Heard on R4 this week that Norwich Union plan to stop including the "Driving Other Vehicles" cover extension on all new policies. Other insco's interviewed said they had no plans to follow suit. -- Dan L (Oldbloke) My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going) Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament) BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)
In uk.rec.motorcycles, Dan L amazed us all with this pearl of wisdom: Norwich Union, IME have been nothing but unworthy in many respects. This does nothing to redeem them from the position, IMO.
I have to agree. When I got arse ended in my Golf, whilst the repair was quickly sorted, the admin and subsequent reinstatement of my NCD was a complete and utter shambles, only solved by me getting a bit shouty with the rather nice call centre person in India, and getting transferred to someone with 4/5ths of a clue in blighty. -- Dan L (Oldbloke) My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going) Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament) BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)
In uk.rec.motorcycles, Dan L amazed us all with this pearl of wisdom: I lost patience with them[1] within a very short time on the phone and let RSS sort the whole thing out. I get frustrated before I start if I hear an Indian accent on the phone, no matter what it is or where they are. It's just a fucking PITA. [1]It's the condescending way in which they talk to you. They didn't understand that filtering wasn't overtaking and they knew not of the vehicle I had that was insured by them.
I hate to say it, but it has the same effect on me too. Not based on any racially motivated prejudice, but purely based on past experience of trying to deal with a call centre the other side of the world manned by (albeit very pleasant) people with no idea. Unfortunately, the first 10 years of my working life was in the motor insurance industry, which makes it even more frustrating when you know that what you are being told is utter bollocks. In fact you've just reminded me of another **** up by NU's call centre; I enquired last summer about adding my son to my car insurance (Golf 2.0 Gti) whilst he was on L Plates. I was quoted £800 ish, which I was quite happy to pay. Come November, when I phoned to actually make the adjustment (he was by now 17), they denied all knowledge of my earlier call, and refused to add him at all, as the risk was too high. I pointed out that the only time he would be driving would be with me or his mother alongside him, so IMO the risk was negligable, but came up against a brick wall. Stoopid thing is, when I sold the Golf and bought the Clio for the lad, they were happy for me to insure the car with him as named *main* user on a full licence, which is (apparently) a lesser risk than being an accompanied driver in the Golf. I find them generally to be very pleasant and friendly, but totally inflexible droids, which is pretty much what I believe they are trained to be. An interactive website would be just as good. If I remember I now make a point of asking any prospective insco or other service provider whether thay have an offshore call centre. -- Dan L (Oldbloke) My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going) Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament) BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)
I had car insurance with NU for several years, until I tried to insure a second car. The premium for a SOCitroenBX1.7D was well over 700 quid and they wouldn't budge, despite a blemish-free record for years. So I cancelled on renewal, IYSWIM. They gave it a rest for a couple of months, then started taking monthly payments for an unwanted policy. Four months this went on, despite being told and agreeing to stop several times. My bank intervened in the end - then the Norwichian/Bombayian cunts threatened to sue me for the lost revenue - plus expenses! Norwich Union are cunts of the first water, IME.
What's so different about NU? We've been trying to get our NCD back since Oct 16th last year for an accident Laura had, which wasn't her fault. That was the AA and Groupama. However, one thing that did crop up, and I've never considered this before, even though you are involved in an incident that is *not* your fault, you are *not* entitled to get back your NCD if you make the claim through your own policy - to the letter of the terms and conditions it is a No *Claim* Discount, not a No Blame Discount. We'd have been better off having TPFT cover and using a legal expenses claim company.
[Snipped Text] Yup, that's almost word for word the same as we have had from the AA and Groupama. We're now in a situation where each just tells us to contact the other. We're waiting for the TP's cheques to stop bouncing. Yup, our renewal was up about a month after the incident last year, and was also doubled. In fairness the AA did offer a better renewal quote. They all are. Don't expect any others to be much different. All I ever do is go for the cheapest, because choosing a more expensive policy doesn't work either.
On Sat, 8 Oct 2005 08:12:44 +0100 in uk.rec.motorcycles, Dan L says: [Norwich Union] My daughter after 30 minutes trying to explain to the call centre droid about an address change finally exploded and demanded to put through to someone who spoke english. I've had similar problems with Abbey National for the same reason, IMO it's not a language problem as such just an complete inability to cope if the event falls outside of the script.
Dan L emerged from their own little world to say Guess who are the underwriters for that short term insurance that someone posted a link to a few days ago? They charge up to £25 a day for short term policies. Coincidence? If you use Carol Nash as a broker, check which policy the are selling you. They switched me to Chaucer for 04/05. This policy did not have the HAGM feature or cover me in Croatia. When I renewed I was issued with a Royal Sun Alliance policy which had both.
I find only having accidents with third parties when my employers insurance covers me is a good thing. Hmm, maybe not having accidents at all is a better thing but to be frank not very likely.
Lloyd-TSB have off-shored their call centres? Whenever I've called it's a Brit (often a porridge-wog) that's answered. Mind you, I'm quite taken with Internet banking for the past few years so hardly ever need to speak to the bank anymore.
Some of them - they sacked loads of people up in Newcastle when they shunted the work off to India. I'm so pleased I never have to call my bank and deal with these silly call centres.
Yes, and they also had an employee sell customer details. Like Bear I ned to find another bank They take extra lessons in trying ot mimic the callers accent. LLoyds is good, but I had to ring up on a Saturday when I realised I had forgoten to cancle a DD. I must have spent 20 mins gritting my teeth and trying to get through to the woman to explain I needed to sort out getting the dosh back.
Which is why I bailed a year ago. Nationwide, Egg and Smile have their call centres based in UK. -- Cheers! Fr Jack 90 CB450DX (The Moped) FRJACKUKRM AT GMAIL DOT COM skype: fr.jack (without the dot) We'll open up your eyes, just to check that you're asleep, again
That's 'cause Norwich Union are a bunch of cunts. Quote me fuckin' happy, indeed... Make me laugh my arse off, more like. They were the clueless twats that didn't refuse to insure the -12R, no, but instead, quoted over £3k. This at a time when comparable quotes were around £1k. Hmm, I hope not, but sadly, NU are a sprawling monster of an organisation and have always had a lot of clout in their field. Wankers.
FWIW, Nationwide and Smile have been spot on, IME. Egg are more "functional", IYSWIM... -- Cheers! Fr Jack 90 CB450DX (The Moped) FRJACKUKRM AT GMAIL DOT COM skype: fr.jack (without the dot) We'll open up your eyes, just to check that you're asleep, again
Yes, mostly Scotland it seems from the accents we hear. And they are very very good too. -- Marina Mayes - Reading, UK. To email me remove XX from my address SR250 - on the road again. BOTAFOT12, BOD#2, BOTAFOS#2 KotLBOD#s, KotLBOTAFOS#s,IMC#2, Tart#10-19, SR#3 Original Sinergy - wicked T-shirts for a wicked world: www.originalsinergy.com I never give in to fear or blackmail; I always give in to temptation. www.pericles.demon.co.uk "You're a national treasure" - porl, 18.1.03
Charged environment, driver nervous but also aware it's nto their car so WTF - I can see their point ;-) but came up against a brick wall. Stoopid Again I can potentially see this making sense. I was a _lot_ calmer behind the wheel when I'd passed my test and was driving on my own than when I had my parents in the passenger seats. It's a lot better now mind you, but that's mainly because I think my parents have accepted I'm actually not about to kill them <wheels out the Equity Red Star wagon> Now.. they may not even be in India - certainly their main claims followup centre is in Swansea (or at least was) but when you _report_ a claim, it's in lovely Bangalore or wherever. "I do not wish to make a claim, I just want to inform you of the issue" "Sir, that is not possible. I will arrange for an assessor to come round" "I do not want an assessor to come round thank you." "I have arranged for the assessor - the next question is... "Are you actually listening to anything I'm saying?" And so forth... it was rubbish. They are rubbish. <wheels Equity Red Star wagon away again>
As do Natwest. I have always been less than impressed with NAtwest - but that was until Alliance and Leicester charged me £20 for two identical statements - one of which was through the direct fault of the call droid who told me "push the button again and it will give the option of a date" - it didn't, she suddenly changed her tune and denied it all. They then wouldn't sort out the issue, insisting I wrote to them - which I did - but again they ignored completely the contents and statement of my letter. Accont has been closed - they didn't care it seemed - **** 'em. In comparison, Natwest were great - single charge for as many statements as I wanted, no arguments, no problem. I was surprised
