Advice Please - Protecting No Claims on Motor Insurance

Tamera

I am currently looking to renew my motor insurance.

I notice that on my renewal policy with Direct Line, that a claim shows up in the last three years. On querying this with DL, since the claim went against the other driver 100%, asking why this is showing as a claim against my no claims - they say that all claims go against no claims (which I do have protected at an additional cost of £54 a year), and have not made a claim that has gone against me for 9 years, well ever actually).

Even with my protected no claims, and even if no other accidents go against me, my no claims can be damaged if I make further claims. Assuming I am as unlucky as I have been in the last few years, where I have been hit by other drivers and the claims have gone completely against them, it makes no difference at all it seems - the claims still go against me with my own insurance company.

Is this the policy of all insurance companies?

Very much appreciate any advice on this matter.

Many thanks
Tam

MarkyMarkD

No, that's not normal and it's baloney.

They are penalising you for having a no-fault accident.

Whilst it's always your responsibility to admit to any new insurer what accident history you've had, your "no claims" discount shouldn't be affected if it's 100% not your fault.

This suggests to me that DL have not bothered to pursue the third party for settlement (or that the third party insurer was themselves and they've nobbled both party's no claims discounts).

Because you have paid them even more money to protect your NCB they don't expect you to argue the toss with them - but I think that they are wrong.

Others may say that it's a "no claims" discount not a "no blame" discount. But a non-blame claim should NOT lead to you losing your no claims discount IMHO unless they are genuinely unable to recover their outlay.

wolftastic_2

As mentioned above. It is a no claim discount, not a no blame discount. Even if it is 100% not your fault, your insurance company may have had to respond to the third party solicitor or whatever so may have incurred some costs because of this claim even though it wasn't your fault. However, a company should not penalise you if the claim is 100% not your fault.

Bossyboots

wolftastic wrote:

As mentioned above. It is a no claim discount, not a no blame discount. Even if it is 100% not your fault, your insurance company may have had to respond to the third party solicitor or whatever so may have incurred some costs because of this claim even though it wasn't your fault. However, a company should not penalise you if the claim is 100% not your fault.

The costs incurred by an insurer in negotiating a claim are nothing to do with the insured party and it is up to the insurer to recover this from the other party.

I have switched insurers three times and each one has confirmed that a no blame claim only goes against you if they are unable to recover from the other party. What did happen once though was that the claim overlapped my renewal. The claim showed against my policy because at that point it was outstanding, my insurers having paid my repairs under the comprehensive policy. As soon as it was settled I received a letter telling me that it had now been removed and on next renewal it had indeed disappeared from the breakdown. Before claiming for my own damage I had specifically asked whether it would count against me as otherwise I would simply have notified my insurers but claimed directly from the other driver.

wolftastic_2

Bossyboots wrote:

The costs incurred by an insurer in negotiating a claim are nothing to do with the insured party and it is up to the insurer to recover this from the other party.

I have switched insurers three times and each one has confirmed that a no blame claim only goes against you if they are unable to recover from the other party. What did happen once though was that the claim overlapped my renewal. The claim showed against my policy because at that point it was outstanding, my insurers having paid my repairs under the comprehensive policy. As soon as it was settled I received a letter telling me that it had now been removed and on next renewal it had indeed disappeared from the breakdown. Before claiming for my own damage I had specifically asked whether it would count against me as otherwise I would simply have notified my insurers but claimed directly from the other driver.

Thats what I said, but the fact is that it is a no claim discount not a no blame discount. It will be at the insurers discretion if they penalise you, but they shouldn't these days for a non fault accident.