Insurance troubles

dram_2

Hi all,

Insured my car a year ago march via online comparison with Kwik fit.
Fully comp, protected NCD and guaranteed hire car.
Last years cover £570.

Christmas Day had a small bump into someone in a snowy hospital carpark. Daughter was ill only reason we left the house.
Small crack in plastic painted trim on front of a saxo just below headlight. No damage to mine, felt Saxo bonnet was cold so guessed someone working in hospital or ill.
Left my details and accepted liability. Nobody in the parked car.
Insurance company informed via 3rd party call centre cover over holiday.
Spoke to claims advisor explained nature of damage and told I could forget it it would all be sorted from here on in.
Insurance auto renewal end of March around same time my marriage broke up after 11 years and 2 kids.
Didn't see the letter, too many things happening.

Today noticed direct debit charge £99 so rang Kwik fit
Only to be told policy gone up from £570 to £980 !!
When I asked why I was told a fault accident Dec 25th

I wrongly assumed protected NCD meant just that.
Seems it's not everything, they assure me the 7yrs no claims are
Still active, but the fault accident still counts against me?

Asked to cancel the policy, was told a £230 cancellation fee would apply.
Asked to reduce cover to third party (hardly use the car)
Was told the insurer wouldn't insure me for anything other than fully comp.

Feel like I've been stitched up, were do I turn to get this resolved?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

adamc260

Sadly, all the no claims discount does is protect the discount applied to the policy.

They've re-rated the fact you've had an accident and increased the basic premium so although you still have say... 60 or 65% off... its now off a higher basic premium and there lies the increase.

For example

pre accident - basic premium (just plucking numbers) was £1000... with 50% NCD off means you pay £500

post accident - basic premium has increased and (just plucking numbers) was £1400... with 50% NCD off means you pay £700 etc etc

Their policy booklet says the following regarding cancelling

"If your policy is cancelled after 14 days, we will charge £50 or our commision, whichever is the greater. Our commission varies but we will have told you this amount when you bought the policy"

Adams1

Ouch! Something is seriously wrong with those cancellation figures. (AND the renewal figures too...) Admiral charges £12 for the first 14 days and £48 for anytime after that. And price increase of almost 90% for renewal? Ridiculous.

You are right. You ARE being stitched up. Call up and ask again, usually it's down to the guy you're speaking to over the phone. If he turns out a !!!!!! who is trying sell you another years insurance for £1k, then that's what he'll try do.

Phone up and get straight to the point and say you want to cancel your policy.

spiro

You need to bear in mind that insurance prices has risen by around 30-40% over the last 12 months. Based on 30% ts would have gone up to £741, at 40% it would have gone up to £798 without any claims.

dacouch

Adams1 wrote: »

Ouch! Something is seriously wrong with those cancellation figures. (AND the renewal figures too...) Admiral charges £12 for the first 14 days and £48 for anytime after that. And price increase of almost 90% for renewal? Ridiculous.

You are right. You ARE being stitched up. Call up and ask again, usually it's down to the guy you're speaking to over the phone. If he turns out a !!!!!! who is trying sell you another years insurance for £1k, then that's what he'll try do.

Phone up and get straight to the point and say you want to cancel your policy.

It renewed 2 or 3 months ago, they are extremely unlikely to reduce the premium mid way through the policy. The only chance of a smallish reduction is if the claim is closed

fivetide

Did you actually make a claim? It doesn't read like it ever actually happened!

5t.

davidjwest

A bit off topic but I'm surprised they told you all that over the phone and didn't give the classic line "I can't tell you that due to the Data Protection Act"!

paddedjohn

i thought cancellation fees were limited to about £50/£60

vax2002

They have us over a barrel, time to start underwriting ourselves via co-operatives ?

dram_2

Appreciate all the helpful advice,
Yes the claim did happen, read the T+C and they have acted within their
Laid down terms. Still far from happy though, monthly premiums down to £74 now at least that's something.
They will not get my business come renewal time.

sexymax

Hi just joined the forum so bear with me..
my age 66 this Aug. max no claim bonus..car..P reg volvo v70 10v 144bhp.(insurance group 13) last year insured with aviva, via Post Office (£275.00)
Accident march 2011 not my fault (not even in the car)all sorted cost of repair £1300..I asked the garage("Solus of park Royal", part of the AVIVA group) surely my car is not worth that much? "well Sir we couldn`t actually find your car on our system" so we based it on a "t5" (260 bhp)(insurance group16)anyway I opted to take the money instead ,,which minus cost of labour vat etc. came to £800.
Now comes the interesting bit.. upon renewel with the Post Office I was quoted more than £650..so I shopped around all the main sites including the ones mentioned in TMSE.. Finally coming to AVIVA £530..Paid on line and waited to recieve the paperwork..after 2 weeks I went backinto the website to find I could print out the certificate etc ..only to find that my car was now a "T5" So naturally telephoned customer services to complain only to be told "we cannot insure you ?Your car is not on our data base? We will give you a full refund and your covered till 8th june..But I said youv`e covered me for a t5 surely you can insure me for a basic v70 10v.. "NO SIR WE CANNOT"
I`ve read on this forum INsuance has increased by 30-40% this year NOT MORE THAN A 100% IN MY CASE..WHAT THE ..is going on and any ideas would be welcome THANX:mad: