any insurance companies that don't use 4th dimension as backend

[mt09]

the title says it all really, I was with Hastings motorcycle was stolen and had a tracker, I called the insurers incase it ended up in an accident in the time I took to recover it, been a year and 4th dimension have put a marker on my insurance and will not take it off (I didn't even claim).

 

Bennett use them and im pretty sure bike sure do aswell. I'd like to steer clear of them going forward

[Capt Sisko]

I believe Cornmarket Insurnace don't, but market themselves as the prefered insurer for IAM members and offer a discount to  members accordingly. What the deal for none members is I don't know.

[bonio]

2 minutes ago, Capt Sisko said:

I believe Cornmarket Insurnace don't, but market themselves as the prefered insurer for IAM members and offer a discount to  members accordingly. What the deal for none members is I don't know.

They were 50% more than Bennetts to insure my car this month. Don't really understand it, as last year they were very competitive.

When my bike was nicked in 2020, I was insured through BikeSure, and no-one there even mentioned 4th Dimension to me. 

[Capt Sisko]

12 hours ago, bonio said:

They were 50% more than Bennetts to insure my car this month. Don't really understand it, as last year they were very competitive.

When my bike was nicked in 2020, I was insured through BikeSure, and no-one there even mentioned 4th Dimension to me. 

From what I gather it's a relatively new business model. The insurance broker provides the insurance quote, and remember they're just a broker, not the insurance company and when a claim comes along, they pass it along to a 3rd party who deal with the other insurance company(s) and sort out the repairs. The result is the broker does very little actual work so they can keep their quote prices down and still make a profit. That's also why they charge extortionate amounts for policy changes.

 

The problem is the repair companies the brokers use have discovered a way to fleece the both the biker and the insurance companies. We've all heard tales about inflated storage fees & credit hire charges, them taking months to do simple repairs and them giving misleading advice from underqualified legal advisors. What the commission deal between the brokers and the repairs is I can't comment on.

 

Now all the above is fine if all you want is a certifcate to say you've got insurance and you're legal, but come a claim and the reality of cheap insurance comes out. It's well worth reading this article from White Dalton:- 

You and Your Insurer

 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2024 by Capt Sisko

[S-Westerly]

That was a fairly horrifying read! These people really are the worst kind of bottom feeders and it's amazing to me that it's even legal. 

[RideWithStyles]

the insurance notice will leave a mark of potential claim and risk to them which will have to stay, but if 4th dimension didnt do anything then they have no right to place any marker, you need to write to them to remove their bs at their cost… you could involve bennets as to their decision to involve another party when not required and get them to remove it too.

[bud]

1 hour ago, S-Westerly said:

That was a fairly horrifying read! These people really are the worst kind of bottom feeders and it's amazing to me that it's even legal. 

It is crazy. Someone owing £16,000 to the insurance company. When their bike was only valued at £6,000!

[Capt Sisko]

11 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

That was a fairly horrifying read! These people really are the worst kind of bottom feeders and it's amazing to me that it's even legal. 

It could also be all part of what's feeding our ever increasing insurance costs. If the ultimate insurance company knows that it's going to cost £10k to settle a £5k claim, who do they get their money back from, the rest of us.

 

As a side note about 18months ago I had to make a claim on my car insurance for a small bump. I dealt with my broker all the way and the only interaction I had with the repair company was a phone call to arrange what day & time could they come and pick my car up & drop off the courtesy car. Ditto when the car was due to for return. Not credit hire or storage fees and no delays.

Edited November 27, 2024 by Capt Sisko

[JRH]

Read an article recently as to why UK insurance is more expensive than Ireland or Feance (2 EU) allegedly similar road usage to UK. 

The biggest difference is that the UK use these (4th Dimension) 3rd party companies to handle the claims.

Apparently France ans Ireland  insurers do all this themselves, as the UK used to do.

So you end up with the system as described above.

Have to say I had a no fault accident and 4th D were involved and it went OK. A loan bike was supplied and it was described as a "courtesy bike", now I think it may have been a hire bike. Only had it a week before mine was sorted. And no charges to me.

[bonio]

7 minutes ago, JRH said:

Read an article recently as to why UK insurance is more expensive than Ireland or Feance (2 EU) allegedly similar road usage to UK. 

Is it?

That's not how it appears if you live in Ireland: 

 

 

[Capt Sisko]

3 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

That was a fairly horrifying read! These people really are the worst kind of bottom feeders and it's amazing to me that it's even legal. 

The scam needs the motorcycle press to expose it big time, but look at the companies that advertise with them or who MCN Compare promote. Guess who they use?

[JRH]

2 hours ago, bonio said:

Is it?

That's not how it appears if you live in Ireland: 

 

 

To be fair the item I read was not solely motor bike insurance but vehicle insurance in general. It also said France were the cheapest area and the average annual increase there was about 5% as opposed to 30% in the UK.  
I think it was also mainly comparing the annual % increases as opposed to actual costs.

Edited November 27, 2024 by JRH

[Pie man]

8 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

That was a fairly horrifying read! These people really are the worst kind of bottom feeders and it's amazing to me that it's even legal. 

I think you're being quite polite there. 

[Pie man]

I have experience with these bottom feeders as one has put politely 

 

If I had the time, energy and not to mention money.  I would take legal action against these 3rd party bottom feeders. 

 

My bike was taken away after my off, and when they inspected it, they claimed there was more damage to the bike and it would be written off. I didn't agree and wanted the bike returning, I know for a fact the bike is back on the road, I felt conned to release the bike to them, they wanted over £200 a week storage. I am still (2 years on) trying to claim back my excess, the insurance have confirmed the other party admitted liability (drug driver) however my solicitor is just as bad as the 3rd party bottom feeders, I can never get hold of them until I threaten to make a formal complaint. Sadly I think they're all in it together.  

[Bungleaio]

21 hours ago, Capt Sisko said:

I believe Cornmarket Insurnace don't, but market themselves as the prefered insurer for IAM members and offer a discount to  members accordingly. What the deal for none members is I don't know.

None at all now really as they lost a lot of the insurance companies that they work with. I've been with Cornmarket since passing my advanced test but this year when it was coming up for renewal they called me to tell me what the price would be, they normally email so I knew it would be expensive. I got a new policy with someone else for less than half the price.

[Bungleaio]

I had a claim and 4th dimension repaired my bike, it came back looking far better than when I bought it 2nd hand.

[RideWithStyles]

11 hours ago, bud said:

It is crazy. Someone owing £16,000 to the insurance company. When their bike was only valued at £6,000!

Doesnt matter to them or law, something owed inflated or not that is a valued…plain wrong in the manner I will say but as a business and law terms, quite the opposite.

something the insurance and business practices that need a serious shake up.

[Capt Sisko]

2 hours ago, Bungleaio said:

I got a new policy with someone else for less than half the price.

But when the sh*t hits the fan, do they use 4th Dimension?

[Bungleaio]

21 hours ago, Capt Sisko said:

But when the sh*t hits the fan, do they use 4th Dimension?

No idea but I’ve had a good experience with 4th dimension so I’d have no issue if they did. 

[Jupiter]

Almost every broker that sells bike insurance will use 4th Dimension if you do not want to claim on your own insurance and use your own repairer. 4th Dimension pay the brokers to see the claims in the first instance, and ultimately they present this options as an alternative to claiming on your own policy, assuming you have comprehensive cover, if not, then a Third party claim is your only option.  The main issue is people generally have no idea what they pay for when it comes to insurance, and have a lot of common misconceptions. You pay insurance for them to pay you, end of story, fault or non fault. Insurance companies have never promised or never will look to deal with another drivers insurance to get your garage paid to fix your bike, they will pay the garage to fix your bike, subject to you making a claim against your policy, fault or non fault does not come into it, If the accident is indeed agreed as non fault by all parties concerned, your insurer will make a full recovery and the claim closed non fault. If no one is making a claim on your policy, your insurer have no need to talk to a Third Party Insurer, simple as that.  

 

4th Dimension will deal with the third party insurer to get you paid directly via them, your insurer who you pay your premium to do not do this, and 4th Dimension don't do this for fun or for anyone's health, and are a business.

 

If you have an opportunity to settle outside of insurance all together with the other driver directly, this will always be your best option. Otherwise you can claim on your own policy or deal directly with the third party insurer yourself.