Insurance gripe - Shannons

[Melz]

Now as a "motoring enthusiast", I actually get out and drive my cars. They aren't locked away in a shed and wrapped in cotton wool. So wasn't I the surprised one on making my first claim....


I have 4 of my cars insured with Shannons (as we all know they are for the 'motoring enthusiast' : ). I've been with Shannons since purchasing my XB as they showed the benefits of insuring an old car for agreed value and choice of repairer.

After my few years of accumulating older cars, I have put them all to Shannons as nothing seemed to offer the same 'options'.

I decided to insure my daily driver also with them. This car maybe a daily, but it is my pride and joy and I take great care of her. I didn't really see the point to going anywhere else to insure her.

Well a month ago I had my first ever claim in the BFII. Clean driving record, no previous claims, and I wasn't at fault for the accident. (hit a roo at 5:15am!). Rang Shannons as soon as I was in an area with service and reported that I hit the roo and was told I would be rung back later when the dayshift came on.

At 1pm I hadn't heard anything so I rang them... Needless to say it was news to them. After being re-asked all the questions I had previously answered, I was asked "who owned the animal" to which I replied "the Victorian Government", they don't have a sense of humour!


By 3pm that same arvo the car was in at the panelbeater being assessed. It wasn't until 12 days later that the insurance assessor gave the go ahead to the panelbeater to work on the car.

If it wasn't for the panel beater going ahead ordering the parts as soon as the car arrived in the yard, I wouldn't have had my car back yet! What's so hard about making a straight forward claim?


Upon making a claim I found out something else.... I lose my no claim bonus (for that car). Turns out that the car must be entering its 4th year without claims to be eligible for this. It doesn't matter if you have 7 or 40 years of faultless driving to your record, its if the car has had a claim... Which I find personally pathetic as the car isn't even 2 years old!

Apparently its outlined in my PDS, but I guess that just serves as a reminder to shop around and don't go for the first schmuck that says their a like minded 'enthusiast'. Also that customer loyalty means nothing....


Oh well a not so great end to my crappy year

Melz

PS. Panel beater did an absolutely fantastic job, thanks to the choice of repairer!

PPS. Shannons knows how I feel too... I just got a phone call from one of their service reps. I think they "valued my feedback"