ESURE

Commendable statement on the Esure website under "Contact"

7. Geographic telephone numbers
esure uses non-geographical numbers as this is the most efficient way for us to handle and distribute incoming calls that may need to be handled in either our Manchester or Glasgow office depending on staff shifts and callers' requirements. Many telephone companies' calling plans are starting to recognise the need to treat 0845 numbers in the same way as geographical numbers, so that they don't incur a cost to people with inclusive call packages. This will help to ensure that people who do not pay for geographical calls don't incur a cost when calling us. In the meantime, we are able to accept calls on the following geographical numbers but please be aware that it may be slightly slower for us to route your call correctly.

Motor quotes and sales 0141 275 7508
Motor customer service 0141 275 7571
Home quotes and sales 0141 275 7526
Home customer service 0141 275 7574
Pet quotes and sales 02392 657 273
Pet customer service 02392 657 274
Travel quotes and sales 01752 272 917
Travel customer service 01752 272 918

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~ Edited by Dave: Thread split off from all Hall of Fame and title amended

I have decided to split this post from the Hall of Fame as I believe that despite this organisation's open publication of alternative numbers, its preceeding statement clearly indicates that it deserves no place.

It declares the requirement for 0845 numbers as being to facilitate the efficient distribution of calls between its different offices. However, its advocation of the "need" that originating (call) providers (and their customers as a whole) should cover the cost of the routing services are squarely at odds to this campaign.

I will, however, ensure that all these numbers are listed in our database.

Esure also offer by far the shoddiest protected no claims bonus cover of any car insurer in the UK that permits you only one claim in the last five years before you lose your bonus (i.e. they start docking your bonus for the second claim in five years)

Practically all other insurers allow you two claims before your protected no claims bonus is affected and with the majority it is two claims in the last five years but with better insurers like Admiral they only look at whether you have had more than two claims in the last three years.

In short Esure is a company to keep away from because the terms and conditions of the insurance are very poor, even though they may well offer you the cheapest quote on your car.

They also have no idea what the correct area code for Portsmouth is.

It only changed ten years ago.

lompos wrote on Nov 28^th, 2010 at 8:40am:

Commendable statement on the Esure website under "Contact" Quote: 7. Geographic telephone numbers esure uses non-geographical numbers as this is the most efficient way for us to handle and distribute incoming calls that may need to be handled in either our Manchester or Glasgow office depending on staff shifts and callers' requirements. ... ... In the meantime, we are able to accept calls on the following geographical numbers but please be aware that it may be slightly slower for us to route your call correctly.

That quoted above may indeed be commendable. The following is NOT:


Quote:

... Many telephone companies' calling plans are starting to recognise the need to treat 0845 numbers in the same way as geographical numbers, so that they don't incur a cost to people with inclusive call packages. This will help to ensure that people who do not pay for geographical calls don't incur a cost when calling us. ...

For the reasons given by Dave, it is only one telephone company (BT) that is able to readily include 0845 calls in its call plans without an excessive impact on other customers. By virtue of its market presence, some of its direct competitors are forced to follow suit, whereas other resist and maintain a fair system of charging.

BT's move is in anticipation of a regulatory change. Once that regulatory change (removal of revenue sharing from 0845) is implemented, then others will include 0845 calls in packages, and esure's costs will rise. Esure could bring this point forward quite easily by immediately switching to 03 numbers - the equivalent 0345 numbers being perhaps the most suitable.

Esure offers a premium service - swift routing of calls - on a premium rate number. It also offers a standard service on a standard rate number. That fact should be clearly understood and explained. Customers may wish to comment on the suitability of the words used (premium and standard) in absolute, rather than relative, terms. It could be that some would prefer "poor" and "appalling".

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Dec 1^st, 2010 at 10:59pm:

Esure offers a premium service - swift routing of calls - on a premium rate number.

Your mention of the word "swift" reminds me of another Ryanairesque competitor of Esure by the name of Swiftcover (you may recall them from their clucking hen tv adverts) who provide similar policies to Esure with a variety of non standard terms and conditions that are against the interests of their customers.

NGMsGhost wrote on Dec 1^st, 2010 at 11:21pm:

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Dec 1st, 2010 at 10:59pm: Esure offers a premium service - swift routing of calls - on a premium rate number. Your mention of the word "swift" reminds me of another Ryanairesque competitor of Esure by the name of Swiftcover (you may recall them from their clucking hen tv adverts) who provide similar policies to Esure with a variety of non standard terms and conditions that are against the interests of their customers.

My use of the word "swift" was simply as an antonym for "slightly slower". Perhaps I should have said "slightly faster".

I cannot think of any situation where the terms and conditions of a commercial company would be set to further the interests of customers! They are set to protect the interests of the company. When insurance companies were mutual organisations that was the interests of "customers" in general. Markets depend on the interests of the provider and the consumer being essentially opposed. Any commonality of interest undermines the market mechanism.