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My insurance was due for renewal at the weekend.
Unfortunately due to stupid new Government rules that insist on you not letting it be uninsured for a microsecond - even if you are not using it, coupled with sorting out in the nick of time the restoration of my NCD (having resolved in my favour the accident 3 years ago), I was left without the luxury of being able to shop around to get a good deal.
So, I've renewed with MCE.

It seems they have a cunning little scam going - and so I'm warning you before you all fall foul of it.

They no longer send you a proper renewal listing the cost of your policy and the terms and conditions - just a letter telling you to call them as it's due to be renewed.

Well having spoken to them on the phone and reminded them that they are meant to be working on 7yrs NCD rather than the 3 they first mentioned, we got to a premium I could live with. I mentioned the modifications were the same as last year other than I'd returned the oil tank and cooler to standard (I always send them a written list of mods). Paid my premium and were good to go.

Documents came through .... wrongly ..... stating no mods to bike and a few other errors. I've corrected this to them in writing.

Anyway ..... today I get a phone call from them asking me if I'd received my documents and were checking all was OK.
It was then that the scam kicked in ....... and the first time they bothered to mention that my policy excess has been hiked up to £600. Last year it had also taken a sharp hike to £350 but they've nearly doubled it again.
...... and then we got to the real crux of the call ..... she wanted to sell me an insurance policy to cover the excess - so in the event of an accident I'd receive a payout for the bike under the normal insurance (less £600) and I'd also receive another payout from this new policy for the £600 excess.
Then the punchline .... the premium for this policy to cover the hiked excess that they'd not informed me about .... £205 - about the same as the policy they'd sold me for my comprehensive insurance on the bike - effectively suggesting to me I double my premium.

Sharp practice - Certainly
A Scam - to bl@@dy right.
Chances of them getting my business next year ...... well, unless the rest of the industry is playing this game ... s@d-all.

So - BEWARE (especially when dealing with MCE)



Excuse the rant - just a bit pissed off as too many things going wrong ... parent's roof falling down (I have to sort it) ... last night water pouring through my kitchen ceiling (though fortunately the cause wasn't quite as bad as I first feared) .... mobile phone broke yesterday .... etc etc

Funny you should mention that as we got a letter frome swinton today asking us to give them a ring to review the policy.
I thought this was odd as it is normally a price for what the new premium will be should we take out another year.
Thanks for the heads up....

I shall bear this in mind. Soon enough, the excess is going to be more than the bikes worth. One of several industries that I would really like to take on head-to-head in a formal public debate. With government and ombudsman present of course.

most ombudsman are a waste of space but we just got an offer for the car which was driven in to. They say 1250 less excess I say 1500-2k
they say autotrader etc isay yes e too ... they go round the houses till I point out they are not looking at the same car they still refuse to budge as the mileage is different so I say fine find me the same car then

no answer then

we are not prepared to discuss it ... that is the ,makrket price

me well no it isnt because you cant find the same car ? amnd I wouldnt sell it for the price

so basically take it or leave it and the nest bit that is my insurance co in an accident where the other dised have admitted liability

Surely they have to provide 'like for like' ?
Maybe time to seek advice, C.A.B or lawyer if you can afford it,some firms do a free consultation

If you write down the words Insurance Company then re arrange a few letters it then spells Bunch of thieving bastards,we've got you by the balls so now we're gonna mug your bank account.Legally. And then charge you 6% tax on top, plus arragement fee

I finally got car through MOT,went to 'tax' it only to find the insurer never sent the policy,only cover note,expired December
I rang and asked if they would fax or email the document,they said they did not have the facilities to do that (depite emailing me comfiration of my policy)
I asked if they still write on pieces of slate?

When i took out the policys on the bikes the excess was clear from day one. 500 quid on each bike
But there was no stealth tactics with the brokers i used, they was up front with what the cost would be from the off

I never thought Id say it bit THANKYOU to my insurance company
I spoke to them on friday, telling them they had not sent my policy,only the cover note and I needed to tax the car so could they email it to me?
Sorry,cant email or fax it. 1st class post,allow 7 days
Policy arrived Sat morning, impressed considering I spoke to them 3pm
Car now taxed, hated that 15 mile cycle ride to/from work

It does seem a little odd that in the 21st century your insurers can't email your documents! All my dealings for car and trike (different companies) are by email!

D-Rider wrote:
So - BEWARE (especially when dealing with MCE)

Strangely, Ive not got them on the schemes list.. as they didn't respond, despite direct phonecalls. I'd already discounted them from dealing with on that basis, seems theyre just going for the easy money with their BSB sponsorship making them a household name.

Yes I've been with them for some time and for a while they were OK. This latest underhand trick has really put me off them though.

Wow what a lot of spondulics.

I got a nice deal on my bike courtesy of Saga (being over 50)

£110 fully comp, with leather's and helmet covered and a nil voluntary excess with £150 standard excess.

Gio wrote:Wow what a lot of spondulics.

I got a nice deal on my bike courtesy of Saga (being over 50)

£110 fully comp, with leather's and helmet covered and a nil voluntary excess with £150 standard excess.

Ah - SAGA didn't do bike insurance last time I asked (and they pissed me off with car insurance when they hiked it for the second year - confirming to me I would be better off switching away from them and then returning as a new customer in a following year)

Might try them for bike insurance next year.

Hadnt even considered Saga but as I tipped 50 in april Im now in the Blue Rinse Brigade

Bugger,keep forgetting Im way past 24

Just got my renewel through for the grey falco yesterday. £231.68 That icludes legal cover.
My excess has come down to £450 from £500. I am well pleased with that has my insurance last year was 300 quid

blinkey501 wrote:Just got my renewel through for the grey falco yesterday. £231.68 That icludes legal cover.
My excess has come down to £450 from £500. I am well pleased with that has my insurance last year was 300 quid

..... so ...... who is it with then ?