Swift Cover Nightmare...

FU_Swift_Cover

Hi All.

I've Come on here to seek some expert advice, I'd appreciate if anyone can help.

A few days b4 Xmas my car was hit by someone who sild into the side of it whilst it was parked up outside a friends house. The driver left a note with his contact details etc. I spoke to the boss of the driver, who confirmed his colleague had hit my car with his work van. He also provided me with the details for their company claims dept.

I rang Swift Cover to setup a claim and everything was going through fine until I got a call from the policy validation team.
To give you a brief background, after finishing college (about 2 yrs ago) I decided that I wanted to go travelling. So I started saving by firstly selling electronic items on Ebay that I was getting from a cheap supplier, repairing/upgrading computers and playing poker which I had become pretty gd at by this time. Eventually poker has become my biggest source of income.

So when I rang up to make the claim Swift cover asked my occupation. I didn't know what to say but told them at the moment my biggest source of income was coming from poker.
So I get a call from the policy validation team saying that they are voiding my policy (which in effect cancels the claim aswell) because they dont insure gamblers!!!

Firstly I had no idea that Swift cover didnt insure (as they quote in their T+Cs no Full or part time gamblers) . I wouldnt have used them in the first place had I known this. This is my 2nd year with Swift cover an I even had a claim go thorough fine last year and nothing has changed since last year with regards to my occupation status.

Swift Cover's customer service has also been appalling so far. The guy who I spoke to orginally just bluntly told me there were cancelling my policy and claim and was generally very unhelpful. He also lied about some evidence they said they had about me gambling when he misquoted an article that was written a few years ago by Pokerstars. It actually quite funny as I had the article up when I asked him to again read out what he first said and again added words that weren't there !!!:T
I have since spoken to the manager of the policy team and she has gathered some evidence from me to give to the underwritters (AXA). They have also asked me to provide them with yearly earning which apart from being slightly unfeasible is also rude IMO.

So at the moment I stuck with my mercedes I cant drive and possibly a huge bill for the damage. It really feels like there just using some small print from their T+C to screw me over. 3rd party obv admitted fault for the claim so it probably doesnt cost SC anyway and I dont care if they cancel my policy after. Obv I would never of intentionally gone with them had I known about it there T+Cs.

Can anyone help me with any information etc.:money:

Thanks 4 your time

Tom

Quentin

Why aren't you claiming off the third party?

Do so, and one problem is solved!

Your occupation problem with your insurer is a separate matter, and you need to follow their complaints procedure over this.

FU_Swift_Cover

But how do I pursue a claim against the 3rd party if swift cover are voiding my policy, doesnt it mean that technically I wasnt insured at the time the guy hit my car?? or can i claim off them anyway??

Quentin

You having no cover is of no concern to the third party.

Quentin

FU_Swift_Cover wrote: »

I have since spoken to the manager of the policy team and she has gathered some evidence from me to give to the underwritters (AXA). They have also asked me to provide them with yearly earning which apart from being slightly unfeasible is also rude IMO.

The consequences to you if they don't budge over this will be sizeable! (You will have difficulty getting a new insurer to take you on with a cancelled policy on your record, and when you do find an insurer willing, the premium will be expensive!)

So it might be worth complying with their request and not making too much of them appearing "rude" towards you!

FU_Swift_Cover

Ok TYVM I wasnt aware of that. How would I then get the ball rolling? I have the number of the company claims dept do I just contact them???
Do u know what happens with regards to getting repairs done, which garage I can use etc and how its done if not through my insurance??

FU_Swift_Cover

Quentin wrote: »

The consequences to you if they don't budge over this will be sizeable! (You will have difficulty getting a new insurer to take you on with a cancelled policy on your record, and when you do find an insurer willing, the premium will be expensive!)

So it might be worth complying with their request and not making too much of them appearing "rude" towards you!

Ok, thanks again for the advice.

Quentin

It may be better for you to instruct a claim handler to deal with this for you.

Otherwise you need to get a quote from your chosen repairer, send it to the third party and ask that they agree to pay all your costs and take it from there.

FU_Swift_Cover

Quentin wrote: »

It may be better for you to instruct a claim handler to deal with this for you.

Otherwise you need to get a quote from your chosen repairer, send it to the third party and ask that they agree to pay all your costs and take it from there.

Ty. Is there any claim handlers you recommend for this. The only ones I can seem to find handle just personal injury claims.

InDebted2U_2

Did you take out legal cover when you took out your car insurance? Surely that is intended to help in exactly this situation? Check your policy and see who provides the legal cover and go direct to them. Your occupation should not have a bearing.

But as Quentin says, this is not you claiming off Swift Cover but off the third party who hit you, so I'm confused as to why they are creating difficulties. If you already had a claim under this policy which they accepted then they have effectively said 'yes, you're covered' and what they're doing now can't be legal. Maybe something to take up with the CAB's legal department if you can't get it resolved soon?

Is the other party also insured by Swift cover (or its group of companies) by any chance? That would explain their underhand behaviour!

FU_Swift_Cover

Quentin wrote: »

You having no cover is of no concern to the third party.

Just a quick double check with regards to this. If I was to pursue it myself, when I ring the company's claims dept will they not ask why it's not being done thorugh the insurance company or status of my cover at all?