Unsecure chicken perches

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I was very surprised to get an email from Co-op Young Driver Insurance today saying "sorry you're leaving us". I wasn't aware I had left them as I've just had their smartbox fitted in our new car and told them I would be renewing .

 

Apparently, unlike every other insurer I've ever been with, you have to phone and confirm renewal . The sentence which tells you that is buried in the 2nd last paragraph of a 2 page letter - which starts with "here's your renewal price for next year" . Because it's lapsed (and hence OH was driving an uninsured car , thankfully he came home safely), I had to reapply online but the quote was over double the written quotation they sent me . They can't understand why and have to speak to the underwriters tomorrow to find out why . So we're still uninsured. OH is off to the Lakes tomorrow (and has to take me to work first) so I've had to buy temporary one day cover (only £22 thankfully).

 

Moral of this story - don't assume your insurance renews automatically.

Edited October 22, 2012 by Guest

[Charlottechicken]

Crikey! That's unusual, and probaly the last thing you need at the moment too.

 

Thanks for the reminder though, my insurance is up on the 8th, so I've just checked the letter and yes, it renews automatically unless I phone to cancel.

 

Hope you get it sorted at the original offered price too.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Apparently they can't quote any less than £1,100 even though they quoted £452 two days ago .

 

I tried getting a new quote online but they won't quote for my 2 boys because it's a new car. Even though the £452 quote was for the new car and included the boys . Err, "Young Driver" Insurance? Clue's in the name?

 

So I'm going to have to take out a new policy just for OH and me (for £350) and hope that I can add the boys in the future without too much of an increase in the premium.

 

If I hadn't just spent £125 getting a new smartbox put into the new car, I'd be going elsewhere .

[Purplemaniacs]

On no that is awful.

 

I had a nightmare trying to change my insurance when I changed my car, but nothing compared to the problems you are having.

 

I hope you get it sorted and the boys added on soon without having to pay a fortune!

 

Chrissie

[Alis girls]

They are extracting the urine here - I would tell them impolitley where to go and go elsewhere. Do these people think we have time to read their numerous letters - I counted 6 sheets of A4 paper when ours arrived. Good luck

[LolaLayla]

That is awful How can they do that It seems so unfair. I hope you can get a better deal somewhere.

[WitchHazel]

I would raise an official complaint.

If they dont handle that successfully, contact Questions of Cash at the Sunday Times, or Watchdog, or BBC Radio 4's You and Yours. And finally, the INsurance Ombudsman (but you shoudl complain officially to the insurer first).

 

 

Many people have complained about auto renewal, which is why some companies have stopped using it. However, your situation shows the reverse of the problem. It should have been made cler, in BIG LETTERS IN A SEPARATE PARAGRAPH that YOUR INSUARNCE WILL NOT BE AUTOMATUCALLY RENEWED. YOU MUST PHONE TO RENEW.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

It just gets better and better .

 

I've had to accept the policy for me and OH (no choice, I've already paid nearly £50 for 2 single days' cover and we need the car, we only have one). The very helpful chap sympathised and agreed it was ridiculous and even tried to add the boys again for me. It still refused to quote and he then found out that I can't even add the boys in the future because it's a new car and has "turbo" in its description . Why the heck is it called Young Driver Insurance then ? He is going to pass my details on and someone should phone me back. Not happened yet .

 

To cap it all, whenever I give them my policy number, they say "oh but that's a Co-op Eco policy, I'll have to transfer you to someone else". I don't even know what that is, none of my paperwork says "Eco" on it and I certainly never took out an "Eco" policy.

 

I'm halfway through my letter of complaint and will be looking elsewhere very soon unless they fix this .

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've spent what seems like hours on the phone trying to get some resolution from the Co-op. No joy - basically "computer says no" . Not even had acknowledgement of my letter.

 

Decided to ditch the Co-op once and for all so tried an online quote from Direct Line (who we used to be with). Only put YS on (as he is more likely to drive our car) and the premium was only £530 . I snapped it up . Not sure why it's so cheap, I'm sure I got a quote when the boys started driving and it was astronomical .

 

I'll also be taking out their Green Flag breakdown cover at £48 - compared with our AA renewal quote of £170 .

[Lavenders_Blue]

Glad you got it all sorted in the end ANH, although it seems to have been an unnecessarily difficult process!

 

I'll also be taking out their Green Flag breakdown cover at £48 - compared with our AA renewal quote of £170 .

 

I did the same when I renewed my car insurance this year. My RAC renewal would have cost £90, the equivalent cover with Green Flag was £30 (ish). No brainer really!

[WitchHazel]

Glad you got it sorted in the end, but shame on the CoOp for not sorting it out with/for you.