HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: brendan@otc.otca.oz (Brendan Jones)
Newsgroups: aus.general
Subject: Re: Advice on car insurance companies ?
Date: 27 Aug 92 07:28:04 GMT
Distribution: aus

in article <9955@uqcspe.cs.uq.oz.au>, anthony@cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee) says:
> It seems the companies to avoid are FAI and AAMI.

Well, I'm with AAMI, and have only ever made one claim (for a relatively minor
side scrape, 3 panels).  I lodged the claim eight months late (I got engaged
and married in the intervening period).

I took the claim in, had the car assessed and repairs authorised in 30 minutes
flat.  I got the car in to the repairer, who fixed it that week.  I'm no car
expert, but they did a bloody good job of fixing it.  The spray job is almost
undetectable.  The repairer also fixed up some other small scrapes and dints
unrelated to the original accident.

So I've got no complaints, my premium is only $240, and I only lost 15% no
claim bonus because the scrape was my fault (I was on 70%).

Also, I much prefer being told to pick one repairer from a list of
recommended repairers rather than find my own.  To me, that's a service.  I

claim bonus because the scrape was my fault (I was on 70%).

Also, I much prefer being told to pick one repairer from a list of
recommended repairers rather than find my own.  To me, that's a service.  I
wouldn't know a good repairer from a bad one, but I assume that it's in AAMI's
interest to find good repairers if they don't want to be hit with repeat
claims for followup repairs.

So what's the problem with AAMI?
-- 
Brendan Jones  | ACSnet:  brendan@otc.otca.oz.au               | What does
R&D Contractor |   UUCP:  {uunet,mcvax}!otc.otca.oz.au!brendan | your
Services R&D   |  Phone:  (02)287-3128    Fax:  (02)287-3299   | company
|||| OTC ||    |  Snail:  GPO Box 7000 Sydney 2001, AUSTRALIA  | export?
From: suter@fawlty8.eng.monash.edu.au (Mr D. Suter)
Newsgroups: aus.general
Subject: Re: Advice on car insurance companies ?
Date: 29 Aug 92 04:46:13 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: Monash University

In article <1992Aug28.045448.2701@lugb.latrobe.edu.au> gareth@lucifer.latrobe.edu.au (Gareth Davies) writes:
>In article <1992Aug28.003212.1012@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au> suter@fawlty7.eng.monash.edu.au (Mr D. Suter) writes:
>
>[...oodles gone here...]
>
>>Every time I have had the misfortune to seek out a repair the inevitabvble
>>question was - is this an insurance job? The fact being that if it is
>>they know you don't care too much about the end cost and that you may also
>>want to rort the claim by including unrelated reapairs. Unfortunately,
>>the main mentality is that this type of fraud is ok becuase the
>>insurance comanies are also crooks. Such slack moral reasoning
>>ignores the fact that the extra cost is simply returned through
>>higher premiums. Moreover, I also onece had the misfortune of
>
>[...oodles gone here...]
>
>Not really. The problem is that there is two assessors sent to each quotation,
>"panel beater's" assessor and then the "insurance company's" assessor comes
>out to check out the "panel beater's" assessment.
>
>The "insurance company's" assessor will knock back on average 50% off all
>of the claims. Therefore for the "panel beater's" to satisfy the customer
>they basically need to double the quote.
>
>It's a shonky game of manipulation. Sort of like real-estate...
I can't say that I know the complete motivation for the inflated claims
but I do know that your explanation, while plausible enough to
probably account for some of the motivation, is not the whole
story by any means. Certainly a significant
proportion is straight out exploitation. If you hadn't deleted my
second ``oodles'' you have have left in one personal experience
I had where the repairer and the claimant clearly defrauded
the insurance company (and, thereby, me). I have other second hand
stories and we also had one other here on the net (where the
repairs covered more than the damage done in the accident that
was the subject of the complaint). Some people just can't seem
to see fraudulent claims for what they are - rightly a criminal offence.
d.s.
Newsgroups: aus.general
From: scott@psy.uwa.oz.au (Scott Fisher)
Subject: Re: Advice on car insurance companies ?
Organization: University of Western Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 05:59:42 GMT

gnb@duke.bby.com.au (Gregory N. Bond) writes:

>Well, I'm not sure about car insurance, but I spent yesterday on the
>phone arranging house and contents insurance.  Our broker has arranged
>a different underwriter (due to rising costs) and sent us a quote for
>$560.  I rang around a few other places and got quotes ranging from
>$620 to $720, except GIO, who quoted $360.

>It pays to shop around.  Easiest $200 I ever made.

>Greg.

If you own an "exotic" car check around with the local clubs for that car
as you may be surprised...eg

$20,000 Jaguar XJ6,

Everyone else at 60% no claim $700-950

Through the Perth Jaguar club $340

Scott.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Scott Fisher [scott@psy.uwa.oz.au]  PH: Aus [61] Perth (09) Local (380 3272).                
                                                             _--_|\       N
Department of Psychology                                    /      \    W + E
University of Western Australia.                 Perth -->  *_.--._/      S
Nedlands, 6009.  PERTH, W.A.                                      v       

Joy is a Jaguar XJ-6 with a flat battery, a blown oil seal and an unsympathetic wife, 9km outside of a small remote town, 3:15am on a cold wet winters morning.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: gareth@lucifer.latrobe.edu.au (Gareth Davies)
Newsgroups: aus.general
Subject: House insurance...
Date: 25 Aug 92 22:47:40 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: La Trobe University

In article <1992Aug24.230236.5200@melba.bby.oz.au> gnb@duke.bby.com.au (Gregory N. Bond) writes:
>Well, I'm not sure about car insurance, but I spent yesterday on the
>phone arranging house and contents insurance.  Our broker has arranged
>a different underwriter (due to rising costs) and sent us a quote for
>$560.  I rang around a few other places and got quotes ranging from
>$620 to $720, except GIO, who quoted $360.
>
>It pays to shop around.  Easiest $200 I ever made.
>
>Greg.
>--
>Gregory Bond <gnb@bby.com.au> Burdett, Buckeridge & Young Ltd, Melbourne 
>That's *Mister* Chief Pointyhead to you.

I hate to put a damper on your $200 dollars but are the policies exactly the
same? Are you fully covered by GIO?

Personally, I'm a bit paranoid about insurance companies & I trust them
about as much as 60 minutes journalists...

To me, house insurance is a bargain (assuming they pay up). We have the house
insured at $70,000 and pay a measly $150-00 (not the cheapest). I know
that the chances of the house burning down, etc... is quite small, but the
return on your investment if things do go wrong is pretty good.

$150-00 * 80 years = $12000

If the house does go in my liftime (which I hope it doesn't) I'm infront.

Pity I can't say the same about car insurance, but they are two different
insurance stories completely.

Gareth.
-- 

gareth@lucifer.latrobe.edu.au 
Newsgroups: aus.general
From: scott@psy.uwa.oz.au (Scott Fisher)
Subject: Reverse osmosis water filters
Organization: University of Western Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 02:30:20 GMT

So what do people out there know about reverse-osmosis water filters?

Regards Scott.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Scott Fisher [scott@psy.uwa.oz.au]  PH: Aus [61] Perth (09) Local (380 3272).                
                                                             _--_|\       N
Department of Psychology                                    /      \    W + E
University of Western Australia.                 Perth -->  *_.--._/      S
Nedlands, 6009.  PERTH, W.A.                                      v       

    *** ERROR 144 - REBOOT? is a registered trademark of ENSONIQ Corp ***
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: aus.general
From: gleeson@mundil.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Red Mountain)
Subject: Re: Where can I buy a sheet of sorbothane?
Keywords: sorbothane
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 11:33:18 GMT

In <sim.714197493@bruce.cs.monash.edu.au> sim@cs.monash.edu.au (Sim Lim Or) writes:

>Does anyone know where I can buy a sheet of sorbothane(or something equiv)?
>The size that I need is about 1 sq ft (roughly).

>I've looked into yellow/white pages, asked around but got no where.

>Any pointers would be appreciated.
>Thanks.

Try the Sorbothane factory, it's in Chifley Drive, Preston.
BTW, this stuff is *fantastic* for putting under your (good) stereo
speakers to absorb the vibrations ( -> reduce resonance & noise).

Marty.
----------------------=============***O***=============-------------------------
Martin J. Gleeson   | Computer Science, Melbourne Uni, Oz |    ...  __o    Outta
gleeson@cs.mu.oz.au |  E Pluribus Unix  |  BIKE  IT   !!  |  ...   -\<,       my
" We gladly feast on those who would subdue us." - Addams |  ....(_)/(_)..  way!
 "I can't give you brains, but I can give you a diploma." - The Wizard of Oz
----------------------=============***O***=============-------------------------
Newsgroups: aus.general
From: sysnet@cc.newcastle.edu.au (David Morrison)
Subject: Re: Advice on car insurance companies ?
Organization: University of Newcastle, AUSTRALIA
Distribution: aus
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 00:41:57 GMT

In article <1992Aug25.000116.18733@cs.su.oz.au>, allanc@cs.su.oz.au (Restless Wanderer) writes:
> Rasberries for NRMA.
> 
> Whatch what they quote on insurance if ringing their 13** no in Sydney.
> Get the phone jerks name,and ask for the quuoted price to be mailed to you
> before you take out the insurance.The difference between the quoted phone 
> price on Friday was $157.97 as it was in their Parramatta office on Saturday.
> No recourse as the phone conversations are not binding.
> As a memeber of this organisation I was VERY displeased.

I have had the same experience.  If you ring, get them to send you the papers.

This poster also mentioned GIO reinstating his no-claim bonus for a no-fault 
accident. I was recently involved in an accident where both drivers were at 
fault, the other more than me (overtaking on the left and ran into me).  NRMA 
initially decided I was at fault and had to pay the $300 excess plus drop no 
claim bonus from 60% to 40%.  I wrote a begging letter, describing in great 
detail the circumstances of the accident, explaining about my good driving 
record and mentioning my 16 years membership of the NRMA.  They decided I did 
not have to pay the excess, and as a once-off, they would not reduce my 
no-claim bonus.  (For a new car, the latter is worth a lot of money.)

So, the panel beaters whinge a bit about the NRMA, but I have had only good 
experiences (in the end - it sometimes takes a bit of effort!).
-- 
David Morrison, Manager, Networks and Comms, Uni of Newcastle, Australia
sysnet@cc.newcastle.edu.au or (VAX PSI) psi%0505249626002::sysnet
Phone: +61 49 215397	Fax: +61 49 216910
Newsgroups: aus.general
From: thos@suite.sw.oz.au (Thomas Cohen)
Subject: Re: Advice on car insurance companies ?
Organization: Softway Pty Ltd
Distribution: aus
Date:  4 Sep 92 00:43:25 GMT

In <1992Sep3.052948.17397@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au> suter@fawlty8.eng.monash.edu.au (Mr D. Suter) writes:

>to insure to meet your expectations. If you don't
>like what I am saying then try using your imagination:
>how would you feel if I worked with you and bought a ROLLS
>(I said imagination) and therefore demanded, becuase of the
>danger of parking next to you, that you increased
>your policy cover? 

I would probably think that was fair enough, but wouldn't bother
doing anything more than I already have - which is get insurance 
that is adequate for any eventuality. I don't have a problem with
what I'm saying, because I already live up to that standard.

And I don't actually drive a very expensive car. It is a 30 year 
old Mini. Reasonably rare, and (certainly for its age) in quite good
condition. I would like to keep it that way.



-- 
thos cohen  				       |Softway Pty Ltd
 The best way to make a Japanese engineer wince|ACSnet:         thos@softway.oz
 is (when talking about an NSX) to say slowly  |UUCP: ...!uunet!softway.oz!thos
 'but its _not a Ferrari_ is it?' R.Bulgin, CAR|Internet:    thos@softway.oz.au
Newsgroups: aus.general
From: tomw@ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au (Tom Worthington)
Subject: DITAC 1992/93 Generic Technology Grants: IT & COMMS
Summary: 1992/93 Generic Technology 
Organization: Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 03:10:42 GMT

DITAC: Department of INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY & COMMERCE INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT BOARD

1992/93 Generic Technology Grants: INFORMATION and COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY

The Industry Research & Development Board encourages the development of
technologies of strategic importance to future industry competitiveness
through collaboration between research institutions and commercial firms.
Applications are invited for grants to lever the development of 
internationally  competitive  information  and communications industries
and to improve the productivity of other industries through the
application of information and communications technologies.

To be successful, proposals will:
* have a core of generic research centred on IT or CT
* involve strong collaboration between research and
commercial organisations
* have significant prospects for commercial exploitation
* demonstrate the commitment and ability of the commercial
partner to exploit the outcomes for Australia's benefit.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals with the
Secretariat prior to preparing submissions.

Contact numbers are:

Communications Technology: Mr David Watson (06)2761183
Information Technology: Mr Roger Purcell (06) 2761226
Guidelines & Applications Disk: Mrs Belen Lamond (06) 2761239

Closing date (Second Call): 20 November 1992

Posted by: Tom Worthington, Chairman, THE CANBERRA BRANCH OF THE
AUSTRALIAN COMPUTER SOCIETY 
INCORPORATED

Newsgroups: aus.general
From: chris@state.COM.AU (Chris Keane)
Subject: Re: What's Green & Yellow
Organization: Group Treasury, State Bank of NSW
Distribution: aus
Date: 20 Aug 92 23:14:11 GMT

francis@cs.adelaide.edu.au (Francis Vaughan) writes:

>In article <9222617.29778@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU>, jah@cs.mu.OZ.AU (James Harland) writes:
>|> 
>|> In article <eln235s.713679182@lindblat.cc.monash.edu.au>, eln235s@lindblat.cc.monash.edu.au (mr  h    hui) writes:
>|> > It's common for the Australian sports team to have their uniforms
>|> > designed in green and yellow. Does that symbolize anything like good and
>|> > grass-field?
>|> 
>|> 	The colors of the wattle, the national emblem, are green and gold.

>I think the follow up answer is  ... sort of.

>Up until recently the official colours were not green and gold but blue
>and gold. Green was an option.  The sudden change around seemed to
>occur when Alan Bond and syndicate used the green and gold so
>promenantly on the Americas Cup challenge.  Certainly it was about then
>that a real identity with the green and gold came about.  It seems to
>now be taken as gospel that this is what the colours are.

Wake up, would ya? Even in 1974, the only person in Australia who
believed that our national colours where Blue and Gold was Billy
McMahon. They've been Green and Gold for YEARS, well before the
(successful) Americas Cup challenge. Time to smell the coffee, Francis.
(The only thing introduced by Bond & Co was the (current) boxing
kangaroo flag).

In terms of flag, I think the best thing to do would be to "Jack off!"
and move the federation star to the vertical centre.


regards...                                                 
Chris Keane.                  State Bank NSW            ph. +61 2 259 4459
Unix Systems Administrator   (Group Treasury)     chris@rufus.state.COM.AU
Famous Gravitational Quote: It must be density that has brought us together
From: x98943@phillip.edu.au
Newsgroups: aus.general
Subject: ACS Prog. Comp. Aug 92 - RESULTS
Date: 31 Aug 92 20:25:24 GMT
Organization: RMIT (Bundoora Campus)


Over 50 Students among 14 teams from accross Eastern Australia took part
in the ACS Programming Competition held Saturday August 29 1992 at the
Department of Computer Science RMIT City Campus.

The official Results of the ACS Programming Competition are as follows.

+----------+-------------------------------+-----+-------+
|          |                               | Qst |  Time |
|  Placing |          University           | Ans | (Mins)|
+----------+-------------------------------+-----+-------+
|    1     |      Sydney University        |  3  |  245  |
|    2     |   Victoria University Tech.   |  3  |  497  |
|    3     |     R.M.I.T. ( City )         |  3  |  507  |
|    4     |     R.M.I.T. ( Bundoora )     |  3  |  517  |
|    5     |      Bond University          |  3  |  829  |
|    6     |  Deakin University (Geelong)  |  2  |  103  |
|    7     |     R.M.I.T. ( City )         |  2  |  315  |
|    8     |         Swinburne             |  2  |  378  |
|    9     |     R.M.I.T. ( City )         |  2  |  475  |
|   10     | Deakin University (Burwood)   |  2  |  523  |
|   11     | Monash University (Caulfield) |  1  |  157  |
|   12     | Monash University (Frankston) |  1  |  246  |
|   13     | Latrobe Uni. Coll. North. Vic |  1  |  255  |
|   14     | Monash University (Caulfield) |  1  |  270  |
+----------+-------------------------------+-----+-------+

Scoring is based on the total  number of correct questions  completed with 
ties resolved by the total time taken to solve the correct problem(s). The 
time is  calculated for a  problem, on the total time taken from the start 
of the  Competition  to the time the correct submision was received. There 
was  a  20 min penalty  applied to  each problem submitted, per submission,  
that failed to satisfy all conditions of the problem.

Congradulations, to Geoffrey Langdale, Geoffrey Bailey, and Bernard Gardner
from Sydney University, who took out the Competition.


Judges ACS Programming Competition

Brian Habel
Mark Muirhead
Stephen Simmons
From: brendan@otc.otca.oz (Brendan Jones)
Newsgroups: aus.general
Subject: Re: Advice on car insurance companies ?
Date: 3 Sep 92 23:47:31 GMT
Distribution: aus

in article <thos.715385483@suite.sw.oz.au>, thos@suite.sw.oz.au (Thomas Cohen) says:
> In short, when Brendan buys something, he buys it lock stock and barrel.

Not usually.  I probably come across as quite opinionated in text only mode.
I was giving a view on AAMI's car insurance cover and my experience of making
a claim with them.  IMHO, my experience with AAMI does not align with the bad
press it's been getting, hence the posting.

However, I get insurance quotes *every* year, so I'm in no way wedded to AAMI
or anyone else.  Experiences with the other insurers reported here has been
interesting.

> No offence Brendan, but has anything you done been wrong?

Um, posting to this newsgroup? :-)

Seriously, I like to challenge a particular orthodoxy just to elicit
response, be provocative, or to be mischevous.  That doesn't mean I have
religious belief in my postings - it may be me playing Devil's advocate.

Also, I often take the counter-popular opinion to get a feeling for how much
someone has actually thought about a particular issue.  But I generally only
do this over the net.  I nowhere near as forthright in person!

Cheers!
-- 
Brendan Jones  | ACSnet:  brendan@otc.otca.oz.au               | What does
R&D Contractor |   UUCP:  {uunet,mcvax}!otc.otca.oz.au!brendan | your
Services R&D   |  Phone:  (02)287-3128    Fax:  (02)287-3299   | company
|||| OTC ||    |  Snail:  GPO Box 7000 Sydney 2001, AUSTRALIA  | export?
From: anthony@cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee)
Newsgroups: aus.general
Subject: Advice on car insurance companies ?
Date: 24 Aug 92 01:40:34 GMT
Reply-To: anthony@cs.uq.oz.au
Distribution: aus

I was wondering if anyone has a particular bad experience with
car insurance companies ?  My insurance brokers want me to change
to Suncrop which is charging me a premium of $388.60, with 
stamp duty and broker fee it is $418.  It seems a bit expensive to
me and I have heard of cheaper alternatives but I am weary of 
bad insurance companies.
--
Anthony Lee (Time Lord Doctor) (These are my opinions !)
email: anthony@cs.uq.oz.au	voice:+(61)-7-3651204 FAX:+(61)-7-3651999
SNAIL: Department Computer Science, The University of Qld, 
       St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
Newsgroups: aus.general
From: chris@state.COM.AU (Chris Keane)
Subject: Re: Advice on car insurance companies ?
Organization: Group Treasury, State Bank of NSW
Distribution: aus
Date: 31 Aug 92 02:41:04 GMT

moeller@mullauna.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Mc Mars) writes:

>On the topic of car insurance companies, go for the biggest and most
>well known company, RAC(V); ask around and I'm sure you won't find anybody
>with bad experiences with them - they outline everything fully before
>you sign, and a past claim I had with them was dealt with super quickly,
>without problems in only two weeks. They were very impressive!

I agree. I have an insurance policy with NRMA. About a month ago,
I had a prang on a Friday, took it to a repair shop with a completed
claim form the next Tuesday and on that next Friday paid the repairer
my excess (since it was my fault) and picked up the car. 
One week from Woe to Go.

And of course, since I chose the repairer, it was an excellent job!


regards...                                                 
Chris Keane.                    State Bank NSW             ph. +61 2 259 4459
Unix Systems Administrator     (Group Treasury)      chris@rufus.state.COM.AU
Famous Gravitational Joke: It must have been density that brought us together
From: t923335@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au (IronEagle )
Newsgroups: aus.general
Subject: Re: SRA IS ON THE AIR!
Keywords: Radio fun games  but maybe not for the whole family! :-)
Date: 17 Aug 92 18:31:03 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: RMIT Computer Centre, Melbourne Australia.

anthony@cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee) writes:

>Isn't this commercial advertising, I thought this sort of 
>thing is not allowed on the net !

Well Anthony, as far as I can see, we are not selling anything, nor
asking for money, I was just stating that we are on the air.. nothing
more..... I dont see a problem with it personally, and we are a
COMMUNITY station, we are NOT allowed commercial advertisements....

Read it as you like...

-- 
 
 ############################################################
 ##  Never assume the obvious, as it is rarely the truth!  ##
 ##  t923335@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au       at309@po.cwru.edu  ##
 ############################################################
Newsgroups: aus.general
From: ins818e@mdw040.cc.monash.edu.au (Pratap Patnaikuni)
Subject: Looking for Andrew Cummings
Organization: Monash University
Distribution: aus
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 03:58:43 GMT

Recently I got a request from someone in the US who said they were looking
for an Andrew Cummings who lives(lived?) in Sydney;  this person is an academic
(I've been told) and they live or have lived in Paddington.

If you are, or know Andrew Cummings could you please e-mail

munster@gnu.ai.mit.edu

Thanks.

-PP

Newsgroups: aus.general
From: hoahosth@halls1.cc.monash.edu.au (ANDREA HOSTH)
Subject: Commercial net services
Organization: Halls of Residence, Monash University 
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 09:26:04 GMT

Is there a commercial netserver in Australia? I once heard of one (a year or 
so ago) but haven't seen anything from it anywhere. Could someone post or 
send me some information on any commercial services that they know about.

Thanx

Ankh (who will lose her account eventually)