Car insurer won't honour 20yrs+ NCD

mynameis*_2-2

Hi,
Not happy about this so could really do with some advice.

Have over 20yrs worth of no claims discount so when I got an online quote from what's now my new car insurer, I used their maximum NCD rate of 20yrs.
After I paid & received documents, they wrote asking me to provide evidence of 20yrs NCD (something I've
never been asked to do before, btw). I replied by e-mail, attaching a scan of my previous renewal notice which says

"You have 5 years or more protected no claims discount"

I received the following reply.

"Thank you for your e-mail providing us with proof of 5 years NCD.
Some companies do have different maximums, however we can only allow the same amount NCD that you previous
company has provided us with. On your current policy with [us]; it states you have 20 years of NCD. This will have
to be updated to 5 years, as that is what your previous company will prove for you."

So I e-mailed them scans of past policies, covering the past 20yrs+. No policy has ever reflected my true
NCD, they have maximums, mine ranging from 5 to 10yrs, & no previous insurer has ever questioned what I've told them.
Received the following reply.

"Proof of No claims discount can only be taken from your most recent insurer and therefore we are only able to accept the
five years supplied by your previous insurer. Should an insurance company have a maximum no claims discount
entitlement of five years this is the maximum you can take to your next insurer regardless of how many claim free years you have in total."

They're obviously going to ask for an extra payment to reflect the discrepancy (tho' previous one does say
5 years or more) & I've looked at other insurers but they're quoting at least an extra £50, plus I wouldn't
get a full refund, it'll cost me loads to change now. Can they do this, does the previous NCD just get lost ?

Please help ...

[Deleted User]

You have a point but its worth checking what the max no of years this policy allows. If its 5 then you;re getting it anyway.

maninthestreet

20 years NCD? Most insuers allow a maximum of 6 years NCD, don't they?

mynameis*_2-2

The max is 20yrs, I guess that's why it's at least £50 cheaper than others who don't allow so much.
I have more than 20yrs but they won't give it to me even tho' I can prove it. If I stick with this one, I effectively lose 15yrs plus. If were to change insurers again next year & say f'rinstance their max was 10yrs, I couldn't use that 'cos this lot'll say I've only 6 (this year's 5 + 1) even tho' I've actually more than double that. Can't be right, surely ?

mynameis*_2-2

maninthestreet - they're all different. Most (in my experience) are between about 5 & 9, tho' they generally say (eg.) 9+ but this one's definitely 20.

Quentin

But why are you changing?

These 20 year NCD's are marketing gimmicks - as you have learned, the only way to prove them would be to stay with a company offering 20 years NCD throughout your 20 years.

If you make an (unprotected NCD) claim, then you go down from the 5 year max irrespective of how many years you have gone without making a claim. (One claim would see your 20 year NCD reduced to 3 at renewal)

Lirin

I've 10 years NCB, and yet to find an insurer who counts more than 6!

2nd_Time_Lucky

I'm 39 and according to my insurance company, i have 26 years NCD. Every year i ring up and query it, the customer services person says they will sort it, yet my new renewal still says 26 :huh:

mynameis*_2-2

Quentin, I'm changing because their quote was considerably cheaper than the one from my previous insurer - as is usually the case I suppose because "new customers" are given cheaper quotes. Staying with the same company for years on end is (in my experience) much more expensive than switching periodically regardless of max NCD offered, much the same as other services I guess - utilities, broadband, etc.
I always protect my NCD.
If this company only offer their max of 20yrs to customers with that much with ONE insurer, I doubt they ever actually give it. If you've been with one insurer for that length of time, why would you switch ? Hmmm ...

Lirin - they ARE out there, I have certificates to prove it ! lol

2nd_Time_Lucky - who you with ?? If I'd passed my test at 13 I'd want more than 26 years too ! lol

Lirin

Thanks, I still give it when I change insurers, though, but none ever give 10....

My current insurance is a shade over £600 for three cars, fully comp on each, so doubt I would get much cheaper anyway!

mynameis*_2-2

Lirin, don't they ever query how come you've so many years NCD at your age ?