I've just bought my first Skoda, an Octavia vRS, and I'm afraid to say AF were miles away from a competetive rate.

I've been with AF for nearly 5 years on/off and have full NCD.

Whilst the customer service was excellent, the pricing was shocking.

Very best quote was from Aviva, and in excess of £700.

I went with More Than (trading name of RSA) and it was £426.

Sorry guys, just not good enough this time, although to be fair, they have been more competetive in the past.

PS Don't like the way AF renew your policy automatically, even continuing the DD without a signature...

..yet threaten to cancel your policy (without refund) if you don't return docs in time.

Doesn't seem very just to me.

Hi,

Sorry to hear that we have not been competitive for you this time.

As for the Renewal it is stated on your Renewal Invite whether your policy will auto renew etc, Without looking into your file I would not be able to explain the Cancelling due to non returned documents.

If you would like me to look into it for you so i can give a proper explanation please PM me your Name and Postcode.

Regards,

Dan.

Hi Dan,

I appreciate you getting back to me 'in public'.

The cancellation would've been due to a missing mileage decleration form, which I posted but was never found! I ended up receiving a second and faxing it..

Believe me, I know how unreliable the post is currently (many unhappy clients!) but I suppose it just struck a chord that AF write in their T&C's that they can renew the policy without any correspondance and create their own DD mandate..

..yet after taking your money WITHOUT WRITTEN OR SPOKEN CONSENT will then cancel the policy and keep your money if you don't receive the mileage declaration form.

I struggle to see where the responsibiliy lies here? In 2007 I went to Asia for 3 months and left my bank account empty.

According to the law's of Flux I could've come home with 4 bounced direct debits and no idea what on earth would be going on as I didn't have my mail forwarded to me?

I'd be in default with you and the bank for something I didn't actually agree to.

I can't see how this is just, and certainly not ethical. I don't think we're in the realms of not Treating Customers Fairly but looking back I guess I was lucky I'd renewed my policy just one month before I travelled??!

Perhaps this is common practice, although my motorbike is insured with CIA and they do not automotically renew....

In your favour though, I have always found all the members of your team to be excpetionally helpful and have never been put on hold longer than a few minutes.

Generally your customer service is excellent, and if it were not for being £300 more expensive than my best quote I would have continued to business with AF.

I hope anyone reading this takes away that:

1.) Premiums vary wildly, and unfortunately this seems to be down to the underwriter rather than the broker

2.) Read the small print in your contract or else you could find yourself either getting re-insured automatically, or un-insured automatically a month after!

3.) AF are good guys that aren't afraid to put themselves in the pubic domain, and whilst they might not always be the cheapest (and hold on to all their pennies if you have to cancel...) their knowledge and customer service is exemplary.

Best regards,

Jon