Warning for anyone with esure motor insurance

Slapped

I have just got off the phone from Esure who have terminated my car insurance, telling me it was invalid as the car I have is on a personal contract hire (as 1000's and 1000's of other cars on the road are) and I never receive a registration document as the contract hire company keep it which is standard procedure with any car bought this way.
13 Months ago I took out an Esure policy on a car I owned outright, after 5 months I changed to this personal contract hire car, at the time I rang esure who have the conversation recorded and explained to them exactly what I was doing and even told them that the contract hire company held all the documents but I was the only driver of the car (I explained this as I work in car finance and know exactly what happens whereas many people may not). The Esure representative took my money and said this was fine and very common amongst customers they insure. Today I overheard a conversation at work whereby one of my colleagues customers was unable to get insured with esure as the car was on a contract so I called to confirm my insurance was valid at which point I was told no, spoke to manager who said this was correct and cancelled my policy.
Would they have paid out if I had wrote my car off a month ago? I doubt it very much!
I have rang the ombudsman who said there is no complaint as I haven't suffered any financial loss!
Anyone any suggestions - I will obviously take my business elsewhere which is no problem as I've 8 years no claims but I don't think they should be able to get away with doing this.
Anyone else in same circumstance be advised to contact to Esure and look into - let me know if you have a different result.
Thanks

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

I think you are wise to take your insurance elsewhere, but if you are dissatisfied with the decision to cancel the policy, you should complain. Having said that, I would say that the best you would get would be a £25 "get lost" payment.

The contract of insurance allows you to cancel at any time (subject usually to a small fee) or for them to cancel the policy (subject to seven days notice and a pro-rata refund in premium regardless of whether you've claimed or not).

raskazz

Whose name is on the registration document as registered keeper?

instaunt

Oscar_The_Grouch wrote: »

you should complain. Having said that, I would say that the best you would get would be a £25 "get lost" payment

If you're lucky! Your only real recourse is to post your story on forums (like you're doing here) or on insurance review consumer boards to make other people aware of the problem. Sadly the most common comment on such boards is "wish I'd read this first!" -- but, once bitten twice shy, eventually everyone will visit MSE before purchasing insurance.

In fact, it might an idea to say to the sales agent: "thanks for the offer, just give me five minutes to read up on the deal on MSE and I'll get back to you ... " chances are they'll change their story pretty quick

dacouch

Esure accept a personal lease plan as the owner and as the registered keeper, could this be another Hastings cancelling policies scenario

• Your details
• Title : Mr
• First name : Mike
• Surname : Winner
• Email address : calmdown@hotmail.co.uk
• Telephone number : 01234567890

• About you
• Date of birth : 22/11/1966
• Occupation : Secretary
• Gender : Male
• Marital status : Single
• Licence type : Full UK Licence
• Years licence held : Under 5 Years
• NCD years (You will be required to supply proof of this) : 5 Years
• Cover start date : 26/11/2009
• Cover end date : 26/11/2010
• Registration number :

• Your car
• Make : FORD
• Model : FIESTA CELEBRATION,1596cc,3dr(2007-2008)
• Fuel type : Petrol
• Transmission type : Manual
• Year of registration : 2008
• Estimated value of your car : Under £5,000
• Estimated annual mileage, including business mileage : 4001 - 5000 miles
• Where is your car kept overnight : Garage
• Security devices fitted to your car : None Fitted
• Legal owner of this car : Personal Lease Plan
• Registered keeper of this car : Personal Lease Plan

Slapped

Oscar - I have no choice, Esure have cancelled the policy on me and given me 7 days notice.

raskazz - it is a personal contract hire and as such the car reg doc remains in the name of the finance company for the duration of the contract - they send me a new tax disc every year - a very very common way people buy cars now.

Astaroth

Strange that you can select personal lease plan and buy the insurance via Esures website.

What grounds are they canceling it again?

Slapped

Exactly - I managed to get hold of a couple of Esures directors email addresses, sent the m the full details of what had happened - turns out I was insured, still am insured and will continue to be insured with Esure. Just jobsworth staff not capable of understanding something straightforward potentially losing the company business, so all is now sorted and had a small cash refund too.

Oscar_The_Grouch

Thanks for posting back. Glad to know it's all sorted. Perhaps Esure will arrange for their staff to be trained correctly!!