D.J Motor Insurance Info & links

[ChrisPointon 0]

Melody, at the time - I contacted Norwich Union, who then refered me to their commercial vehicle department, who (after 20 mins of passing my call around) eventually passed me onto a shift team leader who said that they couldn't insure me because I had a "high risk occupation". They may be happy to insure car drivers who DJ with a towed trailor, but they (1) Hate commercial vehicle drivers (2) don't seem to insure commerical vehicle drivers who D.J and. laughingly. also (3) My Vehicle - a VW Caddy TDI doesn't exist http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/scared.gif . They can find the SDI model but the TDI doesn't exist in their database! despite me owning one and there being a VW Dealer with 30 of 'em parked down the road one of the largest insurers isn't aware of them!.

 

I would be very interested in hearing how it is possible to get a quote for this line of work from N.U. perhaps I need to be a member of a masonic lodge??.

 

Why not contact the head office of the firm you work for?, and see if you can get them to take an interest in our occupation and requirements??, it would seem that you are ideally placed to start the ball rolling http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif , and I'm sure that any insurer / broker who did would get quite a bit of business from it. I mean 1400 members each needing PLI, Equipment Cover, Motor / House Insurance etc etc - could be a good commission opportunity for a smaller broker.

[Melody_Roadshow 0]

QUOTE (Chris_Pointon @ Feb 10 2004, 07:29 PM)

perhaps I need to be a member of a masonic lodge??.

It does help!

 

I had a little dig about today and my pal who does still work for N.U. was really concerned by your comments... It would seem N.U. are having a real problem and i quote his words here

 

"Since quotations & customer svc operations where moved abroad its been a real nightmare getting specialist business through.. They simply don't have a clue and we are losing money/turnover for the sake of lower overheads"

 

Still, he says, its not up to him all he can do is report it but they are losing money in all markets from home leisure....Everything

 

I work for AF and although we do cover commercial I wouldn't reccomend coming to us. Suggestions are generally ignored here. Although I'll give it a go. I work with cars, so I know about the towing of trailers etc and i suspect at least 70% of D'J's are not properly covered.

 

Only suggestions i can offer to get a cheaper quote is:

 

Tell them you are married &

you have relevent experience of the type of vehicle you want cover for.

(i.e - you have owned it for at least a year)

Your vehicle only has stock in @ certain times (be honest though)

 

Where its kept at other times.

 

Security - Enquire if a tracker or anti hi jack device will lower premium

(generally only 5% given)

 

concider getting a lock up for your vehicle in a lower rated post code

 

move to jersey

 

don't have a subaru as your main car - NIGHMARE

 

worst of all - putting my neck on the line here

 

Speak clearly. the reason is many companys, in fact probably all, have underwritting criterea. Basically if your an ethnic minority you can expect a premium increase if you sound wrong on the phone, I.E. Foreign

 

If you have an unusual name (usually asian in origin) you will usually get a quote based on the truth + whatever figure the clerk wants to give you. usually +25%

sometimes +50% (asian + live in Birmingham) Yes Insurance companys are Racist

 

Statistics show that they do make more claims for example so this is a way of the broker telling you to look else where so they can continue getting there bonus from the big companys by not taking statistically bad risks

 

Ran off topic a bit there... sorry most companys use a flat rated system for our line of work anyway which basically means the Insurance company set a minimum & its up to the broker to get as much as they can over that figure. min fig with upto £12.000 vehicle & £12.000 of equipment is £300 on our files. but would quote probably double that

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sleep1.gif

 

*Melody - i've edited the name of the company you work for, since I don't think it would be in your best interest to publically state the company name and then the information you gave later in the post on the same thread! - Chris

 

Sorry finished moaning about work now.

 

Incidently before anyone asks : a guy did do a cheap deal for a mate once £72 on an MR2 Turbo for the year & consiquently got fired so sorry dont ask

[paula 0]

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/stupid.gif Somethings not right there!

 

You work for AF, and state the racist remark, is that part of there training procedures then? and do they therefore not employ anyone of a different origin?

 

Hmmmn, me finks a couple of phone calls are in order, one in normal accent with surname and one in chinese accident using same surname http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif

[ChrisPointon 0]

Paula Tshhhh! - you should know by now that discrimination is the very basis of making insurance quotes. Age, Sex, Health, Location, marital status, occupation - all influence how much you get charged.

 

For instance, a friend of mine - Paul, is a rep with a company car. However, he also owns a 2nd 4x4 vehicle which is shared by himself and the wife. Paul has 9 penalty points for speeding and 1 "at fault" accident - whilst driving his own vehicle. Laughingly his insurance quote on a 2.8 I 4x4 is £130 lower than my van quote - with my full no claims and a clean licence.

 

Melody - can you confirm that there is some real computerised system behind getting insurance quotes, and that you don't all just sit around drawing numbers out of a hat!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif .

 

Also feel free to print / email my comments above to your contact at N.U. This occured almost 12 months ago, but I still get very annoyed with their so called "service" and the rant above would be nothing compared to what I would say to them should I ever be fortunate to get another "cold call" or leaflet through the door! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/363.gif .

[Melody_Roadshow 0]

QUOTE

Melody - can you confirm that there is some real computerised system behind getting insurance quotes, and that you don't all just sit around drawing numbers out of a hat!!  .

 

Hi chris,

There is a computer system called mysis, which basically is linked to all the insurance companys and what we enter your details into, this gives us a quotation that any broker in the land could match, These prices are fair and not biased toward anythin ie Race

 

However, brokers build relationships with insurance companys to get discounts obviously the better discounts you can get, the lower the premium you can offer to get the new business. And a majority of these are flat rated provided you are over the suggested minimum you really do pick a number out of a hat.

Thats principally why you are asked for your best quote so far early on in the phone call this is so the clerk can add on extra commision earning items, ie breakdown or additional accident cover, and still beat your price.

 

However if they feel your best price is a lie or you dont meet the criterea then they will often say they cant compete.

 

In answer to paulas question yes we are trained to be bias or at least stereotype everyone in certain criterea.

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/huh.gif dont hate me now do ya? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/014.gif

[paula 0]

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/stupid.gif So can we judge this on names?

If I had a surname that could be linked to another nationality and was more common in the phone book than Patel, does that mean I apply to below?

 

 

 

QUOTE

In answer to paulas question yes we are trained to be bias or at least stereotype everyone in certain criterea.

[Melody_Roadshow 0]

That would really depend Paula,

 

If you did have the name Patel for example lived in Birmingham under a postcode in our lists as being (shall we say not the most desirable) and on the phone you had a poor grasp of the english language then the chances are you would be pushed to look else where exceptions to the rule are probably you where to be the ONLY driver and of course you are a female - which as we know are the better drivers.

 

Biggest problem in many asian communitys is that the males share the same names within there family so it is very common for one person to insure a car and have 2-3 or 4 people driving it even some who are banned either that or they want 4-5 named drivers, this is all a bad risk

 

only thing i can suggest to prove it is find someone who lives close buy but can put on or has a real dodgy accent, pick a car and give places a call, maybe its just us but we are the 2nd biggest broker (at present) in the uk & main sponser of Max Power magazine 5 years running

 

Dont mean to offend you Paula just the way it is - please don't think this reflects my personal views/beliefs http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

[paula 0]

Not offended at all, just wanted to know out of intrest.

Thanks http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

[ChrisPointon 0]

Interesting, since i'm looking to re-insure my vehicle at the end of the month, decided to give Norwich Union a 2nd chance in light of what has been posted above. I contacted them first by telephone, got the run around again, but eventually spoke to somebody who told me that my occupation would not be considered.

 

Since a few people here have previously announced that they have got insurance via Norwich Union, I moved on to their online quote system, however if you read their terms of insurance it does clearly state.....

 

QUOTE

No driver of your vehicle, has any of the following occupations: taxi driver, entertainer, musician, professional sports person, actor, actress, circus or fairground worker, TV/radio presenter, scrap metal dealer, waste dealer, market or street trader

 

Whats all that about then??, and why are some D.J's getting insurance through them, and other being refused, before they have given any details about their driving history?? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/scared.gif

[cjcom 0]

Hi all, public liability insurance is obtainable by becoming a member of Equity performers union. The initialmembership is 25.00 and 2004 subscription is 65.00

For this you are covered to 5,000,000 pounds PLI.There are branches around the country ,find Equity in the yellow pages.

As for vehicle insurance I am insured withTaylor Price,119 High street,Newmarket,Suffolk,CB8 9FT. On a policy with Zenith, full NCB,comprehensive ins.,as full time electrician p/time disc jockey driving a Citroen C25 (transit size) 1.9 diesel cost less than 300 pounds. It's SD & P.

[ChrisPointon 0]

QUOTE

On a policy with Zenith, full NCB,comprehensive ins.,as full time electrician p/time disc jockey driving a Citroen C25 (transit size) 1.9 diesel cost less than 300 pounds. It's SD & P.

 

Isn't insuring SD&P going to put you on sticky grounds with your insurer *IF* you had to claim and your vehicle was full of Disco Equipment?.

 

I believe that Taylor Price is actually the company who also owns Direct Choice an online broker who can give some good prices. I actually insured with Direct Choice myself, with "own goods in transit" cover costing a little over £400. This actually covers both business and SD&P use - although the excess can be a little high.

 

Suffice to say that a Part time DJ can get a better quote than a full time one http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

[YourBigEvent 0]

ALWAYS go for commercial or tell them it disco use, it's a lot less hassle in the long run.

[nrgize 0]

Just wondering if anyone knows that if your are insured with MusicGuard for example, do you actually have to pay twice and declare your vehicle for using DJ Gear when Musicguard covers you for theft out of your vehicle ?

 

 

[MadGutts 0]

I have got the best solution that works for me.

 

My van is under fleet insurace for computer, audio, electrical installation and maintenence engineer. So the premium is not too bad considering we have 3 vehicles doing this during the day/night depending on the jobs. Plus we all have tracking devices fitted and Cat 1 alarms. So that covers the vans.

 

Then i have a personal policy from Music Guard which then gives me the PLI, equipment cover - in van, transit and in the venue.

 

Its not too expensive either... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/cool.gif

[YourBigEvent 0]

What do you do during the day MadGutts ? as I have sound engineering qualifications, but still cannot insure my van being a Sound Engineer if I also do discos.