Bloody Bennetts!

[Nigel Newman]

Had the insurance renewal from them about a month ago - it had gone up by 50%! Stuff that, thinks I, so I go online and get same cover but with breakdown cover too for 90 quid.

Now comes the hard bit - trying to get hold of Bennetts to say I don't want to renew. After 2 weeks of getting no further than engaged or put on hold on their phone number, I decide to write telling them not to renew, sending the letter in the pre paid envelope.

What turns up today? New policy from Bennetts, thanking me for renewing with them!

This time of course, the phone is answered staright away, and on trying to explain to the girl on the other end of the line, all I got was "we ain't got no letter" and that I should have tried harder to get through on the phone! Also it will cost me 20 quid to cancel.

Got her to cancel and told her she can whistle for the 20 quid!

This is not the 1st time I have had this scenario with vehicle insurance either.

Anyone else had the same sort of probs with insurance companies?

 

[faithsdaddy]

They all do this automatic renewal crap. They will literally not allow you to take out the policy unless you accept this. I think they shouldn't be allowed to do it. Also, I ring them with a month to go and ask for the non- renewal request to be put into writing. They never do.

As I understand it, Bennets is the number one bike insurance to avoid, with Carole Nash behind them. Direct Line is a great car one to go with.

 

[Nigel Newman]

With MCE this time - we'll see how it goes with them. Mind you, I've already had them ringing trying to get me to go for all sorts of extras that I didn't know I didn't want!

 

[simmyoto]

I insured with Dial Direct for my Thundercat last year, everything was hunky dory until they got my proof of 3 years no cliams.
They rejected it because it was 2 years and 1 week since I had last had bike insurance, Apparently it's only valid for a maximum of 2 years- they don't actually put this anywhere on the web form or tell you if you tae the insurance over the phone- it's not even in the small print! AsI was one week out, They literally doubled the price then tried to charge me ?60 to cancel the policy even though it was them who were actually cancelling it because the underwriter the original was unwilling to insure someone with no no claims! They sent me letters from debt collectors when I refused to pay the ?60, in the end I got a solicitor friend to knock me up a quick letter telling them to get on their bike and warning that i would sue for harassment if the continued- Strangely I havent heard anything since.

 

[fivetide]

Simmy that's actually pretty standard for the insurance industry. Well done on not putting up with it. I take it you found someone who was happy to accept your proof?

5t.

 

[simmyoto]

Nope but I got a quote that was only ?15 more than what I was paying with dial direct from MCE. went witht them in the end and am still with them now for the Blackbird

 

[fivetide]

Top stuff. Its a common issue for people who have company cars for a bit. they find their no claims has expired so you have to shop around for someone who will accept that while you have been driving for a long time.

Not quite the same as few peeps have company bikes but i'd have hoped the haggle was on!

5t.

 

[jono49]

Insurance

My third year with "Footman James" £119.00 Fully comp, UK, Euro, Breakdown cover with 4 lifes for punctures/recovery!........I Use the go compare sites for the cheapest price with equal cover, and they match it. @tu*

 

[jono49]

I insured with Dial Direct for my Thundercat last year, everything was hunky dory until they got my proof of 3 years no cliams.
They rejected it because it was 2 years and 1 week since I had last had bike insurance, Apparently it's only valid for a maximum of 2 years- they don't actually put this anywhere on the web form or tell you if you tae the insurance over the phone- it's not even in the small print! AsI was one week out, They literally doubled the price then tried to charge me ?60 to cancel the policy even though it was them who were actually cancelling it because the underwriter the original was unwilling to insure someone with no no claims! They sent me letters from debt collectors when I refused to pay the ?60, in the end I got a solicitor friend to knock me up a quick letter telling them to get on their bike and warning that i would sue for harassment if the continued- Strangely I havent heard anything since.

I'ts got to the stage where you need the mindset of a Philadelphia lawyer just to fill in an Insurance renewal..............:bang:

 

[Pugwash]

Bennetts are the jokers who I was insured with when I went from the CBR6 to the Bird. They couldn't transfer the policy, so I had to take a new one and cancel the old one. A few weeks later they wrote to me to say that if I failed to give them written proof of my NCB on the old one, the new policy would be void!

I referred them to themselves. Even gave them their own phone number.

 

[Oldbull]

I followed Jono's lead from another thread about Footman James.. Cheers mate @tu*

TPFF full uk and European breakdown, full European cover, Emergency medical cover in europe and uk and a few other bits and babs, ?112, never thought to ask about fully comp as I was well happy with what I got, especially with the medical cover which I used to take out seperatley


first time ever I I had no claims proof sent to me in writing .. from ebike

When they auto renew unless you tell them otherwise, have they kept your card details from previous and deducted the money or just bill you..

next thing you know you will be getting six tellys, 3 cars, 14 pairs of shoes delivered
because you didnt contact them to say you dont want any FFS :bang::bang:

 

[Jono]

Just renewed on a multi bike policy, Blackbird and a Pan, 170pounds with devitts.
Fully Comp, prot NCB, legal cover and european breakdown.d34l

 

[luftjg52]

INSURANCE NOW A F*****G FARCE

Had the insurance renewal from them about a month ago - it had gone up by 50%! Stuff that, thinks I, so I go online and get same cover but with breakdown cover too for 90 quid.

Now comes the hard bit - trying to get hold of Bennetts to say I don't want to renew. After 2 weeks of getting no further than engaged or put on hold on their phone number, I decide to write telling them not to renew, sending the letter in the pre paid envelope.

What turns up today? New policy from Bennetts, thanking me for renewing with them!

This time of course, the phone is answered staright away, and on trying to explain to the girl on the other end of the line, all I got was "we ain't got no letter" and that I should have tried harder to get through on the phone! Also it will cost me 20 quid to cancel.

Got her to cancel and told her she can whistle for the 20 quid!

This is not the 1st time I have had this scenario with vehicle insurance either.

Anyone else had the same sort of probs with insurance companies?

If you think thats bad a lot of insurance co. actualy charge to end a policy early even though theyve had there full years premium and you are no longer a risk for them!
However that is nothing compared to what i experienced today. I have two limited edition RS CBR 600FWs which i have had laid up over winter, i phoned my broker today to arrange insurance and put them on my Blackbird policy as i did last year. When i was asked what makes them a "special edition" i explained that they had high performance race kits fitted and race tuned engines from new. I was asked exactly what was done to upgrade the engine internals. When i replied that i did not know i was told that i could not get insured unless i could find out and also get proof of the difference in power between them and a standard CBR600!! I would need to do this for both bikes as they might not be producing the same power!! When i stated that none of this was required on last years policy i was told that this is now a new requirement by insurance co. and that even fitting a hugger needs to be stated on your proposal form or else your insurance will become null and void if a claim is made!! Does this mean i have to inform them if i run my tyres + or - a few psi other than what is recomended!! So if you lie your not covered and if your honest they wont insure you. Motor insurance has now becoming a f*****g farce, i can hoon around on the Blackbird 1100 and thats ok because its standard but im obviously too much of a risk on a tuned 600!! I can understand now why people drive/ride without insurance if this is how they treat their customers. I HOPE ALL THE MORONS WHO DREAM UP THESE CONS DIE A SLOW AND PAINFULL F*****G DEATH, not that im bitter in any way:bang:

 

[foot_loose]

What level of excess do you guys have on your policies? I remember when the excess was about ?100. Now many of them seem to be ?450 or ?500 plus any voluntary excess you may opt for. Anybody managed to find a reasonable premium and a low excess?

 

[Crazy Train]

Why is there no mention of HONDA insurance?? I have nothing but good things to say about them, fantastic renewal prices, great customer service, and i've been with them for years, and will continue to do so.

I have never had to 'hold the line', and they are very helpful, I recommended them to my brother, who was looking for the cheapest quote, which they gave him.

I probably sound like an advert, but they really have been very good.@tu*

 

[mickh32]

Had exactly the same problem as Nigel but with thieving fucking Swintons. I was on auto renew which was unknown to me until the renewal came through. I left it late before I got a better quote but due to time restrictions I didnt cancel quick enough. When the policy was three days old I got through on the phone within three minutes. Cost of policy ?117, to cancel, ?75. Never again, bastards.

 

[derek kelly]

I insured my bird using Honda as Brokers & I paid by direct debit, when I sold the bird I contacted Honda & they told me I'd have to contact the insurers direct, I tried ringing but all I got was a pre-recorded message & was left on hold for quarter of an hour so I wrote to them, no reply so I wrote again, three months later & they were still taking my direct debits so I went into the bank & cancelled them.
After two months I received a letter telling me I owed the missed payments + ?80 admin fee, I wrote back to them explaining that I'd cancelled my policy.
A month later I received a phone call telling me they were handing over to a debt recovery agency I explained everything that had gone on but they weren't interested. after the call I dialled 1471 & it was the same number that had kept me on hold.
six months later I received a letter from a company in Edingburgh giving me ten days to settle the bill or they would take me to court I told them to bring it on.
They pestered me with letters & phone calls for a couple of weeks so I told them to either start court proceedings or to leave me alone or I would sue them for harrassment.
I have heard nothing since.
If you go through Honda insurance & they get you a quote from "MCI" steer clear regardless of how cheap the quote is.