DON'T JUST ACCEPT YOUR BROKER'S QUOTE: GO COMPARE

In 2000 I got car insurance through a broker in Paisley, called Swinton.

I chose it because it was the one place that, when I phoned, didn’t tell me that I had 5 options, followed by yet another 5 options...you know the sort of thing.

Of course almost everyone has them now, but back then there were quite a few companies that didn’t. In fact what I liked was the fact that they cared enough about their customers to have real live people to answer the phone. So over the past decade I’ve continued to use the company, without much idea of the cost of my insurance when set against other companies. In short I’ve taken their word that they were getting me the cheapest insurance. This year when they called to remind me that it was time, they had bad news for me. My insurance had increased by about 37%. I’d heard that insurance costs were increasing, but having not made a single claim in 11 years, I didn’t expect anything like a third increase. So I said I’d think about it. A friend got online and within 15 minutes had come up with a wide range of companies MUCH cheaper...and they weren’t rogue or unknown companies either. The AA was the cheapest. As long as you weren’t an existing member they gave you recovery coverage on top of a far cheaper deal than I’d been offered. Unfortunately I already am a member, so for me the best deal was with eSure (who delivered an extra 500 jobs to Glasgow not so long ago). In fact it was even cheaper, fully comprehensive with protected no claims bonus, than last year’s deal through Swinton. So, if you are stuck in a rut with insurance and you are being quoted ridiculous amounts for this year’s cover, shop around. Companies know the busy, rich or lazy people (I’m in the last group) who take the easy way out and re-insure every year without looking around. Beat them by doing it. Just one cautionary note: You will need to prove your level of no claims bonus, and certainly, in the case of Swinton, getting that from them has proved less that easy. Many phone calls, pleas and threats later, I have my letter. But I saved well over £100. And in these straitened times for hard-working British families....etc, etc.... yawn.........

Simples? Uh huh.

PS: Apologies to everyone. The spacing is all to hell on this post. It’s been hard to get the paragraphs sorted for some time, but tonight nothing I do will make it work! I’ll try to get to the bottom of it. Sorry again for making it difficult to read.