Only Good For The First Year (Do Not Renew)

Two years ago, I needed to renew my car insurance and, via price comparison websites, Swinton came out in the top 10 (I had used Admiral, Elephant, Bell and Diamond previously and wanted to shop elsewhere). I accepted their quote (which was void of any frills or extras) and everything went as planned (claim and issue free) for the first year.

However, on receiving my 2nd year renewal quote, the price had increased by over £100 and (as my car was a year older, I was a year more experienced in driving and had a further years NCB) I felt it only right to contest the substantial increase. When I called, I was given the usual talk but, basically, the price was the price.

I had left it a bit late to shop around so, reluctantly, renewed with them. Fast forward 4 months and I purchase a newer, smaller car so call them to advise of the change. The operator then recalculates my premiums to advise me that my monthly payments will now increase by over 40%!! Again, I protest but, basically, the price is the price.

But on this occasion, I DO have time to shop around and, in doing so, I purchase a package which costs me only £2 more per month than I was paying the previous year but this one includes quite a few frills (lost keys, legal assistance, personal injury, courtesy car etc).

So I call my local Swinton office the following morning to cancel my policy and am informed that I owe them over £80 to do so! When I ask for a breakdown of the charges are, they can't be specific so reduce it to £77. I'm still not happy and want it in writing so it's reduced to £55 to settle it. I'm STILL not having it so I'm offered £10 per month of my newly-increased monthly payment but (1) it's still £12 more per month than I'm already paying and (2) they've already told me "the price is the price" which is why I've went somewhere else.

In the end, I got the cancellation charge reduce by over 50% and, had I had the strength and patience to persist, I'd have probably got it down some more. But, to be honest, it was worth paying that just to get away from them.

I have colleagues and family who all recount the same story - only good for the first year. But make sure that you're working ahead of yourself because they take a "deposit" out of your account for next year's auto-renewal about a month before it's due up (it's in the small print).

Oh, and another thing: if you DO purchase any form of insurance from Swinton, be prepared to receive weekly (if not more frequent) calls from them trying to sell you all the other policies that they offer (home, travel etc). I ended up ignoring their calls such was their persistence throughout.

In short, if you do choose to go with them (for whatever reason you might have), make it only for the first year and plan ahead to get out quick.