'5 years or more' on proof of no claims, but I have 7 years

stormCat99

Hi,

I recently moved my car insurance from Aviva to A&L. I was with Aviva for 1 year, and at the start of that year I had 6 years' NCB which I provided evidence of.

This year was claim free, so I have now accrued 7 years NCB. However I've just received my proof of no claims, and it just says 5 years NCB.

I've looked back at my renewal docs from Aviva, and on there it just says I have '5 years or more'. We've just rung them up about it but they've basically said hard luck, as they only hold up to 5 years. How can this be allowed? If they can get away with this I have lost 2 years' hard-earned NCB, not only for this year, but every year going forwards.

What do I do with my new provider A&L, as the policy has been active for about 3 weeks and they are threatening to charge me more than double if I can't provide the correct NCB proof to them.

iamana1ias

Send them the doc proving 6 years, plus this year's proof that you've made no claims from Aviva.

Most insurers give max discount at 5 years anyway, so you won't be losing out.

stormCat99

Thanks for the quick reply. But I don't have the docs for the 6 years, as I sent this to Aviva at the start of this year. I can't imagine the insurer that I had prior to Aviva would be willing to send me out another copy over a year later? Worth a try I suppose.

Is it likely that A&L would accept this if I can get hold of it, as it won't be a proper NCD certificate.

dunstonh

but they've basically said hard luck, as they only hold up to 5 years. How can this be allowed?

That is the their maximum. Different companies cap or accept different maximums. Anything above that tends to be used internally only.

Is it likely that A&L would accept this if I can get hold of it, as it won't be a proper NCD certificate.

What is A&Ls maximum NCB on new business? If its 5 years then its no different.

Quentin

A+L do give better discounts for up to 9 years NCD for new business.

cjgoodsell

Even tho some companies maximum is 5 years they are happy to confirm to your new inusrer how many years you went to them with and how many claim free years u have had with them and put them together..

You best bet is get A&L to call them tell them you went ot aviva with 6 years stayed with them 1 year should be on 7 then when they call aviva to confirm you ncd they can say what you told them and 99.9% they will confirm it!

Quentin

boots_babe wrote: »

If they can get away with this I have lost 2 years' hard-earned NCB, not only for this year, but every year going forwards.

What do I do with my new provider A&L, as the policy has been active for about 3 weeks and they are threatening to charge me more than double if I can't provide the correct NCB proof to them.

Have you explained this to A+L?

Them saying you will be charged more than double seems draconian - as that would only be correct if you had claimed 7 years, but actually have none!

And although you have 7 years NCD now, were you to make a claim you would lose 2 years from the maximum of 5 at renewal, and go down to 3 years NCD for next year.

Going back to your problem (the missing 2 years on your renewal), A + L must be used to this problem as many insurers stop adding years when you hit 5. Speak to them about how they have resolved it for others, and don't stand for them charging more than double if you have supplied them with proof of 5 years already. (The difference between 5 and 7 won't be much - arm yourself with the evidence before you speak to them by getting two identical (except for the 5 or 7 years NCD) quotes online from them.)

olly300

boots_babe wrote: »

Thanks for the quick reply. But I don't have the docs for the 6 years, as I sent this to Aviva at the start of this year. I can't imagine the insurer that I had prior to Aviva would be willing to send me out another copy over a year later? Worth a try I suppose.

Just a point NEVER send any one original documents unless specifically stated in case the post office lose them regardless of how you send them.

Quentin

With regard to no claims proof, insurers invariably insist on original docs, so it's catch 22!

But keep copies!

olly300

Quentin wrote: »

With regard to no claims proof, insurers invariably insist on original docs, so it's catch 22!

Mine have not so I have sent them photocopies.

Strangely the copies look like the original as for some reason the insurers I use don't use watermarked paper.

mattymoo

The discount scales work like this:-

1 yr = 30%
2 yrs = 40%
3 yrs = 50%
4 yrs = 60%
5 yrs = 65% (this is the point where most insurers stop counting additional years)

6 yrs = 67%
7 yrs = 70%
8 yrs = 72%
9 yrs = 75%

In your case boots babe, the difference with A+L is between 70% (claimed NCD) and 65% - the NCD you can prove with the Aviva docs. As quentin says, the threat to double the premiuim seems overstated.

When you have a 6-9 yr NCD recognised by an insurer, it is only valid for as long as you stay with that insurer. If you accrued 9 yrs with A+L but then moved back to Aviva say, you would go from 9 to 5 yrs NCD.

Since the difference between 5 + 9 yrs is only 10%, it doesn't take much of a difference in the base premium (before discounts applied) to mean a 5 yr ncd firm is cheaper than a 9 yr ncd firm.