Insurance companies are nothing but sharks
03-July-2009
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Insurance companies are nothing but sharks

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Well that’s my opinion anyway! They swarm around you trying to out quote each other when they smell the money, but are nowhere to be seen and don’t want to know when there’s a claim to be settled.

Motor Insurance and Home Insurance

I’m speaking from experience here and mainly about motor insurance although I suspect the story is the same for any type of insurance.

I had my beloved motorcycle stolen from right outside my house last summer in the middle of the night and even although was properly insured, I am still left paying for the bike to this day because the settlement I received did not even come close to covering the value of the bike.

It took around three months to get what money I did out of the company that insured my bike and much of this time was spent with letters going back and forth or on the other end of the phone while some clerk gave me the “but that’s the best we can do” speech! Meanwhile, I had to get around without a bike as I could not afford to go out and buy another one and didn’t want to enter another finance agreement just yet. Apparently I got off lucky though, because claims can take an awful lot longer to process and I’ve heard of people waiting up to six months for their cheque.

I still can’t help feeling that these cowboys care more about extracting money from you than they do about covering your losses, which is after all what we pay them for in the first place. Also, various reasons are given for why the premiums are all going up including increasing statistics for theft and vandalism. The latest one I heard about was these ‘No win No Fee’ companies that fight for compensation on your behalf are forcing some insurance companies to hike their premiums to cover their losses.

Insurance companies and high premiums

More to do with insurance companies

Quote Search
Okay, we've established we actually need insurance compnies regardless of how the treat us. So quit beating your brow and have a look at Quote Search, at the very least there's a comprehensive list of all the major insurance companies in the UK.

The Review Centre - Insurance Companies
Here's a hands on list of user reviews from one of the major review web sites. Would be a good idea to have a look here before signing up with one.



Other Related Gripes

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Cancelling my car insurance
Commercial giants just don't care
Cheap car insurance for female drivers
Cancelling my insurance policy
Van insurance company lied
Motorbike knocked over by car
Stolen motorcycle, one fed up biker
Insurance company nightmare
Motorcycles and the law
Cyclists riding on the pavement
Driving lessons, wrong time and place
Slow drivers are dangerous too
Car damage caused by potholes
Car insurance company useless
Speeding fines, yet another one!
Traffic calming measures
Cyclists jumping traffic lights
Why the car is better than the bus





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Banks, Insurance companies and governments all act together in a global scam to use the people as a source of enormous riches. When these greedy idiots make enormous errors through even greater greed and stupidity, again the people pay to keep them going, while these companies and governments continue to fleece everyone.
Its time the people, ( for after all we all have a greater power than these fools when we ca be bothered ) all joined forces around the world and took back the power and made these crooks follow the proper ethics and codes for the benefit of the very same people that provide them with their ill gotten gains.
Time people all around the world joined forces peacefully, legally and very powerfully and took back what is ours.
Stop the crooks and start organising NOW !
*kfbphoto  22-May-2009 13:04

 
The exact same thing happened to me with my car, although I tried to fight for a higher settlement, it was destroyed whilst stationary by somebody who left his handbrake off by accident. My car was "easily" worth around 1,200 -1,400 GBP and I was only given 580 GBP which I accepted after 14 months. I only accepted it because my dad was diagnosed with myeloma (bone marrow cancer) and I am his carer. So how do we stop it happening? I believe we should expose their names by of course "they" are "protected" - we, however, have to bend over and take it backwards as they are not regulated by anybody and even if they are, they are experts and playing the system. Frankly, insurance companies are basically a syndicated pool of sharks!
*The Goose  02-May-2009 00:09

 
Insurance Companies are small fry compared to this:

Sky charge you £49 for a box and some vouchers to spend in Marks and Spencers and you all think it is wonderful.

Now read the small print

1. You get charged either £30 or £60 connection fee.
2. You pay £678 per year to watch HD Channels
3. You have to pay out for a TV capable of recveiving HD Channels.

Not good when your all being ripped off by the UK Government!

£800 per year to drink water
£1400 per year to your Councils
Subsidising Mr. Fred Goodwins Pension and contributing funds to MPs to do their homes up.
Paying out £888 per month in HP Charges to drive a 4x4 that does 12 miles to a gallon and paying out £2088 in fuel costs over a distance of 20 miles per day for a year.

Getting double glazed windows for £3300 and paying back £8600 ( I saw this on a TV Advert in very small print)

You need to look at all of this as this is why your all in debt.

Welcome to Rip off Britain where the Government walk all over you.

Take care my children
*Bifta  03-Apr-2009 04:07

 
I have suffered a major burglary at my business premises. As the thieves had cut the phone lines and disabled the redvare Royal and Sun alliance are not paying up. Please help with a name of a law firm or advice as I am paying for legal expenses also on my policy.
*Sue from Purley  27-Feb-2009 09:35

 
When you get a quote ask if all the call centres are UK, One it helps to keep jobs in th UK, two you have more chance of understanding the operator, Three The Norwich Union has messed me about for 6 weeks on a patheticly low value claim on a tv worth about £500 even though I have been with them 5 years, paid ridiculous premiums and neverclaimed before, I would never use them again. My best mate had his Top of the range Range Rover with all the gadjets you can think of added stolen. They refused to pay as Range rovers don't get stolen. I think there should be better legistlation governinginsurance companies, they can basicly Steal your money legally without having any intention of settling up.
*Disgruntled  23-Jan-2009 17:05

 
Penalised Pensioner, my house insurance company refered too as for the over 50s RIAS, well maybe but they don't make the rules, my claim for damage caused by a third party insured with ( a well known Super Market Tesco) has resulted in me lossing my No Claims Bonus and excess, for a claim that has been Admit responsablity, either the Under writers Legal and General or the Super Market Insurers have ripped me off.
I pay them for insurance plus Legal protection and still they screw me, beware they make money on your money if you go with them and make a claim, I'm peeved to be polite wouldn't you be, leave well alone their ripping me off
*Oldmick  21-Aug-2008 22:40

 
AXA insurance is the worsre p0ssible insurane .Never take out a policy with them they take almost two years to settle .policy they wont even except receipts or bank statements for substantiation. no response to complaints. and the ctawfords loffadjustrersare a joke one persondeals with the claimeither off sick on holiday or not in. Always promising to ring you back but never does. dont take out AXA insurance quick to take your money do not pay out.
*licia  16-Jul-2008 12:09

 
I worked for them they are a joke! the people that work there are basically mainly over paid women with egos bigger than their ability and student not wanting to stay there.
*MUG  21-Apr-2008 12:14

 
I'm glad to see Ms Sibley respond. I worked for the loss adjusting company who handles Norwich Union claims and they are a nightmare. It was and still is so understaffed. I never had time for my work because it was just phonecall after phonecall of angry customers. It's hard to explain to people that you haven't done the work on their claim because you're too busy answering complaints. Norwich Union did act like they cared when a customer complained to them but their choice in loss adjustors leaves much to be desired, at least as of September, 2007. Any time they took a claim off my hands was a blessing for the customer and for me.

I can also see both sides of the issues. Insurance companies make mistakes, but customers also have to shoulder some of the blame. I am sorry to hear about your bike. Did you read the policy to understand what you purchased? In general, people don't want to pay the higher premiums that will fund a fully functioning claims department. You need to review your insurance needs every year. Change brokers if they can't give you good advice. Don't give up on your claim if you know it's genuine. Contact the financial ombudsman.
*Ms M  04-Mar-2008 21:02

 
I'm glad to see Ms Sibley respond. I worked for the loss adjusting company who handles Norwich Union claims and they are a nightmare. It was and still is so understaffed. I never had time for my work because it was just phonecall after phonecall of angry customers. It's hard to explain to people that you haven't done the work on their claim because you're too busy answering complaints. Norwich Union did act like they cared when a customer complained to them but their choice in loss adjustors leaves much to be desired, at least as of September, 2007. Any time they took a claim off my hands was a blessing for the customer and for me.

I can also see both sides of the issues. Insurance companies make mistakes, but customers also have to shoulder some of the blame. I am sorry to hear about your bike. Did you read the policy to understand what you purchased? In general, people don't want to pay the higher premiums that will fund a fully functioning claims department. You need to review your insurance needs every year. Change brokers if they can't give you good advice. Don't give up on your claim if you know it's genuine. Contact the financial ombudsman.
*Ms M  04-Mar-2008 19:48

 
ILikeToMoan

My name is Becca Sibley and I work for Norwich Union. If you want to email me the details I will investigate. I would need your name and policy number - rebecca.sibley@norwich-union.co.uk.

It is part of my role to see what is happening online and get involved, to try and extend customer service online.
*Becca Sibley  27-Feb-2008 15:39

 
Norwich Union have now emailed me asking why my next door neighbour was not helping out with this case ? Der ! He's passed away.What kind of people work for these organisations ? So I emailed back to let them know the persons name was Cheryl Munday don't think she has a clue even where her Ass may be as she replied near enough telling me she ran the company and not to email her again.That definately is the cold shoulder but not the end,as I will percevere with this bunch of lame ducks if only to annoy.
*ILikeToMoan  10-Feb-2008 22:20


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