Swinton - Motor Insurance

About Swinton

Until Swinton came along, finding insurance wasn't that easy. Insurance companies were often hidden away in the upstairs of large Victorian buildings or people relied on 'door-to-door' insurance agents. The choice was mostly limited to the one insurance policy the insurance company they represented sold.

Things started to change during the economic boom of the late 1950s when cars became more popular and more affordable - this brought about the need and the opportunity for someone to provide insurance that was more accessible to the general public.

One man grasped that opportunity and started to change the way insurance could be bought.

The Early Days

1957
Ken Scowcroft set up his own brokerage using the front room of his home in Swinton, Lancashire as his very first 'shop front' in what was to become one of the first national networks of high street insurance retailers - Swinton Insurance was born.

1964
The first high street shop opened in Salford. This was a major step in revolutionising the way insurance was sold to the 'man in the street'.

1965
First company to advertise car insurance on TV.

1970's
Swinton continue to open branches on high streets in the Northwest.

1980's
First to use a computerised motor quote system in 1980. First to use franchising as a fast and efficient way of creating a national company in 1984.

1993
Swinton became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Alliance. Ken Scowcroft, the founder of Swinton, retired after fulfilling his professional ambitions and the current Managing Director, Glyn Jones, was appointed.

1994
First intermediary to trade electronically with insurers. This increased the efficiency in delivering policies by eliminating the need to post proposal forms to insurers.

In 1995 Swinton open a national call centre in Stockport to provide greater access for customers who don't have a local Swinton branch or want to buy insurance outside normal branch opening hours.

Following a period of restructuring in 1997 a much leaner but stronger Swinton emerges and embarks on a three year investment programme to create a new corporate identity, a new customer friendly environment in all Swinton branches and installation of new technology.

1999
Swinton launch its website. Created to inform and educationally entertain customers, with an undertaking that until technology can take the same number of policies and choice of products online as Swinton offer through branches and the call centre, insurance will not be sold via the Internet.

Swinton's Guide to Motor Insurance

Step One - Gather the Paperwork

Don't rely on memory - gather the paperwork that sets out the essential facts. Giving incorrect or incomplete information can mean you can be charged too much, get the wrong type of cover or, more importantly, invalidate your policy at the time you need it most - when you need to make a claim against it.

Thousands of cases are referred to the insurance ombudsman every year because the information on the proposal form turns out not to be accurate and the insurer concerned is refusing to deal with the claim.

Let's have a look at the essentials:

Step Two - What Do You Need?
So you've got all the paperwork to hand and you're ready to contact your insurance intermediary but what cover have you got at the moment and for that matter what cover do you need over the next 12 months?

Before you make contact check your current policy documents. As you do use the Swinton checklist to tick off the cover, drivers and benefits that you have, that you need and that would be nice to have and you'll be better prepared.

Although it's important to make sure your current details and circumstances are correct at the time of buying your car insurance it can be financially beneficial to think about foreseeable changes.

Thinking ahead could mean:

Yes there's a lot to think about and a good insurance intermediary will not only ask you all the right questions to avoid you having to ask them, delving a little deeper when necessary but will also give you impartial advice.

Step Three - ...And Finally
By following steps 1 and 2 you should now be ready to get the best value deal for your car insurance. Before you contact your insurance providers Swinton would ask you to consider the following:

In an ideal world, you'd go to someone who had your interest at heart, who knew you and your situation and who would give you advice you knew you could rely on.

That is what Swinton do.

Swinton's number one commitment is to be impartial - that is, unbiased and always acting in the interests of you, the customer.

http://www.swinton.co.uk