Volvo owners club insurance scheme via chris knott insurance

[AndiS60]

Originally Posted by ChrisKnottIns

Hi,

It's not a scam, but that's ultimately for you to decide. If we're really the best choice for club members it would be a shame for you to have to go elsewhere. So when price is the issue we are sometimes able to react (subject to proof of better rates with another provider). If there was a cheaper price at the beginning, we would definitely have offered it to you.

If you do decide to go with us, be aware that we give part of our commission on every policy to the club in order to support them. That happens at every renewal too, so we are committed to giving back to clubs that bring business to us. Sadly, we can't get as low as your other price and we would totally understand if you went elsewhere.

I appreciate your comment about not trying to be confrontational. We are always more than willing to discuss these issues and can see that you are genuinely trying to find the best option for your insurance. We respect that.

Simon

Originally Posted by ChrisKnottIns

We negotiated a scheme with the underwriter where we can be flexible on price if the client obtains something cheaper and we can verify that. It is us, not the underwriter who want to insure as many club members as possible. We've committed to the club long term and it's disappointing if we can't provide the cover that we set out to. Price is clearly a factor and we adapt where we can. In your particular case, we've done as much as we can.

We're not suggesting you come with us when there is such a price difference. We fully expect you to go elsewhere but we wanted to explain how we operate and how we got to the price we offered.

Sorry if I'm not explaining it clearly but thanks for giving me the opportunity to try.


Simon

Thanks for trying. I am still confused. Surely it costs the underwriter X in their opinion for the insurance. Then they drop this if others are doing it cheaper? I assume they think they will still make a profit with this new figure, in which case that sounds like profiteering?

Maybe I am not understanding this at all?

Thanks for trying

[ChrisKnottIns]

Originally Posted by AndiS60

Thanks for trying. I am still confused. Surely it costs the underwriter X in their opinion for the insurance. Then they drop this if others are doing it cheaper? I assume they think they will still make a profit with this new figure, in which case that sounds like profiteering?

Maybe I am not understanding this at all?

Thanks for trying

I don't have the answers where the insurer is concerned but we appreciate the flexibility they give us when customers obtain lower prices.

I'm sorry we couldn't get the price to where it needs to be for you.

Simon

[AndiS60]

Thanks for the reply.

So sounds like profiteering by them. Seems like Insurance is a scam all over, the insanely varying prices and and the sudden changes in cost, where else does that happen?

Not you at all as it sounds like you are being fair. Appreciate the conversation and maybe next year.....

[foggyjames]

I think that's just the way the insurance industry works, sadly, and CK (and/or their underwriters) are not going to start operating as a charity for the benefit of a car club. That's not to say that they don't bring the club benefits in other ways, but a) realistically they won't always be cheapest, and b) they might be a relatively friendly insurance company, but they're still an insurance company...!

If they're cheapest, great...but I don't lose any sleep about not using them if they're not, regardless of their relationship with the club. It would be nice to think that there might be a benevolent insurer who would be consistently cheapest for club members, but sadly I think it's a pipe dream, as there's too much money to be made in making the opening gambit a high one (and I wouldn't blame them for that!).

A subtly different situation which did annoy me, though, was that I went to cancel my EE phone contract a few years ago, only to be offered a 50% discount to stay (and cancel the deal I'd just signed up to). No...someone else won the business fair and square, and offering to massively drop trousers to win it back after the deal was done was met with an indignant response - both on behalf of my new supplier, and myself (for clearly having been ripped off previously)! Quote-bartering is one thing, but I really didn't like the suggestion that I call back and cancel a freshly-placed order!

That's a long-winded way of saying that I don't think either party needs to feel too guilty in this situation.

cheers

James

[AndiS60]

Originally Posted by foggyjames

. It would be nice to think that there might be a benevolent insurer who would be consistently cheapest for club members, but sadly I think it's a pipe dream, as there's too much money to be made in making the opening gambit a high one (and I wouldn't blame them for that!).

I think this is my point, the whole insurance scene looks like a scam and they all do it. I don't have as much sympathy for them trying it on as you do

Same for phone companies, I have had a similar experience to you.

A real plus point for Chris Knott in all of this is the speed that you can get through to them and that is certainly worth something compared to the "our operaters are keen to talk to you" with a 20 minute wait on a phone line....