Sureterm Insurance - Nightmare!

[Lightbulb]

Blimey, I 've just contacted Sureterm Insurance for a quote (as my current insurer no longer is offering vehicle insurance) and had an absolute nightmare conversation.

Just to give the background, it's a Defender 90 1998 300TDi, with winch, HD springs front and rear, split charge electrics, rear windows, two bench seats in the back, snorkel but standard engine.

First of all the bloke (Mark by name) asks me if it's a van, pick up or station wagon.

Well it's an ex-Dartford River Crossing patrol vehicle and looks like a SW to me, so I say SW.

So he tries to tell me it's got to be a TD5! We agree on van in the end.

After a lot of questions, he ends the session by stating that I won't be covered for green laning?

I asked him what he meant by greenlaning, as I don't know the legal definition of the term.

He replies that I won't be covered for off road events.

I replied that I wouldn't expect to be, but pointed out that what most people call green laning is actually travelling on public highways.

'Exactly' he says, 'but you won't be covered for greenlaning'.

Eh? So I asked how they defined this - is it by the degree of mud? or the number of pebbles? I also asked if I visited my friend's farm and drove down the grotty muddy gravelly public road to get to it, would I be uninsured?

He replied that I would, because I was going somewhere (???).

I couldn't get a precise definition from him of what would be excluded, so in the end I told him not to offer me a quotation unless they could define exactly where I am covered - so he started going on about 'off road' use. So I pointed out that 'greenlaning' is ON road use. Again.

At this point he started saying, 'OK, well I mean roads that aren't maintained'.

But surely green lanes are maintained (badly I know) by the Local Authority, same as any other Highway? I did point this out, but he just got a bit more annoyed.

It was most frustrating (for both Mark and me). In the end the poor sod got quite 'loud' about it and obviously came to teh conculison I'm some sort of pedantic a**ehole, but I know what Ins.Cos are like, they'll weasel out of anything if given a chance.

Anyone else got a good insurer they can recommend?

Lightbulb.

[NewBloke]

I got a good quote from them on a specialist policy, I've got a few mods on the 110 ;-) and was specificly (sp?) told that I AM covered for greenlanes but not for off roading ie pay and play etc.

[Lightbulb]

Hmm, the bloke I spoke to had obviously not gone to the school of common sense and charm that yours had.

Sureterm say they are going to get back to me with a quote, but that it's likely to be around £600 !!!!!

I must admit, when I spoke to them at the LRO show in Malvern they promised to get back to me to provide a quote, but never did - they seem to have a friendly, helpful public attitude which certainly wasn't backed up by the employees i've dealt with so far. ironic that they advertise with a piccy of a s3 on it's side on an unmade road, then give me that load of b***ocks I got earlier.

The good news is though that Adrian Flux have offered fully comp at £325 - the best (welll only!) offer so far.

I'll wait and see what Sureterm offer (assuming they callback!).

I did tell them not to bother phoning back if they couldn't come up with a cast iron definition of what they will and won't cover in the way of greenlaning, mind you.

I really do get fed up with this crap, it's either a blooming Highway or it ain't in my book! And if it's a Highway I want it to be covered . . . . . mind you I want cover on car parks, private drives, petrol stations etc as well.

Lightbulb.

[Geobloke]

Lightbulb, I had a very similar experience and Whitewolf did too! the guy I spoke too was utterly useless kept calling Eva a Jeep cherokee and quoted an enormous amount! So stayed with the NFU!

[shrek]

Try Landrover (Royal Scottish backed IIRC).
http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/Owner..._insurance.htm
The policy states free cover for "off road" and its guaranteed to be fixed using genuine parts. Overall cost for the disco was very competetive. So far mods like the abar, lights, tinted windows and my mobility adaptions haven't increased the premium. They are covered as well like for like. Helpfull and very knowledgeable too giving the correct advice on the windows and knowing what landrovers are etc.

[toppa]

MMM i had a good run with sureterm and they insure me, more mods that you, insured for greenlanes, it is written in black and white on my documents, but not off road events/sites, but they would only give me 3rd party fire and theft, but that is due toa lack of insurence history in this country and only having had a english license for 2 years, although i've been driving for 17 years with no own fault claims, it cost me about 345

Cheers

[Roger Whittle]

At this point he started saying, 'OK, well I mean roads that aren't maintained'.

But surely green lanes are maintained (badly I know) by the Local Authority, same as any other Highway? I did point this out, but he just got a bit more annoyed.

Oh no! This means I can't get more than a mile from my home! I live in Lambeth and they have a policy of letting the potholes get deeper so they can save money by not having to put down any more road humps. Maintained? No, they haven't got the money any more - spent it all on Traffic Wardens.

Back to insurance. I was having a similar nightmare when I first got the Disco, then a mate of mine put me in contact with his business vehicle broker. They muttered that they didn't really do individual, but let's have a look. In the end the nice lady apologised because the best she could manage was £660, which was £400 cheaper than any previous quote.

Before you run screaming from the place Lightbulb, I hadn't had my own insurance for twenty-eight years (been driving since before England won the world cup); I needed the vehicle for business (medical electronics field engineer); X reg Disco that lives on the street in SW16. My policy does not exclude green laning. Racing, rallying or trials; Nieyet Tovarich, but GL is not excluded.

www.coversure.co.uk/ilkeston but I don't think they quote on the net, which is good because it's someone who understands insurance and capable of assessing genuine risk as opposed to; 'It isn't on the computer - can not be insured'.

Roger.

[Lightbulb]

Got a good deal with Adrian Flux Insurance in the end - £325 fully comp with all the mods noted etc. And good service as well, none of the discussion I had with Sureterm about 'when's a road not a road' etc.

http://www.adrianflux.co.uk/quote.php

Highly recommended!

Nice to be able to say that these days

Lightbulb.

[timbott]

I use http://www.footmanjames.co.uk/site/default.asp but, in my experience, they are only competetive with older stuff, heckflosse knows all about them

cheers, Tim

[Geobloke]

I use http://www.footmanjames.co.uk/site/default.asp but, in my experience, they are only competetive with older stuff,

cheers, Tim

Ay up Tim what yer trying to say about our Heckflosse? eh?

[Geobloke]

I use http://www.footmanjames.co.uk/site/default.asp but, in my experience, they are only competetive with older stuff, heckflosse knows all about them

cheers, Tim

Ay up Tim what yer trying to say about our Heckflosse? eh?

[Newsreader]

I've been using Footman James for years now, every year I get quotes from various companies but they always come out best

[Dave-H]

I had loads of grief with Sureterm when i changed from my 300tdi Defender to my new one. Ended up losing no claims discount [and money] simply by using one of their cheap policies.
Wouldn't use them again. Know quite a few mates no longer trusting in them.
I'm with Direct Line now -20k Defender, fully comp, 2 drivers, cover on greenlanes [as long as they are "public highways"] = £309

[sweetcorn]

Hello,

ive had problems with them too. It all started off fine for the first 2 years then when it came time to renew for the 3 year they changed the policy but didnt tell me about this so my no claims bonus went.

so at the end of the 3rd year i asked for a quote as a few other companies had contacted me and got told i didnt have any no claims.
This angered me some what. I asked for a letter to say i had had 3 years claim free driving with them. Im still waiting for it

now with peter best, only £250 fully comp for the ex mil S3 109" with all the bits and bobs i need. Great service.

sweetcorn

[heckflosse]

I use http://www.footmanjames.co.uk/site/default.asp but, in my experience, they are only competetive with older stuff, heckflosse knows all about them

cheers, Tim

Footman James are good with 'classics', used them for years now. My IIa costs £15 extra per to add to my 220s policy.


P.S. Elle MacPhersons older than me