Automatic renewal of insurance policies

We have just reinsured our house for a great deal less than the renewal on our existing policy. We went with that company that insures farmers! They insure our car too, and we like the fact that we can ring up the local office and speak to a human being, as well as getting a good quote. Previously we were insured with our bank. When the contents insurance comes up for renewal we will return to the farmers for a quote.

I too heard the programme and was appalled with Saga and would not touch them with a barge pole. They just assume that people will go with a renewal without looking into it.

I had a similar experience a year or so ago when car insurance was due for renewal,I was spoken to as though I was some demented old woman when I enquired why my premium had gone up so much,I took my business elsewhere and saved over £300.00.The contents insurance has also been changed from them since then,they certainly don't have a clue imo.

I did say it was ok for my car insurers to automatically insure my car next year, but only so that I don't overlook insuring it [I think I nearly did last year]. Also, thus far, they haven't done the 'Saga' thing with me and their price hasn't risen. I made it clear to them that, if the price did go up, I wouldn't hesitate to switch and, even if they then offered me a better deal I would switch anyway.

Every 11 months I sit at the computer and compare insurance renewels. This came about when my car insurance went up by 200 pounds from the Post Office.When I applied like Eloethan as a new client, it went down, spoke to the Post Office, and the stock reply was "we can't comment, different department". So my advice is compare on the net, and choose what is best for you, every 11 months.

My daughter had to renew her house contents insurance recently (single mum in rented accommodation) and my OH did a comparison recently to find he could get the same thing for 50% cheaper. So despite the unreasonable transfer fee charged by the stumpy, gruff dog it was still worth her while. We found she was paying more than we do for house and contents insurance.

It is a good idea to shop around these days, and it does no harm to remind insurers, etc., that we are able to do this. In fact we did this with our fuel suppliers (I have mentioned this before somewhere), when our meter was misread, and they dithered about. I told them I felt if they could not provide an efficient service then we were of the opinion that we would be at liberty to change suppliers without the 'transfer fee' being imposed. The result was amazing, instant service.