Kibo …

What a bunch of rip-off merchants this organisation is.

Like, I suppose, many people who auto-renew their insurance policies I figured Direct Line would offer a good deal on fully comprehensive, NCD protected cover.  I was wrong.

I decided to change additional named drivers on my policy, so I ran an online quote.  It came back at £368, but as I was at work I didn’t have my renewal notice at hand to compare what I’d been offered.  A few hours later, when I got home, I was mightily fucked off to see that I was being charged £495 on my renewal.  Keep in mind that my new quote and my existing cover were exactly the same.

I called Direct Line to express my discontent, but was told that because the fourteen day cooling off period had passed there was nothing they could do, even though I’ve been a customer of theirs for ten years.  Fortunately their guy spoke to someone that might be able to help.  Eventually they agreed to cancel my policy and waive the cancellation fee so that I could buy the new policy online.

While it’s all worked out well, why isn’t Direct Line, and probably other insurers, doing better deals for existing customers?  The web site uses the same quote engine as their renewal calculations.  Renewals cost no more to process than new policies as there’s nothing special for the insurer to do.

Direct Line ought to be thoroughly ashamed of itself for this sort of behaviour.  It’s fraud, possibly theft.

“A good deal better”, my arse, the bunch of fuckers.