87 replies to this topic

[Lee_bash]

The general concensus was they'd know more by april/may about new underwriters.
When we spoke to them at bingley hall they said they'd still insure us on a normal policy, which I gather was just them smashing a calculator with their fist until it gave a big number, and they also mentioned they could do a credit check which might bring it down- but at 17, I've not had any loans/debt so I'm not sure how a credit check would show much.

[Minto1]

I just got a renewal letter from footman james and they want £1120.26 but still limited to 3000 miles
They changed the underwriter from Equity Red Star to KGM motor insurance, but I still don't see how it could have gone up so much.
It cost me £742 last year, how can they possibly justify a difference of nearly £400?!

[dlm]

Same here. My son has just received his renewal. Last year was £870 at age 17 and now after 1 years driving they want £1320.
When I asked them on the phone how they can justify this I was told they no longer want to insure young drivers!

They have certainly lost me as a customer now.

[icedaddyuk]

I made a post in here last month but think that was lost in the hack.

Basically I said that I received my policy renewal from FJames last month for £206, that was an increase of £70 from the year before. It was underwritten by Equity Red Star.

There was no way I was going to pay a 50% increase so rang Peter James insurance and got my policy for £126. I get my paperwork through a week later, and guess who is underwriting? Yup, Equity Red Star.

F James are taking the piss if they think people are going to pay those sorts of increases.

[86mayfair]

I just got my renewal letter through, I'm 18, passed 11.5 months ago and last year with FJ fully comp unlimited mileage etc was £1916. Now they're offering me £2426!!! £510 pound increase, that's over 25%!! I'm going to have a look at other quotes and phone them to see what on earth they think they're playing at.

I know it probably won't do any good as it's a different underwriter but I feel this is a perfect opportunity to vent my pre-exam stress at someone except my close friends and family

[joel93]

any body used the paper that says you havent made a claim ? because I will have two. any luck trying to use them as no claims ?

[jb93]

any body used the paper that says you havent made a claim ? because I will have two. any luck trying to use them as no claims ?

It's absolutely useless. All the insurance companies I phoned up didn't want to know

[BenCoul]

I'm 17, test is booked for 11th June. They won't insure me at all, stadard policy or classic.

[MiniHoey]

Why wont they insurance people in finance =/ (Money lending)... what the hell

Because there mostly C***s

[Gortinho8]

Hi I was wondering if having rally seats and harnesses by obviously stripping the rear seats etc out would affect the insurance a lot? Please PM me reply.

[minisi35]

Ive had my renewal through it had gone up 60%, nothing had changed with myself or my car. Heritage quoted me £45 less than my last years insurance!! Needless to say im not reinsuring with Footman and ive been with them for years

[Rick's Dad]

Rick's (age 20.5 years, passed test just after 17th birthday, no accidents/convictions) just had his renewal from FJ, £719 last lear, £1089 next year; they told me the story about Red Star and when I said they would be losing a lot of custom, the girly said- "we, as a company, are aware of that"! This company has gone right downhill since Peter James sold it.
I used to have my Elan with them but they were so bad at comms that I moved.

Via Moneysupermarket I have three quotes in the £700 bracket- these are for fully comprehensive, building up a no-claims, rather than Third party f&t not building a no-claims with FJ.

Speaking to British Mini Club, they advised that on a non-classic policy, without agreed value we would get bugger all if the car was written off/torched/stolen etc. It's currently agreed valued for £3500 and is probably worth more, in a rising market.

I'll ring around the classics insurers listed in the back of classic & Sports Car mag but I notice that none of them are now mentioned young drivers.

Thanks a lot Saxo/Corsa boy-racers!

Cheers,
Pete.

[Old Bob]

I have been covered by FJ for a number of years. Recently sold my 72 Porsche 911 (quite a lot of power & fitted with race seats and a rear cage etc., all declared). Today I asked them to transfer my cover to a 62 Mini and they refused saying their underwriter will not cover vehicles with roll cages! I was paying £331.00 on a classic policy.

I am probably not the sort of person they want anyway, being old with a clean record and never having made an insurance claim.

Guess I am now looking for a new underwriter..........

Bob

[GusRox]

Just swapped to FJ this week, and for Gus The Mini they were £30 cheaper than the renewal quote from the old insurers, with extra breakdown cover, increased agreed value and unlimited mileage. £124 all in. I guess the proof will be in the pudding this time next year though, I guess.

[TMC Pants]

Refused to insure me because the dont insure 18yr olds on minis.. but they do on morris minors.