Budget direct - you get what you pay for!

[MikesCalais]

i called shannons (back when i first got my insurance) and they said that coz i wasnt a member of any car club or something or other and because the car isnt exactly a classic or something exotic (it is to me!!! lol) but they said that they couldnt insure me, but apparently they do now, so ill have to give them a call too, thanks

[ashbox]

i had a toyota gt4 hardly exotic or classic. i got 2 diff stories from them .

i was told over the phone that i couldn't but when i went in person i was told i could so i did.

technically you are apart of a club its called just commodores.

they advertise the fact you can insure a daily driven car.

my gt4 was through them and so was my calais

[padrickz88]

If you're over 25, AAMI would be a good option. If you're under 25 then they only allow you i think it's two modifications.

Rims are a modification
Catback Exhaust is a modification
Extractors are a modification
Sound system is a modification

etc. etc.

So if you have any more than one of those things and are with AAMI, you've gone over your modification limit and i dont know what kind of tricky **** they would try to pull.

only 1 modification
e.g suspension work, engine work, exhaust, drivetrain work

and as many "accessories" as you want
e.g tint, rims, stereo


i might give shannons a look, since i have more then one mod on mine and im 20 lol

[alien]

RACV's another good insurer. I'm with them atm, didn't feel like paying $11k a year for insurance with Commonwealth Bank, or $5k a year with AAMI! Got a sweet deal with RACV for $2.5k fully comp. Budget didn't wanna touch me though which i guess is fine by me :P

AAMI are also good, they were just a little expensive for me!

[Steven M]

AAMI i reckon are pretty good, had my ass end smashed in a while ago. Called them and they just said get 2 quotes, 1 of my choice and 1 aami approved repairer of my choice and take the quotes to the assessor. Took a whole of 2days to replace the rear bumper and weld a new piece on to the boot where the spare tyre lives. Following that about a week later a get a courtesy call from them to see if I'm happy. I have been with them since i got my licence about 8 years ago but they only allow 1 modification but seem to be cheaper then other insurers.

[Sabbath']

only 1 modification
e.g suspension work, engine work, exhaust, drivetrain work

and as many "accessories" as you want
e.g tint, rims, stereo


i might give shannons a look, since i have more then one mod on mine and im 20 lol

Nope. I got told that because the rim was not an original option for the car and is larger it is a Modification.

[danja]

^^^ Yeah, rims are a mod not an accessory.

NRMA are good in my experience, they allow unlimited mods from their allowed list (basically suspension, body kits, wheels, exhausts etc) just not internal engine mods or forced induction.

I had a friend who used to work for AAMI and she told me their average payout rate was 70%, meaning 30% of claims get flat out denied, compared to NRMA which was over 90%.

[padrickz88]

wow! the couple times i've called they have said rims are a accessory.. wish they would get there facts right before they say that to me......


*looks up nrma*

[Bravotwozero]

i called shannons (back when i first got my insurance) and they said that coz i wasnt a member of any car club or something or other and because the car isnt exactly a classic or something exotic (it is to me!!! lol) but they said that they couldnt insure me, but apparently they do now, so ill have to give them a call too, thanks

I called Shannons about 15 minutes ago and was told exactly the same thing!

[ClairBear]

Shannon's do have criteria on who they insure, for a reason. It's all about being an enthusiast and having a modified car and belonging to a car club. Keeps out the riff raff lol.

I have been with Shannon's for a while now and when my son got his first car I rang to see about getting his insured, as it is heavily modified, but was told they do not insure anyone who has not been driving for a minimum of 5 years OR who has held a CAM's licence. So if he had been racing go-karts or similar for instance as a minor, he could insure with Shannon's.

[The1985divo]

Out of all the companies i have Found CGU to be bloody brilliant.... my car was broken into a day after i got it and had only been with them for 24 hours (top no claim rating), car was fixed perfect and without any hassle getting the claim sorted.

Oh and they were the cheapest

[ChargedVX]

Guys my VT calais was insured with budget direct and the missus ran up the back of another car.
They fixed it quickly and at my choice of repairer.
A few months later i wrote the car of and they paid me out in under a month and paid the agreed amount i had no problems with them

[Evolution_Ends_Here]

i'm with budget direct haven't any problems yet apart from insurance going up

[Grennan]

Yeah whats with that, i always thought insurance would go down, the longer your with them. Ive been with my insurance company since i got my car and havent made a claim yet every year my insurance has gone up...

[Bravotwozero]

Shannon's do have criteria on who they insure, for a reason. It's all about being an enthusiast and having a modified car and belonging to a car club. Keeps out the riff raff lol.

I have been with Shannon's for a while now and when my son got his first car I rang to see about getting his insured, as it is heavily modified, but was told they do not insure anyone who has not been driving for a minimum of 5 years OR who has held a CAM's licence. So if he had been racing go-karts or similar for instance as a minor, he could insure with Shannon's.

So you have to be a member of a car club to be an enthusiast huh? And they'll insure your 6 banger but won't insure my SS?

[MasterOfReality]

I was insured with Shannons for 5 years.

They did ask me if I was a member of a car club, I said no. They then asked if I was a car enthusiast, I said yes.

Its all about showing an interest in cars, not necessarily belonging to a club.

[MikesCalais]

i'm with budget direct haven't any problems yet apart from insurance going up

have you had to make any claims yet? hopefully not, i was fine with them before that :P

i must admit, the staff when you call to make are claim are really friendly and helpful, even when ive had questions relating to other matters, ive spoken to 4 different people and all have been really friendly and helpful, the problem to me starts from the assesment centre, and maybe it was just my case manager whatever theyre called who didnt seem very interested in his job at all

also, i know the auto electrician they sent it to when i took it back.. and i surely wont be taking my car there ever again..

the place i took my car to fix the problem with my rear lights, they were so good, the problem came back about a month later, so i took it back, the guy stopped what he was doing, fixed it infront of me and wouldnt take any money for it, now THATS service!

[MikesCalais]

I know this is a couple months old, but yet another encounter with budget direct, and yet another absolute slap in the face...

After a taxi hit my car and drove off (found out his details thanks to a witness) (so once again I was 100% NOT at fault- wasnt even in the car) I had to take my car to get assessed before it would be fixed through insurance...

I thought, before i take it to get assessed, I'll get my own quotes... so i got THREE quotes of my own, and they came back $2,100-$2,450.

I took it to get assessed and the guy looked over it, took a couple pictures, and he let me send it to my choice of repairer... The guy at the assessment centre then sent the repairer whatever he had to send, telling them to fix the damage for 1,000 LESS

They dont care about the quality of repairs AT ALL, if they send it to a repairer it'll be a second rate repairer doing a less than second rate job on your car... TRUST ME , ive had first hand experience... They say you have a life time gaurentee on the repairs they authorise, BUT what that means is theyll send it back to the same place, who will simply do yet another second rate job on your car, OR what happend to me, was tell you that theres nothing wrong with a CD player that wont play CD's or a window that isnt fitted properly and is infact the wrong window...

ANOTHER thing ive heard (this hasnt happend to me, but my repairer told me this happend with someone he delt with) when budget direct ask if you have had any driving convictions, they not only mean 'have you lost your licence'.. they mean 'have you lost any points'... someone had lost POINTS (NOT their licence) and after an accident budget direct refunded their premium and said see ya later.

My repairer said that he has only delt with budget direct three times because every time he has problems with them, he STONGLY advises that I change companies.

I havent looked this up for sure, but i was told that budget direct recieves more complaints than all the other insurance companies put together, if anyone knows how to see if this is true id be interested in finding out, i wouldnt be suprised though

Anyway, the whole point of this extremly long post.. PLEASEEE for your sake and the sake of your pride and joy PLEASE don't get insurance with budget direct, paying a couple hundred dollars extra (IF THAT) is well worth it, and I cant wait to get a new insurance company

[danja]

I'd be looking very closely at the PDS, and if they seem like they've breached it, I'd be talking to the ACCC about how to put the squeeze on them, because what you've described sounds like an absolute joke.

[Rufus®]

Had a similar experience with a taxi last year, fortunately it was less painful than yours. Never had a problem with Budget. I got a quote from a repairer of my choice (totalled around $3500 of repairs), had to get my 5 year driving history from vic roads, which showed 1 speeding fine about 4 years ago, took photos of the damage and emailed them.

A few days later an assessor came out, checked the car out and said she was right to go to the repairer. Picked it up a week later and alls been good.

Will be keeping an eye out though, not sure I really like the sound of them.

[Rufus®]

I'd be looking very closely at the PDS, and if they seem like they've breached it, I'd be talking to the ACCC about how to put the squeeze on them, because what you've described sounds like an absolute joke.

They do say this when you get a quote:

The quote is subject to meeting the insurer's
underwriting criteria and may change
due to other factors such as:
- Driver's history of offences, suspensions or claims.
- Age or licence type of additional drivers.
- Vehicle modifications.

If you fail to inform them of any offences, suspensions or claims from the past 3 years, then they have the right to cancel your policy.. I do remember reading that cause i was a little shocked, too bad if you forgot about 1.

[STEALTHY™]

Picked it up a week later and alls been good.

Who the **** was the repairer. Only a week to repair $3500, i'd be recommending them left right and centre (usually when i get a quote, i triple it to give myself a rough estimate of how long it will actually take.)

[Evolution_Ends_Here]

about a month ago i just about did a claim with budget Direct but i didn't since a little bingo with my Car, and paid the other person's damage instead , i was on the phone to B.d at least 3 time a day on the day it happen, the amount that i had to pay was $550, i was thinking of going through claims but didn't thank god it didn't my rating would've gone up to rating 3 and my premium going up $200.

[Rufus®]

Who the **** was the repairer. Only a week to repair $3500, i'd be recommending them left right and centre (usually when i get a quote, i triple it to give myself a rough estimate of how long it will actually take.)

Local mob, Bacchus Marsh Panel Works. I was lucky and it was quiet leading up to christmas, and most of the cost was in the parts.