RECENTLY I was sent a renewal for my car insurance by a well known company.

I was being asked to pay £26 more than last year for nothing extra and I had had no claims in the last year.

I proceeded to this company's website and asked for the same cover for my car and lo and behold I was offered a policy for £13 less than I paid last year with the same level of cover.

For the sake of a little bit of time I managed to save overall £39.

You receive nothing from these companies for being loyal. They only take you for a ride, so it pays to shop around. I now I see that Ofgem is looking into the millions the utility companies are making through people's loyalty.

Paul Symons, Coxhoe