Now then. I'm a firm fan of Carole Nash, I've never been insured with anyone else as other companies' quotes have always either been more expensive or didn't offer the same benefits. Not only that, having experienced their claims service, it is very good: very slick, efficient and not tight on the payout offer. However - today I rang up to insure the Ural. I had hoped to just add it to the Bandit policy (nothing else is currently insured/roadworthy) but of course as Elly has to be insured to pilot the Ural they wouldn't do it. That's fine and I can see their point about multi-riders on multi-bike policies. I did try to twist a bit however, as Elly is currently insured to ride the Bandit anyway, as I am to ride her 9R, which is also insured through CN. It wasn't to be however, so I agreed to be quoted for a new policy and as I couldn't remember when the last Ural policy (aso with CN) ran out to look at it on the basis of zero NCD. We went through the procedure and came up with a figure of ~£150 with Aviva (as was Norwich Union) with which, TBH, I wasn't too unhappy as it isn't a lot of money for a fully comp policy with the vital breakdown cover rolled in. There was a break in proceedings at this point as my contact went off to look up the last Ural policy to see if there was NCD accrued and still viable. A couple of minutes of hold music and the good news was that I qualify for a 30% discount on the premium as I'd let the insurance run its course after the beastly Ural died on me. The discount was plugged into the system and we waited to see what the punched tape technology would spit out. Of course, I'm expecting a figure of ~£105, having worked it out on fingers, toes and fagends by then. But no - the cheapest, with a year's NCD included, was ~£180! Also with Aviva, but using a different scheme. This is where the controversy started and there was a bit more hold music while investigations took place with the underwriters. It turns out that Aviva run a scheme whereby applicants for insurance who have zero NCD for whatever reason can obtain cover for a reasonable sum - an introductory discount, if you will, which substantially reduces the gross premium. Bully for them, I thought, and girded my mental loins for a fight to get the first figure offered. They were ahead of me on that one, and stuck by their first offer of ~£150. But only for this year - on renewal, this scheme will no longer be available to me (and it really shouldn't be in any case) so I'll have to go for the normal policy with two years NCD which will cost (all things remaining equal) about £160. Fair enough, I thought, and signed up there and then, making the single payment for immediate cover. I went through all this with Elly (who used to work in motor insurance) and her eyebrows went up and down a bit, I can tell you. So I sat down and did the screenscraper thing, plugging all our details in (including the one year's NCD) and waiting for quotes. Then it got really weird. Not only can I get insurance cheaper elsewhere, on exactly like-for-like details, such as zero voluntary excess and with breakdown cover thrown in (OK, it's UK breakdown, not European) but the compulsory excess would be £150 instead of £250 ... and it's with Aviva. Through Motorcycle Direct, with whom Elly was covered for some years and we've experienced their claims side too and they aren't shifty. I'm going to have a tough phone call with Carole Nash in the morning, I can see. Not only that, but looking alsewhere in the page of quotes (ignoring the offer of TPO cover for £50) there are three identical quotes form Express Insurance, Kwik Fit Insurance and the green insurance company who all offer cover with Aviva for £89.25 with a compulsory excess of £150 - and who all have almost identical broker references in that their 11-digit alphanumeric refs only differ in the final two digits: AW, BW and CW respectively - are they all owned by the same firm, or something? Anyway, I'm going to pursue the Motorcycle Direct quote and see where it gets me - then I might have to see how much it will cost to cancel within the oft-quoted 14-day 'cooling-off' period. What miffs me about this whole thing is the dicking about with the 'special Aviva scheme' which I shouldn't really be eligible for anyway, the more expensive renewal and the higher excess with CN. Either Aviva are quoting CN higher, or they are looking to make considerably more profit out of me than other companies. What do you think about all this, you Font?
