Acres insurance recommendation

[Clive]

3 years ago we moved away from NFU mutual insurance to F&M. At the time I posted about the saving which was shocking, F&M effectively halved what we had been paying the NFU and over the last 3 years that's the best part of £100k saved !

At the time it was suggested that although we might be saving money we would likely suffer inferior service and issues with claims. That has not been the case, in fact, I have found the opposite to be true. F&M have been better than my most recent experience with the NFUM ever was

This year I thought we would get a few quotes again as it seems loyalty no longer pays with insurance just as it doesn't with gas, electricity, broadband, tv, etc these days

Of the quotes I had, Acres came out top and has saved us over £6000 on the F&M renewal - a significant saving that can not be ignored. Acres is run by the same guys that set up F&M originally, the service has been top class so far (they even sorted out my travel insurance on Christmas eve as I was going away on boxing day) and I wanted to make other forum members aware that they may well be worth giving a call next time your renewal is due

There isn't the money in this job to be paying any more than we need to for any input we need and insurance is no exception

 

[Andrew]

Out of interest have you told F&M, did they offer to price match, or try and keep you at all?

Have often thought about changing insurance companies but not many can offer the same terms as NFU do for straw.

 

[Tim G]

I'm sure it's entirely unconnected that their advert popped up on here......

 

[Clive]

Out of interest have you told F&M, did they offer to price match, or try and keep you at all?

Have often thought about changing insurance companies but not many can offer the same terms as NFU do for straw.

I don't run auctions, suppliers get one chance with me, first price best price please !

I find it insulting when someone comes back with a better price, it's like admitting they were prepared to rip me off in the first place !

 

[Clive]

I'm sure it's entirely unconnected that their advert popped up on here......

F&M has never advertised on TFF and I posted endlessly about the saving I made via them vs the NFUM

I only did only become aware of Acres because of them advertising on TFF yes but I have not received any additional discount or payment from them for this recommendation. I do so purely to highlight to others the saving they have made me

 

[Goweresque]

I'm sure it's entirely unconnected that their advert popped up on here......

A cynic would say that you too could get the same rates @Clive did if you happen to own a large farming forum.........

 

[Clive]

A cynic would say that you too could get the same rates @Clive did if you happen to own a large farming forum.........

not the case a all (I wish it was !) They are just brokers like F&M. The big underwriters behind these policies and prices don't have a clue or care who I am

I'm not saying use acres, I'm saying shop about for your insurance as twice now in the last 4 years it has bought me significant savings doing so .................... loyalty doesn't pay and 2 or 3 years from now I will get multiple quotes again and maybe move from Acres as a result if someone else or new in the market offers better

 

[Goweresque]

not the case a all (I wish it was !) They are just brokers like F&M. The big underwriters behind these policies and prices don't have a clue or care who I am

I'm not saying use acres, I'm saying shop about for your insurance as twice now it has bought be significant savings doing so .................... loyalty doesn't pay and 2 or 3 tears from now I will get multiple quote again and maybe move from Acres as a result if someone else or new in the market offers better

I'm not implying any impropriety on anyone, just that if I was a newly started insurance company and the chance to quote for someone who just happens to own a well trafficked industry forum arose, I'd make damn sure they got a VERY competitive quote..................its just good business sense from their point of view, and guess what, its worked, we've all now heard of an insurer we wouldn't have heard of before.......

What you need to remember is because of your position opportunities will be offered and doors will be open for you that are not available for the average Farmer Joe. You may just think its normal, because thats what happens to you every day, but it isn't. Its like a pretty girl who can't understand why her plain friend struggles to find a boyfriend, after all she gets LOTS of attention, whats the problem??

 

[Brisel]

Did you ask the NFUM to quote too?

The devil is in the detail - it pays to dig down to see what is actually covered. We use NFUM for off road machinery and we get quotes every year - they are still the best. We use another firm for general insurance like buildings, liability etc and we've saved thousands again, until I've tried to claim twice in the last year only to have shoddy service and found that lots wasn't covered any more. I agree that loyalty doesn't pay - they all use apathy to bump the premiums up without you noticing or bothering to enquire elsewhere.

 

[Clive]

Did you ask the NFUM to quote too?

The devil is in the detail - it pays to dig down to see what is actually covered. We use NFUM for off road machinery and we get quotes every year - they are still the best. We use another firm for general insurance like buildings, liability etc and we've saved thousands again, until I've tried to claim twice in the last year only to have shoddy service and found that lots wasn't covered any more. I agree that loyalty doesn't pay - they all use apathy to bump the premiums up without you noticing or bothering to enquire elsewhere.

It didn't ask the NFU for a quote this time no - frankly, I'm still discussed that they were charging me double the going rate and loose sleep occasionally thinking about how much I wasted with then / kicking myself I didn't get alternative quotes sooner

Maybe by next time I m getting quotes the wounds will be a little less raw and I might be able to bring myself to do so ..........................

 

[Clive]

I'm not implying any impropriety on anyone, just that if I was a newly started insurance company and the chance to quote for someone who just happens to own a well trafficked industry forum arose, I'd make damn sure they got a VERY competitive quote..................its just good business sense from their point of view, and guess what, its worked, we've all now heard of an insurer we wouldn't have heard of before.......

What you need to remember is because of your position opportunities will be offered and doors will be open for you that are not available for the average Farmer Joe. You may just think its normal, because thats what happens to you every day, but it isn't. Its like a pretty girl who can't understand why her plain friend struggles to find a boyfriend, after all she gets LOTS of attention, whats the problem??

I know what you are saying but in reality, I don't think this happens, I compare prices I'm offered to others a lot and don't find them any different really

They probably should be if some of these companies were a bit smarter but I just don't think AG is smart enough to realize this yet! ......................... I live in hope, however !

 

[Brisel]

It didn't as the NFU no - frankly, I'm still discussed that they were charging me double the going rate and loose sleep occasionally thinking about how much I wasted with then / kicking myself I didn't get alternative quotes sooner

Maybe by next time I m getting quotes the wounds will be a little less raw and I might be able to bring myself to do so ..........................

You'll be classed as a "new" customer and should get a sharper quote

 

[Clive]

You'll be classed as a "new" customer and should get a sharper quote

maybe yes but I'm not sure I want to do business with anyone who just 3 years ago was prepared to take the pee quite so royally !

 

[Roger Perry]

The actual insurance companies (Not the agencies or brokers) are bankers with $$$$$ Bilion's stashed..........in many, many cases they are richer than banks, so never get the idea they are a benevolent organisation who are there to serve you.
Insurance is part of life, so, get the best bid for the best coverage you can afford........and hope when the day comes you need to claim that you made the best choice..!

 

[Tim G]

I know what you are saying but in reality, I don't think this happens, I compare prices I'm offered to others a lot and don't find them any different really

They probably should be if some of these companies were a bit smarter but I just don't think AG is smart enough to realize this yet! ......................... I live in hope, however !

It does happen, I worked for an ag machinery company and they had a relatively well known farmer want to swap his machine for a newer one. I know he was given an exceptionally keen deal to change, which he took. Judging by the amount of new/demo gear about his yard I assume other companies had done the same, he was also in a few promotional videos for them at the time.

 

[Andrew]

I don't run auctions, suppliers get one chance with me, first price best price please !

I fond it insulting when someone comes back with a better price, it's like admitting they were prepared to rip me off in the first place !

Agree with that, I just wondered if they tried anything.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

So you haven't had a quote from the NFU but you slagging them off for being to dear

 

[JP1]

So you haven't had a quote from the NFU but you slagging them off for being to dear

......................... in the recent past

Acres looked at my insurance but were very very close to my insurer over the last three years F&M

 

[Steevo]

It didn't ask the NFU for a quote this time no - frankly, I'm still discussed that they were charging me double the going rate and loose sleep occasionally thinking about how much I wasted with then / kicking myself I didn't get alternative quotes sooner

Maybe by next time I m getting quotes the wounds will be a little less raw and I might be able to bring myself to do so ..........................

If you do......just use a different local agent than the previous one. Service and price varies a bit between local agents...but I wouldn't reward your previous one with your business, yet NFUM insurance service itself could suit your business needs (and price).

 

[Steevo]

It does happen, I worked for an ag machinery company and they had a relatively well known farmer want to swap his machine for a newer one. I know he was given an exceptionally keen deal to change, which he took. Judging by the amount of new/demo gear about his yard I assume other companies had done the same, he was also in a few promotional videos for them at the time.

There's one on Countryfile like that too!