allegations of racism by insurance company

cogito

It isn't at all clear. 'Are you a UK resident from birth' has only two possible answers - yes or no. Why would there be a default? Am I just being thick?

JonBoy_SCFC

cogito wrote: »

It isn't at all clear. 'Are you a UK resident from birth' has only two possible answers - yes or no. Why would there be a default? Am I just being thick?

he went to compare the market where they ask when you came to the UK, but next to thge question is a tick-box with "over 5 years" next to it.

He ticked this box and felt he'd done nothing wrong - understandably in my opinion.

hope this helps

BruceyBonus

JonBoy_SCFC wrote: »

he went to compare the market where they ask when you came to the UK, but next to thge question is a tick-box with "over 5 years" next to it.

He ticked this box and felt he'd done nothing wrong - understandably in my opinion.

hope this helps

When you click through to the insurer, it is the proposer's responsibility to check that the information has been passed through to the insurer correctly. Mistakes regularly happen because different insurers ask questions differently. Your friend would have been presented with an opportunity to check the information before buying the policy - they chose not to, therefore providing false information.

JonBoy_SCFC

BruceyBonus wrote: »

When you click through to the insurer, it is the proposer's responsibility to check that the information has been passed through to the insurer correctly. Mistakes regularly happen because different insurers ask questions differently. Your friend would have been presented with an opportunity to check the information before buying the policy - they chose not to, therefore providing false information.

no no. Sorry if i didn't explain very well, but it was during this process that the increase in premium came to light

i.e. after getting a price on compare the market, he phoned the insurer to purchase the policy, they went through the details to check and this is when the difference was noted. he was totally open about it all along

BruceyBonus

JonBoy_SCFC wrote: »

no no. Sorry if i didn't explain very well, but it was during this process that the increase in premium came to light

i.e. after getting a price on compare the market, he phoned the insurer to purchase the policy, they went through the details to check and this is when the difference was noted. he was totally open about it all along

Still the same problem - the comparison website didn't pass the information onto the insurer properly.

Your friend didn't have to buy the policy from that company - as soon as he/she knew it would be more expensive, they could have gone elsewhere.

JonBoy_SCFC

BruceyBonus wrote: »

Still the same problem - the comparison website didn't pass the information onto the insurer properly.

Your friend didn't have to buy the policy from that company - as soon as he/she knew it would be more expensive, they could have gone elsewhere.

agreed. all i was pointing out was that the increase in price was not due to his error or due to him lying

MarkyMarkD

Thanks for the clarification. It's amazing how the original story develops in these "rant" threads.

I agree that Compare the Market is misleading in the way it provides the information and it doesn't have any option other than "over 5 years".

It's also one of the most irritating insurance sites I've used - it doesn't allow you to go on to the next question until it's ready, but displays them anyway - then loses your answers if you put them in too early. D'oh! And the adding another driver functionality is very broken indeed.

JonBoy_SCFC

i agree that the full picture regards the reason for the "wrong info" existing in the first place is only now clear

but that doesn't take away from the original reason for this "rant" - why are they increasing the premium if it's nothing to do with him lying/getting the answer wrong on the form?

do you think they're seeing that the info has changed and assuming he's a liar? or would he be paying the higher amount anyway had the details been correct first time? and if so, why do you think this is? is it because of what i suggested that foreigners have more accidents cos i can't think of any other possible justification?

cogito

JonBoy_SCFC wrote: »

he went to compare the market where they ask when you came to the UK, but next to thge question is a tick-box with "over 5 years" next to it.

He ticked this box and felt he'd done nothing wrong - understandably in my opinion.

hope this helps

Thanks but that's not what you said in your OP.

dacouch

When I first started in insurance as a broker 20 years ago I was given an instruction booklet that advised (If my memory serves me right) That Insurers can no longer load you if you were not born in the UK due to race relations laws but are entitled to ask if you have become a resident in the uk within the last three years. (Three years being the maximum) They are entitled to load you if you have become resident in the last three years.

What I would suggest you do is get a quote from the same insurer for exactly the same details but declaring you have lived in the uk for 11 years and then try it saying from birth. Take a print and then when as I suspect there is no difference in the premium you can use this to argue your point with the insurer (You might have to change your name when applying for the quote as some insurers websites recognise your name and refuse to quote if you are an existing client)

If you speak to the association of british insurers or the financial services authority they would be able to advise you the exact law.

Hope this helps and good luck