Changing car insurance with open claim

sdjpaterson

Hello, Some help please...

I had an accident in July and it was probably my fault. It was a strange accident which could be classed both ways but for this, we will assume it is my fault as that is the way the insurers are likely to go.

This is currently with my insurance company as an open claim. My renewal is up at the end of the week and the new premium is about 50% higher. I had no claims protection with more than (5 years NCD) but this didnt seem to help.

I have had a look online and if i put in that i had an accident, but it did not affect my no claims bonus (this is an option on moneysupermarket) and it was my fault, I can get my insurance much cheaper.

My main concern is...

1) is it correct to say that i had a claim, my fault, but it didnt affect my NCD because of the protection? My renewal still says 5 years NCD on it? I am still entering 5 years no claims on the quote.

2) what do i say if the claim is still open? can i move or must i stay with more than?

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Quentin

Your protected NCD will have been affected by the loss of a "life".

You can move insurers before the claim is concluded.

sdjpaterson

sorry, i am not sure what you mean by the loss of a "life"?

on moneysupermarket, when you enter a claim, you give the amount, date and whether you were at fault. it also asks if your no claim discount was affected, in my case it wasnt so I have said no.

later on the quote it asks for number of years no claims bonus, to which i have answered 5 years.

I spoke to endsleigh on the phone, as they were cheapest quite i got, and they seemed to think that was correct. i just wasnt sure if it was just a salesman trying to get my business.

you say it is ok to move during an open claim, thanks for this. Do i just say it was a claim that was my fault in the details section?

sorry for questions, just to make sure i get it right.

cheers

Quentin

sdjpaterson wrote: »

sorry, i am not sure what you mean by the loss of a "life"?.......

....Do i just say it was a claim that was my fault in the details section?

With protected NCD you get a certain number of "lives" (fault claims you can make before you lose the benefit of your NCD being untouched by a claim).

If you are happy it was your fault, then that is what you should say. (Any split liability is still a fault claim for both parties)

If you feel the claim may be concluded 100% the fault of the third party, then obviously don't declare a fault claim, but explain the claim liability is ongoing and ask that should the claim be concluded in your favour that your premium be adjusted.

sdjpaterson

i see, thanks for that...

Ok, will speak to them and explain. When i tried putting in a quote saying it was my fault, and one saying it was the 3rd parties fault, the premium didnt change much so will probably just say it was my fault to the new insurer and get it sorted. In terms of my old insurer, they cant do anything if i leave can they, seeing as the claim is till open? we have paid the excess etc, so as far as imconcerned, its up to them to deal with it?

thanks again for your help, the whole NCD bonus has really confused me.

Based on this, it seems getting ncd protection is a good idea as it would be costing me 50% more if I didnt have it

Quentin

If you put down it's your fault but subsequently it turns out not to have been, then you will have the issue that a "false" fault claim is on your record and you will have to keep disclosing it to future insurers (insurers ask for your driving history over 3 to 5 years) - or go through the hassle of getting your record and the database corrected.

Your changing insurer will have no consequences with the "old" insurer. Though if they come back to you in the future asking for more details/assistance etc in resolving the matter with the third party, then you would have to assist, though they won't be asking for any more money!

sdjpaterson

ah, ok, that makes sense...so best to tell new insurer that it is open, and if found to not be at fault, will they reduce my premium?

thank you

no-oneknowsme

When I have used comparison sites for quotes the question usually asks something along the lines of "was your NCD affected by this claim or would it have been if it were not protected".

op , you need to answer this by saying that YES , your NCD would have been affected by this incident.

sdjpaterson

this isnt the question that moneysupermarket asks, otherwise I would have put that.

The question is...

"was the no claims affected?"

if you then click on the "?" icon, it says...

"Select yes if you lost any no claims bonus"