Good God, I’ve just switched energy suppliers - unprecedented for me and rather empowering even if it doesn’t work out!
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Do you guys roll over your (car) insurance or shop around?
I use to let automatically thought being a loyal customer I’d be getting the best price but realised they’re just taking the p*ss. Decided to check before insuring the Jimny, saved $300 by shopping around, my current company wanted $860 but the new (same coverage) is just over $530. It appears there’s no such thing as being rewarded for being a “loyal” customer they just rip you off.
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We’ve stuck with the same car insurer for years - maybe not the cheapest but based on fantastic hassle free service when we’ve ever had to claim, often for no/non-fault claims.
As you say generally little reward for being loyal but it’s often the path of least resistance,
That’s what they’re banking on and imo if you don’t check they’ll continue to rip off loyal customers. I couldn’t get through to cancel my existing and had to lie and say I was renewing my policy just to speak to anyone.
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Pete - IME, in the UK now you have to shop around, often using the price comparison ‘sites, as many insurers have increased premiums year-on-year, and there have been bunfights with regulators about not offering ‘better deals’ to switching customers – although I’m 100% sure this still goes on!
Put another way, loyalty doesn’t pay and the stories are legion of people who have called-up for non-renewals/cancellations, and then been offered much better deals. Some insurers won’t do the latter now, but working out who will/who won’t is a bit of a tease.
I have a digital sub to a newspaper, having paid ~£30 last year. This year’s renewal cost (via direct debit) was cited at £240. Yesterday, I called-up (to cancel) and was quoted £39 if I renewed. Such, IMO, unprincipled behaviour is rife nowadays……..and it affects the honest brokers, as I question parties I engage with quite hard about things now. As you know to your cost, integrity in business is usually paramount, but many abuse it.
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I canceled by cable subscription a year or so ago, they claim that you can do it online but you clearly can’t, you just keep going around in circles. When I finally got through to an operator (after a 20 minute wait) she then tried hard to talk me out of canceling after calling her out she told me she had to get my file and put me on hold for 15 minutes when got back suggested they’d probably be wiser to have digital files (she did call me a smartass)
Problem with having to ring any large company now there’s no one answering the phones, they do it deliberately to get you to use their website. Trouble is there’s things you can’t do on line, we’re all been had.
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It’s no different here in the U.K. Pete. Although I have just managed to switch mobile providers after about 10 plus years without too much trouble. Other than being cut off at very short notice with very little warning. Thanks O2, lucky I didn’t have to make any emergency phone calls during that period.
There was a news report recently that the U.K. government is to introduce new rules to make companies provide more warning that a subscription is about to auto renew, but more crucially force them to offer an easy cancellation option online. Hopefully preventing us all having to spend the 30 minutes or more waiting to speak to someone on the phone to do some basic admin.
No doubt there will be extensive lobbying by the service providers and it may never happen!
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IIRC, it used to be (under direct debiting scheme rules) that providers would have to give the customer at least one month’s notice of a renewal/change to their DD. This seems to have gone by the wayside, with notice periods now down to 14 days, which is probably deliberately ‘tight’ in getting alternative arrangements in place - call me cynical!
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Yes our PM just announced sweeping changes to subscription cancellation, apparently it’s already been passed through parliament.
If memory serves, that was generated in part from Microsoft’s sub’s scheme, where they didn’t reveal that a cheaper sub could be accessed if you wanted to ‘downgrade’ (from 365 with Co-pilot?). MS copped a big fine.
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What I tend to do is have a look around for a better deal then phone my current insurer to see if they will drop their price. Then decide whether to stay, less form filling, or move to different provider.
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I was looking online just now to buy some golf balls, which I have to do occasionally. I came across what might be mankind’s greatest idea ever.
Yep, green golf balls. Most of us can’t find a shiny new white, yellow or orange one. Love it!!
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I let 365 lapse earlier in the year - rarely used it and didn’t want an auto-renewing subscription as I could no longer get the 365/AV cards from Amazon.
The house insurance is with RIAS. They offer a fair price but tell you not bothering to ask for a reduction. You won’t get one
So you’d be searching for a green ball….in the rough….which is probably grass….and is probably green……
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They are obviously for Irish golfers.
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Took some clothes from late wife to a local Cancer Research Uk Charity shop where they will find someone to given them a new home. 
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Exactly.
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That’s a lovely thought Tony. All the very best to you.
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