Swinton bike insurance - another one to avoid

[Robby]

As you may know, my Harley was stolen recently. It was insured with Highway, with Swinton as the broker.

Highway were very good. They paid a fair price for the bike in under a week.

Swinton however, not so pleased. There was a clause on my policy that stated it would be cancelled in the event of a total loss. Irritating, but clearly stated on the policy. I took the policy out in May, so that's 8 months worth of policy wiped out, with no option of switching it to another bike.

Then I get a letter through from Swinton, asking me for £65. £15 for part of the cashback deal I got when taking out the policy, and a £50 cancellation charge. That's £50 to automatically cancel a policy when instructed to do so by Highway, then asking me to pay for the privilege.

I spoke to them on the phone and explained that they were taking the piss. They were happy to waive it if I took out a new policy with them (which would cost about £100 more than anyone else), but otherwise it was just a case of "computer says no").

Two things:
1. What happens if I just don't pay it? The insurance was paid in full at the start of the policy, so no credit agreement to break.
2. If anyone feels like destroying Swinton in classic BCF/Google ranking abuse, that would amuse me.

[anthony_r6]

If they're cancelling the policy aren't you supposed to be entitled to money 8months of your policy money back?
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[CaNsA]

[.....]

They're cancelling it, not you, tell them to swivel for the money.

[Shaft]

Did it say in the small print that this fee would be payable?

If you don't pay it, they will (quite quickly) pass it to some debt recovery chimps, who will hound you for a bit, then give up.

Same thing happened to me with Bennetts (another shower of shits) when they auto renewed my poilcy, at more than double the previous year's premium (and more than double several other companies).

Mine was on monthly DD, so I cancelled that, told the finance company and told Bennetts, all well within the 14 day cooling off period, but then some bunch of knuckle draggers started chasing me for 60 quid.

They went away after a couple of months of being ignored.
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[Marmalade]

As the cancellation and loss of 8 months worth of insurance money (for me £260) plus the £65 for other bullshit is as a driect result of your insured loss then you should be able to claim for it.

Put in another claim for your extra losses on this.

Swinton motorcycle insurance are shit. I had dealings with them a couple of years back. Never again. Fuck swinton insurance.
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[Asharin]

I'm in full agreement with you and others Swinton are shit. I made a post about them in July, too lazy to look it up though

[Hetzer]

I have my current car-insurance with Swintons (they were the cheapest). They won't have next years. Not to mention the absolute barrage of texts, phone-calls and emails I've had from them in the last few months trying to whore me their non-vehicle related shite.

Swinton: scum.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[nowhere.elysium]

Provided there's nothing compelling written into the contract regarding cancellation fees through loss of the vehicle, then I'd tell them to shove it.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Musketeer]

All insurance companies are there to take your money. And they are equally bad. They all charge you whenever you change your details or cancel your policy. It's just how it is.

I don't believe that Swinton is worse that the others i.e. eBike, Bennetts etc.
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Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke

[jetski]

I'm with swinton now and I had no end of trouble giving them my no claims bonus proof. When I took out the policy they asked how many no claims I had. They did not state that it had to be bike insurance so I put down my 10 years car no claims. They simply asked for how many years no claims did I have so I put it down. I figured it's only to prove wether I'm likely to make a claim anytime soon and I think it suggests it's unlikely. Anyway the next question was how long have I been riding, this was 1 day so I figured they would work it out. Well it wasn't until after they took my money did they get their ass in their hands about it, started demanding ridiculous amounts of money and if I refused then I would be subjected to cancellation charges

anyway I told them if they wish to cancel the policy that is up to them but I will require my money back. After about a month of emailing I had a letter accepting my no claims bonus and no other charges would happen

my plan is to hold on to this letter and keep my mouth shut

but in your case as they are cancelling it they should give you your 8 months back and in my opinion your £50 cancellation fee. If they think they are entitled to 50 beans if you cancel, they should be prepared to hand over 50 if they cancel. I'm not sure if that would hold up in court mind lol

don't give up mate, and don't let them take you for a ride, insurance companies don't seem to mind trying to rip the last penny they can out of you whether lawfully or not. Not very professional in my opinion.

Tesco are by far the most straight up insurers I have been involved with but I simply can't go with anyone that is not the cheapest, daft really

[TheDonUK]

Swinton are massive cunts, They were the cheapest at the time to insure my Cub90, i paid the total policy (120 odd pound) on the day i brought the bike.

When i sold it to a BCF'er with about 2 months left on the policy, i thought nothing of it, let it run out, i was not even collecting NCB as i had the R1 insured with MCE (another bunch of cunts).

Anyway a few weeks after selling the bike i get calls saying, its been insured elsewhere and that i am now liable for a cancellation fee in the region of 60 pounds.... For a £120 policy with 2 months left??

All the same computer says no stuff...

I just ignored them in the end, passed onto the debt collectors, hasseled with various coloured bits of paper which were filed in the bin, then nothing for a while, then another lot, and now nothing...

Swinton and MCE to be avoided
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[Hetzer]

They tried that "no-claims proof BS" on me too (Swinton). When I told the girl I had a recording of the entire quote and that at no point was I asked for a "proof" she said she'd sort it out herself. It's a con to try and screw more money.

Let's not forget that all insurance companies are filth; it's just that some are filthier filth than others, and Swinton are one of the filthiest.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[lozzypop1]

So basically, they are charging you to make a claim??
If they insist you are to pay a fee for a cancellation due to making a claim, you should point out to them that you have comprehensive insurance. As this is a charge related to a claim, it should come under your cover?
As they never informed you of this outside fee, it would surely appear you have been mis-sold insurance? Point this out to them and that a complaint to the ombudsman is in order.
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[BenR]

Feel for you matey I had problems with Swinton at the end of last year. I took out a policy with them for the nexus (£57 odd FC) as they were the cheapest. I had problems retrieving proof of no claims so I sent them photocopies of my previous two policies & a letter of PONC from a previous insurer but they went & cancelled my policy anyway even after I wrote to them explaining the situation. They then sent me a letter telling me there was a cancellation charge of £50 plus some sort of reimbursement to the insurer. They demanded an £7.86 or something from me & gave me seven days to pay up I wrote back telling them to go fuck themselves. I made an official complaint in writing demanding a full refund regardless of any cover given or I'd take it up with the Ombudsman. To date they haven't responded & I haven't had time to do anything about it so I've just written it off. You're right though they're absolute numpties.
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Current bikes: suzuki RG125UN wolf. Yamaha MT-07