Saga insurance...

[Rory's Dad]

My mother has had a car accident which may or may not have been her fault.  I rang up Saga for a claim form and they said they don't do claim forms any more - they do it over the phone "...to save time".

I get cheesed off with all the cold telephone calls and junk mail she gets but it seems to me that Saga may be playing the same game.  I'm sure with some gentle persuasion my mother could be 'made' to say "...probably" if she was asked if the accident was her fault and she was being spoken to in a polite and kindly way.  I'm then thinking that my mum may then have to pay a premium or might not even  be able to get re-insured.  For the moment she needs a car...

Has anyone one here heard of making a car insurance claim over the phone??

Rory's Dad

[Nick PC]

Most car claims and in fact other claims are dealt with over the phone the days of the claim form are long gone.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

Most car claims and in fact other claims are dealt with over the phone the days of the claim form are long gone.

Thats been my only experience in the last 10 years, and never had any pressure one way or the other form the person on the other end of the line; but then why should I, if it's the other persons fault, my insurance company can go after there's for the losses. (Knock for knock, not withstanding).

[housebeautician]

pretty standard these days, but i would suggest that when she rings saga that you put the phone on speaker so you can keep an ear on the conversation and write down or record what is said. Its just to cover your   of course.

Better safe than sorry as they seem to do everything they can to get out of paying up.

Good luck with it!

[Rory's Dad]

pretty standard these days, but i would suggest that when she rings saga that you put the phone on speaker so you can keep an ear on the conversation and write down or record what is said.

Unfortunately she's still hard-wired into the phone system with no plugs or sockets.  She doesn't like change...      

Thanks for you advice chaps - the phone call for the insurance claim seems to have passed me by too      

Rory's Dad

[davehall]

Yep, normal routine these days. I'm in insurance so am pretty close to the procedures (don't all shout at me - not my fault premiums are so high!). Due to FSA rules all telephone calls should be recorded so you could ask for an MP3 copy of the call if there is any doubt over how the call was conducted. Doubt there will be any pressure though as the people taking the calls usually just follow a script and are basically call centre staff rather than insurance technicians.

[davehall]

QUOTE

 if it's the other persons fault, my insurance company can go after there's for the losses. (Knock for knock, not withstanding).

No such thing as Knock for Knock agreements these days.

[Blatman]

Can't help on the claim front, but...

QUOTE

I get cheesed off with all the cold telephone calls and junk mail she gets

Sign her up to the Telephone Preference Service. Cold calls will stop, and will be dropped if, when they ring, your mother says shes is on the Telephone Preference Service.

For junk mail, register on the Mail Preference Service Junk mail will all but dry up too...

[Rory's Dad]

Thanks for the links Blatman      

I'll get staight on to it.

Rory's Dad

[archersam]

yes a lot of companies have telephone claim processes, but they all have alternatives for those people who cannot use them (deaf, hearing impaired etc) so you should be able to get them to use an alternative process with a little bit of persuasion.