Post Online - Aggregator slams Direct Line 'offer'

Post Online - Aggregator slams Direct Line 'offer': "Aggregator slams Direct Line 'offer'
Aggregator slams Direct Line 'offer'

Internet aggregator Gocompare.com has slated Direct Lines latest market offering.

Hayley Parsons, managing director, said of Direct Line’s proposal to cap motor insurance premiums for new customers at renewal: ”This is another example of an offer that is actually very good for the insurer but doesn’t necessarily stack up for the consumer. I can imagine that Direct Line would be very keen indeed to retain a customer that hasn’t made a claim in twelve months, for the same premium.

“In reality, that customer should be looking around the market for a reduction in his or her premium to reflect another claim free year. In addition, Direct Line has had no additional administrative expense associated with that client as, to qualify for the deal, nothing must have changed on the policy. Our figures show that over 50% of drivers have changed at least one of the policy details stipulated by Direct Line in the last twelve months, and therefore would not qualify for this offer.”

She added: “Direct Line is coming up with ever more creative ways to stop customers walking away. Nine times out of ten Direct Line isn’t one of the cheapest insurers. In addition, they don’t provide a courtesy car as standard, so customers can often get a much better deal by shopping around. So the question is; do you want to pay the same as last year or do you want to save up to £200?”

“The only thing that puts your renewal quote in context is looking at how your premium and cover stacks up against a much wider group of insurers and these days that means using a price comparison site. Sites like ours have brought transparency into a market that was previously opaque.”