Easily Confused.

[gness]

Last year I paid £197 for house and contents insurance. This month I received a renewal quote of £245. Fair enough I thought...I am in the middle of a little claim so I expected it to increase.
Then I received another quote......£267 because the first had been an a computer error.
Bums I thought... but I have filled in so many forms this month and had to speak to so many people...being mugged is a pain..that I phoned up to accept....I could think again next year.
I'm chatty on the phone so by the time the lovely guy had heard my life story and experiences at the railway station today he offered to reduce it to £240.....and I hadn't got round to asking.
Is it always that easy to get a reduction or did he just want rid of me? :-)

[Psybbo]

He wanted to keep your custom? silly man!

[gness]

Well I'm told they will reduce to keep you...not that the car people did but I thought you had to ask or haggle a bit, Psyb....I was just going to accept this time....but hey ho...x

[themorrigan]

hello gness. My personal experience is that if you call up and say you are not pleased with the quote they will reduce it. my car renewal quote was over £100 more this year and I've never ever had a claim. I called them up and said this was not acceptable and I could get it online for much cheaper (made that bit up it was worth a try). He offered me the renewal at last years price but I was so miffed they were trying it on I said no. I went on a comparison web-site and got it £150 less than quoted with same excess so now I take nothing for granted and never renew without seeing if I can get it cheaper.

[andy-hughes]

It's easy.

You have to be very hard-nosed with these people - they are usually salaried, so it is not their money they are spending when they reduce your premium.

I know good old-fashioned ringing round is a drag, but it does produce dividends. The phrase - I have a quote of ... can you beat it? is the standard way to go.

[wiltsman]

Never take the first quote. It doesn't always pay to stay with the same insurance company. Try a couple of comparison sites, as long as you declare you've made a claim.

If you find a cheaper company, don't change straight away, go back to the original one and see if they'll match it. Even if they don't, you've got nothing to lose.

One thing, when using a comparison site, ensure that what is offered, matches or improves on what you've currently got.

[gness]

Hi Celtic Goddess.....I did try with my car insurance and went elsewhere when they wouldn't.....but I wasn't even going to bother this time...I think he was sick of listening to me to be honest.....;-)

See...we are easily confused on here! x

[ChillDoubt]

Yep, what themorrigan said.
You should NEVER take the first quote. When speaking to the salesperson you bulls**t them by saying you've had a quote elsewhere for £209 (for arguments sake) and can they match it? If not, tell them in that case this will be a very short phone call. You have 15 seconds to revise the quote before I put the phone down.
It's usually at that point that they become reasonable!

[jno]

always try, always.

Every year I point out to the AA that they're demanding £100 more than the RAC, and every year they say "Ah well, you're a long-standing gold card member, I think we should be able to match that", and they do.

They make their profits from people who don't call up and haggle.

[gness]

Thanks all....I suppose they are so used to people calling to get a reduction he automatically went down that route....I was only phoning to accept. He had such a nice voice that I needed to suss out his age and suitability as a prospective son-in-law....and keep him chatting til I found out.

Don't fret Triggs.....I don't think I would be inclined to keep you on the phone for very long...:-)

[wiltsman]

Until you get an indication of what your new premium should be from a comparison site, you wont know how hard to push you current insurance company.

It would be worth an hour or so getting a lower route if you can, if it means a worthwhile saving.

So, perhaps you should now ignore all of us on here and start looking at a comparison site.

But let us know what saving you've made! Good luck.

[ChillDoubt]

Prospective son-in-law?

Your daughter on the market (so to speak), gness?

[murraymints]

I do a compare on line every year and insurers ALWAYS offer me better or match on line quotes...ask...I get every year so far..

[gness]

Thanks Wiltsman....in view of the ongoing claim and because I am off gadding about the UK for the next week or so I am going with this one and will get my act together for next year....This is still so much better than the one I changed from last year.
And I am sick of forms and phone calls this month....x
Thanks all...

[gness]

Yes....but she doesn't know about it Chill.....and no I don't want grandchildren...I have enough. ;-)
He has to be 28+...solvent...clever...patient and love cricket.

[Psybbo]

Sometimes better the devil you know, a neighbour went for the cheapest quote and is now having a lot of problems with that car insurer who wouldn't provide a courtesy car because her car (stolen) was written off.

[Psybbo]

And his mother-in-law!!! x

[ChillDoubt]

28+ Check (got that one covered easily!)
Solvent...ish
Clever...you be the judge!
Patient...of course, though I do like punctuality
Love cricket? Seriously? Does Judith Chalmers own a passport?

[gness]

Ohhhhh...Chill....she's a stickler for punctuality....and I would be your mother-in-law!!!!

Chill is now lying down in a dark room......;-) x

[tonyav]

Phone them back gness, he obviously loves you other wise he wouldn't have lowered your quote. Talk to him a bit more and I'm sure you'll beat him down to £200.