Blow cushioned
MR J’s TOP CONSUMER TIPS WATCHDOG OFFERING FREE REPORT IN DISPUTE
CAR insurance is increasingly expensive with premiums up by a fifth in two years.
The price comparison website MoneySuperMarket says the average policy now costs £562.
That’s a lot to keep covered on the road so we have put together a guide on how to save money.
Here’s some tips you might want to look at:
1. The obvious options are changing from fully comprehensive policies to cover such as third party
That will reduce the premium also reduce the quality of cover provided.
But it may be an option for some.
2. Insure your motor excess
That’s the amount you pay yourself in the event of a claim.
But some excesses are high, especially for younger drivers, so think about buying a separate policy to repay any excess you have to fork out.
3. Shop around
Don’t get into the habit of always accepting a renewal quote from your existing insurer.
Always – and I mean always – shop around for the cheapest quote.
4. Don’t put everyone on the policy
You can save money by insuring just yourself and the people you know will regularly drive the car.
Take off sons and daughters who have gone to university for large parts of the year.
You can always add them just for those weeks they are at home.
5. Are black boxes a way for insurers to snoop on your driving habits?
Yes, they are, but you can accept it if it means smaller bills.
Blackbox policies, where the insurer installs a system in your car to monitor your driving, reward those who drive carefully.
They check your speed, acceleration and braking, even if you are driving at what they assume dangerous times like the early hours of the morning.
6. It pays to do your homework on
A survey by the website GoCompare revealed how the right description may affect premiums.
If you describe yourself as a “chef” when filling in your car insurance application your average quote is £98 higher than if you write “kitchen staff” comparison site GoCompare found – and it’s not just cooks that have this problem.
“Music teachers” pay £86 more than “teachers”, “office managers” pay more than “office administrators”, and “construction workers” pay more than “builders” who – in turn – pay more than “bricklayers”.
7. Pay in full
Not all of us can but, for those who are able, paying the full year’s premium is cheaper than spreading it our monthly or quarterly.
Insurance staff may specifically ask if you want to pay in instalments because they get more money out of you – resist the pointed question and pay in full.
8. You may be offered lots of extras – but they cost extra too
Breakdown cover, windscreens, theft from the car, a courtesy car – every extra adds to the premium.
More than that, a lot of them might already be covered by things like your travel insurance, AA membership, home insurance or even your bank account.
9. Secure your vehicle
The Association of British Insurers says companies often offer discounts for vehicles fitted with security devices such as alarms or immobilisers – your insurer can tell you which devices they approve.
Leaving your vehicle in a garage overnight, rather than out on the street or in your driveway, may also reduce the cost of your premium.
10. Finally, don’t be put off by car sharing
Many drivers give lifts to work colleagues or neighbours and, generally, accept a contribution to the cost of petrol.
The ABI say should not usually increase premiums except in very limited circumstances.
These are that you should not make a profit and the car should carry less than eight passengers. HELP is on hand for a customer of retailer ScS who was surprised the company has not joined the ombudsman service.
Jack Jones, who is in dispute with the company over an expensive suite, will have a report carried out free of charge by the Furniture Ombudsman after we carried his story last week.
Customers of non-members are usually charged £125 for the report, which is not binding.
Jack’s experience triggered our story looking at why the company, which is based in the North East, refuses to join the ombudsman.
Membership gives extra rights to customers and extra responsibilities to retailers who sign up to a code of conduct.
Jack says he would have taken his complaint to the Furniture Ombudsman for adjudication after going through the company’s own complaints procedures.
But his fight hit a brick wall when he realised ScS was not in the scheme.
Now there is still a chance of success after the ombudsman said it would do a report.
A spokeswoman said: “We were touched by the consumer’s story and we would like to offer him an independent inspection, pro bono.”
Jack, of Gateshead, is in dispute over cushions bought from ScS at the Team Valley branch which he says are sagging.
He said: “A year ago I paid £5,200 for a sofa with two end-recliners, a chair with mechanical movement, and a standard chair.
“After nine months the left-hand recliner became very soft compared with the other cushions. ScS said we should not sit on the same chairs but move around to make the chairs all the same.
“Extra padding was put in but it has not made much difference.
“I was surprised to find out the company are not in the ombudsman service.
“Why are they not in? Why are some companies in and they are out?
“You would have thought being in would have given customers an extra bit of confidence in the com- pany.” Jack, 78, and his wife Rita, 74, complained to trading standards officers.
He decided not to pay for an independent report because ScS would not be bound by any findings.
He said: “Trading standards have gone as far as they could.
“If we had a report done, ScS would not have been bound by it in the way it would have been if it had been members of the ombudsman scheme.
“The report might have been in