Car insurance saga.

capstain411

Hi all,

Wish somebody can please help me with my tricky situation. I had a VW polo, insured by Hastings direct starting from 18th dec 2009. Fully comp cover.

On 23rd Dec amidst heavy snow fall, my car skid and hit a parked car. A car coming behind me also hit the same car. But my impact caused greater damage. Insurance details exchanged, claim still under processing.

My insurance company deemed repairs on my car financially nonviable and hence consequently wrote the car off. I have yet to receive a quote for my car.

While insuring my car, I had given detail of my NCB. I had 4 yrs unprotected NCB :mad::mad::mad:

2 weeks ago i received a warning letter from Hastings direct that I have not provided NCB certificate. I called customer service who confirmed that it was administrative oversight and that they had details of my previous insurer and NCB.

Today I received a letter informing, that my policy has been terminated citing non disclosure of NCB details by my previous insurer. I have been told that I should take out another policy if I want insurance again.

I am not sure what is going to happen with my NCB. Has anybody else been in this situation before. How many years NCB should i claim if I have to get my car insured again.

I had very poor service with Hastings direct, would not go back to them.

dogbot

Did you take the details of who you spoke to? The time and date? You can check your phone bill for the latter hopefully.

You have had a policy canceled by an insurer so will have to declare that, and it will make it very hard to find insurance. Technicaly they have accused you of fraud!

You need to get the matter resolved with hastings immediatly. Get onto the phone and point out that you did send the proof in and they confirmed that they had it! I am assuming you did actualy send the proof? You don't make it completely clear in your post.

capstain411

I actually gave Hastings my previous insurance details while getting a quote. This is how Hastings customer service confirmed that they already had the details.

Hastings are maintaining the fact that my previous insurer could not confirm my NCB, while on the contrary the had actually issued me a certificate. I did not send Hastings a copy of the letter in response to their warning letters, because, when I called hastings customer service, they did mention that they had all relevant info.

I think hastings is cooking up a story just to chicken out of the policy.

raskazz

capstain411 wrote: »

I actually gave Hastings my previous insurance details while getting a quote. This is how Hastings customer service confirmed that they already had the details.

Hastings are maintaining the fact that my previous insurer could not confirm my NCB, while on the contrary the had actually issued me a certificate. I did not send Hastings a copy of the letter in response to their warning letters, because, when I called hastings customer service, they did mention that they had all relevant info.

Having the details of the previous policy and insurer is one thing; the previous insurer actually confirming the NCD is quite another. I suspect that you sending a letter would not have assisted because if the previous insurer still refuses to verbally confirm the NCD to Hastings then any paperwork is worthless.

capstain411 wrote: »

I think hastings is cooking up a story just to chicken out of the policy.

I very much doubt that. It is not in their interest to do so.

What you need to do is to get in touch with Hastings and ask them what, specifically, prevented them from verifying the NCD with your previous insurer. Once you have this, you can call your previous insurer to check if their version of events tallies.

Anihilator

So you didnt provide them with any proof of no claims despite being asked for it in writing.

Hastings did hold that info as they told you, it, doesnt change you needed to provide proof of NCD.

You need to call them, explain, the misunderstanding, provide the proof and get the cancellation cancelled.

The fact you dont seem to want to do this suggests to me there is something a tad dodgy about the NCD.

capstain411

Anihilator...u may have all reasons to suspect me. But in every eventuality I am the person at loss. I would not earn anything by gaining sympathy and support by giving false information here nor to the insurer.

In terms of me not sending the no claims bonus certificate, yes I will admit, I was under the misunderstanding that, once they have my previous insurer's info, i would not have to send any more evidence.

I have already faxed hastings my NCB certificate, but they having cancelled my insurance are in no mood to listen to me.

I have been going through a lot of stress, because, this was my first accident and claim. Hastings showed no urgency in taking my car for repair and hence not give me a courtesy car. I had to arrange for a garage to give them an estimate and get my car picked.

capstain411

Just an update...halifax company committed a colossal c0<k up in issuing the NCB certificate. They claim due to a "small" clerical error they issued wrong policy number hence, when hastings direct contacted them they could not verify my NCB claim.

Halifax is going to issue me a apology letter with all the details. Spoke to hastings about halifax error. Hastings still not interested in reinstating the policy.

I have lost my premium due to the claim raised and being put in a very tricky position with purchase of new policy with other insurer's.

I am planning to lodge a complain with Ombudsman, about halifax not compensating for the error which they have committed. Am I right in doing so. Halifax issued the wrong details 4 times. Twice over the phone and twice in writing.

raskazz

capstain411 wrote: »

Just an update...halifax company committed a colossal c0<k up in issuing the NCB certificate. They claim due to a "small" clerical error they issued wrong policy number hence, when hastings direct contacted them they could not verify my NCB claim.

Halifax is going to issue me a apology letter with all the details. Spoke to hastings about halifax error. Hastings still not interested in reinstating the policy.

I have lost my premium due to the claim raised and being put in a very tricky position with purchase of new policy with other insurer's.

I am planning to lodge a complain with Ombudsman, about halifax not compensating for the error which they have committed. Am I right in doing so. Halifax issued the wrong details 4 times. Twice over the phone and twice in writing.

Putting the wrong policy number on an NCD proof is ridiculous. To be honest I'm amazed that it is even possible - surely the letter is generated electronically from a template letter which is automatically populated with details from the policy record.

Definitely lodge a complaint with Halifax. You have to exhaust their complaints procedure before the FOS will consider it.

capstain411

It was the old policy number they mentioned on the NCB certificate. And today I received another certificate with the wrong details.

Quote

OP - you're unlucky aren't you?

Halifax and Hastings?

I hope your insurance was nice and cheap.

capstain411

Hello ppl,

I have received a letter from halifax admitting error. But customer service do not consider their administrative error as reason for cancellation of my policy. They are blaming Hastings direct for being draconian.

I have lodged complaint with Financial ombudsman after spending 1 hr 48 mins with halifax customer service today and they being totally oblivion of what I have gone through.

Anybody had any success with Financial ombudsman resolving the problem. I am demanding £400 compensation. Money lost in premium left over from cancelled policy and £50 for 4 weeks bus fare ( 4 buses to catch to and from work).