Insurance (uk)

[Rambo]

Scotland is different, as in so many other ways

Things are always different under a dictatorship

[dapinky]

Scotland is different, as in so many other ways

Things are always different under a dictatorship

I agree with that sentiment, but at least (for now) we still have the same laws as England. (except they seem to change the ones that they can, just for the hell of 'being different'.)

[Rambo]

Dave - we have a different legal system in Scotland compared to England. For one, the drink driving law is different

In England it is 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, or 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine

In Scotland it is 50 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, or 67 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine

ie approx half (actually 5/8ths the limit in England if you were being pedantic Officer )

We also have different laws re. the purchase of booze ie you can't buy alcohol before 10am or after 10 pm which actually make it quite difficult for anyone working night shift or back shift. You'd think Herr Sturgeon had something against drinkers or anyone having a good time

I know it's a bit but I have tried to keep it car/drive related

PS and as for the CV-19 laws...... don't get me started. Even the Polis don't know

[dapinky]

Mark,

I don't think Scottish Laws are all the fault of Ms Sturgeon.... they have always been different (but I don't know if she was "in power" when the alcohol limits were changed a few years ago.)
When I was working, I had to go up to Scottishland a couple of times, and was always surprised by how efficient their legal system is (or appeared to be!). The big 'plus' is that PACE was never adopted, but the big 'minus' was that everything needed corroboration - even the most simple of procedures needed 2 coppers to attend and witness the event (whatever it was).

Still, we are now waaaaay

[muley]

Back on topic. Just had an online quote from Classicline :

GBP184. 5,000 miles / garaged / extra named driver / GBP 250 excess.

Not sure if this includes salvage option. Their off the bat valuation was pretty good

[lotusles]

Thanks, Les, that’s interesting

Your speeding analogy isn’t quite accurate, however. It may be that you’re offered a fixed penalty, in which case - as you say - it will be 3 points and £100. If you don’t fit the criteria for a fixed penalty - and that IS down to the local force (so Thames Valley for you and Wiltshire or Gloucestershire for me), you’ll go to court. And all magistrates (should) work to the same set of sentencing guidelines for speeding, reproduced here and in the public domain. It shouldn’t make any difference whether your court case is in Cornwall or Northumberland. NB: Scotland is different, as in so many other ways

And that's what I used to predict that i would get 3 points and a £100 fine and that's why I pleased guilty. I had no idea they intended to prosecute and a court case that i was not allowed to attend because of my initial guilty plea. My brother on benefits would have got off quite easily I guess, But alas 84 on a motorway in Avon with 6 points and a a £700 fine suggests they need the spondoolly.

And that is it my point, inconsistency with Police forces and inconsistency with insurers.

[Saltire]

Hi Les

I obviously don’t know the precise circumstance of your case, (or indeed your income). However, putting 2 and 2 together and making 39, I’d be very surprised if that was the penalty for 84 in a 70 limit. It would make more sense if you were in a roadworks section that was limited to 50mph at the time.

I’m also puzzled by the statement that you weren’t allowed to attend court, although, as I say, it’s difficult to comment further without knowing the precise details (and probably best not to do so on a public forum).

[scotlan]

Back on topic. Just had an online quote from Classicline :

GBP184. 5,000 miles / garaged / extra named driver / GBP 250 excess.

Not sure if this includes salvage option. Their off the bat valuation was pretty good

Muley
I decided to go with Classicline too, similar criteria to yours. but 2,000 miles £152. Dave told me that the policies inc Salvage, breakdown inc Europe and agreed Valuation fee

[lotusles]

Sadly my reply didn't get posted

[Rice crispy]

Renewal with Adrian flux again this year, 4000 miles legal cover, window, recovery included £164 which is £30 less than last year

[lotusles]

You will all be pleased to hear that "dual pricing" is about to come to an end.
This effectively means that moving forward your renewal will be no dearer than a new customer, I just wish that Virgin Media had the same principles

[Simon_P]

I see that it is ending by regulation - Not a principle in sight.
This is an industry where taxation and the law have been subcontracted to a cartel. It needs serious reform - Bring on genuine competition!

[lotusles]

I see that it is ending by regulation - Not a principle in sight.
This is an industry where taxation and the law have been subcontracted to a cartel. It needs serious reform - Bring on genuine competition!

Depends which insurer you are regards principles, some of us have them

[Simon_P]

Nothing personal. I'm sure some individuals have been around long enough to remember the "Union" and the mutual foundation and principles of the British insurance industry, but from a customer perspective it's all about profit and global brand. The few large companies that remain have almost no interest in their customers, and have been treating them as fools for a couple of decades. Our government are complicit; progressively introducing and increasing ipt there is no incentive for any change. It takes regulation to get back to what everyone considers sensible and normal.

[Simon_P]

On that note I have received my renewal - A noticeable change since the previously independent "broker" was bought out by a much larger company.

[dapinky]

I've just had the renewal come through for the daily driver (VW Caravelle).... what a palaver that is turning into!

For the last 3 years, the renewal has been roughly the same price as the lowest comparable policy on the "Meerkat" site, and with a £20 online discount, it has been worth staying.....

.... this year it is £40 more than the lowest on the site (so £20 with the online renewal 'discount')..... worth changing (I know it doesn't sound a lot, but to a poor pensioner it makes the difference between eating and heating for the long Winter ahead)...... And at my age, geographical location and use, £40 equates to an extra 25% over the competitor.

So, I try to buy from "Bank of Scotland" (who are actually just selling for Zenith, as they all tend to do) and the website keeps going round in circles and never gets to the 'payment' page.

I give up and go to the next cheapest (an extra 62p!!!), only to find that if I want European cover it will cost me an extra £30, despite it saying on the comparison site that it was included.....

....next.....

Next one only covers £150 for a windscreen..... no good to anyone these days.

And so on down the list......

.... and then I get to Santander - now, as I bank with them, I am aware (from the endless crap they send me, no mater how many times I "unsubscribe") that I can get a 10% discount as a 1-2-3 Account Holder.

So, I decide that with 10% off, it is now going to be the same as the B-o-S quote (or, close enough).....

..... off we go to the Santander link, where I have to start again for a Quote on their system...

(Yep - you all know where this is going, don't you )

First problem, the Index number isn't recognised...... so have to go through endless lists to find the right vehicle (one of the first questions, after the year of birth of the car, is 'engine size'.... how the F*** is 'Joe Average' meant to know if it is 2459cc, 2460cc or 2461cc???? I just know it's a 2.5 oil burner!

But we get there in the end, and they are pleased to quote me £155 plus change..... WTF - it is only £149 from those bloody Meerkats...... still, with my 10% it's going to be cheaper... and not much more than the "Best" price if £138 which it won't actually let me pay for.......

So, I fill in the rest of the crap required, and then we get to the "Optional Extras" page - you know, the crap where they actually make some money, 'cos from a basic policy for someone like me, there isn't a lot of profit in it for them.....

.....I don't want RAC (I have it already from an old work insurance policy which I retain) ("Are you sure, it is worthwhile.... blah....blah....blah" comes as a pop-up.)

.... I don't want Legal Protection.... "Are you sure? etc etc"

.... I don't want to pay an increased voluntary excess.... or insure the excess against loss....

...I don't want extra key cover for my house keys....

..... I don't want a 'like for like' replacement car....

....I don't want to cover next doors cat for Vets fees.....

...I don't want to make a charitable donation to the CEO's golf club....

BUT

I do want to protect my NCD - having not made a claim in 40 odd years, I like the discount (which is another thing.... don't get me started on why do I only get credit for 9 years NCD, and if I make a claim I loose 5 years worth of discount.......... )

Oh, hang on, that'll be another £9-something then. sir... cash or cheque?

...but it was included in the quote from Aleksandr and Sergei..... from the same bloody company..... AND they found my car by registration number.... and I can get 2 overpriced pizzas for the price of one for a whole year (if I drive 50 miles to buy it on the third Tuesday of the month).....

So, that screen gets shut down......

..... but, oh no - it isn't over....

..... i then get an email "Something went wrong with your Insurance Quote, would you like to start again?" - F*** Off!...

And I expect to get the same for the next month.

So, Santander are offering a discount which makes it more expensive, Bank of Scotland (website) don't really want my custom, Swintons won't cover my windscreen or let me drive abroad....

AND

It still isn't done, so I think I'll just stick with General Accident and get my "Loyalty Discount"...

.... BASTARDS!....

[Steve A]

Yeah that all rings a few bells with me
First the comparison site(s) give you the list of quotes with what you get for your money,(oh this is so straight forward), BUT when you pick "the one that ticks the boxes for you"
you find actually its far from what is promised, and by this point your now on the web site and have filled in multiple yes/no pages
Windscreen cover is a must nowadays (just had one done, cost me £75 through my insurance and I had to wait 10 days for the privilege, lucky I had another car ).
I would also go for legal cover because they tend to drop you like a stone in anything like a 50/50.
Find a cheap quote on the comparison site then phone (if you can find a number ) your existing company and ask them to match it, they might not but they might get close.

[dapinky]

Steve,

I completely agree that Legal Protection is worthwhile, and may have given the impression that I don't want/need it (which, hopefully, I don't!)......

... what is unnecessary is multiple policies which give the same cover - as I have 3 (or sometimes 4) separate vehicles to cover, I don't want to be paying for 4 extra bits of cover, when 1 will do the same job - I have it as part of the same Group Insurance policy which covers my breakdowns, gadget repair, home emergency, travel, life cover, illness cover and many other 'bits and pieces' which I hope to never need.

[Saltire]

I have it as part of the same Group Insurance policy which covers my breakdowns, gadget repair, home emergency, travel, life cover, illness cover and many other 'bits and pieces' which I hope to never need.

That sounds worthwhile, Dave; is it part of your home or contents policy then?
[Apologies for straying slightly ]

[dapinky]

I have it as part of the same Group Insurance policy which covers my breakdowns, gadget repair, home emergency, travel, life cover, illness cover and many other 'bits and pieces' which I hope to never need.

That sounds worthwhile, Dave; is it part of your home or contents policy then?
[Apologies for straying slightly ]

No, it was a scheme through the Police Federation which I could continue after retirement... life cover reduces at that point, and again when (if?) I reach 69... but other benefits remain the same. It costs about the same as a good annual travel policy, so I 'save' the cost of RAC membership, get 'free' life cover, and then the other stuff as well..... and it only costs an extra £3 a month to cover Angie as well (she was free when I was working, as were the kids until they left home - or reached 21 years of age).