Not had any issues before with steel wheels and winter tyres. RAC have been fine with steelies and Winters on the Fabia.

I have 205/55x16 on steel wheels to replace 235/45x17 alloys. These are an approved size for the Passat.

On the ABI's website Tesco state. No Charge – Providing that the winter tyres/wheels are no larger than the original tyres/wheels.

So no Problem I thought.

I've been on the phone an hour this morning and spoke to two advisors who have both contacted the undewriters and so far they want to charge me £83 to fit the winters.

Upto yet I've refused and have another advisor ringing me back Saturday, they have sent my complaint to the underwriters.

I have also emailed the ABI.

So anyone elese had this with Tesco? They certainly will not have me as a customer next year.

Cheers

Lee

Edited 25 November, 201114 yr by logiclee

Every little Helps........In your case NOT

nope, mine is specialst insurance, as I use it for driving instruction,(so i cant say about tesco, but dont know who your underwriter is) but its underwritten by Allinz, and they said as long as they are skoda approved tyre sizes, no charge, and no need to notify.

Result

Had a phone call from Cameron Maxwell Tesco Bank Executive Complaints Team last night.

The ABI had passed on my complaint to him.

He's confirmed that fitting winter wheels and tyres is not classed as a modification as long as they are not larger than the standard wheels. He says the frontline advisors and indeed the underwriting advisors were wrong to ask for £83. He says he will be getting in touch with call centre managers to filter this information through. He has personally spoke to the advisors that spoke to me.

I've also received a letter this morning from Tesco Bank apologising for the situation.

Last night I also received an email from Rob Cummings of the ABI

Dear Mr Collins,

I have been in touch with Tesco regarding your issue. They said that unfortunately the commitment has appeared not to have filtered completely through to the front line. I have been in told that the complaints manger will be in touch with you shortly to resolve the issue.

I hope this helps but do let me know if you have any further problems.

Kind regards,

Rob

So big thanks to the ABI who sorted my complaint out whithin hours of my email.

So if you are being charged folks, don't just roll over, it's worth getting in touch with the ABI.

Cheers

Lee

Result

Had a phone call from Cameron Maxwell Tesco Bank Executive Complaints Team last night.

The ABI had passed on my complaint to him.

He's confirmed that fitting winter wheels and tyres is not classed as a modification as long as they are not larger than the standard wheels. He says the frontline advisors and indeed the underwriting advisors were wrong to ask for £83. He says he will be getting in touch with call centre managers to filter this information through. He has personally spoke to the advisors that spoke to me.

I've also received a letter this morning from Tesco Bank apologising for the situation.

Last night I also received an email from Rob Cummings of the ABI

Dear Mr Collins,

I have been in touch with Tesco regarding your issue. They said that unfortunately the commitment has appeared not to have filtered completely through to the front line. I have been in told that the complaints manger will be in touch with you shortly to resolve the issue.

I hope this helps but do let me know if you have any further problems.

Kind regards,

Rob

So big thanks to the ABI who sorted my complaint out whithin hours of my email.

So if you are being charged folks, don't just roll over, it's worth getting in touch with the ABI.

Cheers

Lee

Well done! Privilege tried to charge me £90 for the privilege (pardon the pun) of fitting 15" alloys with winter tyres to my Fabia vRS. After insisting to speak to a supervisor (six times!) the original operator came back to me and said there would be no charge after all, and apologised.

No problems at all with Adrian Flux.

No problems with Brentachre either, mind you I have unlimited body mods inc wheels as standard.

No problem with saga, just made a note on there system that Winter tyres may be fitted, all ok, no charge

IAM Surety aren't bothered. Just a note on the system to say that winter wheels/tyres may be on there and they are no bigger than the OEM wheels.

Good news, hopefully people reading this will be able to now ensure they don't have to pay more to make the car safer.

Interesting to note that some people are taking about tyres only, some about wheels and tyres. Need to make sure that you check with the insurer what you mean, tyres alone I really don't see as an issue but if you change the wheels then it gets very obvious to a quick inspection. Not sure if it would cause an issue but better to be crystal clear just in case.

IAM Surety aren't bothered. Just a note on the system to say that winter wheels/tyres may be on there and they are no bigger than the OEM wheels.

Good news for Surety, I am with them as well so will be speaking to them when I eventually get the new car and fit the winter boots .

No issues at all with Direct Line, they just made a note on the policy and I need to let them know when they're removed (wheels and tyres here - they didn't even ask what the wheels were).

Here's the link to the ABI's website that I used to challenge Tesco.

http://www.abi.org.uk/Information/Consumers/General/Winter_Tyres__The_Motor_Insurance_Committment.aspx

It lists the insurers that have made a comittment to winter tyre fitting

Cheers

Lee

Here's the link to the ABI's website that I used to challenge Tesco.

http://www.abi.org.uk/Information/Consumers/General/Winter_Tyres__The_Motor_Insurance_Committment.aspx

It lists the insurers that have made a comittment to winter tyre fitting

Cheers

Lee

Great link. Even though it is titled as just tyres several of the insurers comments say they are happy with different wheels as well.

The problem as the OP had was that these various call centres give the staff minimal training and limited ability if any to deviate from the set program. So it is not just down to getting the message passed on they need to update their computer system as otherwise it eill just continue to be 'Computer says No!'.

IAM Surety aren't bothered. Just a note on the system to say that winter wheels/tyres may be on there and they are no bigger than the OEM wheels.

+1

Called them yesterday to change the car over, noted down I was fitting winters, just asked if they were the OEM recommended size.

I haven't bothered to notify my insurers. The car usually runs on alloys which were declared, I've now changed to 'winter' tyres (marked as all season with the mountain peaks symbol) on the original steel wheels, same size, speed and load rating.

Aviva no charge for winters and no requirement to notify them if original sizes.