car insurance add-ons

[iain m]

I used comparison sites for many years until 2012 when someone backed into the CEOs car admitted liability and then changed her mind, insured by the AA underwritten by Saga and Acromas and also  dealt with by another company. Their combined ineptitude over 8 months bordered on the criminal all giving conflicting information. They insisted on using their prefered  local repairer some distance away, we collected the car as they had no drivers and they had caused more damage to the car than the original accident which they refused to accept until we demanded to see the extensive photos they took of the car on collection proving the car was damaged by them. We managed to end up with a no blame claim but this was mentioned on the renewal policy documents.

 

We insure both our cars with the manufactures knowing they will be sent to a main dealer, cost a bit more but it avoids dealing with cowboys trying to operate on the cheap.

[s2rrr]

Some insurers charge you more for not using there own repairers  (Sheilas wheels). You must compare eggs with eggs and not just on comparison websites, some companies don't use them, any others I would suggest probably bankroll the web sites.

 

Her indoors is just about to make a claim ( a month on) and I will be advising her from a distance and watching what happens with great interest.

 

I am still getting phone calls although now down to about 1 per week from ambulance chasers telling me that there is money set aside from my "accident" I lost count at 50 calls all telling me they are helping me. Car was parked with no one in it. Scandalous and its now 22 months since.

 

Read the small print and what is and what isn't covered.

 

Bob

[blue ass fly]

I have always managed to get my cars in to the repairer i wanted

I got my range rover, hit by a car being chased by police , into a 4x4 specialist

And my merc into an approved merc repairer ( paint has to be guaranteed for 10 yrs or something )when a sign blew off a wall onto it

If you have a moan you can usually get your own way

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

I guess perhaps another of those areas where it pays to be aware of what your statutory rights may be. (Not that I know as far as insurance goes).

 

But IF it's your statutory right to get the car repaired anywhere, and you're the owner, then it doesn't matter what their policy is, or even what you've had to sign. You can sign away statutory rights.

[M444TTB]

Some of the PCWs are owned by insurance companies. They all charge a fee per sale. I believe that contractually you can't offer a better deal through other PCWs yet that doesn't seem borne out on the pricing that's returned. Not all mainstream brands are on PCWs and those that are will not necessarily be on all of them. For example Direct Line (the brand) likes to promote the fact it isn't on PCWs yet DLG the company is through own & partner brands (like ours, which is only on 3 of 4 for home insurance. Our car insurance is through LV).

As with anything you tend to pay for what you get which the caveat that not all insurance companies want your business but will take you on for a silly fee. Unsurprisingly cheap in year 1 and large discount step outs on renewal go hand in hand. Again unsurprisingly retention of PCW business I slower. As for add-ons just check that it could be of us. Just because some ambulance chasing company will do it for free doesn't make it worthless.

[iain m]

The repair was removing the rear bumper and repainting which I thought was within the grasp of most repair shops. The metallic paintwork match was excellent, unfortunately whoever took the bumper off damaged both the rear wing panels when they tried to lever it off and when refitting they damaged the new paintwork. The original cost was around  £350. When it was eventually completed by the manufacturers repair shop it was another £1000. I wrote and emailed all 4 companies involved at senior director level and not unsurprisingly the AA and Saga said " not our problem" and would not get involved and the other 2 kicked everything down to the lowest grade employee in the call centre which seems to be the modern practice. Like Steve C we got a result in the end but it's hard work having to deal with call centre staff that would probably fail a Pound Shop interview.

[dombanks]

direct line arnt as bad this year as they usually are. as a general rule i'll tick the same boxed on all sites and go for the same excess etc. For where i live car insurance is high already. going for the company with the big name or supposedly is nicer because they dont use comparison sites isnt worth it. its not a difference of just a few ££s more like 100's. most of the big names come in at >£100 pm whereas the likes of esure and co are much less.

 

it was the protected NCB i was most interested in as without it i would be looking at megga bucks i think. interestingly some one mentioned car hire, direct line made it quite obivous this was not included on their quote which made them just a pants as the rest.

 

horses for course i think, at the end of the day they are there solely to screw you on a product you will never need until you do. a product you need by law which means they have you over a barrel. if you dont like it dont drive its pretty much that simple.

 

anyhoo mine is acceptable for the time being.