Boycott Bennetts Insurance

[alex2006]

.....the robbing gits made me take out a completely seperate insurance policy, that wou;dnt even take into account my three years no claim bonus on my CURRENT policy, when I bought my Transalp on Saturday. I now have two policies totalling £300. I have 14 days to cancel the newer one, but have to pay £30 admin charge. I also have to pay £30 admin charge to cancel the other policy, which has been running with BEnnetts for three years. All because I can't have more than one Honda on my policy.
I'm going to cancel both policies. Although it pains me top pay the money, I can't bear the thought of them getting anymore of my money. What makes it worse is the Customer Desk people don't even care if you want to cancel or not, they just kept telling me they would pursue the matter legally if I didn't pay the admin charges. This is how they make there money.
I don't get cross about much, but it winds me up that they can get away with all this.

[Wee Jack]

.....the robbing gits made me take out a completely seperate insurance policy, that wou;dnt even take into account my three years no claim bonus on my CURRENT policy, when I bought my Transalp on Saturday. I now have two policies totalling £300. I have 14 days to cancel the newer one, but have to pay £30 admin charge. I also have to pay £30 admin charge to cancel the other policy, which has been running with BEnnetts for three years. All because I can't have more than one Honda on my policy.
I'm going to cancel both policies. Although it pains me top pay the money, I can't bear the thought of them getting anymore of my money. What makes it worse is the Customer Desk people don't even care if you want to cancel or not, they just kept telling me they would pursue the matter legally if I didn't pay the admin charges. This is how they make there money.
I don't get cross about much, but it winds me up that they can get away with all this.

This is standard practice for most insurance companies. Unless you have a multi bike policy, you need seperate policies for each vehicle.

£25 / £30 is also standard admin charge to alter / ammend documentation.

NCD does not apply to a new policy while the existing policy is valid.

You have discovered one of the pitfalls of buying a new bike before you have sold you old one, and one of the advantages of a dealer trade-in - (a fixed date on which to change you policy).

Just another shafting of Joe public by big business - try not to give yourself an ulcer worrying about it.

[Annette]

If you want a single policy for more than one bike try e-bike insurance. They have multi bike policies and you can add and remove bikes through the year and as it is all online I believe there are no admin charges for doing it.

When I changed from Africa Twin to a BMW there was 4 months left on my policy and I was advised (this was Bennetts too) that I couldn't transfer the insurance as the company I was insured with did't insure bikes over 1000cc although it did not say so on any of my documents. Also as there was only 4 months left I would not get a refund if I cancelled the policy and I would have to pay the £30 to cancel it.

I just let it expire and changed to e-bike.

[Sohoeasy]

Iv'e got four bikes on one policy with Eagle Red Star. Each addition of a new bike or removal gives up £20 on top, in admin' charges. Iv'e done about a ton in admin' already this year.That's life !

[sparklymarkly]

Both my bikes are on one policy through Carole Nash.
No complaints at all (they didn't even charge me an admin fee for changing bikes) and free European breakdown cover included.
Needs renewing in a week, but so far no-one's come anywhere near my renewal price taking all things into account.
Looks like I'll stick with them for another year.

[SEAWOLF]

BENNETTS INSURANCE = TOTAL BLOODY RIP OFF!!

They don't give a flying f%*k about the customer and only care about squeezing as much money out of you as possible. I and my partner will NEVER use them again.

[Whealie]

PM me the details (policy number and address etc) and I'll make an Insurance Times (I am former editor and regular columnists) call asking for clarification. Should do the trick.

[Lumiya]

Makes me laugh though that you've put this in RECOMMENDED section

Personally never had a problem with Bennetts and the problem that you mention could be simply caused by the fact that not every policy they sell can be changed due to the underwriter and might be nothing to do with them.

I know that my policy for the Gpz can't be changed as it's a specialised policy which is only open to a small number of models and age of the insured and the bike (classic)

Now the insurance company I've had most problems with is Carole Nash and as it's just been mentioned as a good company it's more a case of you can;t please everyone with every product/service all the time.

Kymmy

[wayne.morris7]

Hi All - sorry to hear your good & bad luck stories, but I tend to agree it's the underwriters not the brokers who usually cause the problems.
I've been using Hastings since 2005 & they've been great every time. Started with an SV1000 costing £200 with 7 years NCD, undercut Carole Nash by £100 to get my business, however since then expanded it to a multi-bike policy - they let me have the 7 years NCD on a policy for my rebuilt 91' Dommy for £95, since then added a new F800GS for another £130, but big suprise was the renewal for my SV comes down every year first to £174 then £132 this year.. they even reviewed my policys to ensure I didn't pay the legal / protected NCD bits twice.. all policies fully com, XS £250 can't ask for more really in my view. Hastings are thier own underwriters as far as I know, and thier telesales people are really good & helpful. Big recommendation from me for them give them a try.
Wayne

[anton88]

I use Footman James, reasonably priced, and i can add and remove bikes pretty much at will. They do charge £15 for this, but i dont think thats too bad