Direct Line's claims about buying insurance via online comparison sites "don't stand up", says Confused.com
Confused.com has hit back at Direct Line’s new advertising campaign which suggests that buying insurance via online comparison sites could mean consumers miss out.
Confused.com’s managing director, Debra Williams, said: “Direct Line’s claims simply don’t stand up to scrutiny.
"Alongside price, Confused.com also compares additional benefits such as courtesy cars, discounts on other services and money-back offers.
“This looks like an act of desperation from an increasingly uncompetitive Direct Line. It’s a shame it won’t allow its quotes to be compared through independent price comparison sites like Confused.com.
“This looks like an act of desperation from an increasingly uncompetitive Direct Line
Debra Williams, Confused.com’s managing director
"But there may be a reason. Our initial research suggests that nine times out of ten Direct Line’s quotes wouldn’t feature in our top five cheapest prices. And in some cases, Direct Line doesn’t even make the top 10.”
Confused.comclaims to provide quotes from 97% of all insurers and estimates that almost half of all car insurance bought online is purchased via its site.
According to Confused.com, the RBS Group – which includes Direct Line – is the only major insurance group that refuses to allow consumers to compare its prices against other insurers via any price comparison site.
Direct Line’s current advertising claims that buying via a comparison site could mean consumers miss out on additional insurance benefits.
