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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to try to take out a financial policy, as woman, in my own name, in 2009?

63 replies

gingersarah · 06/04/2009 13:36

I am trying to get life assurance - a joint policy for me and DP as our first lo is due soon.

I researched prices
I got quotes
I applied online
I had a long phone call in which I answered lots of questions about my medical history.

Then I got a letter, addressed to me individually (well sort of - my name was spelt wrong actually), in which I was asked to sign to confirm my medical stuff.

DP got three letters, addressed to him individually, with policy terms and stuff about premiums etc. There are more letters from the company today, addressed to him individually, I don't know what they are as I don't open other people's post and he is at work.

I called the company and they said that was how they had received the application - that he was the main applicant. They can't change the way the application comes through to them (although they did agree to correct the misspelt name).

I called the broker and they were foul to me. They said yes they had reversed our names on the application, they wouldn't change it, they always put the man first, no one else has complained in 9 years, I was being unreasonable, couldn't I just open his post, couldn't I just wait for him to come back to see what was in the letters, they would absolutely never put the application through with a woman's name as the main applicant where there was a man on the policy so he is always going to be approached about anything that relates to the policy and I just have to put up with it.

I feel like I have fallen through a worm hole into the 19th century. How can I not be allowed to manage my own financial affairs?

I have a complaints address for the broker but the name of the person is the person who was being horrible (I mean really rude) on the phone. Does anyone know if there is a body to which I can escalate this?

OP posts:

Habbibu · 06/04/2009 13:38

Good God. That's astounding. The Financial Services Authority might be a place to start - no is 0300 500 5000 .

Good luck - am v. shocked by that. I'd badmouth the broker, personally!

OhBling · 06/04/2009 13:41

You could probably escalate to the actual company that sold you the insurance - ie shop the broker and tell them how unhappy you are with the service.

Otherwise, IFAs do have a regulatory body, I'm just not sure who it is. As a first step, the FSA is your best bet.

But overall, am GOBSMACKED! This blows my mind. I can almost understand an old fashioned broker just automatically changing the policy to be in DH's name, but to refuse to accept you're unhappy about that?

Miggsie · 06/04/2009 13:48

I managed to take out a policy with legal and general and I was first named...but I didn't give Mr or Mrs or Ms, I just had our initials and surnames (which are different).

I'd cancel the entire thing myself....the broker gets commission, do you really want your money going to people like that?

AnguaVonUberwald · 06/04/2009 13:51

i think thats shocking, I would complain to the FSA, i would complain to the insurance company (who accept business from the brokers) and I would immediatly cancel the policy and write to the brokers, explaining why you did so and naming the individual.

Original poster

gingersarah · 06/04/2009 13:52

This gets better - the broker has just called me back to say that I haven't paid their fee and that "given the way I have behaved", if they don't get their fee by the end of the day they will cancel the application.

I haven't received a request for the fee - they have spelt my name wrong on the policy documents so they may well have spelt it wrong in my email address too, in which case I won't have received their request for the fee. I pointed this out but this was treated as me trying to wriggle out of payment. So I asked them to re-send the email, confirmed the email address, and explained that since the requests for premiums had started going to my partner I wasn't sure who was supposed to be paying what. This is the whole point! This is why I need to manage this myself!

I was told "We are a small company and we can choose who to work with. If we don't receive your payment by the end of the day we will cancel your policy."

OP posts:

Sbeanmum · 06/04/2009 13:54

YANBU! If you haven't signed up for the policy then it is not too late to pull out of the whole thing.

Completely concur with Miggsie on the commission point.

It sounds legally dubious that they swtiched the names over in the first place - can they do that?

Am outraged for you

frogs · 06/04/2009 13:55

Blame the broker. I'm first named on all our financial stuff from mortgage through investments to insurance. It just works out that way since (a) I earn more than Dh and (b) I organise all the financial stuff. No-one has ever queried it.

Oh, I did once get a letter from a private health insurance company (PPP) (policy in my name again, through my work) after I'd phoned them to discuss dd1's eye hospital treatment. The letter began:

Dear Dr Frogs
Following your wife's telephone call regarding your daughter's eye appointment...

I was irritated enough to phone them up to point out that I was Dr Frogs and I didn't in fact have a wife, but I think my wit was wasted on the call-centre operator. But I couldn't have just let it go uncommented.

Habbibu · 06/04/2009 13:55

broker must be doing very well to pick and choose clients in current climate.

trixymalixy · 06/04/2009 13:59

Tell them to take a running jump, that you were going to not proceed with the application given the way they have behaved!!

Then make a complaint about them to the FSA and the insurance company.

ABetaDad · 06/04/2009 14:01

gingersarah - just bin them.

They are being foul and you do not deserved to be talked to like that. They do not deserve your custom and if they are really that rubbish now it will not get any better. As for ringing up and ddemanding your money -well that takes the biscuit. Has no one hear dof cooling off periods.

Gaaaargggh - which Century are we living in?

Original poster

gingersarah · 06/04/2009 14:02

Thank you everyone for making me feel less of a mentalist.

It will cost more to get the policy directly (not sure how much yet) but I agree, I don't think I can deal with / give my money to this broker.

I am going to have to start again, dammit, one thing I thought was ticked off the list is back on again!

I can't see how it can be legal? Is this not simply discriminatory?

OP posts:

sis · 06/04/2009 14:02

Please name and shame the brokers!

kickassangel · 06/04/2009 14:05

i think you should contact the insurance co direct, making it clear that you are cancelling the policy because of the broker, citing in detail, who & why.
if the broker has any of your bank details, i would also contact the bank to ensure that absolutely NO payments go to that broker at all. ever.
then i would contact the FSA, with a written complaint.
then i would write to the broker, and if possible, quote some sex discrimination acts, and inform them of the steps taken so far, and insist on a written apology or threaten them with court action for sex discrimination.

i would prob stop short of going to court, but only cos it's too much hassle.

i am insensed by this. what an arsehole!!

sorry, i think i need to lie down & breath deeply now.

ABetaDad · 06/04/2009 14:05

"We are a small company and we can choose who to work with. If we don't receive your payment by the end of the day we will cancel your policy."

Absolute tosh!

You have not got a policy anyway until it is accepted and signed off by the underwriter. The broker does not do that. They broker the selling of the policies - they do not underwrite.

Bin them.

shonaspurtle · 06/04/2009 14:09

gingersarah, check on www.quidco.com that your insurance company isn't listed. If it is, and you put through the application online via the link on Quidco then you'll get the commission that normally goes to the broker (the site will tell you how much "cash back").

I wouldn't choose insurance on how much cash back I get, but if you know it's the insurance you want it's worth checking if you can get a deal.

Definitely dump the broker. They sound completely insane.

Sbeanmum · 06/04/2009 14:09

One thing to consider, if you do decide to go ahead with the policy because it's cheaper - how much of a nightmare will the company be to deal with in future?? If they can't be nice when trying to entice you to take out a policy with them, they are likely to be a million times more difficult when it comes to paying the policy out?

You'd have thought in the current climate that they would be tripping over themselves to get new business.

Please please please don't give these people your cash!

tiggerlovestobounce · 06/04/2009 14:12

Shocking behaviour from the broker. Please dont give them your money. If they are this rude before they have your business what will thye be like if you sign up to the policy?

FigmentOfYourImagination · 06/04/2009 14:15

what a dick he sounds OP

FWIW, I recently took out a life insurance policy (for me) and did it all online (aside from signing and returning the paperwork) with Norwich Union. Brilliant. No fuss, good cover, affordable premiums.

Definitely complain to the company and mention the FSA in your formal letter. If you do not get a satisfactory response from the company I would inform the FSA

OhBling · 06/04/2009 14:16

And take the moral high ground - don't pay, and when he calls to complain say, "Oh, but as you were such a rude, unpleasant, sexist firm, I decided I didn't want the policy and frankly, didn't to waste the time to call you and tell you that so I was happy to take up your kind offer of cancelling my policy."

Although, the fact that they're trying to demand payment from you is actually a bit fishy to me - that is not a normal way to do business.

Original poster

gingersarah · 06/04/2009 14:21

Thanks everyone.

I just spoke to someone at the insurance company who was extremely nice but can't get the premium down to anything like the same level unless I deal through the broker. The broker's commission is less than two months' difference in the premium.

(I was ridiculously relieved by the reasonableness of the guy I was talking to - he totally gets it and said "you have been essentially sold something completely different from what you applied for, without your consent, and it should be a simple administrative matter to correct it")

Sbeanmum, I agree - this broker can't be an organisation I do business with, not ethically, not practically. (Cavendish - got hold of them through moneysavingexpert)

I think what I need to do is find some way of approaching the insurance company (Legal & General) to get the policy that they have already agreed to at something like the same premium - through another broker? Anyone know how to do this?

OP posts:

shonaspurtle · 06/04/2009 14:24

Is this your policy?

£50 cashback via Quidco. You deal direct with Legal and General. The application must be made via the link and online.

Habbibu · 06/04/2009 14:25

Contact moneysavingexpert and get on their forums about this company.

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 06/04/2009 14:27

Wouls also let moneysaving expert know of your V bad experince as if it's recommended on their site they ought to know!!!

Have you tried another broker to see if they'll price match ???

And I also agree with who ever said if they are a nightmare when trying to start a policy god only knows what they would be like if you really needed them! ( i wonder if moneysaving expert has made them a bit cocky (iyswim)!!!

Shambolic · 06/04/2009 14:35

Don't normally post at work but this is unbelievable!

Having worked in insurance for years though, in a sector where it's all brokers, I can confirm that it is one of the last srongholds of sexist tosspots. (At least one of the last strongholds of sexist tosspots who don't pretend to be anything else).

What a wanker.

Glad the person at the insurance company was good, hope you can find a way of getting the policy as cheap elsewhere. You have had excellent advice on this thread, just wanted to add my outrage!

retiredgoth2 · 06/04/2009 14:45

....ditch the broker.

In fact, ditch brokers full stop.

I note that (in addition to the gross sexism) they made small factual errors in your application.

...even small errors are important.

We had three joint policies of various sorts, two taken direct, one via a broker as part of the mortgage.

...when, sadly, I had to claim on these policies the two taken direct paid without demur. The third, via a broker, contained small inaccuracies as a result of broker error and thus initially refused to pay.

It took a year and 10 k to a private detective ('Buffy the Insurance Slayer', as he was dubbed) to prove the fault was the brokers, and make the claim...

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