The need to haggle

[julianf]

Before my partner started driving, I was with auto aid.

Broken cam belt on the M25. No issues with recovery at all.

Would happily still be with them, but I'm not so sure about psudo-religious ceremonies, hence, when my partner of almost 20 years, the mother of my child, and the joint mortgage holder on our home, started driving, the other chancers (aa / rac / whoever becomes the cheapest with cashback) become cheaper.

 

[Morrisman]

i thought the government was going to clamp down on giving new customers a discount where long term loyal customers pay more

I thought that too. In fact my LV car renewal even says that the price is comparable to what a new customer would pay.

ETA. I just went into Compare the market and my new quote is pretty much on par with everybody else.

LV has stopped insuring motorcycles, after 6 years with them, so in March I shall be diving into the cesspool of insurance company quotes to see which looks the least leery.

 

[Scalarocco]

Would happily still be with them, but I'm not so sure about psudo-religious ceremonies

Common law partner is acceptable on their policy. You just need to reside at the same address. My partner and I aren't married but we are on a joint mortgage and live together.

 

[Dr.Al]

Never felt completely confident that Auto Aid would do the necessary.

Fair enough, but they've always done the necessary for me when I've needed them.,

Common law partner is acceptable on their policy. You just need to reside at the same address. My partner and I aren't married but we are on a joint mortgage and live together.

Yep. Me and my partner aren't married and we've each had need to call autoaid (on a shared policy) in the past and it's never been an issue.

 

[julianf]

Common law partner is acceptable on their policy. You just need to reside at the same address. My partner and I aren't married but we are on a joint mortgage and live together.

I think I looked into it briefly years ago, and couldn't really find a definition of "common law partner" - it all seemed a bit wooly.

It was a long time ago, but I think I called them also and... Well, I don't remember the conversation but we are not with them any more.

Maybe I'll try again at some point. Again I thought they were a good service.

 

[James1979]

Before my partner started driving, I was with auto aid.

Broken cam belt on the M25. No issues with recovery at all.

Would happily still be with them, but I'm not so sure about psudo-religious ceremonies, hence, when my partner of almost 20 years, the mother of my child, and the joint mortgage holder on our home, started driving, the other chancers (aa / rac / whoever becomes the cheapest with cashback) become cheaper.

I may look at them. It would be somewhat embarrassing if a fully kitted service truck needed recovery but you never know!

All it takes is one sensor and you’re stuffed. Not a hope in hell of doing it roadside.

Went to a lorry yesterday which died and wouldn’t go. Checked everything. No dice. Called my pal who came out with DAF laptop. Crank sensor duff.

I know it’s a lorry etc etc but my point is I’d never have done that roadside on this L200 so for £68 that’s a bargain. Even just getting me somewhere with a diag it’s worth it.

 

[bricol]

I thought that too. In fact my LV car renewal even says that the price is comparable to what a new customer would pay.

ETA. I just went into Compare the market and my new quote is pretty much on par with everybody else.

LV has stopped insuring motorcycles, after 6 years with them, so in March I shall be diving into the cesspool of insurance company quotes to see which looks the least leery.

I use one of the cash back sites (I just can't remember which as I'm at work) - comes back close to the comparison sites, but with the promise of good few quid back in a few months. Renew in September, and a third of the cost lands back in my account in January.

 

[bricol]

Remeber, too, that a lot of insurers like to keep your banking details on file so that they can automatically renew your policy the following year. Obviously makes them loads of dosh from those that don’t investigate the best deals available.

My wife once actually paid for the motor insurance for her son, who was penniless at the time. The following year they took a further (larger) chunk of cash from her account without her knowing anything about it.

I make sure these companies do not retain my bank card details for this purpose!

Most of the ones I deal with mention you can stop the auto-renewal - but they make it annoying to do so, having to go online and do it, rather than simply accepting the instruction over the phone.

A mate got a good few quid back after not noticing for several years he had two insurance policies on the same car, due to one he thought was cancelled keeping on auto-renewing. I did extract the michael, as he is Yorkshire born and bred with an excellent reputation until then of having extremely short arms and very deep pockets.

 

[Morrisman]

I wonder why they have 'divorced' as a status option. Single should be the only option if you're not married

Most of the ones I deal with mention you can stop the auto-renewal - but they make it annoying to do so, having to go online and do it, rather than simply accepting the instruction over the phone.

A mate got a good few quid back after not noticing for several years he had two insurance policies on the same car, due to one he thought was cancelled keeping on auto-renewing. I did extract the michael, as he is Yorkshire born and bred with an excellent reputation until then of having extremely short arms and very deep pockets.

My nephew got in the cacky poo after the auto-renew he had set up didn't actually auto renew. Unfortunately he got pulled over by the cops just one day after it expired. He had no comeback on the insurance company, they said it was his responsibility to check, as did the cops.

 

[TEO]

Fair enough, but they've always done the necessary for me when I've needed them.,

Yep. Me and my partner aren't married and we've each had need to call autoaid (on a shared policy) in the past and it's never been an issue.

Good to have first hand feedback on them, when I looked all I could find were not so trustworthy reviews... I assumed they were paid for

 

[nickk]

Remeber, too, that a lot of insurers like to keep your banking details on file so that they can automatically renew your policy the following year. Obviously makes them loads of dosh from those that don’t investigate the best deals available.

My wife once actually paid for the motor insurance for her son, who was penniless at the time. The following year they took a further (larger) chunk of cash from her account without her knowing anything about it.

I make sure these companies do not retain my bank card details for this purpose!

How do you make sure?

 

[Trevorleach]

Over 30 yrs on the road and I have genuinely used breakdown cover once when a free wheeling hub gave up leaving me with 3 wheel drive, then the stop solenoid packed up, I fixed that with hammer and screwdriver, then dropped a wheel into a pothole and snapped a 1/2 shaft which meant I had 2 wheel drive!
20 of them 30 yrs has been running land rovers, newest one is 16 yrs old.
Look after your cars and they will look after you.

 

[Keithmac]

I make a point of moving insurance companies if I get a significantly cheaper quote.

Original one will normally ring up and offer to beat the new price, my reply is you should have bloody offered that in the first place!.

 

[TEO]

Over 30 yrs on the road and I have genuinely used breakdown cover once when a free wheeling hub gave up leaving me with 3 wheel drive, then the stop solenoid packed up, I fixed that with hammer and screwdriver, then dropped a wheel into a pothole and snapped a 1/2 shaft which meant I had 2 wheel drive!
20 of them 30 yrs has been running land rovers, newest one is 16 yrs old.
Look after your cars and they will look after you.

I've got 312,000 miles on my van, it wouldn't have got there without being looked after but things are still going to break & they might be things that either I or the tech haven't spotted during routine maintenance.
Breakdown cover seems like a sensible option.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

my reply is you should have bloody offered that in the first place!.

Aye, but sadly it doesn't work like that.

 

[Morrisman]

I make a point of moving insurance companies if I get a significantly cheaper quote.

Original one will normally ring up and offer to beat the new price, my reply is you should have bloody offered that in the first place!.

I used Carole Nash bike insurance some 15 years ago, my renewal came through, £180, almost double what I'd paid first time round.

I went on their website and found I could buy it for £83. Called them up to ask why the crazy ripoff price and the girl offered to knock £30 off. I laughed at her, told her why would I pay her £150 when I can get it for £83. She offered another £20 off.

Crazy, the way they used to treat customers back then.

 

[Morrisman]

I've asked on a bike group if people can recommend bike insurance, based on how good the company actually were when you really needed them. Loads of replies, loads of 'they did me a real good deal' and 'gave me a competitive price'.

But when asked if they had ever actually claimed, used the insurance for its real purpose, hardly anybody had. So how they can recommend them is beyond me.

I'm going to try the comparison websites and see who gets good reviews etc. I've never actually claimed for an accident, in 45 years on the road, but had 4 breakdown and recoveries in that time, 1 in a car, 3 on bikes.

I carry a full set of tools on my BM, but the two times it broke down it was beyond tools.

 

[Trevorleach]

I've got 312,000 miles on my van, it wouldn't have got there without being looked after but things are still going to break & they might be things that either I or the tech haven't spotted during routine maintenance.
Breakdown cover seems like a sensible option.

Yes I agree it is sensible, I have always had it, just not for the price the aa and rac want.

It is when I read the small print and it might say max 4 callouts/recoveries a year, and I always think just how unreliable a car do people run?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

So how they can recommend them is beyond me.

Because they only think in terms of ££££ laid out?

 

[ajlelectronics]

But when asked if they had ever actually claimed, used the insurance for its real purpose, hardly anybody had. So how they can recommend them is beyond me.

I have had a substantial claim and two windscreens with RH Insurance. Absolutely no issues and they referred queries "upstairs" to someone sensible, who came back with a sensible response. I don't bother shopping around any more, car or bike. They specialise in classics, but may not be competitive on a modern.
Full European recovery included which I have used once.