Admiral/Elephant insurance warning

malc_b

I have car insurance with admiral who phoned me after I'd done a quote with elephant and offered me a multicar insurance. I took this out but they are a bit shady in some area. For example

Quote 1
Car A, Driver a,b = £ X
Car B, Driver b,a = £ Y
Car C, Driver c,a,b = £ Z

1st driver is the main driver. So I added another driver, d, JUST to Car C, £ Z increased. Fair enough. But so did £ X and £ Y. Worthwhile knowing about this one since it is NOT what you would expect. When you ask much to add driver d you have to add the extra cost this incurs on all cars in the policy.

The next shady deal was that I was phoned and offered hire car insurance. Car C is old. After an accident mostly likely it would be a write-off and the courtesy car is ONLY if your car is repaired, not for a write-off. All true I said. I was then offered extra insurance which would cover car hire in this event for "up to 3 weeks". OK. Sold.

I then got the policy and read the small print. The "up to 3 weeks" is a misleading (although Admiral do not accept this as mis-selling IMO it is). It is not 3 weeks while I sort out a new 2nd hand car which was the impression I got and I think I said as much. It is actually a maximum of 3 weeks OR until 48hrs after Admiral declare the car a write-off (whichever is sooner). And how long would it take them to write-off a 16yr car when each day is costing them car hire? Not long at all I suspect.

And note the small print does not say settle or pay out just declare a write-off. It could be sometime until any money appeared.

Buyer beware as always it seems. Happily as it is a legal requirement for a cooling off period I was able to cancel this useless extra insurance and get my money back.

adamc260

"The Hire Car must be returned to AVR or its designated agent no later than 48 hours after payment is issued to the Policyholder based on EUI Ltd’s total loss valuation of their claim OR no later than the 21st day of hire (whichever comes first)."

A car being decalred a write off and a payment being made are two very different things.

You could be told your car is a write off on day 1 but a payment isn't raised untill 5 days later?

malc_b

I was looking in the what's not covered and I see I have mixed up 2 sections. h. says not covered is any claim 14 days after vehicle has been determined a total loss. Where as d says after payment is issued.

Never the less it still isn't the 3 weeks car hire it was sold to me as but only until payment is issued (whatever issued means, in my hand or in the post?).

dacouch

I would avoid Admiral if you have a new car as unlike the vast majority of Insurer they do not have new car replacement, basically virtually every other Insurer will replace your car with a brand new equivalent if it is written off in the first year of ownership from new (Normally you being the 1st registered keeper) note NFU offer this for the first TWO years of ownership.

So if your car is written off in the first year of ownership from new with most companies you would be given a brand new car, with Admiral they would pay you the market value at the time of the accident which as most people know cars lose a huge amount of money as soon as you drive it off the forecourt

raskazz

malc_b wrote: »

Worthwhile knowing about this one since it is NOT what you would expect.

It is exactly what you would expect if you understand the maths behind pricing family fleet risks!

olly300

adamc260 wrote: »

"The Hire Car must be returned to AVR or its designated agent no later than 48 hours after payment is issued to the Policyholder based on EUI Ltd’s total loss valuation of their claim OR no later than the 21st day of hire (whichever comes first)."

A car being decalred a write off and a payment being made are two very different things.

You could be told your car is a write off on day 1 but a payment isn't raised untill 5 days later?

Well if you think the policy is unfair and want to help more people than just those who frequent this website:
1. Write a letter with the title "Formal Complaint" to Admiral pointing out their policy is unclear and unfair to consumers because of what you have found.
2. When Admiral write back within 8 weeks insist it is then refer the matter to the FSA http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/consumerinformation/consumer_contact/index.shtml

The FSA are a bit slow but they do work.

adamc260

olly300 wrote: »

Well if you think the policy is unfair and want to help more people than just those who frequent this website:
1. Write a letter with the title "Formal Complaint" to Admiral pointing out their policy is unclear and unfair to consumers because of what you have found.
2. When Admiral write back within 8 weeks insist it is then refer the matter to the FSA http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/consumerinformation/consumer_contact/index.shtml

The FSA are a bit slow but they do work.

I don't think it's unfair?

Quote

I don't need to be warned about Admiral/Elephant. I would never insure anything with them.

malc_b

raskazz wrote: »

It is exactly what you would expect if you understand the maths behind pricing family fleet risks!

Yes, BUT, how many of the average consumers do? I'd say 99% would be surprised that a change to one car affects all the premiums.

Frankly I'm not sure I understand how they work it. It can't be you get X% off for 3 cars since then a change to one car would not affect the premium for the other 2. But as long as you know about it so you can ask the right question that's all right.

iamana1ias

Quote wrote: »

I don't need to be warned about Admiral/Elephant. I would never insure anything with them.

I worked for admiral about 14 years ago and I'd never insure with anyone else!

dogbot

I have to say they have been very good with my 2 claims. Have had an issue with the paint repair on the first claim in the last month and they have accepted it needs rectification within 2 days of reporting to them - the AR wasn't great as had dragged their feet but you can get that with anyone.