JOHN BAKER INSURANCE -how good are they?

[Disco Dan]

yeh i guess well they cant say that one to me i payed them the full amount for a whole year..

That was mearly an example of their petty viewpoint.

If you make sure your 100% in line with their contract I am sure they would not think to twist it around and get out of paying you out.... hahaha!! Instert Tui here.

[Biggles2000]

Now I'm not getting at you specifically here, Biggles (as you are representative of a lot of similar comment here):

How do you know how good your insurer is, if you haven't claimed?

Because I am a member of the biggest motorcycle club in New Zealand (Ulysses). If JBL who seem to have marketed themselves to Ulysses was not doing right by the members it would get around like wild fire and their reputation would be crap as in the form of "stuck to a blanket". What do you think us old farts talk about all the time..... All I ever hear about JBL is that they are good, and that is what I report.

I know and understand that insurance is an international comodity and that insurance companies regually sell off bundles of risk overseas. Who was actually holding the risk on my bike might be very removed from the company who the policy is with.

I have had vehicle claims with both State and AMI and in both cases I was not particually happy with the result and AMI are at best very nasty to deal with.

But the question was asked how good is JBL. Well based on recomendations from other Ulysses members and after speaking to Keith my Harley is insured with them. Because of this I often ask other members after an "off" what sort of service they got from their insurance companies I can report with a high degree of accuracy that I cannot remember hearing a bad thing of JBL.


Are you happy with this?

[Oscar]

Because I am a member of the biggest motorcycle club in New Zealand (Ulysses). If JBL who seem to have marketed themselves to Ulysses was not doing right by the members it would get around like wild fire and their reputation would be crap as in the form of "stuck to a blanket". What do you think us old farts talk about all the time..... All I ever hear about JBL is that they are good, and that is what I report.

I know and understand that insurance is an international comodity and that insurance companies regually sell off bundles of risk overseas. Who was actually holding the risk on my bike might be very removed from the company who the policy is with.

I have had vehicle claims with both State and AMI and in both cases I was not particually happy with the result and AMI are at best very nasty to deal with.

But the question was asked how good is JBL. Well based on recomendations from other Ulysses members and after speaking to Keith my Harley is insured with them. Because of this I often ask other members after an "off" what sort of service they got from their insurance companies I can report with a high degree of accuracy that I cannot remember hearing a bad thing of JBL.


Are you happy with this?

It doesn't matter if I'm happy (and I had no idea that this was some sort of competition), I'm just trying to shed some light on a subject that is important to the folks here.

And whereas Ulysses may or may not be the biggest club in NZ, it is certainly the most demographically homogeneous. So whereas those comments may be relevant to a certain group (over 50's) it is in no way representative of the average. Notwithstanding that, your experience is somewhat limited as you have no direct claims experience.

Actually I wasn't specifically getting at JBL with my comment, it was more to try and convince people that there's more to insurance than premiums.

Also, I'll think you'll find that you've got insurance mixed up with banking. This type of risk isn't sold in bundles overseas, it's mostly held locally.
My reference was to Underwriting Agencies - for example, do you know who actually insures your bike?

[shafty]

1. I wrote off a brand new (2000 km) Trophy with JBL. Service was great, no probs with payout, although I must add alcohol or speed were'nt involved! Hence all my bikes have been with JBL
2. A WORD FROM THE CHRONOLOGICALLY WISE: I got a letter from State Insurance offering an upgrade to a "Premier Cover" for our home and contents and thought, WTF for the few $$ lets do it. Never thought "it would happen to me" but our house was flooded in 2006. That measely premium paid out $80,000 plus - and State were a delight to deal with

[Cr1MiNaL]

Right so all the comments so far unanimously agree that JBI is a good insurer. Does anyone disagree? And if so why.

Jetboy has replied to pm's promptly and answered all my questions (even silly ones just to judge his temprament). So far he has been good. Now to call up Swan and transfer my insurance cover over to JBI.

That is IF... no one has anything more to say.

Cheers.

[NOMIS]

Right so all the comments so far unanimously agree that JBI is a good insurer. Does anyone disagree? And if so why.

Jetboy has replied to pm's promptly and answered all my questions (even silly ones just to judge his temprament). So far he has been good. Now to call up Swan and transfer my insurance cover over to JBI.

That is IF... no one has anything more to say.

Cheers.

well ive now had many mixed opinions on state there cheap as hell. but some people have bad some have good opinions on them so who know's untill the time for a claim happens ( I really hope never )

[jetboy]

While we're at it, and I'm warming to a rant: I get tired of the shameless self-promotion that goes on here - on most Boards it would culled out for what it is: SPAM , and thrown in the Vendors Section.

This thread was started by a biker asking for insurance information.

One of the self promoters proudly said that they didn't deal with any insurer that was rated "A" or better - the insurer that was recommended was actually listed by the Govt. Actuary as "A-" - now when I was at school, that wasn't "A or better".

You are referring to me, correct? Yes, by saying I deal with any insurer rated "A" or better I meant "A" and all sub-groups under this rating.
So, to clarify, I deal with companies with the following ratings:

AAA
AA+
AA
AA-
A+
A
A-

I have already clarified this in another insurance-related post.

And lastly a word on Brokers. A "Broker" by definition is one that seeks the best deal for you based on premium, financial soundness and claims experience. Some of the Brokers mentioned on this board only use one insurer (hell, the "Broker" in the thread title actually owns Star Insurance).

Is your broker placing your business because it's good for you, or because they get a better commission rate, because they are actually Agents for a particular insurer or because their boss owns the company?

The owner of John Baker Insurance does not own Star Insurance. John Baker Insurance is not affiliated with Star Insurance. End of story. I have already clarified this for you Oscar, and I wish you'd stop making an arse of yourself by antf***ing, and by posting incorrect information about myself and my company.

If the moderators of this site had a problem with me and the service I offer they would not haver made my name in green for "service/industry provider", and fellow KB'ers would not continue to recommend me as a decent insurance broker.

[Edbear]

Here's the way it works, people!

A broker is an agent through which one may go to get insurance if one doesn't want to spend the time checking out all the different companies for oneself.

Brokers fall into two main categories in my experience, (as a former insurance adviser), those who are truly independent and those who are effectively tied to one main company.

Some insurance companies have insisted on having most of a broker's business in order to represent them, figures of 80% are normal. It was due to one company wanting 80% of Lighthouse business that we wouldn't use them. They eventually agreed to, (asked Lighthouse to), use their services and while we could have done so, it would only have been if their product was in the best interests of the client.

Some advisers and brokerage services tend to use one insurance company more than others if they have the best policies for a particular situation. For example, (I can name names as their is no vested interest for me anymore), for health cover, Tower had the best policies of all, so got all of my health insurance applications while I was with Lighthouse, though the company also used ING a lot for certain circumstances. We had access to all of the insurance companies were a client's needs better served elsewhere.

Life cover was fairly good between most of the insurance companies, so we rarely switched a client's life insurance, and only switched their health if they had it if it truly was in their interests to do so. Mind you, my advantage at the time was that I was a salaried adviser, not a commission salesman.

We used a variety of companies for F&G and Motor-vehicle insurance and found some better than others for different circumstances.

Some brokerages do form closer alliances with a certain insurance company to get a better rate, and Lighthouse had a very good relationship with a particular company and got perferential rates due to the volume of business they out their way. However, despite that close relationship, if another company had a better policy for a particular client, we would place them with the other company.

So it can be in the client's best interests, if certain policies are placed with a particular company in the main. Perhaps, and in fact, Jetboy has said so, due to the volume of business he puts with a certain company, he can negotiate better rates. Of course, knowing Tim, he wouldn't have placed so much business with them, were they not the best to deal with for this type of insurance.

Swings and roundabouts, and if you know your broker is trustworthy and honest and gets you the best deal going, I'd stick with him.

[Oscar]

This thread was started by a biker asking for insurance information.

Who said I was talking about this thread?
Or about you?
But while we're at it - what sort of bike are we riding?

You are referring to me, correct? Yes, by saying I deal with any insurer rated "A" or better I meant "A" and all sub-groups under this rating.
So, to clarify, I deal with companies with the following ratings:

AAA
AA+
AA
AA-
A+
A
A-

I have already clarified this in another insurance-related post.

Actually, I wasn't referring to you at all.
But if the cap fits, please explain how "A or better" includes "A-" ?
I'm not sure that the regulators see it that way.

The owner of John Baker Insurance does not own Star Insurance. John Baker Insurance is not affiliated with Star Insurance. End of story. I have already clarified this for you Oscar, and I wish you'd stop making an arse of yourself by antf***ing, and by posting incorrect information about myself and my company.

Really?
Perhaps someone should tell the Companies Office - I took this of their website five minutes ago:

Company Number 106154
Company JOHN BAKER INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED

Total Number of shares 60,000

Number of Shares 30,001
Shareholder(s) 1265260 - FOREFRONT TRUSTEE COMPANY LIMITED Level 11, Shortland Tower One, 51-53 Shortland Street, Auckland
BAKER, John Francis , Auckland

Number of Shares 29,999
Shareholder(s) 1265260 - FOREFRONT TRUSTEE COMPANY LIMITED Level 11, Shortland Tower One, 51-53 Shortland Street, Auckland
BAKER, Janice Carolyn , Auckland

Company Number 1167858
Company STAR UNDERWRITING AGENTS LIMITED
Total Number of shares 5,000


Number of Shares 2,500
Shareholder(s) BAKER, John Francis , Auckland
1265260 - FOREFRONT TRUSTEE COMPANY LIMITED
Level 11, Shortland Tower One, 51-53 Shortland Street, Auckland


Number of Shares 2,500
Shareholder(s) BAKER, Janice Carolyn 1 , Auckland
1265260 - FOREFRONT TRUSTEE COMPANY LIMITED
Level 11, Shortland Tower One, 51-53 Shortland Street, Auckland

Care to say who's the arse now?

[jrandom]

Care to say who's the arse now?

Careful, Oscar, or you'll make jetboy angry.

You wouldn't like jetboy when he's angry.

[jetboy]

Oscar, look at it any which way you want. I am telling you now that JBI is not owned by the same person as Star Insurance. Kapeech? I would also appreciate the fact that you leave people's personal address details out of this thread - there is no place for this.


As far as I was aware this site is for Bikers and Wannabe Bikers. Again, as I have explained to you Oscar, I do not own a bike. I am, however, looking for a cheap one (if anyone can help!). I have ridden and owned several offroaders in the past.
Have a look here Oscar, as you will find 51.91% of us are biker wannabe's - for now.

****************************

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ME

If anyone has any questions about who I am, where I work, which companies I deal with, who owns JBI, why Oscar is being a silly little girl about all this - please feel free to contact me personally using the following:

0800 65 62 64 - ask for Tim
tim.bakkenes@jbinsurance.com

Tim Bakkenes
John Baker Insurance
PO Box 23 007
Papatoetoe

I will be more than happy to clarify all of the above with you. I am not interested in posting about this anymore because, as Oscar has just demonstrated, it goes too far.
Thanks!

[Oscar]

Careful, Oscar, or you'll make jetboy angry.

You wouldn't like jetboy when he's angry.

I work in Insurance.
I'm used to dealing with angry people.

[Oscar]

Oscar, look at it any which way you want. I am telling you now that JBI is not owned by the same person as Star Insurance. Kapeech? I would also appreciate the fact that you leave people's personal address details out of this thread - there is no place for this.


As far as I was aware this site is for Bikers and Wannabe Bikers. Again, as I have explained to you Oscar, I do not own a bike. I am, however, looking for a cheap one (if anyone can help!). I have ridden and owned several offroaders in the past.

Have a look here Oscar, as you will find 51.91% of us are biker wannabe's - for now.

The information posted is from the Companies Office on-line.
It's in the public domain: http://www.companies.govt.nz/cms However I will remove the addresses.

So who's wrong - you or the Gummint?

[jetboy]

The information posted is from the Companies Office on-line.
It's in the public domain: http://www.companies.govt.nz/cms However I will remove the addresses.

So who's wrong - you or the Gummint?

Read again Oscar:

The owner of John Baker Insurance does not own Star Insurance. John Baker Insurance is not affiliated with Star Insurance. End of story.

I am not interested in posting about this anymore because, as Oscar has just demonstrated, it goes too far.

[Oscar]

Read again Oscar:

Saying it twice don't make it right...