Be Pru-pared (Prudential Insurance)

Member Name: utero

Product:	Prudential Insurance
Date:	07/08/02 (432 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly Staff, Competitive Premiums

Disadvantages: See Opinion

Insurance, it's something we all love to hate but we do need it and without it the world wouldn't be a good place at all. Car Insurance is something that I hope evey motorist has in the UK. Sadly that isn't the case but then I'm not going to moan or berate those that don't have it, it's their funeral after all.

I work in car insurance so I know what to look out for. Recently I bought a better car for myself, I'd had enough of my 14-year old Peugeot becoming like a freezer in winter. It was time to fork out more cash for once and go fully comprehensive on a Ford Fiesta LX. My renewal came through from the company I've entrusted with my money for the past 4 years. But I now had the knowledge that different insurance companies target different drivers so I decided to hve a ring around to see if I could save money.

With 5 years No Claims Bonus in my posession I was looking for a good deal and finding that most major companies weren;t really in the ball park. You can always find an average price amongst most companies. Anything below that is a good bet.

Prudential were the last company on my list, the representative was very engaging and sold the policy well. He told me what I wanted to hear as I told him what he wanted to hear. Prudential apparantly like young drivers who have some NCB. The price quoted was under £300 with two named drivers on the policy, that was a £45 saving on my renewal price and I instantly gave the go ahead to set the policy up.

This is where the fun starts, the schedule arrives through my door and I check it through. During the call I had written down the dreaded excesses on the policy clear as day. Yet the schedule was telling me that I was required to pay £300 towards any accidental damage claims. This is because I'm an in-experienced driver under 24 years old. I'm so in-experienced because I've only been driving 6 years with no claims in the last five and no endors
ements on my licence. Was I told this on the phone by the enthusiastic salesman? Was I (expletive). Clear as day I was told £150 for all drivers and now it had doubled.

So a call to Prudential seemed in order. After all it could have been a mistake but unfortunately it wasn't at all. I have to say that all the staff I spoke to on the matter were very helpful and didn't sound depressed in the slightest. However the fact that no one seemed to be able to rectify the matter didn't install a lot of faith in me. I know that all calls are recorded in the business in order to maintain a compliance with Insurance Standards. To reduce the excess to what I was qouted would have required me to pay an extra £35 which I'm not prepared to do simply because it's not what I was qouted.

I am now in two minds about what to do with my renewal date quickly approaching. Do I entrust my money to a company that have already made mistakes before I've even started with them. Sadly I have a budget and may have to give in the price at the end of the day.

The lesson to be learned is always double check the excesses on a policy when you call companies for insurance. It saves time and hassle.

Luckily Prudental sent out a customer comment form with the paperwork, it's gives me opportunity to tell them just what I think. If anything changes I'll be sure to let you all know.

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