Lesley Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Last year circumstances meant that I didn't have time to check out car insurance quotes through comparison sites before my renewal date and as it was not too much higher than the previous year (when I'd used Saga's price guarantee to bring the cost right down) I continued with Saga but dropped the Legal Protection to keep the monthly premiums down. This year I was ready......... I checked a few inurers which waren't on comparison sites, checked comparison sites and then .......compared comparison sites... I didn't choose the cheapest but chose Liverpool Victoria for the cover they offered. When my Saga renewal came through early October they included their Price Match Guarantee again so I sent them the LV quote....... Saga emailed me saying that they'd price matched it and gave me a total payment showing £1 less than LV. Saga did say that they don't price match the cost of credit for monthly payments......that was £5 more than LV but I stayed with Saga and waited for the paperwork. When that arrived I noticed that they hadn't matched like for like as I'd included Legal Protection in the LV quote and Saga hadn't included it, the excesses weren't the same and they also hadn't sent the Credit Agreement showing monthy payments.....blah, blah....I phoned, someone was supposed to call......blah blah Everything takes 3-4 days for a reply.The first payment went from my bank account and I still hadn't heard so I emailed....again Yesterday, I had this reply........ Dear Mrs xxxxxx, Thank you for your recent contact with our office regarding your Saga Motor Insurance, policy number xxxxxxx I am writing to confirm that when a price match is offered we will only match the price from the alternative company, not the cover they offer. If you wish to change your cover this will be at an additional premium. My reply....... But surely a price match has to be on a like for like basis or it is meaningless? I submitted the quote from Liverpool Victoria clearly showing the cover that was offered. If you then price match but don’t cover the same package then that is not a guaranteed price match? If I had removed the Legal Protection cover from the LV quote then it would have been even cheaper....and you had sent me a leaflet offering guaranteed price match. I have always taken Legal Protection until last year when your premium was on the high side but because I had spent a lot of time in hospital with my grand-daughter I didn’t have time to use comparison sites and the only way I could afford the cover was to reduce it by removing certain parts. I will not be paying extra to cover Legal Protection – it should have been included in the price match. Regards....... Maybe Saga think that as their customers are all over 50 then we're all senile and won't bother to check?? Perhaps I should have pointed out to them that I had included the Legal Protection but it was very clear on the LV quote as it showed the basic premium and then boxes with ticks in them for the extras. I passed the details on to Watchdog Daily but they covered car insurance on Monday so I don't expect to hear from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 14, 2012 Author Share Posted November 14, 2012 Sorry - a bit lengthy....I should have named it 'My Saga saga' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 I am writing to confirm that when a price match is offered we will only match the price from the alternative company, not the cover they offer. If you wish to change your cover this will be at an additional premium. What the ... Not a definition of price match I was previously familiar with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 No it isn't you!!! They are stupid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 14, 2012 Author Share Posted November 14, 2012 I'm so glad it isn't me It gets better......... I've had a reply...... I am writing to confirm that I have amended the discount given for our Saga Price Match Guarantee as the competitors quote did show additional cover that you do not have on your Saga policy. Your renewal premium is now £xxx, this includes the direct debit charge of £xx. I have sent your amended documents via post, please allow three to six working days for delivery. Please note that the excess with Saga of £150 will remain as we do only agree to match the price not the cover given by competitors. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience this matter has caused you. Hmmmmm - they match the price but not the cover.....isn't the price governed by the cover??? - the excess with LV is £100 and Saga is £150......and I still have no Legal Protection They have just sent out what will be the 5th set of paperwork, I shall be solely responsible for the cutting down of a small forest soon Why don't they ask if this is acceptable before sending the paperwork out? Is Legal Protection really worth having? Guess who I'll be insuring with next year? - not Saga!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 You really do have to keep an eagle eye on insurance companies, they change their terms and move the goal posts on a regular basis. They are particularly sneaky with excesses and other extras such as legal protection. I would say that the legal protection is worth having, because if you have a serious accident where a personal injury claim results, then it is good to have paid legal assistance. I tend to have a checklist of what I would like my cover to consist of and then when i get a quote and again when the policy documents come through, I tick off each item. You also have to be careful with home and contents cover because some companies specify particular lock typesand have certain exclusions in the small print. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 I had legal insurance - which was handy as people in this village have a habit of crashing into me when I'm pottering along minding my own business. Basically they couldn't see me on a roundabout. I'm sure that's exactly what the insurance is supposed to do for you though? Maybe it's sorted quicker, but with their little "legal deals" they only ever seem to stick to the guidelines anyway. Perhaps someone could shed more light on that as I'd like to know too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 I'm appalled by that - I expect it is in their small print somewhere but how ridiculous, because price IS largely governed by cover - they might as well say they will 'match' the price but only give third party cover. I think if it were me I'd refer it to the Financial Services Ombudsman - may not get anywhere, but I think the claim is misleading. I never take legal cover. If I had an accident and was injured then I'd probably instruct a solicitor on a conditional fee agreement, and if it involved a claim on the policy and liability was in dispute then the insurers should fund it. That's a personal choice though, for some people it is worth having. The 'extra' I pay for is protected NCB - living near and driving in London, the chances of somebody clipping the car while it's parked let alone while I'm driving make this worth while. It always pays to check, because when you fill in the forms online the 'extras' are often added as a matter of course and if you don't notice them they can make a dramatic difference to the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share Posted November 16, 2012 They really are riduculous comments aren't they!, I think I will pass them on to the ombudsman. I think it was on Money saving expert that I read about Legal Protection not being worth having which was why I asked - I noticed that when you click through from a comparison site that the extras are added but was ready for that. NCD is the only part I'm interested in as well - I've been driving for 40 years without an accident or claim so can't afford to not cover that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 We gave up on Saga a few years ago - went over to LV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 I'll be joining you I found out today that Saga have tried to charge my Dad £142 for contents insurance on a small flat My sister had a look online and a Saga quote was £62....when she spoke to them they asked who had quoted £142....so she told them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
