Don't ask, don't get

[erastes]

Don't Ask, Don't Get was one of my mother's mottoes, and it's always been one of mine too. It's the basis of my submitting novels to the biggest publishers I can find first and working down and it works on many other levels.

It certainly paid off today!  I'm usually one of those lazy people who let their car/house etc insurances slip by without bothering to see if I could be paying any cheaper but I got my car insurance renewal today it was £290.00.  I got rather annoyed about this, as it's a six year old car which is currently dead.  So I did what I thought I would never do and sought out one of those price comparison websites that are constantly being barraged on the TV - and found quotes hugely cheaper.  (I hate to be one of those person who say "I saved money at confused dot com" but I am)

So I found a quote from Lloyds for £214 - which had everything my policy had (and windscreen, which my policy didn't) PLUS no excess - and signed up for that.  Then I rang the AA and told them I wanted to cancel it.  "Oh, why is that?" the nice man asked.  I asked politely that I'd found a cheaper quote and he asked how much. When I said how much it was (and I was stupid - next time I'm LYING, as it's not like he checked) he said "Well, we could match that if you want?" 

Me: "With legal, windscreen and a courtesy car?"

Him: "Yes."

Me; "It's nice of you, but it's too much faff - I'd have to go back to Lloyds and cancel with them"

Him: "Well, we do want to keep you.  What about if I offered you £210?"

Me: "Hmmm...."

Him:  "Ok, lets make it £199. With all the things you said."

Me: *arm twisted* "Well, all right then." 

*gleeful*  I shall definitely try this tactic again!  So the trick is NOT to actually use the price comparison site to switch insurers, it's to tell your original insurer you are going to leave if you don't get a better deal!  £91!  Result!

Comments

[the-sea-to.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! Good for me to know - I'm doing mine next week after the service/MOT/heart attack!

[kalitakasar.livejournal.com]

Nice!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

We shop around for insurers every renewal time. The 'Im' leaving you' thing doesn't always work but it's worth a go.

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

I've heard the same tactic works with perks and lowering interest rates for credit cards. Good for you!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Credit whats? *laugh* That noxious piece of plastic is never again going to feature in my life. well, not unless I'm super-rich, at least!!

[eledhwenlin]

Yay you! :)

[mzcalypso.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

I did that with a credit card once - got the little "if you use the card again, you agree to this extortionate interest rate," so I called to cancel, and they were soooooo ready to keep the rate what it had been. Greedy bastards.

[probodie.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you posted this. It's almost time for me to sort out my home insurance big con that it is and you reminded me *g*

And well done for getting that off of them *g*

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

Never fails to work for the cable + Internet package =)

[oddnari.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, indeed. When I worked for Norwich Union Direct, they told us that we have to retain disgruntled clients at any cost, if the cost runs up to £30 to £40, and not beyond.

[aunty_marion]

I've just had a look at confused.com, as my insurance is due next week (eep!), and I can get quotes over £200 cheaper than what the AA (!!!) have quoted me. Even their own quote on that page, AND the quote from their recommended insurer, are cheaper than what I've had on paper.

So although their renewal line is charged at 8p a minute, I might try ringing them to see if I can get a reduction.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Certainly worth the "I'M LEAVING YOU" ploy. Worked for me!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

What made me laugh is that they said that they had to issue the premium on paper as being £214 and they would cover the rest of the "loss" themselves.

Yeah, right. Loss. I'm sure.

:)

[aunty_marion]

I may just phone them and say "Did you know that according to the web (mentioning no names!) I can get the same insurance from you for £262.87 instead of £325.91?" and see what they say. Even that much reduction would be good; the lowest quote is in fact £197.87 (so not quite £200 cheaper, actually). They're supposed to search out the best value, and from Zurich who they've quoted me for - I've been with SABRE through them for several years - the quote on confused.com is £291.20. Which is over £30 less just for starters. And more excess allowed on both of them too! I have to go out this afternoon, but I may be phoning them - despite the 8p/min - tomorrow.

[aunty_marion]

Also, when I tried to renew on the AA's website, I can get as far as putting in the policy number, and then it says 'Service Unavailable'. Hmmm....

[erastes.livejournal.com]

They don't WANT YOU!

:D

It worked!

[aunty_marion]

Hee! I phoned them today and said querulously that I'd been looking at their quote and thought it was a bit high (!) and friends had said I should look online, and mentioned that the online quote from the AA was only just over £260 ... and got passed to someone who looked up details for me, having already taken down that I was now unemployed and not doing as much mileage and the car's value has dropped and it's nearly 16 years old yada yada, and quoted me - get this, with the same company, Zurich!!! - £283.11. !!!!!!!!! Ahem. Not quite as good as your deal, but nearly £43 off is £43 that I can now use *sigh* to put all my possessions in storage while the flat is rewired/reboilered/rekitchened.

Re: It worked!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Heh - good for you! And yes, I think that's the good thing, to use that money for something useful, too.

We could both be stars in the next confused.com's advert!!

*together* You can save money with confused.com!