Price Watch/Conor Pope: A Dublin-based reader has been in touch to highlight the importance of shopping around for car insurance.
Sandra Whitney is a driver in her 30s with a full no-claims bonus and no convictions or penalty points. She has been with Axa Insurance for four years and drives a 1.6-litre 2000 Volvo ("not exactly a hazard on the road"). Her fully comprehensive insurance policy, which came with several other benefits, was €671.59 last year.
"My renewal, which was due on December 6th, came out this year at €733.45 with free no-claims bonus protection," she writes. When she called the company to query the price increase, they said that since she had changed her car to a more expensive model, this would have to be reflected by an increased premium.
"When I asked could they do anything about the price, as it seemed irrational that I had an extra year of claim-free driving and that the trend was downwards in the industry, they said they could 'work' on my pricing by dropping some of the extra benefits like Drivers' Fatal Accident Cover but could not do much else with the price," Whitney adds.
She told Axa she would be calling its competitors as its inflexible position seemed "quite unreasonable".
"I got a quote of €473.92 plus €56 no-claims bonus protection from FBD and when I called Axa back it was miraculously able to drop its price to €500, including NCB protection, without even asking to see the FBD quotation, proof that prices will drop if you shop around. I have opted to stay with Axa but will be shopping around again next year."
What's more . . .
Putting the fizz back in the bubbly The head of foods at Marks & Spencer, Jonathan Glenister, has been in touch in response to last week's item on Bluff Hill sparkling wine, which was retailing in M&S stores in the Republic at €14.99 but at just £7.99 in the UK. When differing rates of VAT and duty were taken into account, M&S's UK outlets were selling the sparkling wine for approximately €1 less than in M&S stores in the Republic. Not any more. Glenister says last week's article caused "some concern" as it is the company's aim to charge the same for products in the Republic and the UK, taking into account VAT and duty. The price of €14.99 for Bluff Hill was "frankly an administrative oversight", he says, adding that as of yesterday it has been reduced to €13.99. "We don't set out to rip off our Irish customers and to this end we have reduced over 65 per cent of our food prices in the last six months - resulting in many being below the equivalent price charged in our UK stores," he says.
Value4Money Pasta tortelloni
Dunnes Stores Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni
€1.99 for 250 grams (€7.96 a kilo)
Highs: This is the cheapest of the brands tried - by some considerable margin - and is by no means the worst. It comes with the highest ricotta content and the individual pasta shells hold their shape quite well.
Lows: Despite having a higher cheese content than the other brands, this still manages to taste quite bland - you'd probably be best advised to serve it with a heavily flavoured sauce to get the best out of it. The pasta is a little stodgy too, although the excessive al dente- ness of it might be to some people's taste.
Verdict: Pretty cheap, pretty good
Star rating: ***
Super Valu Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni
€2.49 for 250 grams (€9.96 a kilo)
Highs: These look more satisfyingly plump than the competition. The filling is rich and creamy with a discernible taste of spinach and the pasta is firm but not excessively chewy. It's good value, particularly as it is probably the only brand tried that would work well as a stand-alone dish.
Lows: While the filling tastes good, it is a shame that there isn't a bit more of it. The initial plumpness of the pasta turns out to be generated largely by hot air, which disappears the instant it comes into contact with a fork, leaving the whole thing rather flat.
Verdict: Good, if slightly inflated
Star rating:****
Tortelloni di Buitoni Ricotta e Spinaci
2.99 for 250 grams (€11.96 a kilo)
Highs: Probably the most recognised of the brands tried, the tortelloni come with more filling than the others. The ricotta-heavy filling is creamy and tastes good, although a little salty for some taste-buds.
Lows: The shells are prone to collapsing, although that probably doesn't make much difference until it comes to scraping the pot clean. Of more concern is the price: this is the most expensive of the brands tested and 1 dearer than the Dunnes pasta. Why the makers feel the need for product descriptions in Italian and Spanish on the packet is also something of a mystery.
Verdict: Tastes good, but at a price
Star rating:***
Duetto Spinach, Nutmeg and Cheese Tortelloni
€3.19 for 275 grams (€11.61 a kilo)
Highs: This two-tone tortelloni looks promising - it is the perfect size, retains its shape well and looks pretty fine in a pasta bowl.
Lows: Looks, however, are often deceptive. There is a paucity of filling within the pasta shells and what little there is tastes of virtually nothing. There's just 5 per cent ricotta (cheddar and cream cheese also make an appearance) and while there is a promise of nutmeg on the packaging, it must have disappeared into the water as it is almost impossible to detect. It's also the second dearest of those tasted.
Verdict: Dull
Star rating:**
Excellent **** Great **** Fine *** Below par ** Awful *
If you notice a significant price increase or discrepancy, let us know by e-mailing pricewatch@irish-times.ie
