I am due to collect my first Impreza at the weekend (a MY01 WRX) and have just phoned my insurance company (Bell Direct) to notify them of change of vehicle etc. As the car is a Euro import (full UK spec) they are demanding an additional premium compared to a UK car.

Do all insurers do the same???

 

Ditch em, go to another insurer. They are talking absolute b0110cks, once the car has a cat 1 alarm it is EXACTLY the same as a uk supplied car. I use Liverpool Victoria and can highly reccomend them, most insurers are aware of this.

cheers

glen

 

Hi Paul,

I complained to Elephant (part of the Admiral group, as is Bell Direct) about their attempts to charge me an extra 20% for my last car (bought from Denmark). The car was 100% UK spec.It seems that the telesales people have no understanding of Grey/parallel imports.

The minute you mention that your car is an EU import they automatically assume its from Japan and not the same as a UK supplied car. Here's the response I got from an Elephant rep (although she missed the point I was making - that I had told the telesales folk that the car was an EU parallel import and 100% UK spec, but they refused to listen and still insisted it would be an extra 20%). I had already decided to cancel my Elephant policy (due to their crap customer service IMHO) so did not pursue this issue an further.

-----------------------------------

Hi Paul

Thank you for your email.

I am the Quality Executive for elephant.co.uk and have been asked to answer your email.

I have looked into your query and cars imported from outside of Europe are classed as Grey imports. We have found from passed experiences that it takes longer to get car parts and they can be more expensive to repair. This is something the whole insurance industry have been experiencing. This is why we have to rate the vehicle higher than a European car.

I apologise if you feel you have been treated unfairly in this matter. If you are unhappy with my explanation the next step would be to write to :


Complaints Department
Lloyd's
One Lime Street
London
EC3M 7HA
Tel. 020 7327 6950

If I can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to email me at reesh@aisl.uk.com


All the best
helen ress
quality executive




-----Original Message-----
From: [mailtoaul68@yahoo.com]
Sent: 11 July 2002 14:18
To: help@ELEPHANT.CO.UK
Subject: Re: Important - about your motor insurance policy


Please can you supply details of the regulatory bodies to which Elephant.co.uk belong, so that I can write to them regarding Elephants unjust policy of charging parallel car importers extra. I will also take this matter up with my MP and the insurance ombudsman.

regards

Paul


[Edited by paul68 - 2/28/2003 5:19:37 PM]

[Edited by paul68 - 2/28/2003 6:27:24 PM]

 

Following the above replies I decided to write to Bell Direct. After the initial response of "it costs more to repair imports and can that longer to get parts" I have finally convinced then that a UK spec Euro import is no different to a UK car when it comes to insurance. I have even received a refund of the 20% additional premium.

If you are paying more to insure a Euro import I certainly recommend writing a letter of complaint to your insurance company.

Paul.

 

I have had the same problem with London Victoria, where they have charged me £613 for an "import" (MY03), as oppposed to the original quote of £547 for a "British built" (their words!) car. I have written to them quoting restrictive practices under EEC legislation - from some of the other replies here it looks as though I should get a refund.

 

HI WRXpaul, I am with Bell Direct and was quoted £900 for a Euro import 01WRX, gave it no thought to ask if this was higher than the UK spec.
I actually thought this wasnt too bad but could you tell me if I should give em a wee letter and "ask" whats going on?
I still havent bought the car never mind the insurance (yet) but the more info I get the better.
Laters
Spooks

 

Don’t be fooled into thinking they are accidentally mixing up “grey” and “parallel” imports they are just hoping you won’t kick up a fuss and cough up the extra 20%. These so called big reputable insurance companies’s will rip you off without thinking twice, they are no different to an Oxford St pickpocket.