How much?!!!

[steve452]

Bennetts have decided to increase my insurance on the Z1-B by 118% over last year. Obviously the rise in the cost of diesel for the CEO's superyacht is taking its toll.

I've had a quote from Footman James which is £100 less than Bennetts but that's still nearly 40% more than I paid last year. I've suggested an agreed value of £15000 and wondered if that seems reasonable (1975 Z1-B purchased new by me on 1st May 1975 now with Z-Power twin disc conversion and Kawasaki steering damper).

Does anyone have any recommendations of good classic bike insurers who aren't likely to take the piss?

[warren3200gt]

Peter James classic

[zed1015]

Peter James..

[zapo]

Peter James, I paid £140 - Unlimited mileage, ride other bikes, breakdown cover, agreed value £15,000

[Bill P]

Footman James £390
MF tractor
Z900RS 2022
Norton N15cs
Yam IT175
Z650 x2
Triumph TR7v

[ADRIAN H]

Peter James.

[chrispyduck]

RH

[steve452]

Well I phoned Peter James after the online quote service failed because I marked down my twin disc set-up as a mod.

Got through to the traders section as the classic bike section was busy. Very helpful chap took my phone number and said he would get the message to them and they would call back when someone was free.

3 hours went past so I thought I'd phone in case the message hadn't got through. Got through to a different section again and a different very helpful chap said he could take my name and number and they would phone me when free. When I pointed out that I'd done this 3 hours previously he explained that they were very busy but SHOULD be able to get back to me within 2 or 3 days!

I advised him that this would be new business and surely when one of them finishes a call the priority should be a call back to someone who's already called. He then reiterated the "very busy" line and apologised but pointed out that it was a different section. I advised him that that may be so but as he was talking to me he was representing his company and if they dealt with potential new business in such a cavalier manner how would they deal with future queries or claims. I thanked him for his time and asked him to pass my comments on to his management team.

I appreciate that we live in difficult times as regarding staffing issues and increased business costs but considering the squealing that insurance companies are wont to do about increased risks and the need to raise premiums this company is certainly managing to shoot itself in the foot. It is not rocket science to respond to a message left by a potential new customer who took the time and trouble to select your business as a potential service provider, and it doesn't take up to 3 days to deal with that. It's been calculated that it can cost up to seven times as much to gain a new customer than to retain an existing one. Obviously PJ missed that memo.

Rant over.

Footman James did phone me back when they said they would and the very helpful lady on the phone spent some time to ensure that the policy she quoted for did satisfy my requirements. They've just gained a new customer.

[warren3200gt]

Very different experience to whenever I have contacted them. Call answered within 30 secs or so and the person who answered dealt with my query/renewal in that call.
Sure you phoned Peter James Classic bike direct?
0121 506 6000

[steve452]

Yup. Same number.

[Bill P]

'Good Old Footman Jame's'. My bucket list of bike's is vast and changes weekly at times and my changes of bike's
is alway's met and dealt with by a cheery person quickly and efficiently

[zapo]

Very interesting reading Steves experience with Peter James.
I've been with them for years and always got straight through EXCEPT for this year.
Just like Steve I got through to somebody who was not Peter James and they said somebody from PJ would call back, which they did - two days later.
Something has changed.
Maybe they have joined up with some other agency?
Either way it's very off putting.
To be fair to PJ the lady who did call back was one of PJ's usual helpful staff.

[warren3200gt]

Just phoned Peter James this morning, straight through, revised and updated policy all in one call, revised documents by email in my in box within 5 mins.
Used this number 0121506604001 and got quoted £330 all singing and dancing on 5 bikes.
As due diligence I then phoned footman james and for identicle cover got quoted almost double.

[steve452]

13 digit landline number? Times have changed!

[warren3200gt]

Might be fat fingers!