I have been a client at Smile for over 10 years now, my premium is Chf 2'475.-- per annum (Expensive car, fully comprehensive insurance), i have never made a claim.



I can cancel my policy with 1 month notice.


If i renew my policy, i will pay the same again, Chf 2'475.--


If i am a new client however for the EXACT same coverage i would pay Chf 1552.30.



Can anybody tell me how this works ?


Needless to say i am cancelling and going elsewhere for a similar price of a new client with Smile !


Checl on COMPARIS.CH, at the bottom of the page you can change into English too !

Ask Smile if they will match the other quote?

Repeat customers who don’t shop around are loved by companies like this.

I know it is totally crazy, you will find is the same for many things, for example mobile phone new contracts are always much cheaper than just renewing your old. Apparently the reason is that investors are interested in the "new clients" figure which makes it look like the company is growing, so many company focus on acquiring new clients rather than on retain existing ones.

but he is not locked into a contract he is a customer for many years and can switch anytime

I received a special retention offer from UPC for being a long-term customer

Oh really? What did you get exactly, if I may ask?

I has the same issue - even if for me the difference was not that big. I have a 10% "internet customer" discount with them, but the identical quote for a new customer is 10% cheaper on top of that.

I also asked when renewing but I was told "no, this quote is for new customers only". And the price went up bit by bit every year even if the car gets older. But was still cheaper than any other similar quotes so I stayed...
So far the experience with them was pretty good - they did provide roadside assistance quickly and without any fuss when we had problems with the car (twice!) so I can not fault them otherwise.

Go check on Comparis there are certainly similar offers out there and a considerable number of offers at no more than 5% more than SMILE Direct

I had a similar issue, they tried to increase the premium by about 15% . I told them that I will not accept it and look for a better offer. Within a week or so I got a new invoice from them without that increase.



nice try but not with me!


Maybe they think:



"If God didn't want them sheared, He would not have made them sheep."

They simply increased my subscription price without any kind of notice.
after a couple of phone calls they emailed me a "retention" offer at the original price which I was paying before they increased their prices.

Same issue here: got a renewal with 20% increase.

If you know these business, it's all well planned:

1. We launch a promotion where we marginally make business, and aquire new clients.

2. Year later we increase 10-30% their yearly premium. We expect x% will move to competition (*).

Just daily business in our world. Don't get it personal.

(*) some clients may get counteroffers by SmileyDirect, but not all. If you don't, it's because you are not that interesting/profitable for them.

The renewal is not an increase, it's actually Chf 5.-- less than last year !


It is the fact as a new client i would be paying about Chf 900 less !


Screw Smile, i'm a 10 year client paying Chf 2'500.--/ year on 1 policy and Chf 1'000.-- an another, with never a claim........they can stick their counter offer up their arses and Smile,. i'm finished with them !


AXA/Vaudoise/Balois are all within 8% of the Smile quote with a better coverage

I'm with them too. Never had a claim. I'm on the lowest possible level.
This year they increased. I asked for the reason for that. I got a bunch of words which did not make sense. Maybe it was a word-puzzle ..... I didn't have time for it so .....


...... I became a sheep.

BUT what I didn't remember was that I can quit anytime. So I could check all this out now ... only I payed for a year, yesterday in fact, I just checked, and I just hate, hate chasing money.

Anyway, as to Today Only's example: Not only more and more companies do this and the "long term customer" is now just a dummy but it also crossed my mind that this is becoming a snowball-principle, where the long term customers on high bills finance the newcomers.
I sure wonder whether the Preisüberwacher or some other office wouldn't be very interested in this phenomena?

And your regular bill went down, TO, while mine went up?? Wow, do I finance the guys with the fancy cars now too?

__________________
It's all a matter or perspective.
So move your butt and look at it from the other side

Something with marketing and cash cows

when I told them I wanted to cancel to change to another company they offered two months free.