Legal Expenses Cover

flashnazia

Hi

Just renewed my car insurance and got an earful from the rep about legal expenses cover.

I know she was trying to make her sale target or whatever but she - quite forcefully - made out that it would be a disaster if I didn't take it out!

I said no thanks, may be later etc

The she confirmed my excess and again, came out with the whole rant again how I would NEVER get that back etc. I then replied that I could sue for it myself but she said no I can't - you can only get it back with legal expenses?

Her rant must have worked a bit. Now I'm thinking I have made a mistake?

geri1965_2

Of course you could sue for it yourself - but you would have to pay your own costs.

mikey72

I never take legal expenses cover.

For a start, it's always sold as "none refundable" so even if you sell the car and cancel, you get no refund.
If you have an accident which isn't your fault, your insurer sells your details to an accident management company who contact you, so you don't get chance to use your legal expenses.
If they don't. you can use a no win no fee company yourself.

If you have a third party claim that you may not win, your legal expenses company will refuse to take it anyway, as they won't be able to claim their fees if they lose.

lisyloo

She is exaaggerating hugely to make a sale.

You can simply write to the 3rd party to claim back your excess, however bear in mind that any effort (and they will probably need to be chased) and court costs (if necessary) will be down to yourself.
Also bear in mind you could be hospitalised or perhaps not in a frame of mind to carry out admin/legal tasks.

She is plainly wrong in saying you can NEVER get it back, but do bear in mind that you'll have to do the legwork and if necessary any legal research etc.

Personally I prefer to be insured BUT I dislike her sales tactics immensely because she is completly misrepresenting the situation to you.

You have not made a mistake, but please be aware that you would get no help in getting your excess back. That might not be a problem and might be one simple letter, however the insurer may drag their feet or dispte your costs, so it's up to you to decide whether you want help with that or not at the time when you may not be best placed to deal with it (mentally or physically).

martinthebandit

mikey72 wrote: »

I never take legal expenses cover.

For a start, it's always sold as "none refundable" so even if you sell the car and cancel, you get no refund.
If you have an accident which isn't your fault, your insurer sells your details to an accident management company who contact you, so you don't get chance to use your legal expenses.
If they don't. you can use a no win no fee company yourself.

If you have a third party claim that you may not win, your legal expenses company will refuse to take it anyway, as they won't be able to clim their fees if they lose.

What 'e said up there ^ Its always seemed like a con to me

lisyloo

If they don't. you can use a no win no fee company yourself.

If you have a personal injury case then no win no fee will be delighted to get your business (they get paid costs by the other side).
However if you want to claim back just an excess they won't get paid for that so won't take on your business.

My FIL had an accident with a pedestrian (not his fault).
He got paid his £120 out because he had the legal policy.

There are two points here.
1) He only got it back because he had the legal cover, he would not have got it otherwise.
2) The second point is that claiming from a motor insurer may be relatively easy (single letter) but claiming from a pedestrian, cyclist without specific insurance will be a great deal more difficult.

You won't get a straight answer on this, it's up to you.
But it's certainly not how she presented it.
Neither is it always dead straightforward to claim back yourself either.

If you feel you want a policy, you could shop round for one seperately rather than purchasing the one offered by your insurer.

flashnazia

Thanks very much for the replies.

What do you think about these 'free' legal expenses companies:

http://www.yourkey.info/become-a-member

http://www.helpinsureme.co.uk/free-legal-expenses-insurance

(the latter one looks dodgy to me)

And these stand alone (bearing in mind that my insurer wanted £30):

http://www.lawshielddirect.co.uk/legal-expenses-insurance/motor-legal-expenses-insurance.php

Cost: £11.99

no-oneknowsme

Im unable to comment on the first two of your links as I have no experience of them but I took a look at the lawshield one and have to say that it looks quite good.

I think legal cover on my policy is £25 so a price of £11.99 is a huge difference.

I had a look round their other services and their home cover is also £11.99 , that again is much cheaper than mine at present .

They also do taxi breakdown and recovery cover for £79.99 which includes FREE legal cover and as my Husband is a cabbie this cover is very tempting....

Has anyone ever used lawshield and have any good or bad reviews?

mikey72

Lawshield have the usual type of clause in their t&c's

"We will not pay legal costs and expenses for legal proceedings in the following circumstances.

1 If we consider that you will not get a reasonable settlement or if any expected settlement is small compared to the time and expense involved."

Even the £120 example above could be too small to be worth chasing, but you could do yourself through small claims.

lisyloo

If we consider that you will not get a reasonable settlement or if any expected settlement is small compared to the time and expense involved."

Just wanted to point out that NO solicitor (paid by you or "no win no fee") or policy will pursue a case they don't think is winnable or is not worth pursuing.
This is pretty much universally true.

Even the £120 example above could be too small to be worth chasing, but you could do yourself through small claims.

In the example above you'd have to prove liability for the accident, which I'd say was quite a feat (well not as straight forward as just writing a letter).
Insurance companies are very reluctant to pursue pedestrians.

that was one of the points I was making (number 2).
Adding on your claim where liability has already been agreed is fairly straightforward - maybe as simple as writing one letter.

Taking up a case against a pedestrian or cyclist where no motor insurer is involed and liability ahs not been agreed is not so straightforward and is something that is difficult to do on your own without legal advice.
It's not particularly complex to take someone to the small claims court, but the "advice" part i.e. knowing whether it's worthwhile, is not so straightforward.

mikey72

lisyloo wrote: »

Just wanted to point out that NO solicitor (paid by you or "no win no fee") or policy will pursue a case they don't think is winnable or is not worth pursuing.
This is pretty much universally true.

Most solicitors will if you pay them.
Most no win no fee won't.
Legal expense are looking to recover their fees from the other side, so they are in the same group as no win no fee.

lisyloo wrote: »

In the example above you'd have to prove liability for the accident, which I'd say was quite a feat (well not as straight forward as just writing a letter).
Insurance companies are very reluctant to pursue pedestrians.

that was one of the points I was making (number 2).
Adding on your claim where liability has already been agreed is fairly straightforward - maybe as simple as writing one letter.

Taking up a case against a pedestrian or cyclist where no motor insurer is involed and liability ahs not been agreed is not so straightforward and is something that is difficult to do on your own without legal advice.
It's not particularly complex to take someone to the small claims court, but the "advice" part i.e. knowing whether it's worthwhile, is not so straightforward.

The poster got the £120, so it couldn't have been that complicated a case, for the legal expenses solicitor to take it on.