Crashed my car... Insurance won't pay out... Need Help ASAP

Kate._3

Ok, first of all, hello... been reading these forums for a while but never needed to post til now.

Last week I was exiting the motorway in my ford focus, when the steering lock came on. The car went straight into the curb at about 50mph... I was lucky not to have been injured and walked away ok, which is the main thing... but...

My insurance company won't pay out because I had 6 undeclared points on my license which would cost me £900 if I made a claim and a further £900 to pay off the remainder of the policy, as well as the £250 excess.

The car itself was only quoted at £1500.

Now the insurance company has ended the policy and I have to return the courtesy car I was given by tomorrow.

My job (training assessor) is dependent on me having a car as I travel the north west on a daily basis. Over the last few years things haven't gone so smoothly and as such my credit rating has taken a bit of a battering.

I'm really worried now because losing my job obviously would be a disaster and I'm really worried I won't get credit.

I was speaking to my sister just recently and she told me about a lease hire system her friend uses. She pays £200pm and the insurance is included in the price.

This isn't an ideal option but for now it is at least an option, but I know very little about these sort of deals and would appreciate some advice.

The other thing I want to know is how likely I am to to get a finance deal. I now have a ccj etc and have been refused a renewal on my bank loan. How strict are the companies with regards to credit for a car?

Any advice is very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Kate.

alwaysonthego_2

If your insurance has ended your claim due to you not informing them about 6 points then it is very unlikey another insurance company would touch you and if they do you will pay a fortune.

liam8282

If you are talking about hiring a car on a fixed term contract or leasing, for say 3 years, IMO it will be very difficult for you to get one if you have a poor credit history.

With most of them you have to pay say the first 3 months upfront, or maybe more.

There are lots of different deals, with most you have to pay for servicing and you have to pay insurance.

It really depends on the deal you have seen though.

Gordon_Hose

How did the insurance company find out about your points?

Strider590

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

How did the insurance company find out about your points?

They ask when you make a claim.... Though strangely they never ask when they do an automated renewal :mad:

Points on your licence barely add anything to your premiums.
Most insurance claims make money (fault or non-fault) and the insurance companies are in the business of making money!
It seems to me that because there's no 3rd party to claim off, they're ducking out of this one.
If you'd been rammed off the road by another car they'd be all over it like flies on !!!!!!.

Gordon_Hose

They ask you?

So do you have to send them a copy of your license?

I had a an accident 3 years ago that was my fault, and I was never asked about points.

Kate._3

alwaysonthego wrote: »

If your insurance has ended your claim due to you not informing them about 6 points then it is very unlikey another insurance company would touch you and if they do you will pay a fortune.

Not exactly... The said the £900 was what they would have charged me if I'd declared the points in my renewal, which I (naively) didn't know I had to, under motoring offenses ... stupid I know. It's not that they ended my claim, as such, rather that it would leave me out of pocket to the tune of a few hundred pound to make a claim. It is better for me to walk away from it. I feel like I've been had to be honest.

That said, does it change my situation?

I've just been on the phone to the hire car fella by the way, and the term is 3 years after which you can pay a sum and buy the car or go with another deal again. Insurance is included in the price also... I would rather not go down this route but I'm probably not in much of a position to choose.

What is the likely hood of someone with bad credit getting a car finance deal?

Thanks again for the help.

pinkteapot

Just a note if you do find a way to buy another car... Whenever you buy insurance in the future you will be asked "Have you ever had an insurance policy cancelled?" (may be worded differently but a question to that effect).

They are asking whether an insurer has ever cancelled a policy that you've held.

You MUST answer yes to this - it's what's happened with your current (old) policy.

If you lie and say no then exactly the same thing could happen in the future.

And to be on the safe side, always tell your insurer about points as soon as they happen.

Gordon_Hose

The likelihood of getting any sort of finance with a CCJ are slim to none, unfortunately.

ElkyElky

Kate. wrote: »

What is the likely hood of someone with bad credit getting a car finance deal?

Thanks again for the help.

It won't be easy but certainly not impossible. The important thing is don't go crazy when applying for finance, more credit searches on your file will damage it further.

Dealers like Arnold Clark use a range of finance companies and apply to several at once, it could be worth looking in to but again, it'll add further searches to your file.

I guess it would have been easier to just declare the points, after all... they did ask when you bought the policy. They wouldn't ask unless they need to know.

NeverAgain_2

...I feel like I've been had to be honest...

Kate,

In many respects you've got off lightly.

You've had an accident while driving uninsured which for many people would mean a trip to the magistrates' court.

I hope for your sake there is no third party claim - you didn't damage any barriers, signs, or other street furniture did you?

Best to be thankful there are no other consequences and draw a line under this if you can.

You may be able to get credit, but with a poor credit history the interest rate will be shocking - to be avoided if you can get mobile in another way.