Insurance companies are nothing but sharks
15-March-2010
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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.



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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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Columbus Travel Insurance; Bought through 'The Trainline' I clicked on the £1 cover when buying my rail ticket before Christmas only to find that when I was unable to catch the train due to the massive cancellation of flights at Gatwick over Christmas they refued to pay out! The company said I was only covered for "extra costs incured to catch my train" NOT missing it due to incoming flight being snowbound and cancelled. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS RESPONSE I was told that as 'this was the worst snow in 50 years' they wouldn't meet claims, I thought that was the point of purchasing insurance.
*Daveyjones  07-Feb-2010 19:21

 
I had a accident and illness policy for sixteen months which I will come back to in a moment.
The company I work for have got what I would call an open ended policy for sick pay, they state in the handbook that it is down to the companies discretion wether they pay sick pay or not.
Based on this I set up the said policy thinking well if I dont recieve sick pay I will be able to pay my outgoings at least.
At the start of January I came of work due to an injury which meant I couldnt do my job,i then rang this company to set up a claim they sent me the paperwork which myself and my doctor completed which by the way cost me £24 this was then returned.
A few days later they replied to say they had written to my doctor and employer for more information so I waited.
About a week later I recieve a letter telling me they had made contact with ny employer who told them I was recieving full company sick pay so therefore I wasnt able to make a claim because I had not had a financial loss, the saying spitting feathers doesnt even come close to my thoughts on this.
I have paid approximately £640 to this company in good faith and not seen a penny in return, I am also angry with the managment at work for not saying anything to me about sick pay after I have seen them about five times over this period of sickness.
As for this company to tell me I have not had a financial loss is an insult,my financial loss is £40 per month = £640 over sixteen months.
They also state it is in the terms and conditions which are as we all know written in some gobbledy gook language which I think is done deliberately to try and confuse us all.
The one thing which they wont do is write to your employer and doctor before you set up the policy, o no this would mean they might loose a pottential customer.
As a previos writer said they are ok while they are taking your money and they are indeed true predators.
Gingertrucker
*Gingertrucker  03-Feb-2010 10:32

 
I've been with my household contents insurer for ten years. I've always paid on time and I've never claimed a penny.
Recently I had cause to make a claim following a spillage on a carpet. The claim was 100% genuine. Firstly I was accused of lying. When I offerred to have the stain inspected independently as proof I was told that would not constitute proof. When they finally agreed to pay they only offerred to replace an area of the carpet "no more than 200mm from the stain in any direction". This would have resulted in a 3' x 3' square of carpet in my lounge that was a different colour to that which was already there (carpets obviously fade after 5 years!). I was gobsmacked! When I said that was impracticle but send me a cheque anyway and I'd get it sorted they refused. I asked why. They responded that they would get the work carried out and pay directly to the carpet fitter. I asked why and they said that they did not believe my claim was genuine and I was just trying to get some money toward replacing my carpet. needless to say, they are no longer my insurer. Tossers!
*Freddie  27-Jan-2010 13:19

 
my car insurance ask me if I had any CCJs,county court judgements when I took the policy out,as for as I was awear I didnt have any,now I am making a claim they are now saying that I have CCJs,so thats why they are not paying me out has any one else had the same problem,it was a water bill wots that got to do with motor policy insurance.any one had problems with nfu paying out,its mad.
*mark  27-Jan-2010 00:46

 
Two years ago I was driving my backhoe ( call it a JCB if you like) to work when I was rearended by a 38 tonne truck . Neither his insurance nor mine have made any sensible offer . I had a brake test done which proved that they wernt working, all that my insurer did was remove my insurance leaving me high and dry . I now can not get insurance , am left with broken equipment and no choice but to operate my buiseness ilegally please dont run ito me.
*PARV  03-Dec-2009 22:09

 
I agree very much with the SKY tv letters, Sky are keen on finding out you are where you are and the then give loads of options only to be passed on to someone else who asks the same questions.. This goes on to the next per person and the next and the next........with all the options. They each in turn say "just a moment" and a SKY moment lasts at least 3 minutes! Always did wonder how long a moment was!
*david  12-Sep-2009 19:26

 
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


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