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MS60 Driving Conviction / Car Insurance - Urgent Help Please!

Hi All,

I could really do with some advice and help one this problem.

My wife was pulled over at a police check point (they were pulling over lots of cars for misdemeanours like seat belts / tax disc / tyre tread etc), and she stupidly had our little Maltese dog in her lap (she has literally just pulled out of our street).

She was definitely in the wrong and so paid the £60 fine and got 3 points. However, the conviction code was MS60 which means Offences not covered by other codes - understandable really as it is unlikely that there is a specific code for 'dog on lap'.

However, our insurance company Bell insurance refuse to renew the policy because of it. They say that they can't quantify what the offence is with that code - she could have been doing a handstand on a motorbike for all they know.

It seems all of the low cost providers have a blanket rule on this MS60 code (elephant etc). the next available insurance is £760 (we were paying £330 before). And this will be the case for the next 4 years!

Does anyone know if a) it is possible to have conviction codes changed (to say a CD10 - driving without due care or attention - and b) how to go about fixing a problem like this.

Please help! This is a very expensive dilemma!

Many thanks, Ben

Comments

  • mattymoo
    mattymoo Posts: 2,417 Forumite
    edited 27 August 2009 at 1:06PM
    All is not lost.

    The insurers who trade online and via call centres have a very narrow selection criteria. When faced with the MS60 code, which as you say, can cover a wide range of misdemeanors, the majority of them appear to be simply saying "we can't work it out with our scripted systems so go away".

    By scripted, I mean the call centre op (or the internet quote engine) sees the offence code and the script will say "If SP30, add 10% to premium, if IN10 add 100% to premium" and so on.

    So, you need to go to an insurance broker, ideally a local one. They can access products with the larger insurers that are not offered via internet or phone. In addition, they will have a personal point of contact with an experienced underwriter who can make a judgement on the loading (if any) to apply for dog on lap - MS60.

    Price wise a broker is generally no more expensive than a direct insurer. The broker gets their commision from the insurer. The direct insurers who do not pay broker commision spend it on marketing costs instead.

    PS: As you say, she was bang to rights but it does sound like the police were trying to make up the numbers that day doesn't it. In the olden days I'm sure it would have just been a bit of a ticking off but maybe I've got the rose tinted specs on again.
  • raskazz
    raskazz Posts: 2,877 Forumite
    Definitely speak to a broker on this one. Going by what your premium was last year you should be able to find a much better rate than £760, assuming nothing else has changed.
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