Mines up for renewal on 1st Feb. Norwich Union renewal - £458, NU quote £326.

Now let me think about that for a moment....

What would be nice is if firms gave you a better than newbie quote that took into acount that they dont need to pay any brokers to retain your business, where as new people they would.

But then their critera for which drivers they want and dont want changes year on year, so they use this method to off load those people that will likely cost them dearly in payouts.

But then their critera for which drivers they want and dont want changes year on year, so they use this method to off load those people that will likely cost them dearly in payouts.

But is it - My HSBC last year for renewal was one price .I went on compare and got one lower .They'd changed broker .

When I quoted reference number and old policy I got "wow,how did we do that " .

Not I cost them anything - protected policy ,well over 9 yrs NCB ,clean licence .Only thing against me is that I'm almost getting classed as old .

My suggestion (and they still haven't woken up to the compare sites ) is that they're that used to folk paying up that they still try it on and claim ignorance when they get pulled up .

Like other companies ,they believe it'stoo much effort for people to look around .

My Octy (54 reg TDi DSG) was £320 with 2yrs NCB, less than my wifes MK5 Golf GT TDi with 5+yrs NCB with Sheilas wheels! First time my insurance has been less than what I paid as a spotty 17yr old with my 77 Fiesta 1.1S!

I had a similar issue with Norwich Union, £1100 renewal - £850 on-line, rang up to cancel and was told I wasn't eligible for the £850 as I wasn't a new customer (sounded like the guy off the Nationwide advert on the telly). Told them I would buy it on-line and challenged them to send me a letter saying my premium would be more because I wasn't a new customer, funnily enough they never sent one!

I had a similar issue with Norwich Union, £1100 renewal - £850 on-line, rang up to cancel and was told I wasn't eligible for the £850 as I wasn't a new customer (sounded like the guy off the Nationwide advert on the telly). Told them I would buy it on-line and challenged them to send me a letter saying my premium would be more because I wasn't a new customer, funnily enough they never sent one!

Thats strange as I went through this also last year and they matched it when i rang up.

Even gave me the £45 cash back that was on offer at the time.

Had similar this year when my insurance was up for renewal and the broker sent through two recommended renewal quotes. No points or accidents and an extra year's NCB on a Gp 5 car and both weighed in at £45 more with higher excesses than the previous year along with a a promise to match any better quote I had got.

Did a quick search of the comparison sites and found more comprehensive cover for less money and a lower excess and was suprised to learn it was not an introductory "new customers only" offer either Suffice to say, I couldn't be bothered fighting with the broker to make them more competitive and just switched.

No regrets so far ... we'll see what happens come renewal time

Chris