What an interesting day!
Stressful, but interesting.
Today, I had to leave my long-time #insurance agent. Since COVID, they've staffing issues, largest agents in the province #Munro . I tried to call several times to insure another vehicle, but they never even called back, so my insurance was split between companies for each vehicle. Today, the other two arrived. I tried to call again. They don't answer. I got offered HALF their best price, 2 other places.
My agent doesn't work for me now
@Rasta Here in the UK that sounds bizzare. We've learned that being a loyal customer doesn't get you a better deal, it gets you a worse one. These days car insurance is mostly done through price comparison websites.https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/are-you-still-paying-the-loyalty-penalty-for-insurance-a7InK7O2ioKh
@tokensane We have Canadian Insurance Bureau that regulates them all. It's not impossible for a rogue one to exist, but after long-time top-spot in the reviews, dropping to such a low level isn't even making it usable.
You can't get insurance without a broker in Canada. I can't call up the insurer and say I don't accept your offer, the broker will do that, to cancel it for me. I have been unable to even reach them to insure another vehicle before the sale was cancelled.
So, I moved on.
@Rasta That's more or less how it works here too: the actual underwriter is like a wholesaler and the brokers are the retailers. When that news story talks about "shopping around" it means talking to different brokers. Have you tried something like https://www.lowestrates.ca/insurance/auto which compares offers between many different brokers? That is increasingly how its done in the UK.
@tokensane Oh, I have, the nature of my post, was to say I moved on. I don't wait. I'm loyal even when prices go up at any of my dealings, if I get service that makes it worth it.
I got better service for half the price.
It's a no-brainer. They are unable to meet my needs