AIBU to want to rage against Direct Line?

[catsnickedallmypens]

Been with Direct Line for car insurance and breakdown cover since mid 90's when I passed my driving test. Had house insurance with them for over 20 years.

I just rang them to put my sis temporarily on my car insurance when she visits in a few weeks. Charge for that is £2 something. Fine.

Whilst I had my documents to hand I noticed my DP's name is still on my policy. DP no longer drives so thought I'd ask them to take his name off whilst I was talking to them. Charge to do that £57!!!!

I am furious. I will not be renewing anything with them when contracts are up. I am fuming!!

[Allthebestnamesareused]

If it costs to remove him just leave him on until you renew then?

[messyjessy17]

Fuming about what? That they aren't psychic and somehow know that your dp no longer drives your car?

What are you furious about?

[HandMini]

I misread this as District Line and was about to launch into competitive rage about the Northern. Sorry, unhelpful!

[meowchi]

1. Being loyal with insurance is most of the time expensive. Check and change each time.
   
2. They ask you to check the documents each time you renew. If this is not a new change your DP, you should have noticed.
   
3. More experienced drivers lower the cost, also insurance views stability of a partner etc as a good thing.

[catsnickedallmypens]

It costs £2 in admin to add a name but £57 to remove one. Just how does that add up messy? Or are you just being goady for the sake of it?

[Ginmakesitallok]

Just leave him on then?

[SandyDenny]

It's not a charge to take him off is it , isn't it that they are increasing the premium?

Having more than 1 named driver makes the premium lower, just leave him on

[WishfulThanking]

Just don't remove him. Problem solved.

[Sirzy]

Is that an admin fee though or the change to your policy?

Often having someone else on your insurance helps to reduce the cost so taking that person off would increase the cost

[deepestdarkestperu]

It’s because your premiums will change - it’s not an admin fee.

[hiyasminitsme]

Why on earth have you stayed with one company for 20+ years? I save at least £100 each year by moving.

[sharklovers]

I’d be more concerned about the thousands you’ve wasted by not moving each year!

[catsnickedallmypens]

She said it was an admin fee but I could be wrong, I was having problems understanding her. She was very nice but had a strong accent so I kept having to ask her to repeat herself, it got quite embarrassing at points.

I'm sure I didn't pay anything when I removed my ex's name from the policy years ago.

Deep how does having 1 driver less on the policy make me a bigger risk if it is a change in my premium? Not being arsy here just failing to comprehend how I might be a higher risk than before?

[LakieLady]

I've just raged at Esure.

I always renew my car insurance be using the various comparison sites to get the best deal. I just checked my bank statement and found that Esure had helped themselves to almost £200 by using a "recurring visa transaction" that I had not agreed to. I've already renewed elsewhere, paid £2 more, but got breakdown cover included.

In fairness, my rage was dissipated by a charming man who apologised profusely and promised me that the money would be back in my account on Monday.

It makes me wonder how many times they get away with this because a lot of people don't check their bank accounts though.

[Kidsarekarma]

It makes it a bigger risk because in theory you're not sharing the driving.

I had this explained to me, also by Direct Line because I'm in the same position as you. My ex is still on my insurance as it's cheaper - and we've been divorced for 5 years! (DL are aware and are fine about it)

[aaaaargghhhhelpme]

Your premiums will change.

I only learnt to drive a few years ago. DH is on my insurance as he drives my car occasionally. He brought my insurance down by £300.

But don't you have renewal stuff sent to you every year - and you have to check it over?

I'm with direct line and had no issues with them. They've been really helpful (and less than half what Churchill wanted to charge me)

[Sirzy]

I have a clean licence and full no claims. My insurance is still reduced by having my Mum on it though (who doesn’t have full NCB)

[messyjessy17]

It costs £2 in admin to add a name but £57 to remove one. Just how does that add up messy? Or are you just being goady for the sake of it

Are you always so rude? And wrong?
Thats not an admin fee, thats the amount your insurance was reduced by the spouse driving discount.

[niccyb]

That’s common with any insurance company as they always charge an admin fee??
Just leave him on till the policy renews not sure if it requires mumsnet!

[Bluelonerose]

In theory then can you put someone else on your insurance even if they don't drive your car?
Obviously they have full driving license etc.

[TuckersBadLuck]

My ex-DP and I have deliberately stayed as named drivers on each other's policies for the 10 years since we split up, it's cheaper that way because it splits the risk, allegedly. It makes no sense to me either.

My ex's father was also on both policies until he died. Quite why having a septuagenarian with a gammy arm, bad eyesight and a bad driving record lowered our policies is beyond me, but the cost went up without him on them.

[lionsleepstonight]

Yes, second drivers tend to reduce the policy cost (unless v young or with penalty points etc) everyone knows that.
But if you want to save some real ££££ you need to change companies. You must be paying over the odds if you've been with them so long.

[Storminateapot]

We have saved hundreds of ££'s by putting myself & DH on DD's first policy now she's passed her test. I doubt we'll ever drive the car unless to shift it about on the drive, we have our own cars.

[Floralnomad]

I've been with direct Line for a few years , house , car and dog , every year I check prices for comparable policies elsewhere then tell them the price and they have always so far matched or bettered it , so it's not necessarily true that staying with one company means higher prices . Just leave the dp on the policy , what does it matter .

[catsnickedallmypens]

It's bonkers but am a bit less pissed off to find that it's probably a change in premium rather than admin charge. I wasn't told about that charge until the end of the call and as I said I was having difficulty understanding her. She certainly didn't make it clear that the premiums change under the circumstances.

Although similarly to another PP the 2nd named driver on my policy has health issues that, if he was still driving, would've made him a much riskier driver. I'm 50, been driving for 22 years with no prior claims or accidents, I could understand it being higher if I'd just passed my test and was young. Oh well, it's given me the incentive to shop around now.