Tag Archives: morals of insurance companies (not a large subject)

It is done!

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1995 Robin stamp

Everything is done. The solicitor finally found a little urgency and did something quickly. I’m sure the whole thing could have been done weeks ago, but they draw it out to avoid the impression that they are charging a four figure sum for a day’s work. Yet when they come to the shop wanting valuations for probate they never offer to pay.

Once the bed is delivered on Thursday we will have to start staying there regularly to fulfill the needs of the house insurance policy, which I have just paid for.

Again, another chunk of money which is little more than a wager that nothing bad will happen in the next year. Rather like a similar arrangement with a bookmaker or the National Lottery, I find myself paying out in the knowledge that they are getting the best of the deal.  If I suggested putting the money on Red at a roulette table, Julia would go mad, but pour it down the drain betting that your roof won’t be blown off (which has never (famous last words) happened in the last thirty five years)  and she’s quite happy. When you look at the excess for accidental damage we really don’t have much that would cost more than £350 to replace, rendering the insurance superfluous. Break the big mirror, drop a camera, smash the TV, pour coffee into the computer – all things they say they cover – and once the £350 excess is taken into consideration you realise none of our stuff cost over £350.

Robin at Clumber, Nottinghamshire

Warning: Rant ahead . . .

Same with legal insurance. They tell you that to bring it into play you must have a 50% chance of success.  Well, if you are going to let the insurance company decide that (and they will always select the route with least risk to their wallet) you may as well not bother. I wanted to use the legal expenses cover on my car insurance once, when a long-drawn out accident repair left me thousands out of pocket for car hire. First of all they told me that the other driver had been polite and cooperative so they didn’t want to upset him, then they told me he wasn’t insured for it and they only took action against people when they could get the money off an insurance company. So all those £29.99 payments I’d made each year came to nothing and I ended up out of pocket and feeling cheated by my insurance company. That, of course, is a feeling that has been repeated several times over the years.

Some companies, it seems, have devices on the phone lines to detect stress patterns in phone calls so they can accuse their customers of lying. It would be more to the point if they used lie detection techniques on their sales staff.

Robin at Rufford Abbey

I had someone from the electrical retailer on the phone last night ringing about the microwave order. It turned out to be about selling me an insurance policy. I cut her short. Didn’t want to appear rude, I said, but I once had a policy with them when Number One Son went to University. We bought him a lap top and took out the insurance policy. He, of course, dropped it, broke the lid and damaged the mechanism for switching on and off. So we told him to go to Currys in Leeds and use the policy.

They refused to do anything and told us it was for Nottingham to sort out. We had to drive 70 miles, pick up the computer and bring it home. Two weeks later they told us they had fixed it, which involved nothing more than bodging the broken lid to make it turn on. It was still broken, still not functioning 100% but was, according to their version of the insurance policy, fixed.

Robin, Arnot Hill Park

That’s why I always hate dealing with them, and why I never take out an insurance policy these days. I also always take the opportunity to mention the word “liar” when turning down their offers of insurance,

It’s better if I go now, before I get into my stride and do another thousand words on insurance companies . . .

Robin in the Garden Centre cafe

I thought it was time for Robins to make an appearance. It’s Christmas soon.

Insurance Renewal Blues . . .

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Bean Soup with tortilla chip bits – my doomed final attempt at being sophisticated

I opened an email from the company that arranges my house insurance today. It’s been lurking in my inbox for a while and I’ve been putting it off. Bearing in mind how my car insurance shot up, I was not looking forward to this. It has gone up by 50%. At least, unlike my car insurer, they spared me the excuses, though they did say that although I had been with them for  while I may be able to get a better deal elsewhere. They are right. I can get insurance cover for about half what I was paying last year. Business is business and I don’t take offence at being asked for an inflted price. That, after all, is the basis of the business I am in. We name a price, the customer names a ridiculously low offer, and so it goes on . . .

However, our prices are based on judgement and we would not ask more than something was really worth. With insurance it’s less clear cut. Despite recent changes in the law, it still seems like companies keep boosting your premium to see what they can get away with. It’s not a pleasant feeling.

My soup flask – itb holds nearly two mugs.

I’m currently with a broker called Swinton. They are a national company that took over the local broker that used to do my insurance.  Their prices for house insurance and business insurance were always OK. When I tried them with my car a few years ago they were great for a year and then it went badly wrong with a quote that seemed wildly out of proportion. I changed provider and even after the latest rise in prices I am paying considerably less than that Swinton quote. I was tempted to move all the business but the household price stayed reasonable.

The new price was a shock, though not a surprise, and I just had a look round. I can do a lot better.

The top of my soup flask – a folding spoon sits in a recess in the lid. I never use it, but I like gadgets.

Of course, there is always an element of fear in swapping insurers, but sometimes you have to move. I can take out insurance with a company that will charge me a lot less than the current quote. I can’t, however, guarantee that they will be any good if the house falls down. On the other hand, having never made a claim, I can’t guarantee you that any of the previous insurers would have been any good either.

I am with a reputable car insurer, and have no worries there. I am with a reputable breakdown service, though I always feel the service may be less good than the AA. So far it’s been OK, but you never know . . .

Nettle soup with a very poor attempt at a swirl of cream

Now I’m changing house insurance. I have been with many people before, as Swinton is only a broker, so it’s not as if I really had a relationship with any insurer. At least by going directly I can select an insurer with a name that I recognise. It’s just a fear of change, rather than a logical fear, but it all adds up. That’s why I’m reading a book about being happy. So far, it’s not really working.

I think it’s broccoli soup. But it might be a failed experiment in producing life from primeval slime. I’m ambivalent about broccoli at the best of times, so it may even be a bit of both . . .

Today’s pictures are soup. Nothing like winter to make soup look attractive. Even broccoli soup.

Insurance, Injections and Irises

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Arkwright the Tortoise

Part Two of Today’s Posts. Part One is here.

I know car insurance has been going up because it’s been in the news a lot. I suspect it’s been in the news a lot because insurance companies have been drip-feeding us information to make us get used to the idea of a big price rise.

I’ve even had a note from my company to tell me the price rises are for reasons like the cost of complicated repairs, the cost of mechanic’s wages and various other factors that I translated to “blah blah, blah”. That’s even before you look at things like the greed and mendacity of insurance companies.

It’s gone up by about 40%.  Just at the moment, I can’t be bothered to get a new quote so, despite a good driving record and lack of claims I will just brace myself and take what the insurance company dishes out. It’s still, actually less than I was paying when I started to shop around five years ago. At that time my insurance company (Churchill) was treating me like a prize specimen that they had fattened up for the slaughter. I went with Swinton, who used to cover my business and household insurance and they cut the price considerably.  After the first year they  presented me with a massive price hike so I left and went to another company. As I say, they are still charging less than Churchill.

Yellow Flag

And that is another insight for the mythical student doing his/her future PhD on the lives of unfamous 21st Century poets.

I’ve had a text from the surgery asking for feedback on my visit today. I’ve also had several texts this week telling me to book in for this and that test. What with my normal blood tests, my quarterly blood tests,  three vaccinations, my regular rheumatology appointments, the X-Ray and the Urology referral, I really don’t have time to go to work. Unfortunately, despite regular stories in the press about high levels of benefit and the ease of benefit fraud, I don’t seem to be able to access all this cash and am actually better off working. This is, of course, supposed to be the case, as the benefit system is supposed to prevent starvation rather than provide an alternative to work. Next year, when I draw my pension, I will have plenty of time and will be able to devote myself to being a full time patient.

Meanwhile, I have a sore spot on the arm which had the flu vaccine and no reaction on the shingles arm. Sometimes I really am disappointed in the lack of drama that attends all this vaccination. I will be having a booster in two months, we will have to see what happens then.

Damsel Fly – Wilford

Photos are from May 2020 – our lockdown holiday, and include Arkwright the rambling tortoise. Julia saw him last summer but he is now presumably in a box, dreaming of next summer. It’s an interesting way of ensuring eternal sunlight – I may give it a try when I retire.