Car Insurance - Robbing bastards at Norwich Union!

[BradNaylor]

When I bought my Zafira a couple of years ago I shopped around online for the best insurance deal and went with Norwich Union - it was just over £400 pa fully comp.

When it was up for renewal last year I just left it and it renewed automatically with NU. It went up by £100 or so but I was too busy really to notice at the time.

This Saturday I had the renewal docs through for another year and they've hiked it up to just under £700! I've made no claims at all.

So I went back to Go Compare.com to find a better quote, thinking that I might save £100.

I found an identical policy with HSBC for £347!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

So quite obviously Norwich Union are buying your new business and then shafting you when they think they've got you safely on board. It really hacks me off when companies behave like this; apart from anything else it is just so stupid!

A new customer costs any business a lot of money to attract. Surely it makes sense to look after them and keep them - particularly in an ongoing year after year business model such as insurance.

Anyway, its backfired on them this time. Within five minutes I had bought the HSBC policy, downloaded the documentation, and cancelled my direct debit to NU. I also fired off the shirtiest email to them that I could muster.

I will not be doing any further business with Norwich Union.

:twisted:

Dan

 

[Raggy]

All of them are the same Dan, they hike up the premium every year hoping you wont shop around for a better deal and a lot of people don't because they are 'too busy' etc and just get taken for mugs year after year. Always look for a better deal when your renewal is due.

 

[Woodmagnet]

We have been with C.I.S. for years and ours
goes down

 

[devonwoody]

I have had many years experience in the insurance industry and never known N.U. to have a low premium, unless they were sucking you in.
A lot of that going on at the present time.

Saga sent me a buildings and contents quote last week £100 per annum, yes £100 per annum.
It would almost pay me to cancel my present inurance policy with another company (and get a refund) and switch now.

But............... then the same thing would happen as happened to Dan, and premiums might be up all round in a couple of years time.

 

[RogerS]

I have had many years experience in the insurance industry and never known N.U. to have a low premium, unless they were sucking you in.
A lot of that going on at the present time.

Saga sent me a buildings and contents quote last week £100 per annum, yes £100 per annum.
It would almost pay me to cancel my present inurance policy with another company (and get a refund) and switch now.

But............... then the same thing would happen as happened to Dan, and premiums might be up all round in a couple of years time.

But then surely you'd shop around again at that time?

 

[devonwoody]

Yes Roger, but every now and then the insurance companies all decide premiums are too cheap and they all whack up their premiums and those silly deals are not around and you then start to burn.

 

[Steve Maskery]

My car insurance is due in a week or so, and I, too, have been with NU for a couple of years.

I shopped around and got a quote for 220 instead of their renewal of 310, and the policy is slightly more generous. When I queried it I was told they would give me a £50 discount. It still didn't match - "Just let me have a word with my manager".

I left it, and they rang me back a couple of weeks later with a different quote entirely, but still not as cheap as the Pru. There is no incentive at all for me to stay with them.

On the upside, the insurance companies (yes, plural) have paid up over my Barcelona robbery, no questions asked, so I'm quite pleased about that.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Deejay]

You've come off the fence then Dan!

Seen this?

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... hp?t=27419

Cheers

Dave

 

[Vormulac]

My insurance premium with Bell went up by £100 this year, but by shopping around I found it £30 cheaper than the previous year with Admiral. I phoned Bell and told them this and as Admiral and Bell are the same company they simply changed my premium to the cheaper price and 'renewed'it, so I didn't have to go fannying around with paperwork or anything. Very happy with an insurer for once!

 

[joiner_sim]

Well, I've just renewed my insurance this year. I've had 3 different insurance companies since I started driving, always shopping around for the better deal, and then phoning up my current insurer asking them if they was prepared to match the prices. Budget (who are terrible) said no, and I was glad they did because their insurance company is rubbish. Hastings said no. And then the last 12 months I've been with Virgin insurance. I shooped around last week to beat the renewal, rang them up with a price that I wanted them to match, and hey! They actually did! At the moment, I can't fault them! From last years quote to this years I've saved nearly £500.
>I'm 21 yrs old, 3 years driving lisence, 2 yrs NCB, 1 Claim - costs not recovered from third party, 56 reg fiesta 1.2.

I'd really recommend anyone to get a quote from Virgin car insurance, as if you do pay monthly, they don't charge you any extra to do so!

 

[Ironballs]

I wouldn't touch NU with a barge pole after they did me over a few years ago - they have the worst legal outfit in the world. Ever since I got a quick car I switched to Noel Dazely, a good broker who always get me the best price, even though I now drive a Focus instead of the turbo rocket ship

 

[BradNaylor]

I have received the following email from Norwich Union;


Thank you for your email regarding your policy cancellation.

We are sorry to lose your custom. According to our company policy, the policyholder has to call up if he/she wishes to cancel the policy with us. I would advise that you call our customer services team on 0800 068 3661* or 01603 208 931 (if you are calling from abroad) to notify this. Please note that we do not consider email or fax requests for cancellation of a policy.

On cancellation, please send in your certificate of insurance to the following address within five working days:

Norwich Union Direct
P O Box 15
Surrey Street
Norwich
NR1 3LN

As per our company policy, when a policyholder initiates cancellation of the policy at any point of time in a period of insurance, then the policyholder has to pay for the days he/she has been covered including the administration charges of £39.90 applicable for cancellation.

Please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected] or call our customer services team on 0800 068 3661 for any further queries.

Yours sincerely,

Rajesh Shiva
Ecommerce Team
Norwich Union Direct


I have replied;


It is my policy not to call premium rate telephone numbers operated by deceitful companies who have no concept of consumer service.

It is also my policy not to pay for services I have not received. My next premium payment is not due until 17th December - I have therefore paid for insurance cover until that date. I shall expect a cheque from you for seventeen days worth of cover by return.

I have of course, cancelled the direct debit mandate which you held to collect premiums from my account.

The insurance certificate and a copy of this correspondence will be in the post to you today.

Goodbye.

God, I hate these kind of people!

Cheers
Dan

 

[Vormulac]

Nicely done, Dan.

 

[ike]

It's a freephone no., not premium rate.

 

[Harbo]

Sorry about your insurance problems.

Talking about 08 numbers, try http://www.saynoto0870.com - they offer alternative land line numbers for lots of companies.

Rod

 

[devonwoody]

Sorry about your insurance problems.

Talking about 08 numbers, try http://www.saynoto0870.com - they offer alternative land line numbers for lots of companies.

Rod

Thanks for that Harbo, I often ask the telephone receptionist (when there is one, not often these days) what is the 01 number of their firm.

 

[Hitch]

I was with them a couple of years. Never again though!

When someone drove into my van, he had no MOT, i phoned them up for some advice.

Got put through to a foreign call centre...

I described the situation.

"Im after some advice.....blah blah, he hasnt got a valid MOT"

"Excuse me sir, but what is an MOT?"

Unbelievable :shock:

 

[martin@cc]

Your experiences with Norwich Union dont surprise me in the least. The very circumstances you comment on are one of the reasons that we dont use them for our new Liability Insurance offering for contractors.

www.contractorscompare.com

If anyone is looking around this year for alternatives for the Public and Employers Liability covers then give it a go and see the range of quotes that are on offer........and I can promise you Norwich Union won't be on there !

 

[lurker]

Martin,

If you want to advertise your wares why not take out an advert box that helps subsidise this forum?

 

[martin@cc]

Martin,

If you want to advertise your wares why not take out an advert box that helps subsidise this forum?

I have emailed "Charley" as one the admin team with that very request as we would be more than happy to do so. I am currently waiting a response, but hope that we can sort something out.