Poor Effort

[MartynB85]

Did you catch the name of the underwriter?

I insured through Sky last year no problems with a B postcode, odd.

I didn't mate, he made it very clear i had no chance so i didn't ask any other questions.

Does seem odd

[Jonny Wilkinson]

Thanks for the reply, however it didn't feel like my 'case' was looked at, i only gave my name, model of car and postcode.

But you just said they said it could only be insured if it was garaged.

How did they work that out if you only told them your name, car and postcode ? ....unless garages have been banned in your postcode

For info.... Sky are a broker. That means they arrange insurance between you and an underwriter. It is the underwriter that assesses the risk and determines the premium. The broker than adds a fee for making the arrangements and doing some of the paperwork.

As a modified/performance/classic car specialist, the broker will have a number of underwriters that they go to to try to get you the best deal.

If none of the underwriters are prepared to cover you because of your particular circumstances, there isn't much they can do except politely tell you the equivalent of "Computer says No".

Other brokers will use different underwriters and some insurance companies act as brokers and underwriters e.g. Aviva.

Similarly, some use the comparison websites and some don't.

Its a bit more complicated than that but that's as simple an explanation as I can manage.

In my opinion, if Sky told you fairly early in the conversation that they weren't going to be able to help you, that was the best result you were going to get. I've spent 15 minutes on the phone giving other brokers everything including my inside leg measurement only to be told, "Sorry we can't help you as your car is over 10 years old"

[MartynB85]

But you just said they said it could only be insured if it was garaged.

How did they work that out if you only told them your name, car and postcode ? ....unless garages have been banned in your postcode

For info.... Sky are a broker. That means they arrange insurance between you and an underwriter. It is the underwriter that assesses the risk and determines the premium. The broker than adds a fee for making the arrangements and doing some of the paperwork.

As a modified/performance/classic car specialist, the broker will have a number of underwriters that they go to to try to get you the best deal.

If none of the underwriters are prepared to cover you because of your particular circumstances, there isn't much they can do except politely tell you the equivalent of "Computer says No".

Other brokers will use different underwriters and some insurance companies act as brokers and underwriters e.g. Aviva.

Similarly, some use the comparison websites and some don't.

Its a bit more complicated than that but that's as simple an explanation as I can manage.

In my opinion, if Sky told you fairly early in the conversation that they weren't going to be able to help you, that was the best result you were going to get. I've spent 15 minutes on the phone giving other brokers everything including my inside leg measurement only to be told, "Sorry we can't help you as your car is over 10 years old"

Well yes of course, i should have said he asked where is the vehicle kept. But that was all they asked, certainly not enough info to make a proper quote. I was on the phone less than 5 minutes.
The chap mostly spoke about it being a 'car club' policy and that was the reason they wouldn't insure me. However i did ask if there were any other policies, he said no. To be honest it felt like he was rushing me off the phone, it was about 5:50pm

[Sky Insurance]

It is a double edged sword for us, if we say 'no quote' and apologise, we get criticised, if we quote a high rate which we know the customer will not take, we get criticised. In this case my colleague has saved you time and his by saying no quote.

[MartynB85]

It is a double edged sword for us, if we say 'no quote' and apologise, we get criticised, if we quote a high rate which we know the customer will not take, we get criticised. In this case my colleague has saved you time and his by saying no quote.

I understand what your saying, however IMO it is nicer to say we can insure you blah blah but it will cost x amount. At the end of the day at least you are giving a price, I certainly wouldn't have posted here if the quote was high, I would have just gone elsewhere. I just couldn't believe I was refused because my car isn't locked away at night, I don't know anyone that does with their daily.

[Scottie]

Its not Sky who wont insure you, its the companies they use

Hmm...who chooses the companies they use though.

If I was an insurance broker and the companies I referred to did not cover several major areas I'd be looking to find companies who could.

This situation with Sky has been going on for years, and it's disappointing that even after all this time they have still not sorted a company out who can provide national coverage.

[Jonny Wilkinson]

Hmm...who chooses the companies they use though.

If I was an insurance broker and the companies I referred to did not cover several major areas I'd be looking to find companies who could.

This situation with Sky has been going on for years, and it's disappointing that even after all this time they have still not sorted a company out who can provide national coverage.

Do you know of an underwriter that will cover modified cars in those postcodes that does broker business and doesn't have an exclusive arrangement with another broker and offers a viable brokerage fee ?

[arry]

So you had to hold for 10 minutes, then someone giggled before speaking to you, then they told you without wasting your time they couldn't help? Oh my god you poor thing. When's your counselling booked for?

[MartynB85]

So you had to hold for 10 minutes, then someone giggled before speaking to you, then they told you without wasting your time they couldn't help? Oh my god you poor thing. When's your counselling booked for?

I had to have emergency couseling that very day, i still haven't recovered. I'm told i will be scarred for life.

[Jonny Wilkinson]

I had to have emergency couseling that very day, i still haven't recovered. I'm told i will be scarred for life.

You should sue for compo, mate. Got to be worth millions that. Screw 'em for everythink. Everyone knows them insurance companies are minted.

[Scottie]

Do you know of an underwriter that will cover modified cars in those postcodes that does broker business and doesn't have an exclusive arrangement with another broker and offers a viable brokerage fee ?

Funny you should say that...but if I was an insurance broker I would know the answer.

[str18]

Just phoned this evening, was very happy with the service BUT they couldnt insure me unless my car was kept in a garage!!

bit annoying oh well....

[Jonny Wilkinson]

Funny you should say that...but if I was an insurance broker I would know how hard it is.

Corrected for you

[Scottie]

Corrected for you

Ok, so we view this one slightly differently.

But, do you not think SKy should at least list the postcodes they can not cover to save people wasting time phoning them and holding?

[Jonny Wilkinson]

Ok, so we view this one slightly differently.

But, do you not think SKy should at least list the postcodes they can not cover to save people wasting time phoning them and holding?

Sorry I was being a bit facetious but I was just trying to point out that its more complex than you might imagine. I have worked in the IT dept of several insurance companies so maybe I have a bit more insight than you average joe.

They could list the postcodes they don't cover. They could put it on their website. Its kind of negative advertising though. "Here is a list of the shit we don't do" kind of thing.

Not sure I'd want to do that for my business.

[str18]

Well I will add, if you have a TW post code in west london and dont have a driveway or garage they wont insure you as I tried earlier!

[Scottie]

Hmm, not sure, it works both ways I guess.

I was kept on hold and passed around by Sky years ago when they did not cover my postcode, so I've not really contacted them since because of the negative customer experience, even though they now cover my postcode.

If I'd seen up front they didn't cover my postcode I'd not have had a negative experience and more likely to phone them.

If they worded it more like "postcodes we are not competitive in", they if yours is not listed you are more likely to call as yo uthink you'll get a good price, and also not call if yours is listed meaning no negatvive experience and more likely to call when yours is covered. Win win I'd say.

I have no idea how hard it is, no experience of that industry.

[Sky Insurance]

Our postcode criteria is constantly under review but there are some areas which are just too high risk for us to insure in, we are not going to shoot ourselves in the foot by opening up our discounted car club scheme to areas we know we'll be burnt in.. we'd quite quickly go out of business. If that is unfair on some members who live in high risk areas, so be it.

[str18]

so if someone was to phone up and not mention sxoc or similar they could get a quote?

[arry]

so if someone was to phone up and not mention sxoc or similar they could get a quote?

No