Tuffstuff vs Outsurance

[bvandyk]

Ok, I am planning a trip to Botswana in October and started looking at proper 4x4 insurance.
Currently the Jeep is insured at Outsurance, paying R612 per month.
Having read all the good things about Tuffstuff on this forum I decided to contact them for a quote. To my surprise they cost less than Outsurance!! Quote for R514 per month.

Then when I phoned Outsurance to cancel my insurance with them, they all of a sudden dropped their price to R360!! I told them that in this case i would like to cancel all my other insurance with them aswell! They dropped the price for my other car aswell! (Household stayed the same though)

Anyway, I told the Outsurance guy that tuffstuff is better and that they provide way better coverage. He added Out in Africa to my policy, and Im paying R36 extra for that now.

Now I am in two minds, do I stay with Outsurance, or do I move to Tuffstuff?

I have received the following email from Outsurance:

Dag Mnr Van Dyk.



Ben van Outsurance hier.



Soos bespreek, het ek vir jou die breakdown van die cover vir al U isiko’s gestuur.

Soos besprek, sal ons jou dek vir presies wat Tuff Stuff kan, teen n laer premie.



Hou in gedagte dat jou laaste premie R xxxx was.

Die nuwe premie vanaf 01/09/2009 sal dan R xxx wees. Die decking het geen sins verander nie, ek het reeds die optional cover vir Out in Africa bygesit.

Soos bespreek, sou u in n rivier inry of van n berg afval ens, sal U ook gedek wees onder Out in Africa.



Die afslag was gegee omrede U profile so sterk by Outsurance gegroei het. En ons kan daardeur werk op n 12 maand basis en sien hoe ons u kan help.

Outsurance also mentioned that there is a 10% excess for claims from TuffStuff, and that the basic excess they talk about is just for certain conditions. Is this true?

Have anyone here actually had a claim for a 4x4 related incident from Outsurance? Did they actually pay out?

Cheers

[Fabfender]

Firstly send Outsurance this:

4x4, SUV AND AWD VEHICLE INSURANCE.

A SUMMARY OF EXTENSIONS AND BENEFITS AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED INTO TUFFSTUFF.

Extensions

Comprehensive cover including Social, Domestic, Private, Professional and Business use (excluding hired out vehicles). Business use is subject to conditions.

Standard policies restrict the use of vehicles for professional and business use. Should you require this cover, an additional premium is levied...

Car Hire Cover is included following a claim under the policy up to an amount of 0.1% of the vehicles sum insured per day, but no less than R265 (group “B” car) per day and not more than R650 per day with a maximum of maximum 75 days cover.

Standard policies normally limit car hire to group “A” cars with a maximum of 30 days cover. This cover must be bought at an additional cost.

Third party and passenger Liability is covered up to R10 000 000 (excluding hired out vehicles).
International Legal Assistance cover up to R75 000.

No other policy in the market gives this cover.

Credit shortfall cover is included.

This cover must be bought at an additional cost under standard policies.

The standard territorial limits – Africa, south of the Equator, including the whole of Kenya.

This is one of the widest extensions in the market.

Full Airborne Medical evacuation by qualified medical Personnel while outside RSA back to the RSA, limited to R200 000 per person and a maximum of R1 000 000 for any one claim.

This must normally be bought at an additional cost and is then limited to a once-off period with limited cover.

Guaranteed admission to top Clinics / Hospitals in RSA of passengers of the insured vehicle following medical emergency evacuation - Limited to R20 000 per person to a maximum of R80 000 per occurrence.

One of the widest and most important extensions not available under standard policies.

Personal Accident Cover up to an amount of R25 000.

Standard policies require you to buy this cover at an additional premium.

Repatriation of the vehicle and its occupants, back to RSA following an accident or theft or mechanical or electrical failure of the vehicle whilst outside the RSA but inside any of those countries mentioned above but excluding Angola. Repatriation of vehicles from Angola will be conducted from the Namibia / Angola border only. Cover is limited to R65 000 for any one claim. This extension excludes hotel accommodation.

Competitor products require that you must in all circumstances bring the vehicle back to the South African border from where the insurer will then take over. The cost to get your vehicle to the South African border will normally be for your own account.

All risks cover is included in respect of your motor vehicle radio, limited to R10000.
Mechanical and Electrical derangement of winching equipment following recovery of the insured vehicle is covered to a limit of R20 000 for any one claim.

This is not covered under standard policies of insurance and this cover cannot be bought as an extension of cover.

Loss of Personal documents. The extension is limited to an amount of R10000.

Not covered under a standard policy and cannot be bought.

Loss of keys to the insured vehicle is covered. The extension is limited to an amount of R 20 000.

Normally limited to R2500. Modern electronic keys cost considerably more than this to replace and re-programme.

Airborne assistance whilst outside the country but within the territorial limits in respect of failure of immobilising systems and security devices rendering the vehicle immobile is covered to a limit of R15 000 for any one claim.

This is not available under standard policies and cannot be bought as an extension of cover.

Full off-road use (excluding competitions governed by time) in any of the aforementioned countries.

Any form of completion is normally excluded.

Emergency repairs whilst outside the RSA is limited to R20 000 following an accident.

Normally limited to R5000.

Trauma treatment following hijacking of the insured vehicle limited to R10 000 per occurrence.

Not covered under a standard policy and cannot be bought.

Emergency accommodation whilst outside the RSA limited to R20 000 any one incident and to R1000 per person per day.

Normally this cover is very restricted with minimal limits.

Replacement of the insured vehicle following a total loss within the first 12 months of registration and provided that it has done less than 30 000km, subject to indemnity limit.

Settlement of write-off vehicles is always conducted on full retail value and not on market value.

Full mechanical and electrical derangement cover to the insured vehicle whilst outside the RSA. Cover is restricted to the cost of airborne technical assistance and additional labour costs. The normal labour cost as well as the costs of spares is for the insured's account. The limit is R10 000 per incident.

Not available under standard policies and this cover cannot be bought.

Small Craft and Pleasure Craft cover with geographical limits within RSA and neighbouring countries limited to 20 nautical miles offshore.

Standard policies have restricted territorial limits.

Benefits

• No additional excess in respect of off-road use.
• Uncomplicated and easy to understand excess structures apply.
• No Theft or Hijack excess applicable where approved Tracking System has been installed.
• No additional excess in respect of the age of the driver.
• All repairs carried out by authorised repairers only.
• An efficient and high level of service to clients.
• No electronic voice answering systems or general call centre.
• Dedicated staff with identified client portfolios under individual responsibility – you know who to talk to.
• You can extend this product to include all lifestyle cover such as
  
  • mountain & road bicycles.
  • Quads & offroad motor cycles.
  • Boats & jet-skis
  • Camping & fishing gear
  • And much more.
• Let them tell you how they compare.
• Secondly they have clearly been overcharging you, if they can now reduce your premiums that drastically.

[SimonB]

I would leave Outsurance on principle...

refer:

This is why you have a broker...if they are worth their salt, they WILL find you the best deal, and keep on renegotiating to keep offering you the best deal.

And I agree with Dirk, if the insurer suddenly reduces their premiums on the basis of a competitive quote, it means they were ripping you off in the first place. So go elsewhere unless they ALSO refund you the difference on past premiums (which I doubt will happen).

Then I will cancel my policy out of principle, why should you first have to threaten.

[

[Elders]

Well they have "admitted" to ripping you off big time for some time now. IF, they agree to re-imburse you money over charged, then maybe stay with them .....

In my mind the "trust" has been compromised. I avoid doing business with people I dont trust.

ALSO, look at the other threads where people complain about the issues when they try to claim from OutSurance.

ME, I would walk away.

[Jannie Kubu4x4]

Repatriation of the vehicle and its occupants, back to RSA following an accident or theft or mechanical or electrical failure of the vehicle whilst outside the RSA but inside any of those countries mentioned above but excluding Angola. Repatriation of vehicles from Angola will be conducted from the Namibia / Angola border only. Cover is limited to R65 000 for any one claim. This extension excludes hotel accommodation.

Competitor products require that you must in all circumstances bring the vehicle back to the South African border from where the insurer will then take over. The cost to get your vehicle to the South African border will normally be for your own account.

To me very important, ask Outsurance what happens if your car breaks down in Moremi.
I used to be with Dial Direct, very happy with Tuffstuff and moved all my Insurance over.

[bvandyk]

Thats exactly what I told Outsurance, that theyve been ripping me off for more than a year now!
Think I am moving to TuffStuff, even if it is a bit more expensive than my 'new' outsurance premium. Its still cheaper than what I used to pay at Outsurance.
Only thing that worries me is the 10% excess at TuffStuff that outsurance told me about....

[SILVERPUMA]

thanks for the tip guys, outsurance have just knocked R500 off my premiums at the mention of tuffstuff. gloves on. gum guard in. boxing trunks fitted. ding freaken ding.

That's not right!


Just a note on what happens when you break down in moremi: FIL's offroad trailer broke down in northern Botswana 2years ago. Outsurance said they will go and get it, payment of normal R2500 excess, but will take 4 weeks. FIL then offered to go and get it himself by modifying a boat trailer and loading it on. Outsurance paid for the whole salvage expedition including diesel, accomodation and the whole tooty. Personally i can't fault them on service.

[Fabfender]

If the excess is such a major issue, you can buy a stand alone excess buy back policy. Which means you will have no excess.

[David Maritz]

I would also leave them just on principle!

[bvandyk]

If the excess is such a major issue, you can buy a stand alone excess buy back policy. Which means you will have no excess.

Yes. The excess at TuffStuff is not a problem. But not knowing about a high excess beforehand is a problem 8)

[Sani Boy]

Outsurance also dropped my premium by almost R200 when I said I was looking elsewhere for a more competitive rate.

[Christo Davids]

I am with Tuff Stuff and have a fixed excess - not a % of claim...

[bvandyk]

I am with Tuff Stuff and have a fixed excess - not a % of claim...

Make sure about that Christo. I also thought they gave me a fixed excess, but after I have spoken to Outsurance I read the following in my TuffStuff Quote:

1.

(a)

MOTOR VEHICLES ONLY
Basic Excess
In respect of each and every occurrence giving rise to a claim arising out of any incident other than those specified hereunder

R 3 500

Then in the lists of "incidents specified hereunder" as they say you get the following:

In respect of each and every occurrence giving rise to a claim for loss of the Insured vehicle as a result of theft and/or hijacking where no approved Tracking system has been installed (irrespective of the manner in which the theft and/or hijacking took place). An amount calculated at 10% of the claim, provided, however, that the aforesaid amount shall never be less than

R 3 000

All Risk Specified - in respect of each and every occurrence giving rise to a claim – an amount calculated at 10% of the sum insured provided, however, that the aforesaid amount shall never be less than

R 250

[Christo Davids]

True - I was referring to vehicle only - I have tracking, so that clause is not applicable

As for all risk items, different items have different excess - true, but the excess on the vehicle is fixed at R3500

[bvandyk]

True - I was referring to vehicle only - I have tracking, so that clause is not applicable

As for all risk items, different items have different excess - true, but the excess on the vehicle is fixed at R3500

Ekt dit alles nou weer gelees, jy is reg!

[SimonB]

See this is again why you need brokers to fight your causes.

The Tuffstuff excesses quoted here are outrageous compared to what they quoted for me (R2500 flat excess), and especially compared to XC (R1000 flat). I won't even go down the outsurance route, cause their quotes were just OTT.

[nick85]

Just spoke to tuffstuff and my excess is fixed to R3500 (Higher because of my age i guess). Thinking of moving accross to them!

[MikeHenry]

Yip my hand is up too, Outsurance also dropped my premium when I threatened to go elsewhere. And I ended up going elsewhere even though Outsurance's new premium was now lower. AND after I left Outsurance I had numerous phone calls from them repeatedly asking me why I had left. I actually eventually had to get really rude on the phone with them to get them to leave me alone - I won't go the Outsurance route again...

[Randy]

thanks for the tip guys, outsurance have just knocked R500 off my premiums at the mention of tuffstuff. gloves on. gum guard in. boxing trunks fitted. ding freaken ding.

That's not right!


Just a note on what happens when you break down in moremi: FIL's offroad trailer broke down in northern Botswana 2years ago. Outsurance said they will go and get it, payment of normal R2500 excess, but will take 4 weeks. FIL then offered to go and get it himself by modifying a boat trailer and loading it on. Outsurance paid for the whole salvage expedition including diesel, accomodation and the whole tooty. Personally i can't fault them on service.

I BEG YOUR PARDON? cant fault them on the service!!! YOUR FIL had to DO the service part himself

[Randy]

Soos bespreek, sou u in n rivier inry of van n berg afval ens, sal U ook gedek wees onder Out in Africa.

THIS alone concerns me. watter deel gaan gedek wees? gaan dei MOTOR, ratkas ens. ook gedek wees? of is dit net vir die bekleedsels skoon maak en die vis reuk uit die kar kry?