Fell Off My Chair - Insurance Quote!!!

[jd_1984]

I have recently moved house and when renewing my car insurance, updated my new address. Now, we have moved 3 miles away and in an area that is regarded as "nice". My quote was £300 more expensive, im totally confused (.com)!! I understand that quotes will move up and down depending on circumstances. I drove a 2.7 litre mercedes that was cheaper to insure at my old address than a 1.3D Astra at the new house!!

[jd_1984]

My mrs has just found a quote of £368.50 - result!

[MadMen]

Who's it with?

Did you phone Admiral? (I don't work for them by the way!)

[jd_1984]

Admiral came up on the comparison webisite as £450 but wanted a big excess, I havent phoned them yet, but as you went to the trouble of really helping me out, I will call them now and let you know.
This quote is with "Priveledge"

[MadMen]

Give it a go. Make sure you quote your current quote and not mention the increase.

[mrs_overall]

jd - if you have found a reasonable quote on a comparison site DO NOT buy it through the site. Ring the company direct and it will be cheaper still.

[society]

Hope Jd comes back to this thread before buying, so they could see your post, Mrs. O

[Buenchico]

PR8 is a 'medium risk' area (although it seems that you've now moved to a dodgier bit!):
http://www.visitcars.co.uk/car-insurance/insurance-post-code-risk.html

Just think yourself lucky that you don't live in M13:
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/news/is-yours-one-of-the-most-expensive-car-insurance-postcodes/0007631/

[MadMen]

Chris, they don't go by the second part of your postcode, only the first.
The area (postcode) hasn't changed, and JD has 'downgraded' his car, therefore there should be no increase whatsoever.

It's the insurance company trying to pull a fast one.

As I've mentioned, about 1000 times, the OP should phone the insurers, and not rely on price comparison websites.
Will he listen though.... doubt it :P

(Joke, Jd!!) :))

[jd_1984]

Hi guys,
Just a thank you to those who gave me some excellent advice.
Madmen, I DID ring Admiral and on your advice did not disclose any other offers that I had. Best "over the phone quote" was £444.60" with a compulasary excess of £450.
Mrs O. Your advice was taken also, I rung "Priviledge" and got an over the phone quote of £362.88, so thanks it is nearly £6 in my pocket for making a call and not taking the online quotation through the comarison site.
I felt a small satisfaction when informing LV I would not be renewing my cover with them. I asked them, out of interest if they could justify why the initial quote rose by £300... To Quote
"We input all your details into the computer and it considers all factor's, performs a risk assesment based on the car, the usage and the area you live etc.... I can ususally tweak a couple of things (??) and knock a small percentage off for you and in your case I can not beat £690 (or there abouts).
The lady then offered me £30 vouchers to use at a high st store of my chosing to try and keep my business.
I mentioned the postcode issue, assuming this is how they conclude how "risky" an area may be. I said I have moved within the same postcode (same first 3 digits). She said "Its not always that simple (??), and the end of the day the computer generates the price. Your area may not be a bad area, if it is a wealthy area, then you may find there is more valuable things that can be stolen and therefore theives target your area"!! (This didnt explain anything as my point was I live in the SAME postcode)

She was very polite, and just doing her job, so I thanked her and hung up.
I am happy now to be fully insured for £362, £300 excess, the only extra they dont cover me for is a courtesy car and breakdown recovery (already covered with RAC).

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your reply, Jd.

I find MadMen's statement, that only the first part of the postcode is used, hard to believe. I know someone who runs a firm delivering junk mail to households across much of East Anglia. Her clients obviously want leaflets about stair lifts to go to those areas where there are lots of elderly people, leaflets about (so-called) debt reduction services to go to areas of economic hardship, etc. Those advertisers definitely base their profiles on the 'sub-areas' of postcodes (i.e. IP6 8 or IP1 3) rather than just on the first part of the code alone. It seems illogical that insurance companies wouldn't use similar demographic profiling.

[mrs_overall]

I am glad you are sorted jd, and although my tip did not save you a massive sum, I feel it is a tip worth knowing about.
£6 would easily buy me a large bacardi and coke with a bag of pork scratchings...