QBE Insurance Box

Simple6 · 22-01-2016, 02:38 PM

Anyone else noticing the ads on TV for QBE's OBDII 'Insurance Box'?

It's something I've known would be upon us in the future...and now it's here. Big Brother (QBE) can now monitor our exact location, speed, direction, braking at any time we're driving, and it's a breach of your policy not to use it (so you'd be uninsured). It appears to you can still get a regular policy though, but if you choose the 'Insurance Box' policy, you're locked in!

http://insurancebox.com.au/tour

Personally I'll be avoiding this kind of device and monitoring as long as I possibly can, but I predict that soon enough all insurance agencies will offer this kind of product and those who don't want it will be hit with a cost premium not to be monitored...

The next line of thought is - how long until we've all got these devices and other agencies are beginning to request access too...?

Thoughts?

Express · 22-01-2016, 04:08 PM

I'm going to get one for my XY.

Qwerty321 · 22-01-2016, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simple6

Anyone else noticing the ads on TV for QBE's OBDII 'Insurance Box'?

It's something I've known would be upon us in the future...and now it's here. Big Brother (QBE) can now monitor our exact location, speed, direction, braking at any time we're driving, and it's a breach of your policy not to use it (so you'd be uninsured). It appears to you can still get a regular policy though, but if you choose the 'Insurance Box' policy, you're locked in!

http://insurancebox.com.au/tour

Personally I'll be avoiding this kind of device and monitoring as long as I possibly can, but I predict that soon enough all insurance agencies will offer this kind of product and those who don't want it will be hit with a cost premium not to be monitored...

The next line of thought is - how long until we've all got these devices and other agencies are beginning to request access too...?

Thoughts?

I'd never get one, just cause I feel like my driving style wouldn't agree with insurance companies very much. I don't think getting a 1 star rating from the insurance box would save me money.

Problem with these OBD things is accelerating hard in rain at rush hour is treated just as badly as accelerating hard at an intersection on the highway or accelerating hard on a deserted road in the dry. I can't speak for everyone, but when I pull up first at a signal or approach an empty off ramp in the dry, I like to put the foot down and hear the engine roar. I get a cheap thrill out of it. What's the point of owning a 4L if you don't enjoy it every know and then...

We don't have any of these insurance box things in NZ though. Perhaps we have some privacy laws against it, I'm not too certain. Cause it seems like all insurance companies in America and Aus are making moves towards this OBD monitoring policy, and their kiwi branches aren't doing a thing.

yearby · 22-01-2016, 04:41 PM

I wouldn't touch QBE, they have a reputation for not paying.
I started hearing all the stories after they sent me to the wall by not paying out for my lose of employment insurance I had with them.
To add insult to injury, they keep taking out payments from my account 9 months after I lodged my claim and then they terminated it.

**Sorted** · 22-01-2016, 04:47 PM

Unfortunately, Insurance Box won't work in this car

Because of its engineering, your specific make and model - a 2009 Ford Falcon FG G6E Turbo Sedan 4dr Spts Auto 6sp 4.0T - cannot be fitted with the Insurance Box. You may be able to fit the Insurance Box in other cars that you own, but unfortunately, we cannot offer you insurance for this car.

Awesome as I did not want to take out my OBDII Torque Scanner lol

**GasoLane** · 22-01-2016, 04:52 PM

AAMI have had a similar (but more low tech) thing out for a while now.

https://www.aami.com.au/car-insuranc...phone-app.html

Binny · 22-01-2016, 05:10 PM

This thing and the AAMI app are a crock.

So if I use one of these things and always accelerate and brake gently I will get a high score and apparently be a "Good Driver".
In the meantime I can also be -
- running red lights
- cutting people off
- driving drunk
- speeding in roadworks zones
- doing 20 or 30 under the limit on a motorway!
- driving at night without lights on (I see it all the time!)
etc etc and their stupid farcical box is none the wiser.

LoudPipes · 22-01-2016, 05:57 PM

There has been a lot of big brother tech applied to Australians in recent years without much of a boo from the population.

So I think these companies know it will be easy to introduce these monitoring systems and Aussies will do what is expected, complain at home but not rock the boat and accept it.

**tut0r** · 22-01-2016, 06:04 PM

I tried that aami app, speed zones were wrong for certain areas. Can't take into account hard braking to avoid an accident and apparently I accelerate up to speed 'to quick'. When you start trying to relate driving record purely on numbers you're gonna have a bad time.

cheap · 22-01-2016, 06:30 PM

There will be a situation where an accident will be caused because someone was driving to QBE's prescribed driving requirements. When that happens watch QBE (and the other bottom feeders) disown their own rules.

monzie · 23-01-2016, 10:45 AM

Looks like part of a new direction for QBE[and others], have had my F350 insured with them for 4yrs. Private rego, private use, cat 1, no claims. Just before christmas got a letter saying they could no longer cover me unless I went to commerial rates which would add over $330 per year. And that was with a 250k radius limit, increase the radius would be higher again.
They now won't privately cover any vehicle over 3500kgs GVM. Probably a directive from the underwriters.
Added info for those that don't know my 2005 F350 is rego'd in Vic as a "light vehicle" with a GVM of 4490kgs [car licence]. 01-06 F250's would be in the same boat with a GVM of 38##kgs

Trump · 23-01-2016, 06:09 PM

QBE can shove that box up their poo chute.

uniacidz · 23-01-2016, 06:42 PM

Yeh um, they wont cover my vehicle anyway

Sioso · 23-01-2016, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simple6

Anyone else noticing the ads on TV for QBE's OBDII 'Insurance Box'?

It's something I've known would be upon us in the future...and now it's here. Big Brother (QBE) can now monitor our exact location, speed, direction, braking at any time we're driving, and it's a breach of your policy not to use it (so you'd be uninsured). It appears to you can still get a regular policy though, but if you choose the 'Insurance Box' policy, you're locked in!

http://insurancebox.com.au/tour

Personally I'll be avoiding this kind of device and monitoring as long as I possibly can, but I predict that soon enough all insurance agencies will offer this kind of product and those who don't want it will be hit with a cost premium not to be monitored...

The next line of thought is - how long until we've all got these devices and other agencies are beginning to request access too...?

Thoughts?

They won't need them fitted to cars in the future, they will download it all from the microchip inserted under your skin - that's the way it's headed, the conformity is getting out of control.
Next it will be an app on your phone to monitor your behavior in order to take out a life insurance policy.

aussie muscle · 24-01-2016, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binny

This thing and the AAMI app are a crock.

So if I use one of these things and always accelerate and brake gently I will get a high score and apparently be a "Good Driver".
In the meantime I can also be -
- running red lights
- cutting people off
- driving drunk
- speeding in roadworks zones
- doing 20 or 30 under the limit on a motorway!
- driving at night without lights on (I see it all the time!)
etc etc and their stupid farcical box is none the wiser.

so, basically as safe as a speeding camera then?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheap

There will be a situation where an accident will be caused because someone was driving to QBE's prescribed driving requirements. When that happens watch QBE (and the other bottom feeders) disown their own rules.

no one will ever be able to prove their "rules" lead to the accident!

Pedro · 24-01-2016, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yearby

I wouldn't touch QBE, they have a reputation for not paying.
I started hearing all the stories after they sent me to the wall by not paying out for my lose of employment insurance I had with them.
To add insult to injury, they keep taking out payments from my account 9 months after I lodged my claim and then they terminated it.

Another reason to avoid QBE is the hang time on the phone waiting to get connected. I was with that company once and a 30 - 40 minute wait to get connected was the norm.

mitelsx2000 · 24-01-2016, 04:48 PM

What a load of B___t I would stay clear of this lot.

Unfortunately, Insurance Box won't work in this car

Because of its engineering, your specific make and model - a 2011 Ford Performance Vehicles GT E FG Sedan 4dr Spts Auto 6sp 5.0SC - cannot be fitted with the Insurance Box. You may be able to fit the Insurance Box in other cars that you own, but unfortunately, we cannot offer you insurance for this car.

**FairmontGS** · 24-01-2016, 05:58 PM

I work in the industry and I can tell you that telematics (as we know it) is in it's infancy. Don't get involved - there's no upside for the consumer at this stage. When all cars have this sort of thing built in and warranted by the manufacturers then it will be time to reconsider.

In the meantime just do what you've always done - shop around for the best rate at policy renewal.