So I bought a classic scooter on a whim 23 days ago - I know, I know but it was on E Bay all shiny and chrome and it was just calling out to me. Anyway I have another modern bike (Yamaha Fazer) insured with Bike Team but they don't take classics, so I though I'd try Carole Nash as I had a scooter with them a long while ago and I could arrange it on line.
The quote came back at £143 which seemed ok and I could pay in 3 installments of £47.60 so I paid the first on line and rode the bike home.
Problem number 1 occurred about two weeks after arranging the insurance when a credit agreement with a dodgy looking credit company arrived stating that 'my credit application was accepted and I now owed them £170 to be paid over 10 monthly instalments and a direct debit had been set up on my account to take the first payment that week'. Obviously I had no idea what this was about so I contacted the credit company to be told it was arranged by Carole Nash, the call taker was rude and arrogant throughout and gave me the impression that this company only deal with those who couldn't get mainstream credit approval' I told them I wanted nothing to do with them, I had no contract with them and they were to cancel any agreement they thought they might have, they refused and stated that Carole Nash would have to cancel it otherwise they would be taking money as stated. I got straight onto my bank and cancelled the direct debit they had set up and instructed the bank to ignore any further requests from them. I rang Carole Nash and gave them a rocket for not seeking my approval for this credit agreement and paid the full amount over the phone as this was the only way Carole Nash would agree to cancel the credit agreement. I did not receive an apology or a decent explanation as to why the agreement of 3 monthly instalments had been changed to the credit agreement.
Problem 2 occurred when I moved home, I knew I was moving when I took out the policy and explained this when I rang up to sort the credit agreement issue and was told it would not be a problem, simple phone call to change over and that would be that. I rang this morning to change over the address and was told that my premium would go up by £115 and they would charge me £37.50 to change it over - What the F***!!!
I have moved to a nicer area, further out of London and all my other insurances - car, modern bike and home have all decreased or remained the same with no cost to change over.
The call taker was stroppy and rude through the call eventually putting me through to a 'Supervisor' (probably his mate at the next desk), who was exactly the same except he informed me that the area I have moved to is 2 insurance groups higher than where I was - to clarify I moved from Dagenham to Hornchurch (think Basra to Balmoral and you have the right comparison). When I stated that all my other insurances had decreased he couldn't offer any explanation other than 'that's what it says here'.
I then went off the phone and googled around classic bikes insurance and came up with Bike Sure who have quoted me £88 fully comp same address, same bike, same T&C. So that is £55 cheaper than Carole Nash's original quote and £170 cheaper than their revised premium for moving to my new address which they clearly think is downtown Baghdad.
Problem 3 occurred when I decided that I wasn't willing to pay their additional premium as it was clearly a complete rip off, so I called them back and told them I wanted to cancel. Bearing in mind I had paid the annual premium in full of £143 only a week or so earlier and had the insurance for a total of 23 days, the refund they are willing to give is a paltry £51 - yes £51 so that means I have paid £92 for 23 days insurance which is £4 more than Bike Sure want for the whole year at my new downtown Baghdad address.
The call taker explained that the charges were a combination of cancellation charge £37.50 part refund of the premium less 20% and an admin charge. There is no way in the world that Carole Nash can justify any of these charges except the 20% premium charge as that is made by the underwriters so this is blatantly a rip off by Carole Nash, money for nothing and poor service while doing nothing.
My advice - steer clear of Carole Nash at all costs and avoid them like the robbing toads they are, I will be telling all my biker and scootering friends about this experience so they don't get caught as well.
Topic: Carole Nash Rip Off! (Read 4876 times)
