A lesson not learned

AFTER years, if not decades, of insurers routinely hiking customers’ policy prices at renewal, Money Mail thought an end to the loyalty penalty was in sight.

Following a super-complaint in September 2018, the Financial Conduct Authority had promised to stamp out the racket.

After all, six million customers were being overcharged to the tune of £1.2 billion a year.

The regulator proposed restrictions on price rises for those simply renewing their policies.

So when my car insurance renewal quote arrived last week, imagine my anger to see that Admiral had hiked the price by 10 pc for no apparent reason.

I now know the insurer was just chancing its arm. Why? Because it took only a five-minute conversation, during which I politely threatened to switch provider, to see the price swiftly cut by £84.82 — saving around 28p per second.

It was the same with my home insurance provider before Christmas. Esure tried to increase the price by almost 30 pc. A short phone call later, they agreed to a slightly more acceptable rise of 5 pc. And when the renewal for my breakdown cover arrives later this year, I am under no illusion that it will be Groundhog Day.

Bluntly, insurers just don’t care about anything but bottom lines. Even with the financial watchdog breathing down their necks, they still have no interest in playing fair. So if there is one moneysaving tip you stick to, let it be never accepting a renewal quote from an insurer.

In the meantime, the FCA needs to ensure that its final report into the loyalty penalty, expected this Spring, includes some tougher new rules to protect us all.

Check that bill

My Second tip for the week is to go through your mobile phone bill each month with a fine-tooth comb. As Joanna Tweedy reveals on Page 37, thousands of us may have accidentally signed up to costly subscriptions without realising.

Most people would assume a company needs your bank details to get their hands on your cash — which you are far less likely to just give out. But in truth, all they need is your phone account. new rules mean it’s now harder to sign up to this type of service without realising — but it doesn’t help the thousands who already have.

Parcel farce

My Note about failed deliveries last week struck a chord, with emails and letters still pouring in. one reader says: ‘I arrived home and found a card through my door advising me my parcels had been left in my garage. I do not have a garage. They had, in fact, been left under my daughter’s car.

‘We only found out when she reversed the car off the drive and crushed the parcels.’

Another tells me: ‘Following two recent deliveries I was sent emails claiming my parcels were left in my porch. I do not have a porch!

‘Like you I was home on both occasions and my doorbell does work. At a previous address I’ve had parcels rammed into my gas meter box. one even chucked an unexpected parcel over my back gate and it was left out in the rain for two weeks while I was on holiday.’ Many of you also complained about parcels being left in full view of passers-by.

one adds: ‘I ordered a book for my grandson before Christmas. While working from my office upstairs, which looks out onto our road, I heard a vehicle stop. I looked out the window as I’d had an email to say it would arrive that day but the doorbell didn’t ring.

‘The van drove off so I assumed it wasn’t my delivery man after all. But when I checked my emails I had been sent a photo of a parcel on my doorstep. The driver could have so easily rung the bell.’

Key to security

AFTER our story last week, a tip from reader Simon, of Harrogate, on protecting against keyless car theft. He says: ‘A cheaper solution to the Faraday Pouch is any sort of tin can. The tin stops the radio waves getting out for a potential thief to pick up. I use an old sweet tin. Remember to put the spare key fob in the tin as well.’