Can insurance brokers cancel my policy following cat c write off?

bossanova_2

Hi to all,

I'll try to start from the beginning, I had an accident on the 27th oct 09 (non fault) and informed my brokers and underwriters straight away. They put in place an accident management company to arrange assesment of the damage/ hire car and pretty much all of the claim. The assessor informed the garage where my car was sent that it was immobile (due to tailgate not opening) and also wrote it off at category c due to the high cost of repairs compared to its value. .The garage got the boot opening and closing making it drivable and told me i could pick it up..which i did. Seems ok so far right??? .................wrong!!

I have had to call several of the companies involved to get updates on the claim and to inform other the companies involved about the developements.....it's been going on for a month now.

I called my insurance brokers today(25 nov 09) to double check that i'm still insured to drive my car to repair shops, mot and vic tests etc. I'd already informed them about the assessor writing it off and that I wanted to keep my car and fix it, they said thats fine unless your underwriters send you a letter stating anything different you will still be covered(this was on the 12th nov 09)and I hadn't heard anything since then.

This is the shocker though......I was informed that because I'd phoned and informed them(today) that my car was written off I have 14 days from today to provide : New MOT, Engineers report, VIC certificate and my new V5C !!!! otherwise they will be cancelling my policy and I will not get a refund.

Seems all wrong that they can send an assessor to write my car off, then state that they didnt know it was written off until i rang them??? Then start this deadline which may be impossible to fulfill or i lose my full years paid up policy which i only had for 27 days before someone rear ended me!!!

Can the brokers do this?
They are not paying out, or dealing with any aspect of the claim, nor are my underwriters or the third party insurance company...only the accident management company have dealt with all of it so far.

Most confused and angry....please help :mad:

dacouch

Which Insurer is it?

bossanova_2

Yes insurance.co.uk

dacouch

Do you know which Insurer they have placed you with

bossanova_2

yes its provident.....but i have spoken to them also today and they say they are not dealing with my claim as i'm using an accident management company....provided by yes.insurance.co.uk.

dacouch

Not the greatest Insurer.

It might be worth ringing Provident up directly and explaining the situation to them, advise them of the timescales for repair. There is a good chance they will give an extension.

If this does not work you could always try swapping another car onto the policy eg your spouses car for a week or so as this should stop the cancellation although it may attract an admin fee.

Have you received the payment for the write off yet?

bossanova_2

I tried that, but provident told me they weren't handling any of it.....so how can the brokers demand it all within 14 days??
My partners car is an import so guess that would be pricey.
I've been told by the assessors that i should get payment in the next 2-3 weeks, also they couldnt understand why i have had this time limit imposed due to me ringing them as they would normally be informed at the end of the claimand then i would be written to asking for any documentation needed.

dacouch

Ring and speak (Politely) to a superviser at Yes and explain the situation, that you have spoken to Provident and they do not require the policy to be cancelled and that it is Yes's own claims handling company that are handling the claim. You could also mention that if you had claimed off you own policy (Assuming its comprehensive) that you would have received the payment by now. Ask them to get this resolved for you

Have they given you a hire car and / or do you have any injuries by any chance?

bossanova_2

My best offer so far is a team leader ringing me back on thursday this week, I have told them that it's their company handling the claim and they still insisted that this 14 day limit was put in place because I had informed them that my car is a write off....I'm totally baffled, I did have a hire car but this was taken back as soon as I collected my own car from the garage. I was originally told i could keep it for 7 days after receiving settlement but when I told them I was keeping my car they said they would take it back straight away.

bossanova_2

minor neck/headaches....visited own G.P. but declined the official medical exams on offer so far as didnt seem bad enough....but i will be claiming for my loss of insurance premium and phone call charges too. None of this my fault yet i still have no use of my car or money to fix it with. sorry for ranting ^_^

dacouch

Do you have comprehensive cover?