Insurance: Help yourself...Not them

idw said:
As long as the policy PDS doesnt say something is an excluded its included
....
Simply if the policy doesnt say it wont cover something it should be covered under a comprehensive policy, with the exeption of policys that rely on the duty of disclosure (like apia) where if it isn't on the policy or been told there can be loop hole for the insurer to get out of a claim.
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There's always a duty of full disclosure, which gives them a lot of room to argue if you havent.

Basically, insurance companies will find/use any excuse to void a policy &/or refuse the claim.... :shake:

The fine print that alot of people dont read and the conflic that arised from that is the reason i changed industries completely and plan on never going back.
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Yeah, its not a great industry to be in if you care bout people :(
 
not in all policys, if a policy doesnt rely on the duty of disclosure it simply means they become responsible for asking the right questions.

it's a simple matter of if its covered its covered if its not its not, if you knowingly lie its fraud. insurers arent out to look for a reason to reject every claim but if it isn't what the customer paid them to insure they would be silly from a business perspective to cover it. insurance is a massive financial industry and they are there to make money. theres nothing and insurer likes more than someone who keeps paying a policy and never claims

the main reason i left was i tended to care about the customers i had and try my best to help them
 
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I'm paying over a $1K a year on a foz worth 12K. Any way to reduce the insurance cost but still keep the comprehensive?
 
PigSti said:
I'm paying over a $1K a year on a foz worth 12K. Any way to reduce the insurance cost but still keep the comprehensive?
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Get older, without any claims.

Not much more you can do besides increasing excess and reducing agreed value.
And shop around to different insurers.
 
PigSti said:
I'm paying over a $1K a year on a foz worth 12K. Any way to reduce the insurance cost but still keep the comprehensive?
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Geez that sounds high & a little too high in my opinion :huh: But I don't know the full details though.

My last policy for full comp was $600 odd & for $21K agreed value.
I did choose the higher excess option though, which lowered the price of my policy :)

But I do have age & a good record on my side :biggrin:

However, as Davidov says, shop around for the best price :iconwink:
And I'm sure you'll be amazed at how much you can potentially save :)

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Call on renewal and make a price complaint, play the I'm a good driver blah blah story, Almost all the general insurers have a sales "complaint resolution" to move 5-10% or more (depends which one) on renewal price's (aami,gio,shannons,justcar,racv,apia, suncorp)

Look through the policy, look at excess's relating to drivers if you can don't list younger drivers read the pds about "regular drivers" and "non listed driver excess" as removing names can result in extra excesses ontop of what you have as standard eg, 500 standard + 500 for listed young driver vs, 500 standard + 1200 non listed.

Check your address is up to date, it's the right model listed. both of those can make $1-300 differences.

SHOP around the general insurers, aami , suncorp , gio , justcar , apia , shannons are all the same company (suncorp) all same sales staff selling all the different brands, Claims are all the same department, besides some differences in hire cars, emergency glass cover and choice of repair. RACV as well but they are a different company. You'll save more shopping around each year than waiting for the insurance brands loyalty bonus's.

Listen to what the sales staff say if you get one who knows really! their on about, and read the PDS for the brand you go with,

Should be able to get down from 1k.

My personal opinion is to stay away from budget and bingle (bingle is also suncorp)
 
We pay around $800+ for each of ours. Agreed value of $25,000 & $17,000 off the top of my head; low excess.

Remember, much of the premium is to insure the car you hit; not yours ...

Also remember that you have to disclose any and all traffic violations for the last 5 years. CHECK with your (prospective) insurer.

I also agree totally with reading ALL the fine print, including the microdot at the bottom of page 5,723 of the PDS ... :lol:
 
Also remember to remove any finance info if the car was bought on a lone that has since been paid off, insurance costs go up if you lone money for a car as its another party the insurer has to deal with.
 
That's a good outcome, Pigs :biggrin:.

If you are over 50 y.o. and have a clean driving record, you may find that Over Fifties Insurance (a subsidiary of Allianz) will be able to give you an even better deal. Maybe not, but worth a phone call.

It is also worth washing your car so it looks its best, then taking photos of it from all angles both inside and out. If it's stolen and burned out or trashed, it helps in your inevitable fight with some smart-a**ed loss adjuster (assessor) about how much it was worth, and what its condition was.

Also worth keeping a copy of service and repair records that are separate from your car. Any fights that can be avoided by taking simple precautionary measures such as these are more than worth the small extra effort, IMNSHO.
 
Ratbag said:
It is also worth washing your car so it looks its best, then taking photos of it from all angles both inside and out. If it's stolen and burned out or trashed, it helps in your inevitable fight with some smart-a**ed loss adjuster (assessor) about how much it was worth, and what its condition was.
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So offroad shots no good? :rotfl:

Thats a good idea...I might do it myself :iconwink:
 
Ratbag said:
If you are over 50 y.o. and have a clean driving record, you may find that Over Fifties Insurance (a subsidiary of Allianz) will be able to give you an even better deal. Maybe not, but worth a phone call.
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I am over 60 and just ran their Online quote for my 2013 Honda CR-V VTi 4WD, came up with a lesser amount for Agreed Value and an extra $140.00 on the Premium compared with AAMI, so don't hold your breath with this crowd.
Actually I am yet to find one of these over 50's Insurance Companies to better my own choice of Insurance Company, IMO they are a con.
 
^ Gidday Peter

I had several fights over about 10 years with the RACV before changing to AAMI. After a couple of dust-ups with AAMI, they informed me that the Camry insurance would increase by about 15% and Roo1's by about 25% when we moved to a neighbouring suburb in Bayside.

BTW, none of these were to do with claims by me, just changing address to the neighbouring suburb! Touch wood, I haven't been involved in any kind of bingle contributed to by me for over 35 years.

Allianz was less than what we were originally paying for each car, with better options.

Also BTW, I never rely on having any dealings with any company over the Internet. I find that the personal approach works a whole lot better ... :iconwink: ;)
 
Ratbag said:
It is also worth washing your car so it looks its best, then taking photos of it from all angles both inside and out. If it's stolen and burned out or trashed, it helps in your inevitable fight with some smart-a**ed loss adjuster (assessor) about how much it was worth, and what its condition was.
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NachaLuva said:
So offroad shots no good? :rotfl:
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Only water crossing pics, just so you can prove that you do wash you vehicle :lol::lol:


Ratbag said:
After a couple of dust-ups with AAMI, they informed me that the Camry insurance would increase by about 15% and Roo1's by about 25% when we moved to a neighbouring suburb in Bayside.
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Here's another one.
Get an online quote using your actual address, then get another online quote (same company) using you next door neighbours address.
You may be surprised by what happens.
I did just that after seeing a story on ACA & surprise surprise, by parking my Forry next door (eg; house number 10 against house number 12) it was about $80 a year cheaper :huh: really! :huh:

Then take a copy of the 2 quotes (from the same company) to that (same) insurer & ask them to please explain :evil:

And like I said above, you might be a little surprised (& happier) with the outcome :)

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Trailer insurance

[EDIT]

I am double posting this post here as well as in my trailer tent build thread, because I believe it to be of very general application to all our insurance policies - whether car, caravan/trailer, home, etc.

This details the changes I made to my trailer insurance. It had been insured as a standard box trailer with the RACV for 30+ years. With the purchase of the Oztrail Camper 6 and optional sun room, it now comes under a different category for insurance purposes. This involved cancelling the existing policy and issuing a new policy with a different policy number. The RACV arranged this last week when I notified them that the trailer tent had arrived.

As an aside, I was pleasantly surprised at the refund of the unused portion of the old policy. RACV pro-rated it to the last full month of cover, rather than charging me for the current full month of cover!
My no-claim bonus etc were also carried over to the new policy. The new policy costs about $20 p.a. more than the old one for more than double the sum insured.
They also didn't charge any kind of termination or re-insurance fee/s.
Good to see how things have changed for the better, and fairer, over the years!

[end edit]

After nearly an hour on the phone this morning, I managed to get the new camper-trailer insurance policy fixed up properly. It was only issued a week ago!

It pays to read the entirety of the Product Disclosure Statement ("PDS") very carefully, and check how one's item is described on the actual policy document, and how that relates to the defined terms in the PDS ...

RACV had it described as a "camper-trailer" on the policy document, when that term in the definitions section of the PDS is defined as:

"a low profile caravan with a wind-up roof and, most commonly, push-out bed sections at either end of the trailer"

A "tent-trailer" is defined as:

"a box style trailer with a permanently attached, fully enclosed tent section that folds out and is supported by poles."

The definition of "touring caravan" states (in part) that:

"A touring caravan includes a camper-trailer or tent-trailer if shown on your current Certificate of Insurance."

It wasn't ... :(

My current certificate of insurance described my set-up as:

"1982 Custom Folding Camper, 2 berth, 2.13m." and on the front of the document as "Caravan" (= the trailer part!) and "Annexe" (= the Oztrail Camper 6 and all its components and the optional sun room). All of this is completely inaccurate!

This would bring it under the definition of "camper-trailer" above, at best. IOW, it would not have been insured at all!

All fixed now, including having the old policy number included on the new (replacement) policy. The latter adds formal continuity, as my trailer has been insured with them (RACV) for over 30 years as a box trailer, and I have never had any kind of claim on that policy. I don't want to have to prove this chain of events in court, should anything ever come to that. Much easier if all the relevant policy numbers are recorded on the current policy document ...

The re-issued policy document will include the proper description as "tent-trailer" and will include all the various components by brand and company description in the detail section on the rear of the policy document.

The old policy number also includes a history of the repairs/replacements and modifications made to the trailer over a period of around 18 months.

As I said - it pays to read the policy document and the PDS very carefully, even if it is a right royal PITA!
 
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Thinking of changing my insurance policies from RACV. On market value they are quite low as to the actual value. I do get unlimited windscreen replacement with them that has been good. I actually did claim 3 windscreens in one year under one policy .
On agreed value again they are quite limited on the value:(
Thinking of going with AAMI on agreed value I can get a far higher value at less cost than RACV. The only down side is I can only get one windscreen a year.
Has anyone had good / bad experiences with AAMI ?
 
I can tell stories about RACV, AAMI, etc, etc ...

ALL insurers can be mongrels. I have learned the hard way that to play hard ball with them is the only way to deal with them. Always politely and nicely, of course ...

Agreed sum on the SH is nearly $23K (current for a year from a week or two ago).
SG is $22K, renewable this April, so will be less.

Premiums aren't low ... Allianz through Over 50s.
 
G'day RB,
RACV will do around $5,900 max agreed value for the 2002 SG, for for approx $770, AAMI will do a maximum agreed value of $7,488 for $541 ($100 off at the moment) both on same excess of $625.
I qualify for Over 50s, so I might check them out noting your comments.
 
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