Car Insurance Rip Off For Brits in Bulgaria

LADA Logo

My Lada car insurance is due for renewal this week and I know that it would be more expensive than last year, this is normal on a worldwide basis now. It's called a 'Rip off' in case you were wondering. Car insurance is mandatory, even in Bulgaria (well in town areas anyway) so my hands are tied and the only way to avoid it is get rid of the car, which is something I am now considering.

Last year the premium was 140 Bulgarian leva, this was just for third party on a Lada that was valued at only 500 Bulgarian leva. The year previous to this was less than 100 Bulgarian leva! I expected the cost now to rise to the 200 Bulgarian leva mark, even though the value of the car has depreciated and no claims have been made since living here!

But there is another factor involved here when it comes to car insurance and like many other things it really does make my blood boil. When I first came here on my own with limited Bulgarian you rely on English speaking advisors. I was advised to go to a car insurance company in Yambol city centre that had English speaking staff. That's what I did and thought no more about it. Every new expatriate that comes here was directed to go to this company for car insurance, no other options are given. This particular insurance company as I was to find out, was the most expensive around and took advantage of foreigners coming here. This is normal of course.

This week I got information off the Bulgarian grapevine so to speak of other insurance companies and one in particular that had just opened a month ago and a friend of the family who ran it. They provided all the insurance for Galia's brother's boiler factory vehicles. I was told to try them and I did.

We arrived to find the place shut and the shop owner next door who was smoking outside told us to wait while she rang the insurance clerk to come and open the office up. 20 minutes later Katiya the owner, an old friend of the family, greeted us. We were invited in throuoh the cracked glass door, wind damage not vadalism, and spent the next half an hour catching up with family news.

The office as as basic as you can inagine with just had one desk and chair with PC placed on it and an empty shelving unit behind against the wall bar one plastic bound folder and a PC printer place on it. The customer area in front of the desk had a well used, dusty sofa and a second or third hand coffee table with blistered varnish and splintered wood alongside. This single plastic bound folder was taken off the shelf, flicked through and a third party quote was given for the Lada. It came to 128 Bulgarian Leva along with a big apology as it was explained that company owned vehicles (and mine was just that) had risen substantially over the last six months. I can believe that with inflation rates here at the moment and wondered what the other insurance company would be offering. Well I didn't need to wonder for long as I found out later. They were asking for over 200 Bulgarian leva as enquiries were made by telephone. I am absolutely certain this is because I'm English as they know because have my company record on their database!

We continued to talk and catch up with more news. Katiya then asked me if I could spread the word on my blog to other British expatriates who want car insurance, green cards to travel in Europe etc. Now I don't normally have much to do with other Brits in Bulgaria, but being ripped off by insurance companies hits a nerve and obscene profits made from innocent parties is something I hate to see. So with Katiya now offering non-decriminate rates and based on my own insurance over 64% cheaper I feel it is my duty to stop others being taken to the cleaners. So if you are a Brit in Yambol give me a call and I'll pass on the details unless you have money to throw away.

Image via Wikipedia
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

45 comments:

  1. Martin, just wanted to write to you one of these days; what to do regarding insurance when I drive from Istanbul to Bulgaria?
    KIndest
    hans

    ReplyDelete
  2. Martin in Bulgaria16 April 2009 at 14:09

    Hi Hans, good to hear from you. No idea really so I have put a call out on another site I used to work for. I will let you know on the repies or you can follow it yourseld on tis link - http://www.ourbulgarianworld.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=3&func=view&catid=18&id=13365#13365

    Take care

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Martin,
    Great post and it's great you're willing to help others, too!!! That's a royal rip off with the English-speaking insurance company charging 64% more!!! That's terrible!!! Back in the States we call that highway robbery!!!

    I love your description of the office--simplicity is so much better than the overstuffed "modern" offices of other places!! Simplicity and functionality--that's the best.

    Have a great day,
    Sher :0)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This story makes me think of the times when I would take my car to the mechanic....there's no telling how much more I paid for things that probably never existed. You are very fortunate to have local connections.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It *always* is good to have local connections! Car insurance is compulsory for good reason, but that's no reason to fleece foreigners! I bet the "English-speaking advisors" got commissions for every person they sent to the English-speaking insurance company!

    ReplyDelete
  6. hospitalera aka Golden Prague17 April 2009 at 14:54

    Please feel free to delete the message below, as it is somehow irrelevant to your original post:
    Dear member of the world blog surf day. Today.com shut down my Golden Prague blog! Full details can be read here: http://hospitalera.com/todaycom-closed-my-golden-prague-blog-down/
    This means a) I can’t approve/ answer anymore questions/ comments on that blog and b) I will transfer the relevant information to my personal blog http://hospitalera.com Please give me a bit of time to do this ;-) The 2.WBSD will take place on the 13th June, no worries! I will be away the whole of next week and don’t know if I have time/ internet access where I am. May I also ask you to remove any links to http://prague.today.com from your blogs/ sites as to not confuse people? Thanks a lot, hear from you soon, SY

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maybe it is the thinking that English speaking customers are rich and can afford the expensive insurance (not to mention giving the agents higher commission).
    Sure is good to have a connection for just about everything and in this case, an insurance agent. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think in most countries when the cocked business ear sounds out a foreign tongue then dollar signs appear. Thailand is no different to some extent. Normally a mastery of the locals language would bring any price down to a truer mark and with your Bulgarian language skills I'm surprised this has not been the case. As far as getting rid of the car then surely the miles between your Yambol and Skalista homes make this a delicate choice. I hope everything turns up trumps.

    ReplyDelete
  9. American in Britain18 April 2009 at 14:17

    Yes, insurance is always a rip-off and we learned that the hard way in the UK. And it had nothing to do with speaking English. It was to do with being a foreigner. Luckily, my father-in-law got us on to a deal and we wrote about it on our blog as well. Anything to strike back against these greedy companies.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Martin in Bulgaria18 April 2009 at 16:35

    Hi Sher, I agree. Who pays for extra office gadgets and fittings?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Martin in Bulgaria18 April 2009 at 16:36

    Hi Bev, Trust is the word you're looking for.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Martin in Bulgaria18 April 2009 at 16:37

    Hi Lynne, You're probably right planty of pieces of the caketo go aroudn at other people's expense.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Martin in Bulgaria18 April 2009 at 16:38

    I'll leave it here as it might get others that go to your blog, which I recommend of course.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Martin in Bulgaria18 April 2009 at 16:39

    Hi Lina, English = Rich is a common equation here.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Martin in Bulgaria18 April 2009 at 16:43

    H Martyn, my Bulgarian is spoken all the tme here when dealing with anything here, but you can't hide the fact that you're foreign what with accents and non-perfect delivery etc. Like you say, the pounds sign rings whenever a foreigner comes calling.
    By the way I cycled to Skalitsa yesturday and back today with ease (72 km round trip.) The Lada had a sulk on its face when it found out! lol

    ReplyDelete
  16. Martin in Bulgaria18 April 2009 at 16:45

    Hi A in B,
    Good to hearf rom you.
    It's not greedy companies. but greedy people running them.

    ReplyDelete
  17. hospitalera aka Golden Prague18 April 2009 at 16:54

    Thank you, Martin! SY

    ReplyDelete
  18. Car Insurance Maniac13 September 2009 at 05:17

    If you want to change your car insurance company just shop online for car insurance quotes and compare to save more money. Don't stay with the same company unless they give you discounts or you ask them what are the benefits of staying in the program if you're not satisfied look for another one.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello there, just bеcame alert to yоur blog through Googlе, anԁ found that it's really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
    Also visit my page ; vida vacations

    ReplyDelete
  20. When I initially commented I clicked the "Notify me when new comments are added" checkbox and now each time a comment is
    added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove
    people from that service? Thanks!

    my web page :: Leo Gasson

    ReplyDelete
  21. If some one wishes to be updated with latest technologies therefore he must be go to see this web page
    and be up to date daily.

    Feel free to surf to my webpage www.irishmusicassociation.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. It's a pity you don't have a donate button!
    I'd certainly donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i'll
    settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
    I look forward to new updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group.
    Talk soon!

    Stop by my page Http://Doli.Biz

    ReplyDelete
  23. This page certainly has all of the info I needed about this subject
    and didn't know who to ask.

    Review my page; unilef.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. What's up to every , because I am in fact keen of reading this blog's post to be
    updated daily. It consists of pleasant information.


    my web-site :: Student free Stuff

    ReplyDelete
  25. Does your website have a contact page? I'm having trouble locating it but, I'd like to send you an email.
    I've got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.

    Also visit my homepage; Blogspot.fr

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'll right away clutch your rss feed as I can't to
    find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do
    you have any? Kindly permit me understand so that I may subscribe.
    Thanks.

    Feel free to visit my website - Free Dominos Vouchers

    ReplyDelete
  27. I think this is among the most important info for me.
    And i'm glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The website style is ideal, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers

    Feel free to surf to my web-site - Www.gloriouslinks.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Greetings I am so happy I found your blog page,
    I really found you by accident, while I was researching on Digg for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just
    like to say many thanks for a fantastic post and a all
    round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don't have time to read it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the superb job.

    my web page; Ocdsociety.Com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi, I do believe this is a great web site. I stumbledupon
    it ;) I will come back yet again since I book-marked it.
    Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue
    to help others.

    Here is my website :: Dominos Discount Vouchers

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'd like to find out more? I'd care to find out some additional information.


    my web blog: Google Android tablet reviews

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hello, this weekend is pleasant for me, as this point in time
    i am reading this impressive educational piece of writing here at my house.



    Also visit my page :: Impact Audit

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi there to all, since I am really keen of reading this blog's post to be updated daily. It includes fastidious information.

    My web blog; Cars 4 Insurance

    ReplyDelete
  33. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  34. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  35. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  37. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  38. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  39. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  40. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  41. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  42. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  43. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  44. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  45. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

Awards

Expat Blog Award