2Gether Insurance wrote:
Hi John,
I am glad we were able to arrange a policy that suits your needs.
I hope you will be happy with our service!
That sounds all nice and sweet, and they are quick to jump on here and put that comment on. However here's what really happened and what the state of play is now.....
I sent out 19 e-mails looking for quotes. Some quoted, some didn't respond, some asked for telephone numbers so they could get me on the phone. I replied informing that other companies were able to quote from all the information given - and to be fair CVI responded and produced a quote. I also went on three comparison sites - Moneysupermarket, comparethemarket, and one other I cannot remember the name of.
I received an e-mail from 2gether insurance, and also a letter from them (nobody else sent a letter). I e-mailed them back and asked them to inform me how they had become involved because they were not on my list. They ignored this e-mail.
Here are the quotes I received - if any of the usual companies are not named it's because they didn't quote.
2gether insurance...............£145 with 'select panel of insurers'
CVI..................................£163 with KGM at Lloyds (£150 excess)
Compare the Market............£186 with Performance Direct (£400 excess and a free toy)
Peter S Taylor....................£193 with Allianz (£250 excess)
Classicline.........................£215 with Equity Insurance (£250 excess)
Adrian Flux........................£242 with Chaucer (£250 excess)
Hagerty............................£280 with Hiscox (£100 excess)
I telephoned in to 2gether, but I was told that the actual quote was £281 with Chaucer because of parking on the drive. After I had confirmed the other quotes and the 'parking on the drive' with them all, I telephoned back into 2gether because their letter and e-mails say they will guarantee to beat any quote (does not say like for like). I forwarded all the information to their man Dominic. That was Friday 22 June at 1353.
As there was no news, I e-mailed in on Tuesday 26 June at 1050 asking if he had any figures for me to consider.
The response at 1233 was an e-mail from Dominic to me saying 'DONT KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING ON ABOUT BUT LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE QUOTING HIM' (he uses capitals a lot). Obviously I should not have received this.
I responded at 1417 telling him what I was on about and that it was actually sent for him.
His response was 'CAN YOU EMAIL THE QUOTE THAT YOU HAVE HAD SO I CAN CONFIRM ON A LIKE FOR LIKE BASIS'
So I forwarded the CVI quote. His response was 'have you phoned these guys and confirmed details with them?'
I confirmed I had and sent the list of quotes that I had (see above).
His response - IM AFRAID JOHN THAT` WE CANT QUOTE ON THE DRIVE WITH THIS KIND OF VEHICLE. WE GUARANTEE TO BEAT ANY LIKE FOR LIKE QUOTE, HOWEVER AS WE REQUIRE THE VEHICLE TO BE GARAGED WE HAVE TO SUB-BROKE THE RISK TO OBTAIN A PRICE. THEREFORE WE HAVE NO SAY ON THE PRICE. THEREFORE THE BEST QUOTE WE HAVE IS THE £281.00 PRICE WITH CHAUCER
This was clearly a lie as they had already quoted with it parked on the drive - hence the £281.
E-mails went to and fro where Dominic tried to wangle out of offering cover, but I stood my ground because at the end of the day I'm doing anything wrong other than saying "you promised to beat any quote... so do it". I commented that the responses to my posting on the TIPEC site would be interesting - and andyjgal came up with the response I wanted. The last e-mail after that was to say 'WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS TALK TO ONE OF MY UNDERWRITERS AT 9.00AM'. I CAN LET YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME BY 9.30. I WILL DO MY BEST FOR YOU.
The next morning there was an e-mail from Dominic saying 'I HAVE SPOKEN TO MY DIRECTOR AND HE HAS AUTHORISED A PRICE OF £150.00 WITH FREE UK BREAKDOWN AND 100 EXCESS'.
There was also a message on my answer machine from Gary Haime, the managing director. I called back in and spoke to him. He's a reasonable person, obviously wants to get business out of us (as he does on lots of other car websites - and good luck to him) and sorted out the insurance at £150 with £100 excess, <3000 miles, free UK breakdown cover, free personal accident cover (it's not much cover), and free legal expenses. The policy is with Equity Red Star. I paid and he sent all the documentation over to me so that I could print off what was necessary, sign it and return it.
The e-mail wasn't sent to me until 1737 that evening (27th). I checked everything through and sent an e-mail back at 1155 on 28 June with all amendments (accuracy of dates really) and a couple of queries - endorsements are referred to but are nowhere to be found, and windscreen cover / excess is different on the policy certificate than it says in the policy book. I want it all to be right before signing anything and asked if they were sending new documents out. I sent it to Dominic and Gary. Unfortunately I got Gary's e-mail address wrong, but Dominic's was correct. As I had heard nothing I corrected Gary's e-mail address and sent it all again, to both of them, at 1201 on 29 June (today).............. I still have not heard anything back.
So, am I happy with the service? Not really. They have ignored e-mails, I've been lied to, been sent e-mails obviously destined for an internal colleague at 2gether, had to stand my ground as they tried to wangle out of providing cover, find the professionalism of Dominic to be non-existent (not to mention his awful grammar and CAPITALS), have still not been sent amended documents to sign almost 36 hours after requesting them - they'll probably do it on Monday..... if I'm lucky.
Once all the amendments are completed I'll have got what I wanted, which is cover at a reasonable price - although I've had to fight for it to get a company to honour their pledge of 'we guarantee to beat any quote'..... which to be fair they have done - and probably at a loss.
There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with this company. At the end of the day any company can make mistakes - and these do get a slating on a few car-club websites, but as long as they come up with the goods and honour their promises....... After all, if you don't tell them they can't improve their service. If you're going to call them for a quote I would do all your research first and then approach them with your best quote and ask them to beat it. I would strongly advise against dealing with Dominic - he's the one who lied to me.
Make your own minds up - but despite my experience I'm happy with what I've ended up with.... when it turns up!