The great big insurance rip off

[Lovemyev]

I follow Martin Lewis's advice every year. I also use Go Compare, as the £250 excess cover is a really useful bonus. I actually used it a few years ago and it meant I only paid £50 excess.

Update on the renewal search / quotes.
I called my present provider this morning, as I am now 23 days before my renewal date.
I asked them if they could offer a cheaper quote, as my premium had increased by 50% from last year.
Within 10 seconds of speaking to this advisor, I could tell he was not in any way interested if I renewed my policy or not.
He bashed on about how the premiums where computer generated and that was that.
I could tell he was reading from a scripted sheet, just by his monotoned voice.
I explained that I had expected some increase, but not a 50% increase.
The explanation he gave for the big increases were because they had received a LOT of claims for accidents that invloved uninsured drivers.
To which I replied :- “That is truly worrying story, but not surprising really when you consider that some people are just unable to afford the huge price increases.
"Therefore it’s a vicious circle of penalising the more responsible drivers and shifting over the costs to them?”
No comment was the reply!

 

[siteguru]

Yes, that's what it said on the app. I think next time I'm over that way I'll go in for a top-up and then it'll be done.

ERO has been and done a couple of test charges at Hamilton Fastned:

I activated the charge via the app first time and added about 1kWh. I then stopped the charge, unplugged, locked then unlocked the car, plugged in the charger and within a few seconds it recognised the car and started the charge handshake process and then the charge.

 

[Archev]

ERO has been and done a couple of test charges at Hamilton Fastned:

View attachment 22202
View attachment 22203

I activated the charge via the app first time and added about 1kWh. I then stopped the charge, unplugged, locked then unlocked the car, plugged in the charger and within a few seconds it recognised the car and started the charge handshake process and then the charge.

Hi Siteguru - is there any tie up between OVO and Fastned ? Or is it just coincidence their van is there for a charge ?? Archie.

 

[siteguru]

No idea mate ... I didn't even clock whose van it was.

Nothing comes up from a quick Google.

 

[Archev]

No idea mate ... I didn't even clock whose van it was.

Nothing comes up from a quick Google.

Nah OK - nice to see they keep the old electric goin’ round ?

 

[Gadget Geek]

ERO has been and done a couple of test charges at Hamilton Fastned:

View attachment 22202
View attachment 22203

I activated the charge via the app first time and added about 1kWh. I then stopped the charge, unplugged, locked then unlocked the car, plugged in the charger and within a few seconds it recognised the car and started the charge handshake process and then the charge.

Now that's how it should be done. Tesla definitely got it right from the get go. If there was a single app which did "plug n play" for all networks, then I wouldn't mind having that on my phone

 

[Archev]

Nah OK - nice to see they keep the old electric goin’ round ?

Looked on Zapmap Fastned Hamilton site. and found this picture of Scotland’s first battery electric appliance being charged/ tested.
Also noted that the site is close to my daughter’s home so must have a look.

 

[Rolfe]

Looks great. We need a lot more of these. The canopies are a bit high but at least they're there.

 

[Archev]

Looks great. We need a lot more of these. The canopies are a bit high but at least they're there.

Aye driving rain might get us ?

 

[Alb]

Perhaps the potential for a canopy to collapse on the car increases the insurance risk?

 

[siteguru]

Just to add - when you do your first charge (started from the app) it prompts you to complete the Activation process. Once done you then don't need to app - just plug in and charge (like Tesla do for their own cars).

The only thing I found (on that first charge) is that it wouldn't recognise the Stop signal from the app - I had to use the manual Stop button on the charger, but no biggie. The second test charge I just used the buttons on the charger anyway.

 

[Archev]

Just to add - when you do your first charge (started from the app) it prompts you to complete the Activation process. Once done you then don't need to app - just plug in and charge (like Tesla do for their own cars).

The only thing I found (on that first charge) is that it wouldn't recognise the Stop signal from the app - I had to use the manual Stop button on the charger, but no biggie. The second test charge I just used the buttons on the charger anyway.

Interesting- good to have as a backup. Thanks.

 

[Rolfe]

Just to add - when you do your first charge (started from the app) it prompts you to complete the Activation process. Once done you then don't need to app - just plug in and charge (like Tesla do for their own cars).

The only thing I found (on that first charge) is that it wouldn't recognise the Stop signal from the app - I had to use the manual Stop button on the charger, but no biggie. The second test charge I just used the buttons on the charger anyway.

Thanks for that.

My 100% battery range is currently 147 miles. Should still be all right for the ~98 miles round trip to Glasgow and back next week, but it won't hurt to pick up a little at Hamilton on the way back and get the process completed.

 

[Rolfe]

Perhaps the potential for a canopy to collapse on the car increases the insurance risk?

Goodness, however do petrol stations cope?

 

[Archev]

Goodness, however do petrol stations cope?

Yes I’ve often had thoughts about that when filling up my diesel and watching high winds make the canopies shake.

 

[Gomev]

Hi Siteguru - is there any tie up between OVO and Fastned ? Or is it just coincidence their van is there for a charge ?? Archie.

Don't think so, but OVO have bought the Bonnet app.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Up until September we had an old Peugeot 307 sw which fully comp cost 420 euros (7 seats), on receiving the MG4 the extra amount to the end of the year was 30 euros, Just got renewal quote in at 490 euros for next year, this includes full breakdown cover and emergency hire car, low excess, and for two years, replacement at new cost and after that market value plus 20 %. . This is with AXA. I think this represent 3-5% increase over 2023 price. Some of the nightmare prices quoted in this thread have given me a few sleepless nights thinking it could be the same over here. I really can,t see a viable ,logical, justifiable, reason for the prices given, even after reading the industries excuses .

 

[Cocijo]

In Australia, car insurance for EV is comparable to what we pay for our ICE cars

I’m not too sure what the situation is in the UK. I have always thought that premiums were pretty comparable in the UK too, between an EV and ICE of similar value/type.

 

[Archev]

A few of the quotes I ran very recently, asked if I wished to receive quotes with a telematic box installed ?.
If I was 17 and just passed my test, with absolutely no driving experience, trying to get insurance for my first car, then yes this maybe a sensible suggestion, you might think ?.
But after over 50 years of careful driving a clean driving record, plus never made a personal car insurance claim, it maybe a little bit OTT to consider a driving tracker installed.
Honestly, I have lost count of the amount of money I have spent on car insurance over that 50+ years.
A huge amount of money that would likely cover the replacement cost of my car twice over.
Same thing with house insurance TBH.
And I am sure there will be others in the same situation.
I am not going to lie folks, its annoying that year after year, I see my insurance costs increasing and increasing.
Are you like me, heard ranting the following phrase, while watching the driving behaviour of some of the drivers on the roads.
“Just look at that, it’s people like that who are responsible for putting up my car insurance every single year !”?.
But it’s true !.
Oh well, I will just have to suck up the 50% increase then on my new renewal quotes and hand it over to the car insurance company once again.
We have the house insurance due in February, I am 100% confident they will be asking for the same ridiculous amount of premium increases.
Somebody is making a LOT of money here and it’s not me ?.
Soap box ? safely stored away for today folks?.

Just imagine if it’s an all electric house like mine ?‍

 

[Rolfe]

Just to add - when you do your first charge (started from the app) it prompts you to complete the Activation process. Once done you then don't need to app - just plug in and charge (like Tesla do for their own cars).

The only thing I found (on that first charge) is that it wouldn't recognise the Stop signal from the app - I had to use the manual Stop button on the charger, but no biggie. The second test charge I just used the buttons on the charger anyway.

All worked fine, although charging speed barely made it above 50 kW. I stayed for about 25 minutes and took the car up to 80%, just to simplify my life as I need the car full tomorrow morning and I also need it this evening, so whether there were enough granny charging hours in the night I wasn't quite sure.

I only did the one charge, trusting to your experience. It was 11.30 at night, and it was raining. (Thank you canopy.) I couldn't see any way on the charger to stop the charge, so I just stopped it in the car, which was fine. Unplugged and drove off.