]

Insurance companies will offer silly prices to new customers to get them on board.
Once they have you they hope that you will stay with them, and just renew without question.
I once stayed with the same insurance company for over 5 years, but when I changed my car they woulndnt even give me a quote cos they didnt want my bussiness on that perticular car.
Got a fantastic quote from Tesco Insurance but the following year they nearly doubled their price.
Now I shop around and then ring my current provider and tell them the prices I have been quoted.
Amazingly they then match the best price I have been given, and away we go again.
This stratagy works with every provider you have (broadband, sky, virgin, house insurance, etc)
If you are adamant that you want to leave them they will offer youy the earth to stay for another year.
Whats that catchphrase.............







NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lord Kangana]

I tried that with Direct Line.

I pointed out I was a long term customer, and that I was happy to stay with them if they could match the 30 or 40 other suppliers much lower prices. They basically told me that they offered a better service, and when questioned on what exactly their "better service" was, they simply reverted to the line that effectively meant they couldn't give a toss whether I was their customer or not for a lower price.

Won't be using them again.

Unless of course they offer some ludicrously lower price than everyone else.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Insurance companies will offer silly prices to new customers to get them on board.
Once they have you they hope that you will stay with them, and just renew without question.
I once stayed with the same insurance company for over 5 years, but when I changed my car they woulndnt even give me a quote cos they didnt want my bussiness on that perticular car.
Got a fantastic quote from Tesco Insurance but the following year they nearly doubled their price.
Now I shop around and then ring my current provider and tell them the prices I have been quoted.
Amazingly they then match the best price I have been given, and away we go again.
This stratagy works with every provider you have (broadband, sky, virgin, house insurance, etc)
If you are adamant that you want to leave them they will offer youy the earth to stay for another year.
Whats that catchphrase.............








NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offer the earth to stay with them? Not anymore. Other utilities may do that as your making them money, insurance could cost them.money.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Insurance companies will offer silly prices to new customers to get them on board.
Once they have you they hope that you will stay with them, and just renew without question.
I once stayed with the same insurance company for over 5 years, but when I changed my car they woulndnt even give me a quote cos they didnt want my bussiness on that perticular car.
Got a fantastic quote from Tesco Insurance but the following year they nearly doubled their price.
Now I shop around and then ring my current provider and tell them the prices I have been quoted.
Amazingly they then match the best price I have been given, and away we go again.
This stratagy works with every provider you have (broadband, sky, virgin, house insurance, etc)
If you are adamant that you want to leave them they will offer youy the earth to stay for another year.
Whats that catchphrase.............








NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Double post.

[davroduk]

Insurance companies will offer silly prices to new customers to get them on board.
Once they have you they hope that you will stay with them, and just renew without question.
I once stayed with the same insurance company for over 5 years, but when I changed my car they woulndnt even give me a quote cos they didnt want my bussiness on that perticular car.
Got a fantastic quote from Tesco Insurance but the following year they nearly doubled their price.
Now I shop around and then ring my current provider and tell them the prices I have been quoted.
Amazingly they then match the best price I have been given, and away we go again.
This stratagy works with every provider you have (broadband, sky, virgin, house insurance, etc)
If you are adamant that you want to leave them they will offer youy the earth to stay for another year.
Whats that catchphrase.............








NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Double post.

Correct........
This Bl00dy site was running so slow that I waited for 3 minutes to delete the double post but got fed up with waiting and looked at something else.

[davroduk]

Insurance companies will offer silly prices to new customers to get them on board.
Once they have you they hope that you will stay with them, and just renew without question.
I once stayed with the same insurance company for over 5 years, but when I changed my car they woulndnt even give me a quote cos they didnt want my bussiness on that perticular car.
Got a fantastic quote from Tesco Insurance but the following year they nearly doubled their price.
Now I shop around and then ring my current provider and tell them the prices I have been quoted.
Amazingly they then match the best price I have been given, and away we go again.
This stratagy works with every provider you have (broadband, sky, virgin, house insurance, etc)
If you are adamant that you want to leave them they will offer youy the earth to stay for another year.
Whats that catchphrase.............








NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offer the earth to stay with them? Not anymore. Other utilities may do that as your making them money, insurance could cost them.money.

I can only go from my own experience.
Maybe doesnt work for everyone, but can honestly say that it works for me.
Saved over £100 on car, and nearly the same on house insurance.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Insurance companies will offer silly prices to new customers to get them on board.
Once they have you they hope that you will stay with them, and just renew without question.
I once stayed with the same insurance company for over 5 years, but when I changed my car they woulndnt even give me a quote cos they didnt want my bussiness on that perticular car.
Got a fantastic quote from Tesco Insurance but the following year they nearly doubled their price.
Now I shop around and then ring my current provider and tell them the prices I have been quoted.
Amazingly they then match the best price I have been given, and away we go again.
This stratagy works with every provider you have (broadband, sky, virgin, house insurance, etc)
If you are adamant that you want to leave them they will offer youy the earth to stay for another year.
Whats that catchphrase.............








NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offer the earth to stay with them? Not anymore. Other utilities may do that as
your making them money, insurance could cost them.money.

I can only go from my own experience.
Maybe doesnt work for everyone, but can honestly say that it works for me.
Saved over £100 on car, and nearly the same on house insurance.

You've got lucky then.

[TANGODANCER]

Fxcking dog insurance just went up by £100 a year. They and vets are the biggest rip-off merchants after solicitors.

[Gooner Girl]

Fxcking dog insurance just went up by £100 a year. They and vets are the biggest rip-off merchants after solicitors.

Try 'animal friends' Tango. Thats who we are with for the dog and cats, the insurance has barely gone up (if at all) despite me having to claim thousands on my geriatic dog (who they took on a few years ago when he was about 13) plus, they give a substantiial amount of their profits to animal welfare charities.

http://www.animalfriends.org.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TANGODANCER]

Fxcking dog insurance just went up by £100 a year. They and vets are the biggest rip-off merchants after solicitors.

Try 'animal friends' Tango. Thats who we are with for the dog and cats, the insurance has barely gone up (if at all) despite me having to claim thousands on my geriatic dog (who they took on a few years ago when he was about 13) plus, they give a substantiial amount of their profits to animal welfare charities.

http://www.animalfriends.org.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers GG,I'll have a look at that one.

[BWFC_Insane]

Premiums have gone up over 50% in a lot of cases. I'm with Direct Line too and had similar issues. You get better deals as a brand new customer elsewhere but year after you'll see same price hike to bring it in line. I believe direct line capped premiums for a number of years which is why the rises now feel so steep.

[Lord Kangana]

Direct Line was from 2003-2007 for me. Thats why I'm trying to ascertain if theres a reason, as its happened twice.

[Burnden Paddock]

Been with Direct Line for 3-4 years. Last year they put the premium up by £120. I rang them to cancel and they managed to match the previous years price. This year they put it up by £130. I rang to say that I had a better price from Tesco, although the cover wasn't quite as good.

The bloke I spoke to said that they can't do anything about the price until customers tell them what competitors are offering. He then reduced the price to £10 less than i'd paid the year before. They just try it on.

I should have told them to shove it on that basis alone, but I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of changing for a few quids worth of difference between them and Tesco. Wankers. the lot of 'em!