How to save $275 with one phone call

What if I said you could earn $275 in just 5 minutes. Would you be interested?

Of course you would!

So, by that rationale, if you could take 5 minutes to earn $275, why wouldn’t you take the same amount of time to save $275?

This week I came across an interesting, and timely, story published by Tim McIntyre at website news.com.au, which is worth a read for anyone looking to save money on bills like car insurance.

McIntyre explains how simply picking up the phone and haggling with his insurance provider literally saved him hundreds of bucks in minutes.

McIntyre’s annual comprehensive car insurance “renewal notice” arrived in the mail.

Astounded by the $1,579 price tag, Tim decided to take matters into his hands because, being a finance industry journo, he is privy to how the market operates. And he knew just the sensitive areas to poke in order to shake down a better deal.

As he wisely points out in his piece, “insurance companies make the renewal process so easy because they know that the majority of us won’t bother to switch providers once we are on their books.

“But because of my job, I know insurance companies don’t reward loyal customers with the best deals, so I casually visited their website in the guise of a new customer and punched in my details to see what they would quote me.”

When it comes to your insurance, loyalty doesn’t pay. And you need to know this.

So after a little webpage surfing Tim discovered that potential new customers were being offered just $1,275 as well as a $100 new customers discount.

Not one to mince his words, Tim reveals, “my insurer was offering what they believed to be a random potential customer the same cover for $300 less per year than what they wanted a loyal customer of a decade to pay.”

So how did Tim respond?

Well, he picked up the phone, fought back and demanded a discount!

Armed with the reference numbers from his online quote, Tim rightly claimed everything bar the $100 new customer discount.

That one “pushy” phone call saved him $275.

And as he says, “it was a win for the simple act of being engaged with my insurance and giving it some attention.”

Is it time you shopped around and saved on your car insurance too?

As a FiftyUp Club member you can still access the current car insurance special with Budget Direct, so why not start there.

Simply click here now and get 15% off^ when you switch online to Budget Direct Comprehensive or Third Party Car Insurance plus $50 cashback*. 

But hurry, offer closes this Friday November 17.

(After November 17, click here to see other Car Insurance offers for FiftyUps.)

Any advice contained in this article is general in nature, it does not take account of your individual circumstances or needs. If in doubt about your own circumstances and needs you should seek financial advice. 

Car Insurance Special Offer
^15% discount is only valid for members who switch to Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance, Third Party Property or Third Party Fire & Theft via budgetdirect.com.au. If you’d prefer to have someone talk you through the process, you can get a quote online with Budget Direct and then buy through Budget Direct's customer service centre and you’ll still get the same 15% discount.

Offer is available until 17th November 2017.

Discounts are for the first year only and apply to the standard premium offering for Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance, Third Party Property and Third Party Fire & Theft. Base rate premiums are subject to change

*If you take up Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance, Third Party Property or Third Party Fire & Theft you are eligible to receive $50. The FiftyUp Club will pay by way of electronic funds transfer (EFT) $50 to eligible members after the first 3 months. To be eligible to receive the cashback you must complete a quote online and have a current Budget Direct Gold Car Insurance Policy. This offer is available to FiftyUp Club members only and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer is for switchers only and excludes existing Budget Direct customers. If you take up the offer and you are not already a member of FiftyUp Club, you will become a member upon taking up the offer.

Cashback will be paid by EFT only, to the bank account nominated by you; no cheques will be sent to members. To receive payment as a new or existing member, you must provide and must ensure that your nominated bank account details are provided correctly to FiftyUp Club. You should do so here.

#You may get a reduced premium by restricting your insurance to only cover drivers over the age of 21, 25, 30, 40 or 50 years old. You car will not be covered when driven by someone under the restricted age. Optional Driver Age Restriction range as at 2 July 2017. Full age range options only available for new policies initiated on or after this date.

This insurance product is issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited (ACN 111 586 353, AFS Licence No 285571) and administered by Auto & General Services Pty Limited (ACN 003 617 909, AFS Licence No 241411). Any advice provided is general only and may not be right for you. Before you purchase this product you should carefully read the Product Disclosure Statement (Part A and Part B) to decide if it is right for you.

FiftyUp Club Pty Ltd (ACN 166 905 175) is a Corporate Authorised Representative (AR number 465649) of One Big Switch Pty Ltd (ACN 150 963 474) who holds its own Australian Financial Services License (AFSL 455982) and can provide you with factual information and general advice only, that is advice that does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.

If you take out a Comprehensive Car Insurance policy or Third Party Car Insurance policy with Budget Direct as a result of the services provided by FiftyUp Club Pty Ltd, FiftyUp Club Pty Ltd will receive a commission of up to 20% of the premium for each member who takes up the Budget Direct member's offer. FiftyUp Club returns $50 of this commission to members in the form of the switcher's cashback. Further information can be found in the FiftyUp Club Financial Services Guide (FSG) available here.

The FiftyUp Club is a consumer network for Australians aged fifty and over, promoted by Macquarie Media Ltd (which includes Macquarie Radio Network, and Fairfax Radio Network in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia), and by Nova Entertainment in South Australia. The FiftyUp Club may earn a commission, paid by the provider, for a member who takes up a special FiftyUp Club offer. The FiftyUp Club may share these commissions with our media partners, which include Macquarie Media Ltd, Nova Entertainment and Nine Network Australia. Part of our commissions will be used to fund future FiftyUp Club Campaigns.