Discrimination on insurance rate?

Serendipty_2

Hello, all! I would like to ask your view of this. I am trying to insure a car that I just bought through the scrappage scheme. I filled in the dealer's online insurance quote and was originally quoted £459.90. I called to speak to them as I had to insure the car in order to have it taxed and they then quoted me £531.30. I asked after the increase and I was told that I had referred to my other 'named driver' as my 'partner' online but said that he did not live with me during the phone quote. This is true as we are newly engaged and planning a wedding, but the online systems classification of 'partner' did not state that this meant we lived together. I am concerned as I am an old fashioned girl and I have chosen not to live with my partner until we are married. This is due to my religious beliefs and I feel that I am being financially punished because of my beliefs. I called the insurance company and the sales person spoke to the underwriters who confirmed that if I lived with my other half (married or not) then I would receive the discount. I was told that it was my choice not to live with him and that this had nothing to do with my beliefs. I would live with him in a heartbeat were it not for my beliefs, so this has everything to do with my belief system. We have been together for over four years, we are formally engaged, etc. Surely, he qualifies as my partner. Can the extra cost of insurance qualify as discrimination? I would love to hear your views.

Anihilator

No it cannot

The living apart leads to increased insurance risk and hence the increased cost

Nothing to do with any discrimination.

nikki1520

Unfortunately, Insurance companies discriminate against almost everybody - the young driver, the elderly driver,the newer car owner, the single driver, the driver who has an accident, and so on. This is because these groups present a greater "risk" - in your case, as I understand it, if you live with a long term partner or spouse, you are supposedly more "settled" and less likely to have an accident. How this applies in some cases where there is a violent or abusive partner, for example,baffles me, as surely the victims would be more "settled" if they were single.

So in a nutshell - yes you are being discriminated against as you believe that you shouldn't live with your fiance until after the wedding. Fair play to you, I say, but obviously, "computer says no"

This is probably one of the few areas where discrimination goes unchallenged, mostly because if everyone decided they were being discriminated against, we'd all be paying the same premium - which in the case of a good steady 35 year old married mum of 2 who has never had an accident, would then lead to her facing a financial disadvantage as she is paying a higher premium due to people driving while intoxicated, having accidents etc.

Small comfort I know, but I think you're probably stuck with the higher premium until after the wedding -course you could always look for a lower quote elsewhere?

dunstonh

I was told that it was my choice not to live with him and that this had nothing to do with my beliefs.

That is your personal choice.

I would live with him in a heartbeat were it not for my beliefs, so this has everything to do with my belief system.

Good for you for sticking to what you believe. However, you have to accept there are some consequences to that.

Surely, he qualifies as my partner.

Not from a risk covered point of view.

Can the extra cost of insurance qualify as discrimination?

The Govt has made comments that it will remove risk discrimination on some insurances. Many are against it as it will push premiums up. It will also push insurance companies away from the UK and the UK is already one of the lowest profit countries for insurers. Thats why so many have closed over the years and so few remain. In those that remain do most of their business overseas.

For the consumer though, if you dont price high risk at higher price than a minority will benefit at the expense of the majority.

wolftastic_2

Anihilator wrote: »

No it cannot

The living apart leads to increased insurance risk and hence the increased cost

Nothing to do with any discrimination.

ditto. One of the few financial benefits left for the marrieds.

SandC

It has nothing to do with your status as married, unmarried, cohabiting but all to do with the further risk associated with adding a named driver of another address on to the policy.

There is no discrimation against you because of your beliefs, that is your personal choice.