If you have ben on a speed awareness course & with admiral

craggs · 30 April 2011 at 3:53PM

Just letting people know if you have been on a speed awareness course and are with admiral you must tell them otherwise your insurance will be void.

As since november 2009 admiral now under convictions list a 'SAC' code (speed awareness code) that they will add to you for 5 years,even though it is not a conviction as such.

It will put your premium up and it may cause a problem when you come to change companys as only admiral use this code.'some' other companys are not sure how to deal with it and 'may' decline the insurance.

It is a nice way of admiral to keep you there I suppose.

Its ok saying im not going to tell them,but admiral new I had been on it somehow and forced me to do a call with the dvla in 2009.

Just wanted people to know and to help inform that if you was in an accident and not told them about this course you could find yourself in a spot of bother with them.

mikey72 · 30 April 2011 at 3:55PM

It doesn't seem unreasonable, you've still been caught speeding at the end of the day.

craggs · 30 April 2011 at 4:03PM

mikey72 wrote: »

It doesn't seem unreasonable, you've still been caught speeding at the end of the day.

No im not saying it is unreasonable yes you have been caught speeding.But as only admiral use the code no other company use it.

EG..I have had a cheap quote via ECAR,,but they have declined the insurance,,why? because when i rang to tell them I have a conviction 'SAC' on my NCB paper they have said they do not use this code,and are not sure how to deal with it (is what the lady said) so decided they will not go ahead and adviced me to try another insurer.

That is not allowing freedom of being able to chop with another company and tie you into using admiral..is that reasonable

kingstreet · 1 May 2011 at 1:13AM

While I appreciate Admiral's right to ask if a SAC has been attended, the fact it chooses to add an offence code to its answer dropdown for the conviction question is not relevant to other insurers.

When asked if you have been convicted of any offence, you can legitimately answer "no" unless the question also includes "or attended a speed awareness course?"

The offer of a speed awareness course is given in lieu of conviction and removes the threat of points and fine.

So if you apply to another insurer at renewal, don't look for the SAC offence code as it isn't needed and it will cause needless confusion if you attempt to tell your new insurer about it if they don't specifically ask.

lisyloo · 1 May 2011 at 10:03AM

Thanks for the warning to others craggs.

I would agree with kingstreet, don't mention it to other companies if they ask about convictions, it not a conviction (unless of course the course is specifically asked about).

craggs · 1 May 2011 at 2:15PM

Thanks for the response kingstreet.

I have now obtained a new quote from axa,I did phone them to queiry the code,as it is printed on my NCB under convictions,so they would of seen it anyway and more than likely called me to ask what it is.

I appreciate admiral using this code,but for there own records,to print it as a conviction cause confusion to other companys,.

Back to axa,the lady had to speak to her manager and call me back,she has said that she cannot understand why admiral have listed this as a conviction when its not an 'official' 4 digit code that is used by everyone,she told me not to worry as they dont rate on a speed awarness course,she did agree it could cause confusion to other companys.

So after battling for 18 months the closest ive got today with admiral is they are sending my proof of NCB out in a headed letter without mentioning the 'SAC' cod. as they use it for there own reference only.. But they said by law I have freedom of choice to go to other companys and they cant impede my chances after I told them ecar would not go ahead with my quote due to them not understanding this code.

I am still in contact with the insurance ombudsman but they dont seen to have much power,It just seems to me that that a speed awareness course is not a conviction so why have i got under convictions on my NCB...Convictions--1---code--SAC--points---0.

I have had so many forwords and backwards letter with admiral about this code in the last year,but today after I asked directly to the rep "is a speed awarness a conviction" he said no but they rate on it,,I said im fine with that,but its not an official conviction where ive sent in my DL and had points,He said "no" My answer was so why is it listed under convictions?it was that point he went away and had to comfirm with 3 other collegues.

I want to add,I do except I did speed,i hold my hands up,but i was not convicted.Im fine with admiral having this on there records,they can rate how they like,but its not as yet an official conviction 4 digit code.

kingstreet · 1 May 2011 at 6:24PM

That's the whole point. You were not convicted.

An allegation was made and you were offered a course as an alternative to conviction. I've got news for Admiral too, if you're reading. I know of lots of cases where drivers have been offered driver improvement courses in lieu of prosecution for Driving Without Due Care & Attention or Reasonable Consideration For Other Road Users. See this;-

http://www.drivesafe.org.uk/index.php/home/national-driver-improvement-scheme/driver-improvement

and tell me, if there's a SAC code is there also a "DAC" code for Driver Alertness Course?

If there isn't, perhaps you are concentrating on the wrong targets here? Drivers who've been involved in an accident and where the Police felt their driving fell below an acceptable standard, or drivers who, until recently, were within limit + 10% + 6mph, or 39 in a 30 for example?

If you are concerned about what's written on your renewal, you could simply circumvent the process by sending a covering letter with your proof of NCD explaining Admiral's quirk and also enclosing a copy of your conviction-free driving licence. I'm surprised Axa didn't already know about this. Let's face it, yours can't be the first case and it has been raised on PepiPoo once or twice in the last couple of years.

miz2011 · 16 May 2011 at 10:12PM

i've just got a quote with admiral and was about to take it untill i saw this. i was caught by a red light camera last year and took a new online course and wasn't given a conviction or penalty points.

this course was called a red light scheme (RLS). i went back onto admiral to do a requote but there was no code for the red light scheme. am i right in thinking i don't need to inform them?

i tried it with the SAC code and my quote jumped up by over £200. now i know i was wrong for being an amber gambler, but the whole point of this course was as it was my first offence i wouldn't be convicted so i don't see why i should inform them about this.

*EDIT*
Just checked on the DVLA and these codes are not official codes, no mention at all of them. seems to me that Admiral are trying to cash in on people who are unaware these are not real codes.

admiral help tab on this question says that details of you're conviction are listed on you're paper counterpart, i never had to send my licence off therefore no conviction code is present.

i'm not sure if they can legally void you're insurance for something that isn't a conviction.

*EDIT 2*
It seems the red light course is only available in merseyside and manchester, possibly hence there is no code for it. also how can they enforce this if you go through a comparison site which don't carry these codes.

would be good if someone in the insurance business could help us with this

jamesza · 28 September 2012 at 8:22AM

Just for interest

I had a letter from Admiral informing me that I had to pay an extra £40 since a named driver who had reported the SOC was on my insurance.

I contacted Admiral and successfully argued that their help instructed you to look on your license for any endorsements or penalties and the SOC doesn’t appear on the license therefore I should not be penalised from their omissions.

Hopefully they haven’t changed their guidance for anyone to have a look.

dollywops · 28 September 2012 at 8:53AM

Thank you for revisiting this thread, as I had no idea that you had to tell your insurer about a SAC. DD is going on a SAC in 3 weeks time and now I have to tell Admiral. I wonder how much this is going to cost?

Quentin · 28 September 2012 at 9:03AM

Do some virtual quotes online with and without the course and see what difference it makes to the premium.

In any case check the policy wording to see when they require to be told about courses you have attended as you may not have to at all or not till you renew.

In which case you might want to go to another insurer who wouldn't be interested in what courses you have attended.

If you have ben on a speed awareness course & with admiral

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