Aviva. But when I had rung them directly (prior to finding StJohn) they only offered 30 days coverage in EU tops. It was StJohn who understood my circumstances, listened to my needs and negotiated the contract.

That seems to be a common insurance "scam" with the UK market; I can understand why it is done - basically loads of Brits take a couple of weeks holiday/vacation in mainland Europe once, or twice, per year.


Yep, I use ebike as a totally online broker (there is not even a phone number for getting quotes etc) because the policy covers me for 365 days per year riding in Europe.
When I first took out a policy with them it did not include this, but they offered another underwriter when renewal time came around and they wanted to get the annual payment from me - that is the time to insist that you get the exact policy you need (it is then that ebike have a phone number for negotiations ;-)

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Dave

We recently took a policy with MCE. We found out when the paperwork arrived that the recovery insurance was only for a 10 mile radius of our home. When we contacted them they said that this was our problem and we should have asked for more details when we were told the policy included breakdown cover, of course it would be no problem to upgrade for MORE money sir!

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www.adventuresidecar.co.uk

I'm also with MCE. I would be tempted to call them the most dishonest bunch of thieves around, but since that description could be applied to any insurance company I won't bother.

A few months ago I changed from one 2001 Transalp to another 2001 Transalp. Exactly the same model and age. The new one had better security (alarm) and I valued it at less than the old one. At the same time I moved to a (significantly) safer postcode. MCE increased my premium. A lot. And they charged me a £40 admin fee. I gave them £40 to allow them to charge me more money.

Before that I was with Bikesure. When my bike was stolen I ended up paying £700 out of my own pocket for recovery and repairs because the hit I would have taken when making a claim would have been greater (£350 excess, loss of no claims, increased premiums and having to declare the claim on every quote for the next 5 years). £700 for being a victim of crime. Bloody marvellous. I understand that insurance companies exist to make a profit, just like any other company, and that no company can make a profit by giving out lots of money. But when someone offers to take on the risk of something bad happening I expect them to do just that, not weasel out as soon as they are called upon to provide the service they have promised.

Frankly, the only reason I have insurance is because I am legally obliged to. No other reason. It is a complete waste of money. I have reduced my policy to the bare minimum and will always search out the cheapest premium because I know insurance is just throwing my money away. I am convinced that if I ever do cause damage to another persons property through my own wrong doing my insurers will not pay for the repairs.

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Don't go right

Morning Guys n Gals,

my experience with my own insurers has been the opposite to other posts here.

I've been covered through the Be Wiser brokers for the last 5 or so years.

They were quick to offer quotations on my imported bikes (Yamaha Serows), didn't have a problem with my annual mileage of 25,000 miles (OK they did charge extra for it) and have been prompt in emailing documents directly to me.

I've got protected NCB, an all sections X/S of £250 (without any other excess's) and breakdown cover included. I had to laugh when they said I'd got handbag and gadget cover of £200 (what sort of a bloke do they think I am?).

I've been involved in two claims with them, the first where I was hit whilst stationary at traffic lights (on red) and the repairs were quickly sorted out and they arranged the uninsured loss recovery. The second when I was hit by a white van driving t**t, who did a runner and left me out cold on the road. My bike was written off in this incident and they paid me a fair price, in good time.

OK the prices have gone up a bit over the last two years but I'm more than happy to use them.

Am I the odd one out here?

Regards

Reggie

deleted

Possibly/probably!

There is a short thread here with yet another sad tale of utter incompetence by a broker (again, Carole Nash) who had to refer back to the actual insurance company to find out what is a basic condition of insurance (the whole business of minimum insurance cover within the EU).
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...nsurance-69292

Their service appears to have degenerated, ever since Carole Nash "sold out" as a specialist motorcycle insurer and switched to becoming just one of dozens of intermediaries for any form of motor insurance.

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Dave

Trying to help an Australian biker with a similar issue, and following this thread I contacted St. John ... helpful chap, but not very hopeful.
So then I called Aviva directly ... I guess its a sign of the times that you now get a selection of music you can choose from while they put u on hold.
Made me smile anyway ... suppose that's their idea of "continual improvements in customer service" .
Anyone remember the Man from the Pru, who came to your house...
yes, I know, we all pay less now ... allegedly
Russ

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[QUOTE=Walkabout;391333]
Yep, I use ebike as a totally online broker (there is not even a phone number for getting quotes etc) QUOTE]

I recently renewed my annual insurance with ebike; the quote cost rose a bit this year, but, considered overall, I decided to hang in there for another year - I may put in more effort next time around to get a wider range of quotes.

There are some recommendations in here which might provide some leads:-
Motorcycle Insurance - Best Reviews of 2012 & 2013 at Review Centre

IMO, where there is a small number of reviews only then it has to be taken as dubious, at best.

ps getting green card cover shouldn't be all that much of an issue; fully comprehensive cover is a different proposition all together.

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Dave

On the whole I can only say good things about ebike. Being able to insure 4 bikes with up to 4 riders on one policy has saved us a lot of money over the last few years. One problem we had about 3 years ago was when my daughter insured her bike. She had passed her test on her 18th birthday and when filling in the details to re-insure her 125 not long before her 22nd birthday claimed she'd had a full bike licence for 3 full years. On receiving a copy of her licence ebike complained she'd lied on her application as technically she'd only had a full licence for 1 year because she'd had a restricted licence for the first 2 years and they charged an extra £30 for "admin" costs to correct the discrepancy. We had no choice other than to pay or they were going to cancel the insurance. I offset this against the money we'd saved between my wife and I over the previous years by insuring both our Harleys on one policy instead of 2 with our previous insurers and decided it wasn't worth getting too upset about it. We did have to make a claim on my policy once and I can't fault the way ebike handled it. I didn't even lose my no-claims.
I have nothing but contempt for Bennetts though, again because of my daughter's insurance. Bennetts offered her the best quote for her 2nd year of riding just before she went to university in Edinburgh so we took it. A few months later she started at Edinburgh uni and took the bike with her. I rang up on her behalf to tell them she had relocated and at first they refused to talk to me as I wasn't the policy holder but eventually told me that there was a £40 admin fee to notify them of the change of location and that they would need to be told whenever she brought the bike home for summer, xmas and easter nad back again to uni and would charge £40 for each change, which would more than triple the annual premium cost. Naturally they refused to accept me giving instructions to cancel the policy and my daughter had to spend over £10 in mobile phone charges to do it herself. We've been with ebike ever since, who don't charge for small admin changes like this.
After my experience with Bennetts and their obnoxious attitude to my phone calls will never ever consider using them again regardless of how much money I might save.

On the whole I have done much the same, and I have insured bikes with them for quite a few years for the same reasons.

It has to be recognised though that the brokers are little more than call centres nowadays; for instance, when a claim is implemented your case is passed on, immediately, to another intermediary - a claim specialist company contracted to the insurance broker/underwriter to carry out the negotiations (many years ago, I learnt this hard lesson via a claim based on car insurance with Directline - I did most of the "legwork" myself!).

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Dave

There is an account of UK based insurance experience in this thread which may be of value to some folks:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...p-needed-71169

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Dave

Hi,
Need some help on long term fully comp cover for touring Europe.
I think e-bike has change an underwriter, and they now offered me 365 days full cover per year, but each trip can only last a max of one month, after which I have to return to the UK, of fall back to the EU legal minimum!

Anyone know a company that will offer long stay cover?
Kinda wary of some EU based ones which may or may not be worth the paper they are printed on; sceptical old me!
What ever happened to EU harmonisation!

Trawled the internet, but no luck.

thanks alot
tschuss

Hi all looking for advise on third party insurance. I am an Australian coming to the UK next month where a friend has very kindly offered to lend me his bike to tour around England and Ireland. Can anyone advise what I need to do with regard to 3rd party insurance and recommend a company that will cover me for a month?

Thanks for any advice.