The Off Topic Topic

[Admiral Yi]

My understanding of cars insurance in Great Britain is that it's unregulated, and therefore high risks can get charged really, really high amounts.  In US, at some point you're just going into the subsidized high risk pool, so it never gets completely insane.

I thought only some states, such as Jersey, had high risk pools.

And 4 grand still seems crazy high.  That's like one at-fault collision a year.

[The Larch]

A young, female CdM?

I would never use an Oxford comma.   That's just colonial provincialism.

Man, there's no pleasing you.

[DGuller]

My understanding of cars insurance in Great Britain is that it's unregulated, and therefore high risks can get charged really, really high amounts.  In US, at some point you're just going into the subsidized high risk pool, so it never gets completely insane.

I thought only some states, such as Jersey, had high risk pools.

And 4 grand still seems crazy high.  That's like one at-fault collision a year.

I think every state has some kind of mechanism to make auto insurance for the highest risks at least remotely affordable.  Some of these systems are hidden from the consumer;  you may think that you're getting your insurance from Allstate, but the actual insurance mechanism is some murky subsidized arrangement mandated by state.  As for the premiums being crazy high, you have to remember that the cost of your car is not the maximum cost that you can incur by getting into an accident, you can maim people and be on the hook for six figures.

[Admiral Yi]

Squeeze would only have been plowing over unemployed coal miners.

[garbon]

A young, female CdM?

That's how I was as a writing tutor.

[mongers]

Still, that's 4 grand a year.  That's a crazy amount for insurance, even for a punk, which Squeeze isn't any more.

My understanding of cars insurance in Great Britain is that it's unregulated, and therefore high risks can get charged really, really high amounts.  In US, at some point you're just going into the subsidized high risk pool, so it never gets completely insane.

In addition to what Shelf said above, I think there's quite a bit of fraud and downright padding from the professions when there's anything to do with accidents.

For instance most people seem to acquire expensive to compensate whiplash injuries in even quite minor accidents. This white collar fraud/crime, because that's what it is, is now beginning to be tackled.

Plus there are organised gangs in many urban areas of the country, rigging accidents amongst themselves or 'against' innocent other parties and especially vehicles belonging to large corporations like the supermarkets.

[Grey Fox]

Maybe squeeze had a no deductible insurance.

My insurance cost me 850$/year for 2 cars.

[Syt]

Germany faces another railroad strike, 4 days this time. It would be the largest railroad strike in postwar Germany.

There are two unions for railroad employees - EVG, which is the "original" union in which all employees used to be. Years ago, GDL was founded to represent the train drivers who found that they weren't fairly represented by EVG. By now, GDL has also members from ticket collectors and similar onboard personnel, but it remains the smaller of the two unions.

The German railroad DB wants to ensure that the onboard personnel get the same salary, no matter in which union they are. The GDL says this is a violation of the autonomy of collective bargaining, and want the DB to recognize that GDL and EVG can have separate agreements.

If GDL gets through with it, then in my opinion it will lead to hot competition between the two unions, trying to get the better results in bargaining and attract more members which in the end will hurt the German railroads tremendously. Each union has the power to effectively kill railway traffic in Germany, or at least reduce it significantly (for the new strike, the company hopes to maintain 1/3 of their connections for passenger trains, and trains remain a vital way of commuting around larger cities).

[Ideologue]

I mean, as you might recall, I had a couple of DUIs when I was a kid.

You'd probably get banned from driving for one here - excluding other penalties. With two you'd be marked as high risk and may not automatically get your licence back once the ban's finished.

This is a huge cultural difference. I was speaking to a friend who was recently seconded to Texas and from his stories the attitude was different

I omitted the part where I lost my license each time for a year plus, assuming it'd be taken as read.

[Zanza]

Germany faces another railroad strike, 4 days this time. It would be the largest railroad strike in postwar Germany.

There are two unions for railroad employees - EVG, which is the "original" union in which all employees used to be. Years ago, GDL was founded to represent the train drivers who found that they weren't fairly represented by EVG. By now, GDL has also members from ticket collectors and similar onboard personnel, but it remains the smaller of the two unions.

The German railroad DB wants to ensure that the onboard personnel get the same salary, no matter in which union they are. The GDL says this is a violation of the autonomy of collective bargaining, and want the DB to recognize that GDL and EVG can have separate agreements.

If GDL gets through with it, then in my opinion it will lead to hot competition between the two unions, trying to get the better results in bargaining and attract more members which in the end will hurt the German railroads tremendously. Each union has the power to effectively kill railway traffic in Germany, or at least reduce it significantly (for the new strike, the company hopes to maintain 1/3 of their connections for passenger trains, and trains remain a vital way of commuting around larger cities).

GDL is really pushing it and there is very little sympathy for them left in the general population and in politics. The result could be a new discussed law that would give the largest union exclusive rights to negotiate on behalf of all employees.

[Tamas]

Still, that's 4 grand a year.  That's a crazy amount for insurance, even for a punk, which Squeeze isn't any more.

It is high, apparently average nowadays is £1000. But that's why most people are put on their parents' insurance

I have checked this out, assumed I would be buying a 2 years old version of my precious Corolla I have back home (it means a 2012 Auris with automatic transmission).
Entering all info as is (no UK license - although that should be easy to get, never had an insurance on my own name, but has been driving for 13 years etc).

Well, cheapest would be around 490 pounds per month, that doesn't include legal or breakdown coverage (I assume I am also fucked if it gets stolen). Cheapest insurance company whose name I can actuall recognise is 1120 per year And I even set my own excess to be 500 pounds
I am assuming for an older used car I would probably end up buying it would be even worse

[Tamas]

I guess one of my problems is that I still keep translating prices into Hungarian Forints in my head. Which is stupid, as wages are just brutally higher here than back home. Of course prices are higher as well. Except for electronics. And food.

[Josquius]

How long have you been in britain? A year or two right?
With your income in pounds its unusual you havent switched to thinking in that.
I often find myself converting prices to yen to get an idea of them.

Insurance is just something you legally have to get. Not something you will ever use (mostly. Fingers crossed), price is all that matters

[Tamas]

How long have you been in britain? A year or two right?
With your income in pounds its unusual you havent switched to thinking in that.
I often find myself converting prices to yen to get an idea of them.

Insurance is just something you legally have to get. Not something you will ever use (mostly. Fingers crossed), price is all that matters

Well I don't convert it in my mind for everyday stuff anymore, of course. But stuff that is just theoretical for me at the moment, I end up doing it.

At any rate, maintaining a car seems to be still cheaper than a train season ticket if you are commuting any kind of distance.

[Brazen]

Brazen would be your go to person for up to date info, as I think myself, Tricky, Shelf and Warspite all no longer drive.

Well, cheapest would be around 490 pounds per month, that doesn't include legal or breakdown coverage (I assume I am also fucked if it gets stolen). Cheapest insurance company whose name I can actuall recognise is 1120 per year And I even set my own excess to be 500 pounds
I am assuming for an older used car I would probably end up buying it would be even worse

My insurance is around £300 a year, but then I'm middle aged, female, had my own insurance since I was 17, haven't had an accident in forever and barely do 3,000 miles a year. My tax is £265, but that depends on engine size and emissions. You can choose to pay for 6 months, and any time now you'll be able to pay monthly.
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables

Cheapest insurance always includes theft (it's called third-party, fire and theft for a reason). Try phoning Swinton - they have local offices, you can ask all the questions you might not be sure of and they can usually get you a manager's deal. "Thank you, but I was hoping not to spend more than..." Bear in mind it will cost you slightly more if you pay monthly - I try to put some money in my savings every month for my tax and MOT/service. MOT is another £54 IF nothing's wrong.