Insurance costs to rise? What you can do?
I got a great chuckle last week from the quotes in this article attributed to Dermott Jewell of the Consumers Association of Ireland.
People have been warned by the Consumers’ Association of Ireland (CAI) to resist any “outrageous” and “unacceptable” price increases from home and motor insurance companies in the coming months.
I’m not sure of the technicalities involved in resisting a higher insurance quotation from your insurance company – I can’t find any further details as to what the Association suggests consumers should do.
Consumer: Hi – can you please quote me for insurance for my car?
Insurance Company Staffer: Certainly. For your car, that’ll be €400.
Consumer: Hang on, that’s higher than last year. What’s going on?
Insurance Company Staffer:Yes, unfortunately our prices have had to go up because of the current economic climate.
Consumer: That’s as may be, but I shall resist your outrageous and unacceptable price increase.
Insurance Company Staffer: Excuse me?
Consumer: You heard me, I resist and reject your outrageous and unacceptable price increases.
Insurance Company Staffer: That’s fine. Thank you for your call today.
How can someone reasonably think that they’re helping consumers by coming out in public with useless advice like that?
The reason for the comments has been the recent comments from Quinn Direct, Hibernian Aviva and Axa that insurance, and particular car insurance, premiums would have to increase in 2009.
It’s particularly frustrating for consumers to see car insurance costs rising when 2008 proved to be one of the safest years on our roads ever.
On the positive side, my car insurance for 2009 went from over €400 to less than €300. So, even with everything that’s being said, there are many things that you can do to keep your insurance costs down – no matter what the insurance.
Here’s the ValueIreland.com Top Tips for cutting the cost of all your insurance needs:
And remember, our Top Tips on insurance are so brilliant and so useful, everyone wants to copy them.
2 Comments
Perhaps the CAI advice is meant to help your mental state.
You can say nothing and pay up, and then feel very frustrated.
If you make your feelings plain – and preferably speak to a manager – at least you will have done what you can.
If enough people speak to the manager it gets the message across.
I agree usual waffle from Mr. Jewell. Give grief to the poor call centre operator on minimum wage. Be outraged and unacceptable. That will have them quaking in their boots! What a waste of space the CAI is. No data, no analysis, no comparison with other countries. just the usual waffle. pathetic.
The insurance folks are generating a drumbeat of PR to soften up the public for price increases.
Now if we had a half decent Consumer Association they would do some decent research and counter the PR with some data and analysis.
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