Aviva Stealing No claims discount years

madmummy_2

thought you'd like to hear the update.

I called today and through gritted teeth, I coughed up £42.40. I then asked for advice on how to go through the complaints procedure. I explained that I had evidenced a trail of NCD going back to 2008 but Dlirect Line choose to take only this years renewal only. On that basis I cannot evidence 9 years NCD and it's not fair that I am penalised for the policy of Direct Line. The bloke logged the complaint.

less than 30 minutes he called me back. He agreed it wasn't fair and had taken it upon himself to look in to it further. He called Aviva who said I went to them 2 years ago with 5 years no claims (not true, I went 4 years ago but it's semantics). Aviva can therefore confirm 7 years NCD. When he applies this to my policy there is an additional charge of £2 so he is refunding my £42.40 and writing off the £2.

It's a load of old bobbins of course and a method to make their complaints numbers look good, but I got the result I wanted...almost. 7 years not 9, which won't make much difference to the premium anyway, but I'm happy.:T

And before anyone asks, I ALWAYS do my research for policy renewals following Matin's latest advice :money:and I stayed with Aviva because they were the cheapest four years running...... but not this year.

Thanks to those who responded and I hope my result encourages others

Insurance_Man

madmummy wrote: »

It's a load of old bobbins of course and a method to make their complaints numbers look good, but I got the result I wanted...almost. 7 years not 9, which won't make much difference to the premium anyway, but I'm happy.:T

Actually, it will not make there complaint numbers look good as they will have to log down that they have waived a premium, which in effect looks like they have given you compensation. Glad it worked out for you and glad someone at DL knew what they were doing.

forestglade1

This has just happened to me!!!!!!!!I my new insurance broker DIRECT CHOICE wont accept my previous evidence from before AVIVA when I had 9+ they want another £53 to change it to 5 years or £30 to cancel the policy

ABI is no help at all now phoning the Fincancial Ombusman. SO ANGRY WITH THE !!!**** INSURANCE COMPANIES

MARTIN LEWIS PLEASE HELP US !!!!!!!!!!!!!! with the obscence scam!!!!

dunstonh

now phoning the Fincancial Ombusman.

Why?

SO ANGRY WITH THE !!!**** INSURANCE COMPANIES

Be angry with yourself. It's your fault.

MARTIN LEWIS PLEASE HELP US !!!!!!!!!!!!!! with the obscence scam!!!!

Where is the scam?

rickb14

I completely agree that Aviva are out of order. I took out a car insurance policy with them a couple of years ago with 7 years NCD, and it wasn't until I got the renewal notice that I realised they only gave you proof up to 5 years. I called them to query it & they assured me that it didn't matter - that other insurance companies knew that Aviva's max NCD was 5 years, so if you needed to move, they would just set it to their own equivalent maximum, which given peoples experience above is clearly not the case.

I didn't worry about it too much because Aviva's renewal quote was the cheapest, and the same is true for this year.

I don't think that it is the customer's fault for the confusion caused by this, and I suspect it is a deliberate ploy by Aviva to make switching less likely. It shouldn't be upto the everyday customer to 'detect' these type of sneaky tactics, even if a financial advisor can, who is probably more au fait with this type of thing. Unless you think Aviva are justified in misleading people??

dunstonh

I completely agree that Aviva are out of order.

Have you read the thread?

I took out a car insurance policy with them a couple of years ago with 7 years NCD, and it wasn't until I got the renewal notice that I realised they only gave you proof up to 5 years.

So, why did you not check this when you bought it?

I called them to query it & they assured me that it didn't matter - that other insurance companies knew that Aviva's max NCD was 5 years, so if you needed to move, they would just set it to their own equivalent maximum, which given peoples experience above is clearly not the case.

That is wrong and they shouldnt have said that. They should have told you to hold on to your old renewals to show a full audit trail covering the longer period.

I don't think that it is the customer's fault for the confusion caused by this, and I suspect it is a deliberate ploy by Aviva to make switching less likely.

Its not a ploy. They are offering their terms. You the consumer chooses to buy or not based on those terms.

It shouldn't be upto the everyday customer to 'detect' these type of sneaky tactics, even if a financial advisor can, who is probably more au fait with this type of thing.

I am not au fait with it. I personally think it would be a lot easier if they standardised it. There are too many people now buying via quote comparison sites who are so focused on price and not options and features that it makes sense to standardise some of these things as clearly some consumers do not read what they are buying before they buy it.

Unless you think Aviva are justified in misleading people??

They are not misleading anyone. They tell you what the terms are. Its up to you to read them or not.

rickb14

Yes I have read the thread - everyone barring yourself agrees that Aviva are out of order, and I was agreeing with them.

I assume your determination to defend Aviva's policy is due to your disgruntlement at people bypassing financial advisors to purchase their insurance direct - and therefore believe that by doing so they are depriving themselves of the financial advisor's expertise in checking every aspect of a company's policy and features - something I find laughable given my experience of financial advisors.

Regardless of your motives, I still believe you are incorrect, and as the majority of respondents on this thread share my view, perhaps you should question whether your opinion reflects the reasonable responsibilities and expectations of the average consumer.

System

rickb14 wrote: »

Yes I have read the thread - everyone barring yourself agrees that Aviva are out of order, and I was agreeing with them.

I assume your determination to defend Aviva's policy is due to your disgruntlement at people bypassing financial advisors to purchase their insurance direct - and therefore believe that by doing so they are depriving themselves of the financial advisor's expertise in checking every aspect of a company's policy and features - something I find laughable given my experience of financial advisors.

Regardless of your motives, I still believe you are incorrect, and as the majority of respondents on this thread share my view, perhaps you should question whether your opinion reflects the reasonable responsibilities and expectations of the average consumer.

I must keep in mind that you are a new MSE member who has only posted twice on the forum, but.... your comment is wrong and bordering on abusive.
Check your maths, you will find that the majority of respondents on this thread do not share your view (up to date).
i.e.
Total of 19 posts
4 members views tend towards your's (9 posts)
5 members do not share your views (10 posts)

dunstonh

Yes I have read the thread - everyone barring yourself agrees that Aviva are out of order, and I was agreeing with them.

I suggest you learn to count.

I assume your determination to defend Aviva's policy is due to your disgruntlement at people bypassing financial advisors to purchase their insurance direct - and therefore believe that by doing so they are depriving themselves of the financial advisor's expertise in checking every aspect of a company's policy and features - something I find laughable given my experience of financial advisors.

Your assumption couldnt be further from the truth. However, it doesnt look like you could hold a balanced viewpoint. So, your opinion doesnt really matter.

Regardless of your motives, I still believe you are incorrect, and as the majority of respondents on this thread share my view, perhaps you should question whether your opinion reflects the reasonable responsibilities and expectations of the average consumer.

Perhaps it is your inability to read things correctly on this thread that indicates your inability to read published information when buying insurance. If Aviva say they consider 5 years NCD (or any other provider as its not just them) then it is fair to say that they are only going to consider 5 years NCD. There is no point arguing afterwards that they are bad. They are doing exactly what they said they would when you took out the policy. If you choose to not to research and read what you are buying then it is your own fault.

mikey72

dunstonh wrote: »

......I am not au fait with it. I personally think it would be a lot easier if they standardised it. There are too many people now buying via quote comparison sites who are so focused on price and not options and features that it makes sense to standardise some of these things as clearly some consumers do not read what they are buying before they buy it........

I agree with you there.
The insurers choose to use that marketing route, and they have some responsibility to ensure the product they offer doesn't rely on reading through pages of small print which may contain wildly varying t&c's, which may be critical to the product.

Having said that, it would be totally irrelevant in this case, I've never found any insurer that would give advance warning of what their maximum no claims would be stated on the next renewal, and I've never had a warning from a broker that I should be aware my next renewal statement would contain a substantially different ncd from the one I provided at the start.