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samfieldhouse
Firing on two.
Joined: February 11th, 2009, 12:32 am Posts: 3324 Location: Chichester, West Sussex
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 Footman James Insurance
The well oiled machine that is the 2cvGB Committee leapt straight into action today after seeing poor George's plight to get his 2cv insured. Footman James is a broker, they simply sell policies underwritten by other companies. Equity Redstar are the company who underwrite FJs under 25 policies and it is they who have been pushing their premiums up and FJ have (finally) decided to no longer do business with them. In my opinion that's no bad thing, Equity Redstar are the most unhelpful, rudest, leeching, money grabbing, blood sucking and slowest underwriters ever, they took over 11 1/2 months to pay out when my D*lly was rear ended. So because FJ are no longer dealing the Equity Redstar, they don't have anyone to underwrite their under 25 policies, hence they've stopped offering them. Response from Nikki (2cvGB Chair) below: Quote: Hi Sam and all Before we all get too worked up about this and start banning them from advertising I thought I would have a word with my contact there to find out what is going on. I spoke to him this afternoon and below is what I have discovered about why this is happening. Just a minor point before that though - Sam they are are NOT the Club's official insurance company. They are just one of the few who do classic car insurance and that advertise with us. They won't suit everyone and that has always been the case. However, I was concerned about this sudden change so gave Dave Youngs (my contact there) a ring. He is well aware of the problem as this has also affected all young drivers of classic cars insured with them, not just our members. (Mini Owners Club also making lots of noise about this apparently!) Apparently it has been caused by one of their Underwriters, Equity Red Star, who previously were the ones that insured their younger drivers. Basically this company has been pushing up its rates by an amount in the last few months (especially for younger drivers - up to 4 times the previous price in some cases!) so Footman James have decided not to use them any more. Unfortunately this leaves them with a bit of a problem as their other underwriter won't touch any drivers under 21 and will only insure drivers aged 21-25 in particular circumstances (apparently only if the car is garaged, if the driver has access to an additional vehicle and with restricted mileage clauses, etc.) . Anyway, this all happened in December, hence members suddenly starting to make a noise about this. They (FJ) are not happy with the situation either as they realise it could cost them a lot of business, and are trying to find another underwriter who will take younger drivers at a sensible price. I have told him to come back to me if/when they have any news. So... not ideal but at least we know why. I don't want to pull their advert from the magazine, as they are still a valid insurer for many of our members and they are trying to resolve the problem, but we may want to consider whether we add a temporary note somewhere on the ad or next to it that states 'Please not that Footman James are unable to insure any drivers under 21 at this time and drivers under 25 may also find that they may not be able to get cover. Footman James are working to resolve this problem' or some such. What do Committee Members think? Incidentally, does anyone know whether Lancaster are also refusing younger drivers too? Or is it just the premiums that have gone up a lot? It could be that Equity Red Star were the only ones insuring younger drivers and therefore the other brokers who use them have had to put their quotes up massively accordingly. I will put something on Facebook about this. Sam or Bean or Anna if you could copy what I have written above and get it on the 2CVGB Forum and also on International 2CV Friends Forum that would be very useful, just so everyone knows what is going on. Many thanks Nikki Equity Redstar are still underwriting Peter James policies with very strict criteria - I guess it would be difficult to get them to pay out if my my wasn't garaged and whatnot and got written off Personally I can't wait to be 25 and be rid of all this. That doesn't help you young ones though. Rest assured, the 2cvGB committee are applying pressure to get something sorted and enable a fair and equal insurance coverage for all members. EDIT: Equity Red Star have expressed concern over the lexis used to imply the price increases that have led insurers who use said underwriters to underwrite their policies. I have therefore edited this post accordingly.
Last edited by samfieldhouse on January 9th, 2012, 11:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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January 3rd, 2012, 9:32 pm |
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Little Louis
Field Plougher
Joined: February 8th, 2009, 12:07 am Posts: 2357
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 Re: Footman James Insurance
The whole things a fucking scam (insurance in general, not footman james), they take the piss with their gender discrimination rules that do shit all - There's still a huge price gap at 17, and theres not age discrimination rules which is bollocks seen as in every other line of work/business they have to abide by laws to do with this. For example young people driving old people cars - both male and 17, fiesta 1.2 £3000, 1.0 yaris £2800 (the value of both of these is near as dammit £1000). With out FJ being able to insure yoofs the insurance on a 2cv will be closer to £2000 which is insane, I really hope burocracy comes and fucks the insurance companys big time with some stupid rules, and I know its to do with risk, but if twats didn't think it acceptable to claim for things they haven't got, like whiplash it'd make it cheaper, yet I bet insurance prices would still be rediculous. I HATE INSURERS and that it's a legality, because that basically kills competition, makes a big cartel and fucks every one over.
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January 3rd, 2012, 10:22 pm |
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J-dub
Aircooled Idiot
Joined: April 24th, 2010, 10:01 am Posts: 5733 Location: Location Location
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 Re: Footman James Insurance
the biggest problem is, its illegal to drive without insurence, so there fore you MUST have insurance, therefore insurance companys can do what they like, and the law says we must pay! so they sort of have the public grabbed by the nuts, which is pathetic,
I got lucky and paid £1400 for my first year (17) for fully comp insurance, but this isnt classic, and i geuss if i get smashed up the arse by some tail gaiting pr** then ill loose big time, but what can i do when i cant even get a fucking quote!!! year 2 was £1000, with admiral, again not classic, i geuss im accumalating NCB which is helpful, but id rather have an aggreed value TBH!!!
The bike only cost me £100 third party to insure!!!
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1988 2cv 652cc 1993 Toyota Hilux Surf 3000cc runs on Bio Diesel 2004 Toyota Landcruiser Amazon 4200cc runs on Bio Diesel 1998 Daihatsu Hijet 1300cc 2005 Susuki Bandit 650cc
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January 3rd, 2012, 10:46 pm |
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Joolz
Firing on two.
Joined: January 5th, 2009, 5:48 am Posts: 1687 Location: Haven't a clue
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 Re: Footman James Insurance
I agree with you both, with the possible exception of the gender discrimination issue. I can accept that young men have more accidents, face it, we* do drive like tools sometimes! So it's only reasonable to discriminate based on risk. Not being allowed to discriminate based on FACTS is one of the bits of modern PC nonsense that irritates me.
It's partly the fault of people claiming for anything they can think of after having an accident that pushes the insurers costs up, but there's no way that justifies the ridiculous prices they charge young people these days.
I have some support for FJ if they've decided to stop dealing with Equity red star on the grounds they're putting their prices up to much. My FJ policy is underwritten by red star so I assume that'll change when renewal time comes around. I'm sure FJ will always do their best to find the cheapest underwriter, because it allows them a bigger profit margin.
It occurs to me though, would it be possible/beneficial for 2cvgb to have an 'official' insurer? It might give the club more clout to get a good deal for it's members.
*Alright, admittedly I'm not that young anymore.
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January 4th, 2012, 2:17 am |
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Russell
Firing on two.
Joined: November 29th, 2008, 10:05 pm Posts: 9259 Location: West Sussex, U.K.
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 Re: Footman James Insurance
Today footman James quotes me twenty quid less than Peter James, and they answered the phone all straight away, only played 30 secs of Vivaldi while they got the quote and the bird sounded pretty fit and was helpful.
Peter James, on the other hand, whilst being my preferred insurer had to ring me back half an hour later with a quote they refused to budge on, and 'Brendan' who I spoke to was particularly unhelpful, giving me simply a 'looks like we've dipped out there then' when I told him of the lower quote, and a less than cooperative 'no chance, nope' when I asked if they could at least match the FJ quote. Even when I said 'thanks anyway, goodbye' he could only manage a brief 'ok, fine'.
Strange how in the space of a year FJ got their act together since Peter James started taking all their business!
Last year I insured my 2cv with Peter James because FJ claimed they'd kept my quote the same as the previous year, which would have been great if I'd been driving a 2cv, but I was driving a 2.8 Mercedes and it was over £100 more than I had previously paid for a 2cv.
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samfieldhouse wrote: What I like about I2F is that there is no pretence of democracy.
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January 4th, 2012, 8:04 pm |
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ben
Firing on two.
Joined: November 28th, 2009, 9:48 pm Posts: 636
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 Re: Footman James Insurance
So i shouldn't really moan when my FJ fully comp agreed value etc insurance went up from 141 to 167 this year by the looks of some of the outrageous quotes some on here are getting 
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January 5th, 2012, 11:08 am |
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imothepixie
Firing on two.
Joined: December 26th, 2008, 11:46 pm Posts: 254 Location: Leicester
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 Re: Footman James Insurance
ben wrote: So i shouldn't really moan when my FJ fully comp agreed value etc insurance went up from 141 to 167 this year by the looks of some of the outrageous quotes some on here are getting  Yeh!  There I was moapin around that mine went up from 105 to 127.... does seem a large amount proportionally tho'! 
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January 5th, 2012, 1:39 pm |
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ginger bloke
Firing on two.
Joined: April 19th, 2009, 7:18 pm Posts: 328
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 Re: Footman James Insurance
Quote: Personally I can't wait to be 25 and be rid of all this. That doesn't help you young ones though. I wish  Things haven't changed over the years My first car back in 1980 i paid £250 tpft, I was 19. it doesn't seem a lot but my first job i was on £15 a week. The trouble is insurers tar all the young drivers with the same brush, young inexperienced? must be a liability then  i wish i knew the answer, apart from being old 
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January 5th, 2012, 2:07 pm |
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Bugster
Firing on two.
Joined: August 19th, 2011, 1:24 pm Posts: 158 Location: Warwickshire UK
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 Re: Footman James Insurance
This could develop into an "I'm older than you" thread I guess My first vehicle was an 1954 803cc Ex GPO Morris Minor van which cost me £15. TPFT insurance also cost £15 at age 17. My wages at that time £6.50 a week. And did I have any accidents? You bet - 2 in the first year 
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January 5th, 2012, 3:37 pm |
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Neil
super slot
Joined: November 28th, 2008, 11:14 pm Posts: 8797 Location: Cornwall, UK
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 Re: Footman James Insurance
Bugster wrote: My first vehicle was an 1954 803cc Ex GPO Morris Minor van which cost me £15. : The one with rubber wings?!
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January 5th, 2012, 3:39 pm |
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