Last year at renewal time, one thing that stood out was the term "including referral fee" . This stuck in my throat, and although I coudn't find a broker not admitting to charging it, i went with a broker that charged least. To my mind, I go to a broker, broker gets my business which he passes to insurance company anf gets a commission fee for. Referral fee means that broker wants to be paid by both customer and insurance company for it's services. 

This year the new fee is for issue of documents. With my broker it equates to the difference between last year prices and this year. Fair enough as premiums have risen, we may think. But a look on the meerkats shows me that my previous broker prices have dropped massively. To cynical me looks like another way to milk the now complaining customer.

The brokers too have to make a living. You may well find that the referral fee has always been charged however new rules on transparency state all fees have to be declared. 

Brokers normally either receive commission OR a referral fee/broker fee. If this was merely an admin charge, I would think they would have listed it as such.

Turns out that this was the referral fee of last year, but increased. That stunk even further, as I could well just bypass the broker and go to a company. Last time I spoke about renewal ,i was told that's charges- take it or leave it. Just as nasty as another company which offers a decent quote weeks in advance, for it to increase the closer to renewal you get, and they openly admit it.  But full marks today to the bloke I spoke to- he checked up and referred the matter to his manager, who reduced the referral fee to last year's figure.