3 penalty points = ** HUGE** insurance hike.

Galaxy66

Galaxy66

Jeremy Beadle
Suspended / Banned
Messages
9,190
Name
My name is Mal not Jeremy :)
Edit My Images
Yes
Mrs G who usually never speeds, got caught by a camera van on the outskirts of a village past any houses but within the 30mph zone, she was not speeding through the village, she elected for the fixed penalty of £60 and 3 points on her license, her first and only in 28years of driving.

She has just informed her insurance company of the situation and is shocked to be asked for an immediate pro rata payment of £51.80 for the remaining term of her insurance which expires on the 6th June, this will equate to an increase of little short of a 100% next time she renews!!.I was under the impression from what I had read in the past that most insurance companies do not take into account 3 points, am I wrong?.

We have two cars plus our buildings and contents with the same company and when my wife said it seemed a bit steep and will be looking to move all our insurance in future if the increase is anything like that he simply said "fair enough just let us know"!!.

Fair enough she was caught doing over the limit but this penalty on top of the £60 has left us in shock:eek:
 
Last edited:
Time to change insurance :eek:

I was under the impression that *most* insurance companies allowed two fixed penalty speeding offences before they started charging.




* I assume that Mrs G isn't a 17 year old learner ;)_
 
It does seem a bit harsh, may be worth checking with someone else that its correct just in case it was a bored employee who just quoted without fully realising that it was her first ofence.

mrgubby said:
* I assume that Mrs G isn't a 17 year old learner ;)_
Click to expand...

I would hope not if she has been driving for 28 years :lol: :lol:
 
I had no increase last year for my first 3 pts in years.

When it comes to renewal time, check the alternatives more thoroughly than you would normally.
 
susie said:
It does seem a bit harsh, may be worth checking with someone else that its correct just in case it was a bored employee who just quoted without fully realising that it was her first ofence.
Click to expand...

She explained it was her first in 28 years, they have our card details and the payment was made on the phone immediately from the time of the offence.
 
2blue4u said:
I had no increase last year for my first 3 pts in years.

When it comes to renewal time, check the alternatives more thoroughly than you would normally.
Click to expand...

We have also been with this same company for at least 10 years possibly more!!.
 
I renewed last week and when questioning the issue of receiving penalty points after renewing, in line with the terms of informing insurers of changes details, I was informed that they would only be reflected within the policy the next time it came to renewal and would not be counted with immediate effect. But to be honest, I really don't like insurance companies and they do seem to make it up as they go along within allot of the call centers I've dealt with!
 
3 points didn't seem to make much difference to my insurance, just shopped around a bit to get the best deal!

Nearly gone now!!! Is it 5 years when they come off your licence?
 
Over 10 years with the same company one claim about 6 years ago to have a wing repaired due to a parking scrape and we have never made a claim on the buildings and contents insurance.

We are not bad drivers or fast drivers, one of us has just been unlucky in getting snapped in a sneaky spot.

It will be the insurance companies loss when we leave them!!.
 
Galaxy66 said:
Over 10 years with the same company one claim about 6 years ago to have a wing repaired due to a parking scrape and we have never made a claim on the buildings and contents insurance.

We are not bad drivers or fast drivers, one of us has just been unlucky in getting snapped in a sneaky spot.

It will be the insurance companies loss when we leave them!!.
Click to expand...

That's the big mistake I'm afraid. It's so easy just to keep renewing insurance without looking around at the competition. And it's the same with House and contents insurance too. DO have a look around at both vehicle and house insurance when they become due next. I literally cut my cost in half a couple of years ago (for exactly the same cover, and with reputable companies). After that I was determined to look every year from now on. I think they just rely on us being a little complacent and just accepting the renewal quote.

cheers
Bill
 
Yep you should look around each year, I've even got a better deal with the same company by not renewing and going back as a new customer:cuckoo:
 
I received 3 points and a £60 fine and called my insurance up, They gigled, noted it down and told me not to be a naughty boy in furture.
No mention of money was involved.

I would change insurance but CLEARLY State to your current insurer the reason why your leaving, Because hiking insurance up for 3 points is silly.
 
foggy4ever said:
Yep you should look around each year, I've even got a better deal with the same company by not renewing and going back as a new customer:cuckoo:
Click to expand...


No way am I :cuckoo: where money is concerned :lol: I shop around for EVERYTHING no matter what the cost, be it pennies or pounds:D

We both drive standard 1.6 Honda Civics and at a reasonable £199 for Mrs G's 6 year old saloon car and £202 for my 8 year old estate car fully comp / protected no claims and legal protection . Each time I rang around for a few quotes or was sent quotes they were always more which is why i have stayed with them, but with the lure of 3 policies to bargain with I am sure I will find a better deal next time.
 
Last edited:
Even if I do stick with the same company I never accept the renewal price! always call them and negotiate a better one! They are usually keen to try and match others to keep the business.
 
Ladybird said:
Even if I do stick with the same company I never accept the renewal price! always call them and negotiate a better one! They are usually keen to try and match others to keep the business.
Click to expand...

Definitely leaving them even if they were to match a quote because the same would happen to me if I were to be snapped by a camera.
 
I work for an insurance company and the majority of our motor products allow for one minor conviction with no increase in premium. As far as I'm aware a conviction received mid term is also not disclosable until the next renewal so I would definately take this further if I were your wife. The situation would be different if it were a major conviction resulting in a ban but even then we will often allow the policy to run till renewal covering for fire & theft only or allow a spouse to become the main user - again there would be no additional premium to do this. We'd then decline it at renewal.

The amount they have quoted seems completely unreasonable to me given that your wife has tried to do the right thing by telling them now. Ask for a manager - or even better an underwriter - and ask them to justify themselves.
 
Last edited:
Three points shouldn't have any effect on your premium, at one point I had 12 (and kept my licence :woot:) and it didn't make any significant difference, except to make me a considerate and careful driver for a wee while :lol:
 
Galaxy66 said:
No way am I :cuckoo: where money is concerned :lol: I shop around for EVERYTHING no matter what the cost, be it pennies or pounds:D

We both drive standard 1.6 Honda Civics and at a reasonable £199 for Mrs G's 6 year old saloon car and £202 for my 8 year old estate car fully comp / protected no claims. Each time I rang around for a few quotes or was sent quotes they were always more which is why i have stayed with them, but with the lure of 3 policies to bargain with I am sure I will find a better deal next time.
Click to expand...


I got 3 points last year, phoned the company and was told it will only come in to effect when I renew.

just incase the :cuckoo: was for the insurance company.:D
 
Could it be that part of the extra charge was an administration fee? I know I had an insurance company in previous years who liked charging £20 for any admin they did (change car, amend cover level, add points etc)
 
susie said:
It does seem a bit harsh, may be worth checking with someone else that its correct just in case it was a bored employee who just quoted without fully realising that it was her first ofence.



I would hope not if she has been driving for 28 years :lol: :lol:
Click to expand...

Daysleeper40 said:
I work for an insurance company and the majority of our motor products allow for one minor conviction with no increase in premium. As far as I'm aware a conviction received mid term is also not disclosable until the next renewal so I would definately take this further if I were your wife. The situation would be different if it were a major conviction resulting in a ban but even then we will often allow the policy to run till renewal covering for fire & theft only or allow a spouse to become the main user - again there would be no additional premium to do this. We'd then decline it at renewal.

The amount they have quoted seems completely unreasonable to me given that your wife has tried to do the right thing by telling them now. Ask for a manager - or even better an underwriter - and ask them to justify themselves.
Click to expand...

Thanks to this forum my wife decided to ring back after reading the thread and as recommended asked to speak to a manager, my wife said she felt it was an unreasonable increase on her premium and should not have been applied immediately. The manager put her on hold for a few minutes then informed her a mistake had been made and it should not have been applied immediately and the charge is to be cancelled, but she did say they will "take it into consideration" at the next renewal.

That said we are still going to look elsewhere as it is likely the £51, which did not include an admin. fee was correct.

A big thanks to all who responded in the thread without which we may have just thought it was the norm. :thankyou::thankyou::thankyou:
 
no problem - glad it's sorted :thumbs:
 
I know it's resolved, but it is unusual for any increase due to 3 points for speeding, especially while your in term still. Apparently, 3 points for running a red light is a different kettle of fish though.
 
Ladybird said:
Nearly gone now!!! Is it 5 years when they come off your licence?
Click to expand...

I thought they were 'spent' after 3, and came off your license after 4 - I think the 5 year thing is how far back the insurance companies look, not the police. :D
 
ChrisMClark said:
I know it's resolved, but it is unusual for any increase due to 3 points for speeding, especially while your in term still. Apparently, 3 points for running a red light is a different kettle of fish though.
Click to expand...

So it seems from the replies Chris, but from the managers response it is looking like there will be an increase on her policy with the present insurer, otherwise where would the figure of £51 have come from, the original person she spoke to asked all the questions relating to the date of the offence and she was asked to read out the coding applied to her license which was SP30.
 
I've just moved to Direct Line from Quinn Direct (who jacked my premium up by over £100 for no reason this year) and they seem pretty good. No cheaper than anyone else, but the legal cover, vandalism cover and uninsured driver cover make up for it!

SP30 is, as we know, 'Exceeding statutory speed limit on public road '

Interestingly, it seems the rozzers have a 'one-for-all' get out code...SP60 which means 'Undefined speed limit offence.' I don't like the sound of that...far too vague.

A full list of offences, their codes and points can be found here.
 
mine went up by £60 for a year when i was 18 and got three points, after that they made no difference

time to shop about and chance policies
 
i crept 5mph over a 30mph limit some years ago. passed a man in a van. i got three prize stars on my licence. and an administration fee to put them there, of £30.
my insurers (on renewal, and i did inform them straight away),also charged me an admin fee of £30. on a £200 policy.
it realy shouldnt make a huge difference.
especialy considering wifeys past record.
pleased you got it sorted.
i'd tell em where to stick it next time round too.
i alwys query my insurance renewalsand shop around too.
i think if you stay with one company all the time, they take the pee.
tell em of a (genuine) lower quote from elsewhere, and they often match it. or atleast bring there quote down.
 
I took great pleasure telling my old insurer to ram it today, trying to charge me £100 more.

Mugs :D
 
Glad its sorted, definitely worth shopping around at renewal time though, the current insurere may come out cheapest but at least you would have checked.
 
susie said:
Glad its sorted, definitely worth shopping around at renewal time though, the current insurere may come out cheapest but at least you would have checked.
Click to expand...

If they do not impose a punitive increase they might still be the cheapest, the legal expenses portion of the premium cost is £24 alone, we have always taken this up since I was hit by an uninsured driver who was subsequently pursued for all my loss.
 
it is interesting that insurers think that speeding increases the risk of accidents - i thought that most accidents occur at less then 30 mph...but maybe the statistics are wrong

driving like a door knob :cuckoo:3" from the car in front (at 20mph) is more likely to cause a crash then the the driver at 34 mph in a 30mph zone in a clear road when will the police/mobile tax collectors learn? :shrug:


has anyone ever seen a poor insurance broker? :lol:
 
I can't understand anybody who wouldn't shop around for insurance at renewal time, in this day & age. I reckon I save at least £50 every year compared to my renewal price, by either switching, or trying to get my current insurers to beat the price. It's certainly worth an hour of internet/phone calls once a year in my opinion! :D
 
whitewash said:
with insurance you get absolutely nothing (apart from a giant shafting!) for loyalty.
Post 13#............ [where money is concerned I shop around for EVERYTHING no matter what the cost, be it pennies or pounds

We both drive standard 1.6 Honda Civics and at a reasonable £199 for Mrs G's 6 year old saloon car and £202 for my 8 year old estate car fully comp / protected no claims and legal protection . Each time I rang around for a few quotes or was sent quotes they were always more which is why i have stayed with them, but with the lure of 3 policies to bargain with I am sure I will find a better deal next time.] (That post was assuming her insurance was going to double) but deduct the £24 cost for legal protection which is an extra, approx. £175 for each of our cars is not exactly a "giant shafting" would you not agree:)


the three points i got for a redlight camera didnt make any difference to my premium
Click to expand...
 
id suggest that £51 just for declaring your points is a giant shafting yes.


ircc my insurance charged me a flat administration fee for ammendments to my policy (as they do i believe if you change your name,address etc) and not a bean (during that insurance term) for the actual penalty points
 
whitewash said:
with insurance you get absolutely nothing (apart from a giant shafting!) for loyalty.


the three points i got for a redlight camera didnt make any difference to my premium
Click to expand...

whitewash said:
id suggest that £51 just for declaring your points is a giant shafting yes.

NO........because they are not charging £51 for declaring the points now.......


ircc my insurance charged me a flat administration fee for ammendments to my policy (as they do i believe if you change your name,address etc) and not a bean (during that insurance term) for the actual penalty points
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
sportysnaps said:
it is interesting that insurers think that speeding increases the risk of accidents - i thought that most accidents occur at less then 30 mph...but maybe the statistics are wrong
Click to expand...

Even if this is true (I have no idea if it is or isn't) there is another way of looking at the speeding issue:

If you are involved in an accident at high speed, the chance of personal injury (or death) to you or the third party is much higher than had the accident occured at a lower speed. It is all about assessing risk of severity vs frequency and severe PI claims can result in the insurance company paying out millions.

I think people forget that insurance companies are businesses too - yes they have to treat their customers fairly (in this instance they obviously were not) but at the same time they have to base their underwriting and rating decisions on something. Whatever you think of speed limits / cameras etc - speed does play a role in the severity of accidents and is obviously something that a motor insurance company is going to take into account if you are found to be a repeat offender.
 
Hows this for an attempted insurance shafting?

Tesco compare: Used them (knowing they added some sort of comission), and got the quotes through. So hows this? Quinn direct (who I'm with until April 4th) quoted me 450 for my renewal and an upgrade to fully comp. Teco's result for Quinn, on identical cover? £1160. Hmmm....all together now! comparetheripoff.com
 
I've found that sometimes (my wife's last renewal as an example) that the quoted renewal price can be higher than that from a compare website! So I'm not sure it's about being a ripoff - but I would love to know how the figures are calculated.
I'm pretty sure that "renewal" and "new policy" quotes are calculated very differently though.

Usually I'll use a "compare" site to get the cheapest few, then go direct to them to skip the extra commission cost for a real comparison.
 
Seriouly switch your insurance I have 6 points and my insurance company couldn't care less :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top