Burden on benefit

I am looking for advice on motor insurance. Last week I made a claim on my motor insurance policy with RIAS. The claim was made over the phone, and during the conversation I obviously mentioned that I was no longer employed but unemployed. I today have received a letter from RIAS saying that because I am now unemployed my policy has been amended and I have to pay an additional £10+ on my monthly direct debit payments. I was outraged. When I telephoned this morning I was told that because I no longer worked it is assumed I will be doing more miles and therefore I was at greater risk. How can my mileage be more when I sit at home looking for work via the Internet? Previously I drove 50 miles on a round trip to and from work on a busy motorway in busy rush-hour traffic. Now I travel into my local town perhaps twice a week, a round trip of 20 miles, plus perhaps an occasional visit the local post office 2 miles away, all along a quiet country road. I cannot see how RIAS can justify increasing my premium when I drive fewer miles and have less income at my disposal.

Asked on 24 July 2010 by RG, via email

Answered by Honest John
It's standard practice. Underwriting stats show that unemployed people are a greater risk. However, I encouraged another reader to negotiate and she was successful. (Underwriting risk also increases when a married couple separate or one of them dies.)
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