FabSwingers.com forum: Do you ever feel bad...

By *oeBeans OP Man
16 weeks ago

Derby

So over the last couple of months, I've been on the phone to my car insurance company and Sky due to rising prices that I wasn't happy with and managed to get discounts on both.

This something I'd usually let go in the past and chalk up to prices naturally increasing but recently felt like it was getting too much.

Another big reason I wouldn't call is not wanting to make people's lives harder by pushing for discounts and offers but it feels like it's the only way to get somewhat decent value and I've saved so much as a result. Do you ever feel bad doing this or is it something you find quite easy?

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By *eliWoman
16 weeks ago

Oh Joe you're a sweetheart. If it helps they quite often have a discount they can offer people in place, ready to go, without needing any managerial approval. Which means... you're not really creating extra work for people.

I doubt you're being aggressive and rude in obtaining them.

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By *egDaySkipperMan
16 weeks ago

Liverpool

Car insurance company are basically scammers.

They have discounts available but only if you ask them.

Never pay their initial quote.

There's a video about how they operate on YouTube by Mark McCann

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By *viatrixWoman
16 weeks ago

Redhill

I never quibble. Ever.

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By *entlemanrogueMan
16 weeks ago

Motherwell

I am cancelling my Virgin media asap as the cost is going to increase again. I can use my mobile hotspot and save myself the money.

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By *ee69Man
16 weeks ago

glasgow

They would rip the baws out you if you let them so no don’t ever feel bad

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By *oeBeans OP Man
16 weeks ago

Derby

"Oh Joe you're a sweetheart. If it helps they quite often have a discount they can offer people in place, ready to go, without needing any managerial approval. Which means... you're not really creating extra work for people.

I doubt you're being aggressive and rude in obtaining them."

Ahhh that's alright, then. I was pushing quite a bit but didn't want to overstep in any way. It's funny how those offer are just ready to go though!

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By *ositiveVibesWoman
16 weeks ago

here there and everywhere

I hate making these calls and will do anything I can to avoid them.

I don’t like dealing with people and I don’t like feeling like I’m making an inconvenience for them.

I currently need to call sky and octopus and I’m putting both calls off until I really have to

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By *oeBeans OP Man
16 weeks ago

Derby

"Car insurance company are basically scammers.

They have discounts available but only if you ask them.

Never pay their initial quote.

There's a video about how they operate on YouTube by Mark McCann "

Normally I would just let my car insurance run over but this year it just increased far to much for what I felt was justified. I think a lot of people may not want to spend the time having to sort it all out! I'll watch that video too!

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By *ornyperv100Man
16 weeks ago

Tunbridge wells

No I don't. As long as you polite to the person on the phone the company the work for is the one that sets the prices and it makes plenty on money by charging so much.

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By *estinyIsAllCouple
16 weeks ago

Staffordshire

I always leave this to Erik to sort out as I'm hopeless at sorting out deals with people. If I feel bad about anything, it's the feeling of being ripped off.

Car insurance for example. Mine was £820 last year (up from £500 the year before with 10 years no claims), my renewal was £1250! Erik contacted them (he's on the account) and they reduced it to £850. He went online and found the same deal for £550 from a competitor.

These companies are all out to make money, they aren't bothered about you or your bank balance, so get what you can or jump ship. Obviously it's a bit different with media packages from Virgin/Sky etc, but again, they always have deals to offer to keep you.

F x

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By *eoBloomsMan
16 weeks ago

Springfield

With car insurance it's almost always cheaper to switch to a new company so never to haggle. As for feeling bad, if the person you're dealing with makes a sale that's a win for them so no need at all.

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By *estructionDollyWoman
16 weeks ago

Manchester

Back when I had virgin media I once rang them to say I was moving over to sky and I wanted to cancel and the guy kept me on the phone for over an hour hard selling me a new contract price matched to the sky one and much much cheaper than the one I was cancelling. I just said yes in the end to shut him up and get me off the phone 😂 so no I don't feel bad, they can offer you much cheaper prices when they want to but they know the majority of people won't haggle. I hate doing it tho as I am just crap at negotiating and I hate talking on the phone 😅

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By *oeBeans OP Man
16 weeks ago

Derby

"I never quibble. Ever.

This is usually 100% me

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By *idssissyTV/TS
16 weeks ago

Nr cricket ground birm

"Back when I had virgin media I once rang them to say I was moving over to sky and I wanted to cancel and the guy kept me on the phone for over an hour hard selling me a new contract price matched to the sky one and much much cheaper than the one I was cancelling. I just said yes in the end to shut him up and get me off the phone 😂 so no I don't feel bad, they can offer you much cheaper prices when they want to but they know the majority of people won't haggle. I hate doing it tho as I am just crap at negotiating and I hate talking on the phone 😅"

Well done. I keep putting off having the same chat with them

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By *oeBeans OP Man
16 weeks ago

Derby

"I hate making these calls and will do anything I can to avoid them.

I don’t like dealing with people and I don’t like feeling like I’m making an inconvenience for them.

I currently need to call sky and octopus and I’m putting both calls off until I really have to "

I'm the same, it's just exhausting and takes so long that I normally hate making them too!

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By *ilsaGeorgeCouple
16 weeks ago

kent

Never feel bad about quibbling. All of these companies are basically stealing from you. We recently had a bill for £300 from RAC. When we called them and said this was ridiculous, the person on the phone said - yes it is. We do it because we know most people won’t complain. We said, so you’re deliberately robbing people by inflating prices? They didn’t answer. We had the bill reduced by 50%, and added an extra car to the policy as well.

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By *ewboy50Man
16 weeks ago

Carlisle

Car insurance has actually gone down Martin Lewis has been saying so asking for discount is normal and companies know this

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By *uenevereWoman
16 weeks ago

Scunthorpe

Absolutely, do not feel bad for ringing/ searching for a better deal.

It's incredibly rare for any company to offer the best prices to existing customers. You need to haggle and offer incentives.. such as actually staying with them.

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By *rthur WrightusMan
16 weeks ago

Round the Bend

Don't mention RAC, they refused to come to my starting failure because I was within quarter mile from home as the crow flies, driving or walking by road is a mile that's how the car got there !!! Cancelled the policy.

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By *allipygousMan
16 weeks ago

Leicester

Insurance companies make profit from renewals, or more accurately, from people who pay their renewal premium without questioning the price. You will invariably get a price better than your renewal, whatever insurance you're after.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
16 weeks ago

East Sussex

I find it easy.

I never accept a first quote from any insurer and they will usually discount the price. In the days before I paid my credit card in full every month I called them every six months, asked to speak to the loyalty team and got my interest rate reduced. Obviously there was a limit to that.

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By *ositiveVibesWoman
16 weeks ago

here there and everywhere

"I hate making these calls and will do anything I can to avoid them.

I don’t like dealing with people and I don’t like feeling like I’m making an inconvenience for them.

I currently need to call sky and octopus and I’m putting both calls off until I really have to

I'm the same, it's just exhausting and takes so long that I normally hate making them too!"

It always starts with a long hold time so you’re already frustrated before you even speak to anyone…🤦🏻‍♀️

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
16 weeks ago

East Sussex

"I hate making these calls and will do anything I can to avoid them.

I don’t like dealing with people and I don’t like feeling like I’m making an inconvenience for them.

I currently need to call sky and octopus and I’m putting both calls off until I really have to "

Think of it this way, it's literally their job to deal with your call. It's what they're there to do. As long as you're polite with them they'll be ok with you.

I dislike dealing with people on the phone but I have a sort of script for this type of call that I use.

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By *ranny-CrumpetWoman
16 weeks ago

Crumpet Castle

I used to feel it wasn't worth my effort or discomfort for me or them. I have had a totally opposite viewpoint for years now.

You are nothing more than business to them Joe and I operate from the same viewpoint now.

My breakdown cover was quoted as almost £100 for renewal.

I didn't accept the renewal. Then I went on comparison sites and could have got it for a around about £60 but I went on th e companies own website to sign up and got it for £30+ ......

It's worth it in the end.

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By *ellhungvweMan
16 weeks ago

Cheltenham

On commodity things like insurance or mobile I _never_ haggle with a supplier. I just go find another that isn’t taking the piss. Life is too short to spend ages on the phone with a droid.

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By *obilebottomMan
16 weeks ago

All over

"Car insurance company are basically scammers.

They have discounts available but only if you ask them.

Never pay their initial quote.

There's a video about how they operate on YouTube by Mark McCann

I did the samr and saved just under £250 as renewal was obsene

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By *heLeadbettersCouple
16 weeks ago

Reading

"I am cancelling my Virgin media asap as the cost is going to increase again. I can use my mobile hotspot and save myself the money. "

Carefully if you have to sent Virgin equipment back.

They'll send you packaging and a label and their collection point.

Well, they say that but don't, then send you threatening letters because you've not sent their equipment back. This can go on for months.

Eventually you'll get the packaging, take it to their collection point and think no more of it.

Then you'll spend 2 1/2 years fighting of various debt collectors for payment of the equipment you've sent back.

In their packaging.

To their collection point.

Wherever you take it back to, FFS get a signature with date and time on it.

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By *oeBeans OP Man
16 weeks ago

Derby

"Insurance companies make profit from renewals, or more accurately, from people who pay their renewal premium without questioning the price. You will invariably get a price better than your renewal, whatever insurance you're after."

I do usually do this, but this time I had a claim from an accident that wasn't my fault and they said at the time that it wouldn't affect my premium. Then I got a renewal quote of DOUBLE what I had paid and thought that wasn't fair. So I called them and ended up getting it cheaper than last year!

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By *ealitybitesMan
16 weeks ago

Belfast

I've usually just shopped around and found a better deal and gone with that. As soon as the previous suppliers get wind of that and ring me up to better the offer I just tell them they should have been giving me that offer all along.

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By *UGGYBEAR2015Man
16 weeks ago

BRIDPORT

Martin Lewis would have a meltdown if he knew I have had the same insurance company for over 40 years

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By *2000ManMan
16 weeks ago

Worthing

Never feel bad op. Their job is to negotiate with you. Be polite (it sounds like you were) and a discount should be given.

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
16 weeks ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

"So over the last couple of months, I've been on the phone to my car insurance company and Sky due to rising prices that I wasn't happy with and managed to get discounts on both.

This something I'd usually let go in the past and chalk up to prices naturally increasing but recently felt like it was getting too much.

I never feel bad.

Many companies give cheaper deals to new customers as a hook, so if who I'm with us happy to charge me more than someone they've never done business with then I'm happy to walk if no discount is done.

It's simple to change suppliers these days and not time consuming at all. If length of time as a customer meant better deals then there wouldn't be a revolving door of new customers in and unhappy old customer out. It's a stupid business model really and creates a ton of admin. 🤷‍♂️

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By *uriousscouserWoman
16 weeks ago

Wirral

When my dad found out the cancer was terminal he wanted to spend a day going round all the different funeral homes to negotiate a good deal. It was his idea of a perfect day (except for the whole looming death thing).

I completely get it and would probably feel similarly - I bloody love a good haggle.

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
16 weeks ago

Central

These companies are relying on increasing prices as much as possible with the majority of their customers being too compliant to do anything but pay up. But they can afford to discount and it's in their interest to do it and keep you. Much cheaper than finding new punters.

Joe you're doing the right thing lovely

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By (user no longer on site)
16 weeks ago

Something I really need to do as I seem to be going round in circles trying to pay for everything and continually struggling lately

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