Bennetts's admin fee craze

[jchevali]

I've finally switched away from Bennetts, I've now become a Devitt customer. I feel the need to say a word about why I'm leaving them: to give feedback about the company to other consumers.

Bennetts upfront prices had been competitive, but I've always been upset at what I'd call their 'admin fee sting', that is, charging a £25 'admin fee' every time I would contact them, e.g. to update my address, or like, when I passed my A2 test, and I told them about it (in contrast, my car insurers had never done that to us).

Last week, I had sent Bennetts a letter, telling them about my recent involvement with SERV (also known as the Blood Runners, see https://www.serv.org.uk/ ). This afternoon, I got a voice message left on my home home, in quite an alarming tone, telling me to call them 'urgently', and by the end of today. I thought, they're either going to tell me my cover is suspended (due to my letter), perhaps, until I change my cover type or I leave SERV, or at least they're going to slam another one of their admin charges on me. No way!

So I've phoned Devitt and arranged cover starting Saturday.

So far so good. However, when I phoned Bennetts to tell them I was cancelling my policy, not only they've not given me any refunds, but also they've told me that I owed them £16. Why? Well, they said that after being on cover for 6+ months this year I was only entitled to get 20% of my premiums back, whilst they'd still got to charge me a £40 'cancellation fee' which apparently I had agreed to, by signing in to their terms and conditions. The balance, due by me, was £16.

Ain't that crazy? Bennett's is charging me - to take my cover away! And I've spent again over 6 months worth of cover, which I should've had already, had Bennetts not been so stingy. It was their last kick though. I'm not gonna use them ever again, and I'm definitely not recommending them to people.

[Flip]

You're suprised there was a cancellation fee?

[Cannon]

The admin fee's unforunatley are not just reserved for Bennett's use.
A couple of years ago I was with Carole Nash, and when I changed address I contacted them (obviously) and explained the situation and was told that there was a flat fee of £25. Now as my policy only had 2 weeks till it expired I thought, no problem I'll simply leave it alone and wait the time. The lady on the other end of the phone told me that to insure the bike I had to tell them wherethe bike is kept in an obvious attempt to extract the fee. Unfortunatley for her, the previous address was at my parents house so I told her the bike was still kept there

Moral of the story is always the same, you pays your money and takes your choice. I for one will never go back to Carole Nash as I feel that their customer service is appalling, when in fact they could have averted this outcome via a little common sense.

With regards to Bennetts, just simply look at the advertising/sponsership they do, this has to be paid for somehow, think of your fee's as a tip that pays for the bubbly ay the shareholders meeting
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Staffs Riders Forum

[Nufkamp]

I took out my insurance with Bennets last year, for a very reasonable £68 plus the legal cover etc, which totalled out at £123 which I didn;t think was bad for a born again biker on a 750.
In April I bought myself a new Triumph, and phoned Bennett's to add it to the insurance.

"I'm sorry sir, we can't add this bike to your existing policy."

"Why not"

"Because your policy is the wrong type, you'll have to insure it separately."

"And how much will that be?"

Tappitty tap.

"£159"

"Can you put the Kwaker on the same policy"

"Yes but we'll have top cancel your existing policy, and theres a charge of £25 for that."

"What about my no-claims bonus of 10 months?"

"You'd lose that."

"How much for both bikes then?"

Tappity tap.

"£193"

"So you want to charge me £193 plus £25 to cancel the other policy?"

"Yes."

"I'll get back to you."

I got both bikes insured through the Triumph dealer with NIG for £169, and just let the old policy run it's course.This week my renewal came through from Bennetts.

'The best price we can offer through our extensive range of Insurers is £173.67 with Zenith.'

Back on the phone to Bennetts.
"Hello, I've just had my renewal notice and I wont be re-insuring with you."

"May I ask why?"

"Mainly price but also through your inflexibility and punitive admin charges. Goodbye."

So despite accruing 10% no claims with Bennetts in the previous year, my actual premium went up from almost 70 quid to 120 odd.
If that's the best they can do then they need to try a bit bloody harder.
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[iooi]

To start with this is not a defence of the Co's

Well you read the t/c.

Perhaps you would like to take this forward under the new consumer rights that the OFT have just brought out.

Remeber Bennets are not alone in doing this, most bike ins brokers do the same. On that point they have to inform the Ins company who are covering you, so they do have costs to cover in the process.
On your car you are often dealing with the company who are providing the Ins, not a 3rd party broker.
Same whith changing or adding a bike. The actual company providing the cover may not allow you to add a bike or swop to a diffrent one, as they don't cover that type of bike.
A common problem when people pass their tests and move from 125 to a larger bike. Many Ins co will only cover certain types/sizes or engines. So its not the brokers fault when they tell you sorry can't do that, all they are is the messenger.
Again with the cancellation % it will be the ins co that dictate them, not the brokers.
If i remember correct Devvits have a simular policy as well.

As to renewal. Just take that with a pinch of salt, again remember policy prices are changing all the time, so they may quote that price one day, but try again a diffrent day and it can have changed either way.
Personally when i get a renewall i always go back the their site and run it through again. Often brings up a cheaper price. As does doing the same with car/house ins.
Pop over to Quidco and run it through them and Bennets will give you £20 back, as will devitt
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[ms51ves3]

[St0rmer66]

[Nufkamp]

I dont know what these clowns are playing at. Today I received a second renewal notice and the price has gone up by £25 from last weeks one!
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[Chally]

I had a similar problem with Bennetts had my p5 GSX600f insured with them and changed my bike to a RF600R when I phoned upto give them the details I was expecting a small charge for the admin but was told that my policy didn't cover "that type of bike" so I would have to set up a new policy. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought a GSX600f and a RF600R were both sports tourers? So needless to say cos the new bike was sat there in my garden I ended up cancelling one policy only to take out a new one and lost out on the no claims I'd earnt running upto the cancellation date. There's only one winner with insurance companies and thats "them"

[jchevali]

I am stunned to learn that other people have had the same experience. Thanks for your testimonies, guys.

[Moonie]

Bennets are shocking. I know it's a ped and they probably want rid, but they quoted me £1500 on my £650 bike with £200 excess
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[kal9001]

Heres a thaught...When they say "bla bla bla the best quite I have is from AXA for £xxx" couldnt you just hang up and contact AXA directley and skip any middle man fees?

This also neatley does away with any differance in insurer with diferent bikes as they already told you they will insure your bike
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[ms51ves3]

[Moonie]

TPFT I got a Quote for, ended up going for Lexham, £193
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[st3v3]

[Syx]

[ms51ves3]

[sekwah275]

Thing to watch out with Devitt is they have exactly the same admin fee as you mentioned with Bennetts, although i think it was only £20 to change address (still bloody insane).

Called Devitt today to ask if they still wanted to keep me when i renew, seeing as their re-quote was £1200 and H&R have offered £840 (both frighteningly pricey but still a big difference), and Devitt offered to waive the £9 renewal fee to try and keep me....

No.
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Current Ride: CBR 600RR07 Graphite/White

[Morritt]

Heh, I just found out the hard way too, bought my first bike insurance yesterday from Bennetts for a shiny nrew bike I'm picking up next week, then found a *much* cheaper quote, so cancelled the Bennetts one, costing me £30 in the process ... sure they had to send out forms and such ... grr, serves me for being so hasty. Still the new insurance company minus the Bennets fee is ~£150 cheaper!

[ms51ves3]

If you cancel in within 14 days you are supposed to get a full refund.

[Harold_Shand]

Another thing with Bennetts... check the small print, I don't think they insure you for a pillion or to ride other bikes.

Carole Nash have been good, I think. A wee bit more pricey, but I've always found the customer service fine. Their admin fee is £17, which is a lot cheaper than the £25 that seems to be the going rate. They are all bastards, though, don't get me wrong.
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BCF's 6th favourite poster 2009-2010

Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[ms51ves3]

[Bishbash]

All these stories above sound very farmiliar. I have had the same experiences with Bennetts, I have been with them for 5 years, its time to experience someone better. This cropped up after me buying my new R1. I did a bike swap for the existing polocy for £130 for the last 3 months of the policy.

So renewal time has come, now considdering I am 26, 6 years NCB, no convictions, nor accidents and they sent me their 'best quote' of £2078.54 FC . I got a quote on the bike before I bought it of £950 through Carol Nash. I have now had the bike for 3 months, its value is less, I have had experience on it etc etc. Went back to Carol Nash for another quote and found it is a bit lower. I am absolutely stunned to see that Bennetts have quoted me over 2k for a years insurance. unbelivable. My ZZR1100 was only £400.

So I too will be fishing for the best price at the weekend. I am pretty certain I will get a quote for around 700 - 800 quid FC.

I I almost forgot the best bit, about 3 years ago I tried to do a bike swap (125 to a 600) on my existing policy and they said they could not do it and offered me a new policy, so I said I will phone them back, which I did, and got a different sales rep on the phone, I asked about the new policy and she quoted me a price with the SAME insurer as I was with So they can insure my new bike then, but wanted more wonga. I ended up getting a bike swap after a lot of argueing! That was a funny day!

So Bennets can go screw themselves for sending me that £2k quote.

BB
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My current bikes are - YZF-R1 & GS 500 E

Trackday videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/bishbash13

[dch]

[moog]

Bennetts charged me a £25 admin fee because I changed bikes...then told me that they wouldn't be able to provide me with the fully comp cover I had on my previous bike (GPZ500) but I'd have to go third party only on my KLX250 till my renewal comes up in August. Needless to say I definately will not be insuring my bikes with them again.

No wonder they can afford to sponsor and have their name plastered all over BSB...the amount they must make out of us mugs probably covers the sponsorship cost ten times over.
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