Steve & loudandproud,
I can understand where you are coming from, however, we do ask this question do we can get you the best quote. In our company we have access to schemes which will allow us to adjust premiums in the vase that your risk profile is one which we wish to write up, yet cannot compete with on our rates that quote on our panel.
However, to use these schemes we need to approach underwriters directly, and a question we are asked is how much you've been quoted, if we have nothing to present to them, they are reluctant to reduce the premiums further as it may be the case we are the cheapest in the end.
Regards,
Ed