The cost of car insurance (From Bucks Free Press)
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The cost of car insurance
8:44pm Saturday 11th February 2012
A few days ago I heard the rattle of the letter box and thud of envelopes dropping on the doormat.
Rushing to the window and pulling back the curtains to peek out I could see the postman walking down the drive on his way to the next house.
Cautiously yours truly went to see what joys had been delivered.
There was the usual white envelope from the company whose name I have sworn never to say ever again offering me telephone, broadband and TV.
I must have had a hundred letters from them, have they not got the message that I don't want their services? Why do they keep pestering me?
That letter went straight into the black bin after pausing to rip my details from the front of the envelope. I don't bother opening their letters instead I just rip the address details straight out of the unopened envelope.
There was one other letter which turned out to be the bill for insuring my trusty car for the next year.
My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw the price indeed it was the best part of a thousand pounds.
Sitting on the bottom of the stair case to regain my composure the huge bill was more than I can afford however it would be such a shame to part with my beautiful car so the money must be found from somewhere.
My trusty motor may be a historic vehicle indeed in human terms it would be middle aged but a thousand pounds for insurance is a bit much.
Under the bonnet it may have a beast of an engine with push rods, tappets, a proper traditional carburettor and it may run on high octane fuel making it faster than most of the modern cars but I am no greater insurance risk than the next person in the traffic jam.
The accompanying letter from the insurance company said the quote was competitive amongst the myriad of other insurance companies.
It seems my experience is not unique indeed a news story on a national news site a few days ago (see link at the end of the blog) highlighted the exorbitant cost of insurance.
Youngsters are worst affected with the average cost of car insurance for a man under twenty two being £3,163.
Women have had cheaper insurance than men for some years but thanks to an EU ruling that's all about to change.
I think insurance should be based on the number of miles you drive and whether you speed.
Can't a boffin in a lab somewhere invent a black box that works out how well and how far you drive and charge you accordingly?
It seems the good drivers pay the same as the bad drivers and that can't be right can it?
What with high fuel costs, the exorbitant price of a road tax and now crazy insurance deals the poor motorist in under attack from all sides.
At least my historic car is appreciating in value rather than depreciating like all the modern cars.
Let's face it the insurance industry is a rip off.
What do you think?
LINK: “Car insurance leaps by average £50 in just three months with young drivers bearing the brunt” : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2089019/Car-insurance-leaps-average-50-just-months-young-drivers-bearing-brunt.html
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Comments(46)
ivor
says...
1:41am Sun 12 Feb 12
~
I fear it is you who are wrong as road fund exemption applies only to cars constructed before the 1st January 1973. My vehicle may be old bit sadly its not that old....
~
The figure I roughly gave takes into account the no claims bonus, I dread to think what it would be without....
u5r23
says...
10:03am Sun 12 Feb 12
They already have you idiot. If you bothered to research your blogs then you'd know this.
Focus89
says...
11:21am Sun 12 Feb 12
Everyone just jumps in to try and make him look silly!
Alberto The Great
says...
11:52am Sun 12 Feb 12
ivor wrote:Ivor,
Re the comments of Alberto The Great at 11:30pm
~
I fear it is you who are wrong as road fund exemption applies only to cars constructed before the 1st January 1973. My vehicle may be old bit sadly its not that old....
~
The figure I roughly gave takes into account the no claims bonus, I dread to think what it would be without....
For once, you are correct and "I" am wrong; regarding car tax.
I am big enough to admit when I get it wrong.
Now, will you be big enough to finally admit to the BFP readership, that the Bigun Family of High Wycombe is fiction?
The Nomad
says...
12:05pm Sun 12 Feb 12
It should be re-recycled in a the box set aside for paper collection!
ivor
says...
5:24pm Sun 12 Feb 12
~
If the black boxes for a car exist then why aren't they in widespread use?
~
Surely the drivers with multiple claims should be forced to have one fitted to their cars?
ivor
says...
5:24pm Sun 12 Feb 12
~
Thank you for your kind words of support. It isn't nice being on the receiving end of all the nasty but I have become used to it and it has no effect on me now.
ivor
says...
5:24pm Sun 12 Feb 12
~
At least you were man enough to admit your slight mistake indeed I always apologise whenever I make a mostake.
~
Actually my family is real, if they hadn’t existed then I would never have been born!
ivor
says...
5:24pm Sun 12 Feb 12
~
I gave up with the recycling schemes months ago so now I put all the rubbish in the black bin.
~
So far the powers that be haven't complained so I shall continue to be a “one bin household” until I am told otherwise.
Alberto The Great
says...
5:26pm Sun 12 Feb 12
ivor wrote:But your character is fictional, as is your inuendous name.
Re the comments of Alberto The Great at 11:52am
~
At least you were man enough to admit your slight mistake indeed I always apologise whenever I make a mostake.
~
Actually my family is real, if they hadn’t existed then I would never have been born!
If it were otherwise, then there would be records to show that a family of that name existed.
ivor
says...
6:07pm Sun 12 Feb 12
~
But I do exist! If I did not then who on earth is writing this comment?
Alberto The Great
says...
6:22pm Sun 12 Feb 12
ivor wrote:Please explain the total lack of eveidence.
Re the comments of Alberto The Great at 5:26pm
~
But I do exist! If I did not then who on earth is writing this comment?
ivor
says...
6:26pm Sun 12 Feb 12
~
Old documents can be so inaccurate, indeed you just can't rely on them all the time.
~
Does it really matter?
Alberto The Great
says...
6:34pm Sun 12 Feb 12
ivor wrote:If you wish to continue with your stance that a family with the name of Bigun has lived in, or near High Wycombe for hundreds of years, then yes, it matters.
Re the comments of Alberto The Great at 6:22pm
~
Old documents can be so inaccurate, indeed you just can't rely on them all the time.
~
Does it really matter?
Otherwise, it proves that you've been telling lies to the BFP readership, which is what we all currently believe.
With regards to "Old" documents, you have yet to provide the page number of the historical muster role, as held at the local library, where it shows any reference to the name Bigun.
So... I have been man enough to admit when I was wrong... How about you admitting that this is all just fiction, or provide the proof?
ivor
says...
6:39pm Sun 12 Feb 12
~
Indeed my family has lived in this part of the world for many hundreds of years, can't you just take my word for it?
~
I can assure everyone that they can have full confidence in me and my blog.
~
When I have a free moment I will consult the muster roll can confirm that my ancestors are listed in it.
Alberto The Great
says...
7:48pm Sun 12 Feb 12
ivor wrote:I, along with many others, look forward to the results of your consulting the muster roll.
Re the comments of Alberto The Great at 6:34pm
~
Indeed my family has lived in this part of the world for many hundreds of years, can't you just take my word for it?
~
I can assure everyone that they can have full confidence in me and my blog.
~
When I have a free moment I will consult the muster roll can confirm that my ancestors are listed in it.
Mama36
says...
8:04pm Sun 12 Feb 12
ivor
says...
10:14pm Sun 12 Feb 12
~
I will let you know once I have consulted the roll.
~
I'm sure it will be an enlightening experience for me too!
ivor
says...
10:15pm Sun 12 Feb 12
~
Surely but travel is even more expensive than running a car?
~
Thank you for pointing our about the drivers and their behaviour, I may well carry out some research into this problem....
Lawrence Linehan
says...
2:05am Mon 13 Feb 12
Focus89 wrote:Serve him right for being so EVIL!
I think your all a bit mean to Ivor, he's only stating car insurance is a rip off - which is true!
Everyone just jumps in to try and make him look silly!
Lawrence Linehan
says...
2:06am Mon 13 Feb 12
ivor wrote:EVIL!
Re the comments of Focus89 at 11:21am
~
Thank you for your kind words of support. It isn't nice being on the receiving end of all the nasty but I have become used to it and it has no effect on me now.
Lawrence Linehan
says...
2:07am Mon 13 Feb 12
ivor wrote:Just like Guy the Gorilla.
Re the comments of Alberto The Great at 11:52am
~
At least you were man enough to admit your slight mistake indeed I always apologise whenever I make a mostake.
~
Actually my family is real, if they hadn’t existed then I would never have been born!
Lawrence Linehan
says...
2:08am Mon 13 Feb 12
Lawrence Linehan
says...
2:10am Mon 13 Feb 12
ivor wrote:If it doesn't matter then why did you bring it up EVIL IGOR!
Re the comments of Alberto The Great at 6:22pm
~
Old documents can be so inaccurate, indeed you just can't rely on them all the time.
~
Does it really matter?
Lawrence Linehan
says...
2:10am Mon 13 Feb 12
Lawrence Linehan
says...
2:13am Mon 13 Feb 12
Mama36 wrote:I've never seen them do that on routes 37 and 35. (Lot of smoking cannabis and wailing hippie songs goes on though.)
Luckily for me I don't have the expense of running a car. No hefty insurance or petrol to pay for. I rely on arriva route 33. Not bad when they arent texting and eating their lunch whilst driving.
Lawrence Linehan
says...
2:13am Mon 13 Feb 12
ivor
says...
2:28am Mon 13 Feb 12
~
But I am not evil! I am a caring neighbourly person who would help anyone in need.
ivor
says...
2:28am Mon 13 Feb 12
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No, not at all.
ivor
says...
2:28am Mon 13 Feb 12
~
What has Guy the gorilla got to do with this?
ivor
says...
2:29am Mon 13 Feb 12
~
Of course his family was real, if there weren't an ancestors he would not be here!
ivor
says...
2:29am Mon 13 Feb 12
~
But I did not bring it up first!
ivor
says...
2:29am Mon 13 Feb 12
~
If only you knew how kind and compassionate I really am you would be shocked.
~
Perhaps one day you will bump into me in the town centre at lunchtime then you will see how humble I really am....
ivor
says...
2:29am Mon 13 Feb 12
~
I will take more attention to the drivers and see what they are doing whist behind the wheel.
ivor
says...
2:29am Mon 13 Feb 12
~
But this is a serious blog and there is no room for jokes when dealing with serious topics....
Loudwater69
says...
1:50pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Mama36
says...
3:36pm Mon 13 Feb 12
ivor wrote:All staff who work in Eden are entitled to apply for an arriva bus card. This allows employees to travel anywhere in Wycombe at childrens rates. (thats half price) Great perk for me on minimum wage!!!!
Re the comments of Mama36 at 8:04pm
~
Surely but travel is even more expensive than running a car?
~
Thank you for pointing our about the drivers and their behaviour, I may well carry out some research into this problem....
eniluap
says...
7:55pm Mon 13 Feb 12
If the black boxes for a car exist then why aren't they in widespread use?
~
Surely the drivers with multiple claims should be forced to have one fitted to their cars?
they do exist my daughter in law has one fitted by her insurance company free of charge it not only monitors her speed but also how many miles she drives what roads she is on and a lot more also in the event of an accident it it will tell what speed how she applied her brakes and in the event the car get stollen it will tell the police where it is
ivor
says...
10:27pm Mon 13 Feb 12
~
It isn't just the junk mail that a problem, every day I get leaflets from restaurants and eateries pushed though my front door.
~
I may well try registering with the mail preference service as its becoming very tedious sifting through all the junk mail.
~
I may not have as many friends as some by my personal address book does have quite a few names in it....
ivor
says...
10:27pm Mon 13 Feb 12
~
I never knew that, maybe more companies should get on board with discounted travel schemes?
~
Surely those on the minimum wage should have even greater discounts than the normal child’s fare?
ivor
says...
10:28pm Mon 13 Feb 12
~
But is the insurance premium reduced according to how well your daughter drives?
~
What is the benefit of having a black box fitted to a car?
Leaving
says...
8:52am Wed 15 Feb 12
Some will put rules in such as you can't drive between 10pm-5am as the stats show younger people are more likely to crash in this time and normally with others in the car with them.
As mentioned it can log a lot of information. Such as speed, acceleration and location. This information can be used to show you drive carefully and so the premium is supposedly lower. It can also be used to show statistical liability in the event of a crash.
Many note it is more ‘big brother’ but instead of it being the wonderful government with our information it is big business that stores this data. Would also note one of the emerging systems is made by Tracker that originally used this technology to allow police to track stolen vehicles. Tracker is also part of RBS Insurance.
usvelt
says...
12:02pm Wed 15 Feb 12
ivor wrote:Old documents? Neither can your innacurate blogs be relied on eh igor?
Re the comments of Alberto The Great at 6:22pm
~
Old documents can be so inaccurate, indeed you just can't rely on them all the time.
~
Does it really matter?
Remember :
The buildings of Wycombe: 13 Queens Square
I see you still cant be bothered to ammend the useless drivel.
Lawrence Linehan
says...
12:08am Sun 19 Feb 12
ivor wrote:No I won't - I'll STRANGLE YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS AND FEED YOUR SANDWICHES TO THE PIGEONS.
Re the comments of Lawrence Linehan at 2:10am
~
If only you knew how kind and compassionate I really am you would be shocked.
~
Perhaps one day you will bump into me in the town centre at lunchtime then you will see how humble I really am....
Lawrence Linehan
says...
12:42am Sun 19 Feb 12
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The perfect wife and mother, Rebecca runs a home, a bad temper and is working on her novel. She enjoys photography, playing the piano and likes almost anything that's out of fashion and uncool. She lives in Amersham with her husband and youngest child (aged ten). Her eldest, now 27, lives and works in Buckinghamshire.
Alberto The Great says...
11:30pm Sat 11 Feb 12
If it bore any resemblance to truth, then you would know that details contained within this blog are inaccurate.
Therefore, we witness yet more lies from Ivor.
1. Vintage cars and Road tax - Any car that is over 25 years old, no longer needs to pay road tax.
2. If you are as safe a driver as you have claimed to be within your many fictional blogs, then your no claims bonus, combined with your age, along with the fact that you have stated that your vehicle is kept off the main road, then your insurance premium (even fully comprehensive) wouldn’t be anywhere near £1,000.
Please would you explain why you have lied to the BFP readership yet again.