Footman James

[AlanBartlett]

Ive just recently had a message from Sara Young. Enquiring about other insurers for their Jowetts. As she has been informed by fj, that they no longer insure younger drivers. Also a few google searches, have revealed that people on other forums, younger under 25s are also having trouble. This could be a bad move and spell trouble for younger recruits. According to various posts they are refusing to insure younger higher risk groups/and people are taking advantage of the lower premiums.

[george garside]

I suppose taking advanatage of the lower premiums may well be true as there are a lot of potential 'daily drivers' such as minis, cortinas , escorts, not to mention MG B's Rover V8's etc that now fall under the heading of 'classic cars' This is much less likely to be the case with vintage, thirties, fortys and fifties vehicles because they are more precious and far less suitable for regular use. One could also argue that young drivers who are able to cope with the skills of double declutching etc etc required to conduct older vehicles are by definition not going to be teararsing around in them whereas many later 'classics' lend themselves quite well to over exhuberent driving and can be easily and relatively cheaply aquired for 'normal use' by those who have no real interest in their historic merits.

This should be ''discussed'' with FJ or any other insurance broker doing a deal with the club and the business be taken elsewhere if decent terms are not offered to any ( in our case Jowett) being driven by a qualified driver irrespective of age ( at either end of the spectrum!)

I think Alan has made a very fair point about it spelling trouble for new young recruits

george

[Jack]

Ive just recently had a message from Sara Young. Enquiring about other insurers for their Jowetts. As she has been informed by fj, that they no longer insure younger drivers. Also a few google searches, have revealed that people on other forums, younger under 25s are also having trouble. This could be a bad move and spell trouble for younger recruits. According to various posts they are refusing to insure younger higher risk groups/and people are taking advantage of the lower premiums.

Hi Alan,

I would suggest to her that she gets in touch with Malcolm Oliver - he is in regular contact with our representative at FJ, and may be able to assist. He also needs to be aware of any issues that we are having with FJ to try and resolve more general problems for members.

Unfortunately it seems common sense in the insurance industry is well and truly gone - if they could understand they are refusing young drivers using prewar or Bradfords because of the damage caused by young drivers using a much newer and more powerful car, then they might take a more sensible view. But I suspect it is because the computer has said no.

Personally I left FJ about 12 months ago after they doubled my premium, refused to change my address without charging more than 20% of the premium, and won't be going back. There are also other companies she might want to consider, which specialise in classic insurance for younger drivers.

Jack.

[Forumadmin]

http://www.money.co.uk/car-insurance/un ... urance.htm

But will these companies deliver on these quotes?

Car insurance has always been difficult. When I was young I could only afford third party (the legal minimum). Fire and theft came later (like in my mid 20's) and fully comprehensive only after 30. I worked on the principle that the liklihood of me claiming was small (despite living in Liverpool and then Bedford, not known for their low loadings!). Indeed in 40 years I never did claim. The first claim being at Bideford when the hotel car backed into my Jup in full view of all the JCC members! The second being when someone reversed into the Jav when stationary when we were in it 40metres from our house. These are the only two claims between 1968 and 2013.

Classic car insurance did not exist then. Classic car insurance really only means 'limited mileage' in most cases and usually requires proof of a second car to use for daily transport. The fact that it is a classic car really makes little difference to the insurance risk and all the insurance company considers is the value they will have to pay out. Thus a £1000 modern will be about the same as a £1000 classic. Now if you think your Jav is valued at £10000 then you will have to pay the premium to cover that. But if you take the risk not the insurance company then the premium will be much less.

So my advice is to make sure you get car insurance when you are young to build up no claims bonus. How you get out of being labelled as a young driver and thus a high insurance risk, I do not know. I also do not know if the same weightings were around 40 years ago. I suspect not and that the video game generation has brought the high risk label on themselves. All classic car clubs have a duty to educate insurance companies that not all the youngsters are so irresponsible.

[Chris Spencer]

F J have lost my trust - they started to mess me about with the premiums - I expect high quality service at fair price - I do not expect to have to barter with them - all I want for them to be honest - and they are not - All my classic insurance is now with Haggerty who when compared with F J are a breath of fresh air. It's not just me - read the other classic / vintage forums and there are no end of classic owners telling F J where to stick there lack of service and stupid premium pricing.

[AlanBartlett]

I havent picked up a copy yet of this week of classic car weekly, but it cropped up on my news feed on face book, that FJ have now lauched a "classic landscaping policy" Allowing 17 to 25s to be insured with a classic. I have not read the full details, but to me seems a bit of a back track considering it was a while back they decided not to insure younger drivers. Why make the change back? Perhaps they've realised they would be losing a fair amount of premiums from that group. I how ever wont be going back with them, due to there lack of information and help back when i was first on the road with the car. Have been with hic for over 2 years now. And have been very helpful through out the service.

[Forumadmin]

Alan,
I had asked the JCC secretary to put this on the agenda for the last exec meeting and to ask Malcolm Oliver, the president of the JCC, for a report on the Footman James relationship, but it was not to be. Luckily it was raised anyway and Malcolm had done some homework. He announced this new FJ scheme in a survey he did of some insurance companies. He has been appointed as insurance liaison officer and will no doubt report on the schemes that may be suitable for members. It is likely we will have a panel of different insurers to choose from that will all provide a rebate to the club should you choose to use them and state that you are a JCC member.

Watch the Jowetteer for minutes of the Executive Council meeting and Malcolm's conclusions.

[Space54]

I hang my head in shame as I type having become another to desert FJ-in my case in favour of Adrian Flux!

However, the extra £80+ which remains in my bank account (a saving of over 55% on the FJ renewal) is already starting to mitigate the guilt of deserting the JCC prefered insurer!

The Flux quote is underwritten by Kinetic Insurance and broadly matches all the features of FJ policy-the excess being only £100 with Flux. Only possible downside (but not in my case) was having to agree a limited mileage-2000 will be more than adequate for the Jupiter. (was me who put forward the 2000-would't expect 5K to be significantly more.

FJ also lost the business for my Mitsubishi FTO as driving to work occasionally in it was classed as commuting! Flux saved me £50 switching the FTO to them!

Keith

[Tony Fearn]

I hang my head in shame as I type having become another to desert FJ-in my case in favour of Adrian Flux! However, the extra £80+ which remains in my bank account (a saving of over 55% on the FJ renewal) is already starting to mitigate the guilt of deserting the JCC prefered insurer!

Today I also changed the insurance company from FJ to Adrian Flux, and have Keith to thank for the savings.

For 2 pre-war Jowetts and a Series IIIA Sunbeam Rapier, FJ sent me a renewal quote of £318.28, which was around 33% increase on their 2012 quote.

Of course I rang FJ's renewal line to query this, but there was no movement on the price quoted even though I have been in the JCC scheme since its inception in about 1996, and have never had a claim against the insurance.

It was suggested by the receptionist that I troll the internet for cheaper prices, then ring back and FJ would see what they could do about the renewal price.

Have you ever heard the like!

So, remembering the discussion about this some time ago, I rang Adrian Flux Classic Car Insurance, after visiting their website, and spoke to a very civil man called Steve, (although he did talk rather quickly on the phone).

The upshot is, for my circumstances, with, in my opinion an upgraded comprehensive insurance for the three cars, the cost for the next 12 months was £150 all in.

This is a saving of around 53%, or in l.s.d., £168.28 over the quoted renewal price from Footman James.

Enough said?

Tony.

[NigelMorley]

Renewal notice has arrived fromm FJ £201 for 5 cars unlimeted mileage. They have taken away the You may drive a car not belonging to you part. Might be a problem if I go to look for another car!