Absolutely Disgusted

[bonelorry]

Where do I start?

 

Age 33

Full clean UK Licence held for 12 Years

10 NCB Protected

Never had any Points

No accidents in the past 10 Years

Car is Parked off the Road at Night under Carport on Driveway

Parked in Secure Car Park at Work during day

12000 Miles Per Year

Voluntary Excess of £500

Social, Domestic, Pleasure and Communting

Profession is Train Driver

Home Owner....

 

I was a loyal Customer of Adrian Flux from 2005-2010 until I purchased a Honda Integra Type R and sadly you where unable to be competitive so I went with Brentacre from 2010-2017.

 

I had a Golf R last Year which was Modified and running 320BHP, I paid £500 Fully Comp for the Year with Brentacre and then did a Mid-Term adjustment onto a Totally Standard Skoda Fabia VRS valued at £3000. They sent me a Cheque for the difference all good.

 

My renewal is on Saturday the 7th so as I expected I received a letter from them through the post stating that the policy was getting ready for renewal, The price came out at £470 Fully Comp which was outrageous. I instantly rang them and challenged the price getting it down to £405 which was still £115 more than what Hastings Direct Quoted me online.

 

So rather than just go with Hastings I thought I would give you guys another chance as I was always happy with your service up-to the point of buying the Integra in 2010, I did an online Quote on Sunday evening and yesterday received and E-mail with the following message....

  

 

Dear Mr Simon Broadhead 

Thank you for requesting a quote from Adrian Flux. You could get a cheaper quote for your SKODA FABIA by calling us direct.

We've stored a provisional rate of £436.73. While we hope our quote is competitive, it is probably not our best price. It is very likely that we can only offer you our cheapest rates over the phone. In fact, 75% of customers can get a cheaper quote - often much cheaper - if they call us.*

 

So within the past Hour decided to make that phone-call, I was asked to confirm all the details I had given on the Online Quote was correct and went through every detail with the chap on the phone. All details where as I had put on the Online Quote so he went away for 5 Minutes and came back with a Quote over £100 more! 

 

I asked why such a massive increase and his response was because I drive a standard/unmodified Car, He asked if I was planning on Modifying the Car and that if I did at least 3 Modifications to the Car it would be a more competitive Quote. So for the laugh I said right, Performance Air Filter, Performance Exhaust, Lowered Suspension Springs....

 

He came back another 5 Minutes later with a Quote of £330 Fully Comp which left me totally gobsmacked, He asked if I wanted to go ahead with the policy and I said yes and then right before I gave my Card Details stated that I must carry out all of the Performance upgrades within 30 Days or my Policy would be void.

 

I basically said "so in order to get a cheaper quote you are asking me to Modify my Car", Bearing in mind I have no desire to Modify the Car in any way I find the whole thing mind boggling. I told him I was totally uncomfortable and that I had wasted nearly 30 Mins on the phone and that I didn't want to go ahead with the purchase.

 

Madness.

 

 

 

 

Edited 3 October, 2017 by bonelorry

[S00perb]

Its your profession - you spend most of your time driving without a steering wheel!

[bonelorry]

10 minutes ago, S00perb said:

Its your profession - you spend most of your time driving without a steering wheel!

 

Laughable and I was a Train Driver at the last Renewal which made no difference, Previously in the Motor Trade for 8 Years.

Edited 3 October, 2017 by bonelorry

[Robshaw]

It's one of my pain points in life. I find it a bad way of doing business and a waste of time having to go back over all the details I enter online.

 

I understand that it's a competitive market for them and they like to grab those customers who don't call. I've never heard of cheaper insurance for modifying a car mind...

[ahenners]

Not sure why this is so surprising really and doubt it has anything to do with your profession. To say you're "absolutely disgusted" seems a bit extreme...

 

You went to a company/broker which specialises in, and seeks the business for, modified cars. You asked for a quote on a car which isn't a performance car, or modified, so they provided a quote which wasn't particularly competitive. They won't want the business as it's outside of their core/target market and that of their underwriters. If you modify it, you're back within their target market and they want the business.

 

Loyalty provides nothing in the insurance game...  switch to a mainstream insurer that wants the business and you'll get a much more competitive quote

 

 

Edited 3 October, 2017 by ahenners

[bonelorry]

1 hour ago, ahenners said:

Not sure why this is so surprising really and doubt it has anything to do with your profession. To say you're "absolutely disgusted" seems a bit extreme...

 

You went to a company/broker which specialises in, and seeks the business for, modified cars. You asked for a quote on a car which isn't a performance car, or modified, so they provided a quote which wasn't particularly competitive. They won't want the business as it's outside of their core/target market and that of their underwriters. If you modify it, you're back within their target market and they want the business.

 

Loyalty provides nothing in the insurance game...  switch to a mainstream insurer that wants the business and you'll get a much more competitive quote

 

 

 

Entitled to your opinion, Not really helpful in anyway and i would prefer an explanation from Dan@AdrianFlux.

[Auric Goldfinger]

2 hours ago, bonelorry said:

 

Laughable and I was a Train Driver at the last Renewal which made no difference, Previously in the Motor Trade for 8 Years.

 

 Do you drive for Arriva Nothern Rail Sir ?

[ahenners]

2 hours ago, bonelorry said:

 

Entitled to your opinion, Not really helpful in anyway and i would prefer an explanation from Dan@AdrianFlux.

 

No worries, good luck.

[bonelorry]

3 hours ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

 

 Do you drive for Arriva Nothern Rail Sir ?

 

I do!

[Auric Goldfinger]

1 hour ago, bonelorry said:

 

I do!

 

I've just retired, almost 34 years on the railway, 17 years a driver with Arriva northern amongst others.  I might have seen you in Leeds Mess Room.

 

 

 

Edited 3 October, 2017 by Auric Goldfinger

[bonelorry]

14 hours ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

 

I've just retired, almost 34 years on the railway, 17 years a driver with Arriva northern amongst others.  I might have seen you in Leeds Mess Room.

 

 

 

 

Ahh very good, Hope you are enjoying retirement! I am a Sheffield man so don't get upto Leeds Messroom very much but I am sure we might have seen eachother at some point. I was a Gaurd for a few Years previously.

[DAN@ADRIAN FLUX]

22 hours ago, bonelorry said:

Where do I start?

 

Age 33

Full clean UK Licence held for 12 Years

10 NCB Protected

Never had any Points

No accidents in the past 10 Years

Car is Parked off the Road at Night under Carport on Driveway

Parked in Secure Car Park at Work during day

12000 Miles Per Year

Voluntary Excess of £500

Social, Domestic, Pleasure and Communting

Profession is Train Driver

Home Owner....

 

I was a loyal Customer of Adrian Flux from 2005-2010 until I purchased a Honda Integra Type R and sadly you where unable to be competitive so I went with Brentacre from 2010-2017.

 

I had a Golf R last Year which was Modified and running 320BHP, I paid £500 Fully Comp for the Year with Brentacre and then did a Mid-Term adjustment onto a Totally Standard Skoda Fabia VRS valued at £3000. They sent me a Cheque for the difference all good.

 

My renewal is on Saturday the 7th so as I expected I received a letter from them through the post stating that the policy was getting ready for renewal, The price came out at £470 Fully Comp which was outrageous. I instantly rang them and challenged the price getting it down to £405 which was still £115 more than what Hastings Direct Quoted me online.

 

So rather than just go with Hastings I thought I would give you guys another chance as I was always happy with your service up-to the point of buying the Integra in 2010, I did an online Quote on Sunday evening and yesterday received and E-mail with the following message....

  

 

Dear Mr Simon Broadhead 

Thank you for requesting a quote from Adrian Flux. You could get a cheaper quote for your SKODA FABIA by calling us direct.

We've stored a provisional rate of £436.73. While we hope our quote is competitive, it is probably not our best price. It is very likely that we can only offer you our cheapest rates over the phone. In fact, 75% of customers can get a cheaper quote - often much cheaper - if they call us.*

 

So within the past Hour decided to make that phone-call, I was asked to confirm all the details I had given on the Online Quote was correct and went through every detail with the chap on the phone. All details where as I had put on the Online Quote so he went away for 5 Minutes and came back with a Quote over £100 more! 

 

I asked why such a massive increase and his response was because I drive a standard/unmodified Car, He asked if I was planning on Modifying the Car and that if I did at least 3 Modifications to the Car it would be a more competitive Quote. So for the laugh I said right, Performance Air Filter, Performance Exhaust, Lowered Suspension Springs....

 

He came back another 5 Minutes later with a Quote of £330 Fully Comp which left me totally gobsmacked, He asked if I wanted to go ahead with the policy and I said yes and then right before I gave my Card Details stated that I must carry out all of the Performance upgrades within 30 Days or my Policy would be void.

 

I basically said "so in order to get a cheaper quote you are asking me to Modify my Car", Bearing in mind I have no desire to Modify the Car in any way I find the whole thing mind boggling. I told him I was totally uncomfortable and that I had wasted nearly 30 Mins on the phone and that I didn't want to go ahead with the purchase.

 

Madness.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi there,

 

Thanks for posting and if you wished for me to take a look into this further please message me your full name and postcode.

 

If I could explain the situation with regard to insurers and those vehicles with modifications.  Adrian Flux are a specialist vehicle insurance intermediary and whilst we welcome standard cars we traditionally have a number of specialist schemes for modified vehicles with our underwriters.  A lot of people are mystified when they find out that in many cases having a modified car can actually reduce their premium than a standard car.  This is due to statistics and of course the arrangement we have negotiated with our underwriters which invariably shows that modified car owners often (but not always) take care of their vehicles having done the modifications themselves.    The 30 days timeframe is of course to not have unmodified cars with these underwriters - that's not their speciality. 

 

If you wished for me to look into the original quote I am willing to do so - we are experiencing premium increases across the board however.

 

Many thanks,

Dan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ahenners]

Not too dissimilar to my "not particularly helpful" post above then

[bonelorry]

2 hours ago, ahenners said:

Not too dissimilar to my "not particularly helpful" post above then

 

Very similar infact, Still not helpful and not what I want to hear.

 

but if you want to be a **** and have a laugh at my expense then feel free.

Edited 4 October, 2017 by bonelorry

[Ootohere]

ahenners post does not read like trying to be taking the pith,

reads like just being realistic about what happens if you do try Adrian Flux for standard vehicles.

 

They are known for taking the pith of customers wanting insurance on modified vehicles when it is just a renewal.

[ahenners]

1 hour ago, bonelorry said:

 

Very similar infact, Still not helpful and not what I want to hear.

 

but if you want to be a **** and have a laugh at my expense then feel free.

 

Absolutely headinawayoffski is correct, wasn't trying to come across as a **** and apologies if that's how it sounded. Was purely trying to help you out and stop you wasting any more time with a quote not worth pursuing. You dismissed it as if it was a useless post full of opinion when in fact it was pretty close to the truth.

 

That's what we're on here for, to help each other out right? 

[bonelorry]

And now I am wasting more time replying to a Thread that is getting me nowhere.

 

Hastings will be getting my Money this Year and I will never recommend nor spend any money with AF ever again.

 

Fed up with the whole Car scene and Owners Clubs/Forums in general. Think I will be having a good break!

[SkodaVRS1963]

On 03/10/2017 at 12:41, ahenners said:

Not sure why this is so surprising really and doubt it has anything to do with your profession. To say you're "absolutely disgusted" seems a bit extreme...

 

You went to a company/broker which specialises in, and seeks the business for, modified cars. You asked for a quote on a car which isn't a performance car, or modified, so they provided a quote which wasn't particularly competitive. They won't want the business as it's outside of their core/target market and that of their underwriters. If you modify it, you're back within their target market and they want the business.

 

Loyalty provides nothing in the insurance game...  switch to a mainstream insurer that wants the business and you'll get a much more competitive quote

 

 

Many years ago a friend of mine went into the business off of the back of an inheritance from an aunt he never knew; his core market was motorbike riders with an advanced licence who hadn't made a claim for five years.

 

His quotes, for those who qualified, were ridiculously low.

 

As ahenners says, once your details move outside of the qualifying parameters you can expect a Mickey Mouse quote.

[VWD]

On the other hand, I drive a UNMODIFIED 1.4TDi Fabia and moved to AF when the larger brokers started to try it on with Admin / policy issue fees. AF didn't add these on for me as a new customer ,but every years since , I've had quotes from brokers/companies on the meerkats and there's no mention of admin /policy issue fees, but AF has charged these, making their policy as dear as or dearer than the meerkat brokers. Add in the non customer service and credit costs from PCL and with the additional costs and AF becomes  unattractive. If I take out other types of insurance ( home content/ life etc) , I don't get a charge for admin/policy issue/ introduction, as the insurance company pays  ,so why ( and it seems it's only AF THAT DOES IT)  does AF try it on .

To be fair, once I've challenged this fee , AF have been good enough to remove it.

[VWD]

I spoke too soon. Whether it was down to Dan or AF waking up , I don't know, but my renewal came through today. Over £50 up from last year, but no mention of Admin/policy issue/intro fees. Then this year I'd have to pay monthly. That meant using the dreaded Premium Finance . For anyone thinking of using this lot- DON'T. They are only contactable on a premium rate number, and from experience, you've more chance of talking to a long deceased relative via a medium than getting an answer. Their default penalties are excessive, and IMHO bear no relation to the actual costs involved.

Then I checked on the meerkats. Policy a lot cheaper than AF. Monthly payment option also a lot cheaper than PCL, and an 0800 number to contact ,so overall my insurance would be a lot less. And any contact would be a lot less. One other thing that narks me on AF is that for "brand new customers" there's either a call back service or an 0800 number. For  existing customers, it's an 03xx number.

Me -I voted with my feet and wallet.  For a few years, they've been reasonable on removing Admin/policy issue/intro fees ,but this year ,I feel like the old cow in the milking parlour - I'm being screwed by the bull and drained by the system. For AF, the idea of "brand new customers only " seems to be the battle cry.

So .I'll go be a "brand new customers "elsewhere , taking a low risk of 50+ years of licence and very similar NCB  to a broker who appreciates it. Some might say ,I'm now being hit as an older driver, but I've tried adding my daughter as named driver. She's over 40 ,with around 20 years NCB /licence held- no points/accidents and premium goes UP.

[bonelorry]

I went with Hastings which ended up at £290 for their basic cover, I happily paid a little more for their Premier Policy which turned out at £330 Fully Comp with Legal Cover, Key Cover, Breakdown Cover and Courtesy Car. The whole process was trouble free and done online withing 20 Mins, Cover Note E-mailed to me.

 

My other half has been with Hastings for 8 Years and each Year come renewal she has no issues, Even had a Fault Claim with them and they where spot on.

 

They also do Motorcycle Insurance and came back with some very competitive quotes so they will probably get my business come renewal time for the Bike too