Car Insurance Sucks

[Scouzer]

I moved back from Saskatchewan to Alberta earlier this year. I got a decent quote from ING Direct auto insurance, $2054/yr full coverage. 21 years old, no tickers, no accidents. Fine.

I buy the auto insurance on the agreed quote. No problem, right? Wrong. My broker calls me a couple weeks later and says ING won't honour the quote. My premium will be adjusted to $2500/yr. Why? I have had my license for 5 years 2 months, but only 4 years 11 months of INSURED history so they only rate me as 4 years experience, instead of 5. My broker asked since the difference is only a month, will they waive it? Nope. Not a chance.

Great. So I wait a month and call back to ask them to re-assess me now that I'm a 5 year driver in any way you measure it. Nope. They say I have to wait until next year when my policy expires to be re-assessed.

So I ask given the circumstances, can I be let go of my policy pro-rated without penalty? It was a mistake from from my broker & ING initially after all. Nope. I have to pay the remainder of the month's premium plus a $150 cancellation fine. Fuck.

I don't know how the that's legal. I provided all my proof of insurance history documents. I hid nothing, it's not like they got a surprise when they viewed my license or insurance history. They screwed up the quote initially thinking I had 5 years, then changed their mind saying I only have 4 years and I'm locked in. Bait and switch...

I'm pretty steamed

 

[Uppsala9496]

Why would you have purchased the policy after they informed you the quote was invalid and the rates would be going up?

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
Why would you have purchased the policy after they informed you the quote was invalid and the rates would be going up?

I was informed two weeks AFTER I purchased the policy.

 

[manlymatt83]

ING Direct has auto insurance?

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83
ING Direct has auto insurance?

In Canada at least.

 

[Sphexi]

The minute they told me they'd be "adjusting" it I'd tell them to take a hike, and call my credit card company. Next stop would be ING corporate, and if they don't cancel the policy without a fee then the prov. government would be dealing with it. No way in hell they can just change how much you owe without giving you the option of cancelling it.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Sphexi
The minute they told me they'd be "adjusting" it I'd tell them to take a hike, and call my credit card company. Next stop would be ING corporate, and if they don't cancel the policy without a fee then the prov. government would be dealing with it. No way in hell they can just change how much you owe without giving you the option of cancelling it.

I've been trying to get ahold of the Alberta Rate Insurance Board, but no joy so far. My broker said they've already contacted them on my behalf and the board said there was nothing they could do. I will file my own personal complaint anyway.

They don't allow payment by credit card (I don't know any insurance that does sadly) so it came from my bank. I doubt my bank would be helpful for this kind of thing.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Sphexi
The minute they told me they'd be "adjusting" it I'd tell them to take a hike, and call my credit card company. Next stop would be ING corporate, and if they don't cancel the policy without a fee then the prov. government would be dealing with it. No way in hell they can just change how much you owe without giving you the option of cancelling it.

I've been trying to get ahold of the Alberta Rate Insurance Board, but no joy so far. My broker said they've already contacted them on my behalf and the board said there was nothing they could do. I will file my own personal complaint anyway.

They don't allow payment by credit card (I don't know any insurance that does sadly) so it came from my bank. I doubt my bank would be helpful for this kind of thing.

You'd be surprised. I deal with payments all day long from banks, they can stop them, or reverse them if you fill out the right form.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
Why would you have purchased the policy after they informed you the quote was invalid and the rates would be going up?

I was informed two weeks AFTER I purchased the policy.

Thats when you should have said you do nto agree to the upcharge so give me all my money back. they sign up for a 1 month policy somewhere else then call around at the end of that month.

Do you have BBB in Canada? If so try that first.


But me and my wife just went from Geico to Esurance and save $300 or so every 6 months and got more coverage at the same time.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
Why would you have purchased the policy after they informed you the quote was invalid and the rates would be going up?

I was informed two weeks AFTER I purchased the policy.

They got you in the URP (underwriting review period), which is basically a period of 60-90 days (usually depending on laws and such) where we are able to make changes to the policy. It sucks for the policy holder in times like this, but unfortunately they most likely were within legal bounds.

It sucks, but if you go high enough up in the company they might revise it. Not entirely likely, but about the only way I can think you will get anywhere other then insurance board and agency.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
Why would you have purchased the policy after they informed you the quote was invalid and the rates would be going up?

I was informed two weeks AFTER I purchased the policy.

They got you in the URP (underwriting review period), which is basically a period of 60-90 days (usually depending on laws and such) where we are able to make changes to the policy. It sucks for the policy holder in times like this, but unfortunately they most likely were within legal bounds.

It sucks, but if you go high enough up in the company they might revise it. Not entirely likely, but about the only way I can think you will get anywhere other then insurance board and agency.

Lame. I can't go up higher in the company, they deal with customers only through the broker. My broker has already done all it can do it seems.

 

[Strk]

Out of curiousity, what do you drive?

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Strk
Out of curiousity, what do you drive?

2006 Pontiac G5 GT 2 door