Help Needed

[koda007]

I'm after some advice regarding "MORE THAN CAR INSURANCE"
in March 2008 I was stopped driving my partners car by the police using their A.N.P.R camera, I was then inormed that after the officer ringing "MORE THAN" to confirm my policy I was not insuranced to drive the car and it was promptly impounded,myself reported to the CPS I was thentold to find my own way home (70 miles)
Once home I went to local police station armed with my insurance certificate where the officer eventually managed to have my insurance confirmed that I was indeed covered to drive the car and arrangments were made for the car to be formally released. After paying £175 release fee and a complaint to MORE THAN about this they admitted the were at fault and it was a clerical error and they reimbursed the charges,my train fares and sent a letter to the CPS admitting fault and no charges were brought by the court. A one off you may think...???
In May 2008 I was stopped again,checks again to MORE THAN came back as no insurance, I explained that there had been an error on the system recently and could they check again which the police were not interested in. The car was then impounded "AGAIN", reported to the CPS "AGAIN" and I was made to walk home with a small toddler and pregnant partner 20 miles down a busy country road with no pavements and the main road in and out for foreign haulage trucks. The car this time was crushed.
After many phone calls to "MORE THAN" they once again admitted a clerical error was their fault and after having to attend court 4 times and the judge taking pity and allowing us to chase up the confirmation of insurance we have only just had the paperwork to confirm I was insured. Court case is adjourned for 3 weeks why CPS confirm "MORE THANS" letter of confirmation as they had also done their own enquiries and could get no sense out of them.
We have since changed insurance companies but would like advice on what to now do with "MORE THAN" regarding complaint/legal procedings

[AdrianHi]

I think you need to speak to a solicitor about making a case for damages against More Than to compensate you for all the financial losses you have suffered and the emotional stress.
I feel for you, this situation is appalling.

[ozvaldinho]

Firstly, why did you not produce the insurance certificate before the car was crushed? You have a few days to do this, don't you?
Do you have a full drivers licence? Are you a named driver on your partner's policy? Were the insurance installment payments up to date?
I'm sorry to sound cynical, but this post just doesn't add up to me, but I'll gladly apologise if I'm wrong.

[Conor]

Firstly, why did you not produce the insurance certificate before the car was crushed?

A certificate is no longer counted as proof of insurance. Blame all the tossers who took out insurance, got the certificate then cancelled the policy. The Police only believe what's on the MIB database and if its not on there, they will say it's uninsured.

In addition to that, you have to have the money. So she would need to find £105 plus £12 for every day it had been in storage. If it'd been up to the 14 days limit, that would have been £263. Not easy if you're on monthly pay at the wrong end of the month or you're on benefits. And come day 15, it's crushed regardless of the only reason you've not been able to collect it being that you're short on cash.

[AdrianHi]

Scarey stuff.
I just checked that my car and my wifes is on the MID here:
http://www.askmid.com/askmid.aspx

[hewhoisnotintheknow]

i would be looking for replacement of car + lots of extras out of more than

[norangeduck]

thats shocking - on all parts really - You could go to money claim https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp -
Its where I went when I was taking the post office to court! - I done it all by myself - no solicitors involved (obviously apart from their big wigs!) - You issue a claim online, you make a statement if you like, a judge will then decide if its worthy of a court "hearing" - (more like a meeting in a small room) - then you get details through the post etc

Though you will need to pay for this, i think something like £30 to start the ball rolling - but there are more fees later too (you can claim this back from more than) and there is different criteria pending on how much you are claiming for.

Its worth it, as it seems like they were def at fault and they have admitted it - do you have evidence/letters? this would help the claim

ooo, and the outcome of my court case was - they settled 2 days before we were due in court! - I think because of bad press that they would have recieved, so it was easier to pay - power to the people!!!

[ozvaldinho]

In addition to that, you have to have the money. So she would need to find £105 plus £12 for every day it had been in storage. If it'd been up to the 14 days limit, that would have been £263. Not easy if you're on monthly pay at the wrong end of the month or you're on benefits. And come day 15, it's crushed regardless of the only reason you've not been able to collect it being that you're short on cash.

Conor, does this mean you have to pay up even if you WERE insured but the broker/insurer made a mistake and didn't add you to the MID? I'd hate this to happen to one of my works vehicles. I've now checked them all as I've just renewed and they're all there. If it does happen, does anyone have any experience of claiming refunds/expenses off their insurer or broker?

[MX5huggy]

The OP seems to have experience getting the fees back!!!

[LandyAndy]

Scarey stuff.
I just checked that my car and my wifes is on the MID here:
http://www.askmid.com/askmid.aspx

I used to have a Golf GTi 150 TD.

I just checked it. It is now a Golf GT TD1 130:confused: .

[vikingaero]

The OP should escalate the complaint to the Financial Services Ombudsman. More Than/RSA will be charged for the complaint irrespective of the outcome.

[vikingaero]

It is scary when you consider the consequences of a clerical error.

About 2 years ago, none of the vehicles in our business fleet appeared on the MID. We had lorries, vans and cars that must have covered millions of miles, driven past countless Police cars and ANPR posts and not one pull. We had the certificates to hand and had paid for the premium in full and yet it was so easy for us to get away with it had we been dishonest.

[jeannieblue]

I just did the 'mid' check thing and put reg on there, it just came up that it is a Ford Focus (which it is). It doesn't tell you anything else, is it just a case that if the car comes up, it means it is insured??? It doesn't come up with how many drivers or anything.. am I being thick?? :D

OP I am disgusted at what has happened to you. I wish you well in getting some sort of compensation to say the least!!

[Dan29]

I just did the 'mid' check thing and put reg on there, it just came up that it is a Ford Focus (which it is). It doesn't tell you anything else, is it just a case that if the car comes up, it means it is insured??? It doesn't come up with how many drivers or anything.. am I being thick?? :D

OP I am disgusted at what has happened to you. I wish you well in getting some sort of compensation to say the least!!

It says:

[REG NO] is on the Motor Insurance Database today.

If the car's not on the database it says:

[REG NO] is NOT on the Motor Insurance Database today

[jeannieblue]

It says:

[REG NO] is on the Motor Insurance Database today.

If the car's not on the database it says:

[REG NO] is NOT on the Motor Insurance Database today
Ahh....

but it doesn't give details... so someone could still be driving a car that they are not insured for tho..

Expect the police get more info than that.

[Dan29]

Ahh....

but it doesn't give details... so someone could still be driving a car that they are not insured for tho..

Expect the police get more info than that.

No it doesn't give details of who's insured to drive, and for my car it doesn't even give the car details, just a picture of an arrow which apparently means the vehicle details aren't available.