Insurance advice/warnings please

[Guest]

[FONT=arial"]I'd be grateful for any advice that you are prepared to give on the always knotty issue of insurance - that would include "don't touch xxx with a barge pole" experiences as well please since I expect like me a number of people will have had the misfortune of having to endure bureacratic treacle just at the time that you are trying to get a claim sorted out.

I have tended to go through a broker in the past but I'd be interested in eg.'s of direct insurance as well (however when I rang Norwich Union Direct last time they asked me if I would be towing a caravan!).

The car (9974S + X51) is due in March but I'm trying to get my act together well in advance for once. For comparison purposes the driver (me) falls into the "retired and seriously over the hill" category!

 

[Ian Gilmour]

I've just insured with Porsche Insurance through Marsh Private Clients. The policy is actually with Norwich Union. Their premium was the most competitive (£986 for self (50) and wife (47), 10k miles a year, class 1 business use and no loading for a sports exhaust) and they seemed to be very efficient.

No claims experience so far (and hopefully never will have) but I feel reasonably comforatble knowing that the policy is with a reputable company, that if I make a claim I will be able to speak to someone who understands what I'm talking about, not just someone in a call centre, and the Porsche connection should ensure that it gets fixed properly.

 

[snarf]

I tried insuring with NU last year but not via Porsche, I spent ages on the telephone trying with great difficulty to communicate with someone who's first language was definitely not English only to be told that the policy would have to be referred to the underwriters and that someone would be in touch. I'm still waiting. I work on the principle that if it's difficult to buy then expect things to be much worse in the event of a claim so look elsewhere. In the end I insured with RSA via A Plan (01635 874646) who gave me the best quote for two vehicles and a month later for home insurance.

 

[Guest]

I took the same route as Ian Gilmour describes ( and am of a similarish demographic!) - I took delivery of a 997 c2 in August having previously had an M3 insured with Liverpool Victoria but Porsche insurance via Marsh comfortably undercut their premium and was oddly enough less than a quote I recieved directly from Norwich Union notwithstanding that the Porsche Insurance underwriters are Norwich Union. Strange business car insurance.
I know from family member involvement in the past that Marsh did a reasonable job when a claim was required - at that time we had a Saab insurance policy also admimistered by Marsh.
good luck

 

[garyw]

I'm with Porsche Marque in Sutton Coldfield 0121 248 0996
Alway seem to be competitively priced, had a claim with them a few years ago that went very smoothly..
I have found them to actually to be able to understands things from the normal...and be accommodating on such things.

garyw

 

[Guest]

Try A Plan in Beaconsfield

01494 677 776

Ask for Chris Bishop

 

[drummerboytom]

My son was insured with Norwich Union and was involved in a (non-fault) accident back in March 2006.
Norwich Union have made absolutely no progress whatsoever in 9 months in recovering losses from the third party despite the availabilty of a police report and witness statements, resulting in his no-claims discount being withdrawn when renewal was due and loss of his policy excess ( over £1200 ) when they did settle his claim .
At least 20 promises of a return phone call have never been kept .
Four letters allegedley sent by NU to us have never been received .
Three of the above were at our request later supposed to have been faxed and were never received .
Our most recent request for information from NU (written confirmation of their costs) remains unanswered after six weeks .
Every phone call ends up with a different person dealing with his case , most of whom have trouble speaking English , never mind understanding the circumstances of the accident or what is required to progress the matter .
We have given up with NU and appointed a solicitor at our own cost to pursue the third partys' insurers

I would rather give up driving than insure with Norwich Union .

 

[bobfair]

I use A Manning and have always found them very helpful and professional but have not had a claim with them. When I recently switched from a C2S to a Turbo premium only went up £50 which was a bargain. Limited to 7,000 miles, PCGB track days covered

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: drummerboytom

My son was insured with Norwich Union and was involved in a (non-fault) accident back in March 2006.
Norwich Union have made absolutely no progress whatsoever in 9 months in recovering losses from the third party despite the availabilty of a police report and witness statements, resulting in his no-claims discount being withdrawn when renewal was due and loss of his policy excess ( over £1200 ) when they did settle his claim .
At least 20 promises of a return phone call have never been kept .
Four letters allegedley sent by NU to us have never been received .
Three of the above were at our request later supposed to have been faxed and were never received .
Our most recent request for information from NU (written confirmation of their costs) remains unanswered after six weeks .
Every phone call ends up with a different person dealing with his case , most of whom have trouble speaking English , never mind understanding the circumstances of the accident or what is required to progress the matter .
We have given up with NU and appointed a solicitor at our own cost to pursue the third partys' insurers

I would rather give up driving than insure with Norwich Union .

Wow. Really sorry to hear this.

Could I enquire as to whether the NU policy was through Porsche Insurance? I would have thought Porsche Insurance would lose a lot of customers and credibility if NU started playing people about like this.

Personally I will only insure through either A.Manning or Porsche Insurance these days. I hear that Adrian Flux is the one to really avoid.

 

[Guest]

Try the Chubb Masterpiece product. Its pricey. WHAT !!! I hear you gasp but no, wait. Basically they don't quibble on claims and you a) are insured to drive any other car and b) anyone can drive yours (with your permission). Very useful when swapping cars on a whim. I recently had someone knock my car when it was parked and I called the Chubb claims people. Fantastic small team that is set up to take every bit of the agro away from you. Hire car delivered the next day (997 C2S) and since then just sooooooo polite and helpful. I'd heard that this was the point of their product but the process just had to be experienced to be believed. As someone pointed out, if Carlsberg had an insurance company...........

Now, they do tend to market to the high net worth segment and its their view that these people don't mind spending the extra £££ for good coverage (not sure about endorsements for track days) and excellent claims service. My view ? Well I take such a hit on depreciation and running costs every year the marginal saving on insurance (£400) by going to a regular weasel insurance company just isn't worth it. Horses, courses ......

Good luck rob972s

 

[drummerboytom]

Alex ,
Not through Porsche Insurance or any other broker , the policy was taken out direct from NU .

Incidentally , while organising insurance on my wifes car just before Christmas Norwich Union were the cheapest (through several brokers), but i've voted with my wallet and paid more to insure elsewhere .
Somewhere that doesn't operate call centres in India .

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I had a nightmare with NU when I last insured with them.
They stole my car in effect.

6 month battle and took them to the Ombudsman. Found 100% in my favour and fined them.

I echo Tom's sentiments []

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: henkus

Try the Chubb Masterpiece product. Its pricey. WHAT !!! I hear you gasp but no, wait. Basically they don't quibble on claims and you a) are insured to drive any other car and b) anyone can drive yours (with your permission). Very useful when swapping cars on a whim. I recently had someone knock my car when it was parked and I called the Chubb claims people. Fantastic small team that is set up to take every bit of the agro away from you. Hire car delivered the next day (997 C2S) and since then just sooooooo polite and helpful. I'd heard that this was the point of their product but the process just had to be experienced to be believed. As someone pointed out, if Carlsberg had an insurance company...........

Now, they do tend to market to the high net worth segment and its their view that these people don't mind spending the extra £££ for good coverage (not sure about endorsements for track days) and excellent claims service. My view ? Well I take such a hit on depreciation and running costs every year the marginal saving on insurance (£400) by going to a regular weasel insurance company just isn't worth it. Horses, courses ......

Good luck rob972s

Had that policy last year. Moved to Porsche Insurance this year and saved 500 quid. Also, I get 2 track days with PI and Chubb don't do track days at all (so you have to spend like 200 quid per track day on a 3rd party cover).

Bit worried now though with the NU horror stories as PI use them for their policies. Hmmmm, may switch to A.Manning next year me thinks just to cover all bases.

 

[okellyt]

Rob

RSA (Royal Sun alliance) - Who use DAS for their uninsured loss recovrey. Good news is through Pefromance Marque brokers, they are freindly helpful and get a good quote. Especailly for those of us that do a lot of business mileage. if you are a Prosche Club GB member they'll give free cover (10% excess) for PCB track days which is very good value.

Donwside - RSA and DAS are not good with claims. Unfortunately rear ended twice is 06. Once was a low speed impact with no independent witnesses - however my wife was present and we took lots of digital photo's of the scene and she sent a statement in. Happend April 06 still not settled - they have no interest in pursuing this despite the photo evidence making it obvious how the impact hapened and therefore not my fault. They kept calling me up and sending letters asking for my statement even though I'd sent them everything within two weeks and kept "misplacing" the pictures until they got the idea I'd keep sending copies till they shut up. DAS wern't interested in anything but having a go at me on the phone as to why it wasn't settled yet - despite the fact they were supposed to be my uninsured loss recovery brokers and therfore should ahve been trying to settle it in my favour....

2nd bump thye seem better with but that is simply because I was rear ended at speed on the A14, the police attended and I secured an independent witness to give a statement. Also I changed from using DAS to Swift Cover who seem a lot more swithced on at chasing down the claim.

scores on the doors

Perfromance Marque 7/10 - friendly, good quotes with good cover, - not so good in following up thye claim
Royal Sun Alliance 5/10 - you have to do the chasing all yourself and put up with a new person evey call
DAS 2/10 - don't bother they won't chase for you, do it yourself or get some one else


Tom

 

[Guest]

Thank you all for taking the time to offer your advice/opinions. A few supplementaries if I may.

First the NU points. Are we talking NU Direct or NU (proper)?

My experience of NU Direct is poor (just trying to get a quote that is) but when a young lady insured with them side swiped me, while talking on her mobile and making a right turn, they admitted liability and made the repair arrangements pretty smartly. It was Royal & Sun Alliance, with whom I was insured (through Performance Marque) who seemed incapable of organising a party at Carlsberg's. In fact I instructed Perf Marque not to consider them for me again.

Incidentally, Perf Marque seem okay to deal with but don't seem to source very widely and are hence expensive to go through.

I have already had a provisional quote from Adrian Flux that seems to good (low) to be true (we're talking £500 less than last year, which was for a lower value car). The quote is with Groupama - anyone had any experience with them? Alex mentioned Adrian Flux as being problematic, do you know why?

I plan to explore the Porsche/Marsh/NU route next, see what that comes up with and compare it with whatever Perf Marque can offer. (You can tell I'm not in employment at the moment can't you!)

Again, thank you all

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: rob9972s
I have already had a provisional quote from Adrian Flux that seems to good (low) to be true (we're talking £500 less than last year, which was for a lower value car). The quote is with Groupama - anyone had any experience with them? Alex mentioned Adrian Flux as being problematic, do you know why?

Read this recent thread: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/fb.asp?m=251299&key=Flux

 

[pwebb]

Interesting thread with some useful names to try next year.

I've been with Peart Associates for many years who always come up with a reasonable deal and have long advertised in PCGB magazine. Worth a call for comparison.

On the other side of the Norwich Union debate I had a similar story to Rob. I was rear ended in my 996 a few years ago, when I'd just picked the car up from AFN Guildford, as it was in those days. Literally 100 yards from the dealership and I was stationary. An old heap of a builders pick up made a small mark on the rear bumper and he was insured with NU. I called them direct as the driver admitted liability and they agreed and paid up for Bodytechnics to fit a new rear PU (well over a grand from memory).

Peter

 

[Guest]

Thanks Alex.

Just read the Flux thread. Talk about Flux by name and **** by nature.

That's them off the list.

 

[Chris5150]

Yes mines up for renewal in March & it wont be with Adrian Flux again ( currently insured with them ).
In fact just noticed on my policy last night, in the small print that my car is not covered between the hours of 10pm & 7am if its within a mile of my house & NOT in my locked garage!...sometimes I leave it out on the driveway overnight ( its a very quiet and secluded clu de sac I live in ), so Im glad I took the time to read the policy now...would have been a bit of a shock to have it nicked overnight & find I had no cover!!

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: Chris5150
In fact just noticed on my policy last night, in the small print that my car is not covered between the hours of 10pm & 7am if its within a mile of my house & NOT in my locked garage!...sometimes I leave it out on the driveway overnight !!

I believe thats common small print in most policies that the owner declares it garaged.
Sadly a sign of the times where the insured gets the discount as a garaged car, but never really puts it away at night...
At the end of the day the Insurance company will make sure that it is never going to lose out...

My Insurance company noticed that my recent policy had been filed incorrectly and called me to ask about it being garaged and that the above clause would be in the policy.. It was corrected and hopefully all will be OK...

garyw