Admiral Insurance = Car seized + 6 pts!

JimmyTheWig

Wasn't saying that's what you had done, OP, just what it would probably seem like to a court.
In some ways the truth is less relevant than how a court would see it!

How long was it exactly between the phonecall with Admiral (when you believed you paid) and being pulled over?
What had gone in and out of your account in the meantime?
Do you have internet banking with this account? When did you check it?
Do you get paper statements for this account? When did they arrive?
I don't know if banks have access to such information, but if they did presumably they would be able to confirm that you never used a cashpoint in that time to check your balance.

I think, unfortunately for you, that as this seems like an unusual situation then the onus of proof will be on you to show that you didn't know your balance.

thegirlintheattic

I agree that part of the blame is likely to fall on you. I don't quite understand how if you had had several problems with inaccuracies (address/having to repeat your card number) you wouldn't check your balance to make sure it had gone out.

vusys1

I would start the ball rolling on the complaints front,firstly for the reason that Admiral have confirmed they made an error, I also dont get this with their payments....

you have to pay the balance within 7 days, you call on the 7th day and give card details,they then say this will clear in 5-10 working days???(so thats an extra 10 days cover,even if the payment doesnt clear)
If the company asks for card payment there and then for an immediate payment surely its should clear the same day.(possibly this is where the admiral error was??)

I also dont agree with the checking of accounts etc,regardless of the above situation, (do we all sit in house until our renewal certificate arrives or accept the consultant has renewed your policy and drive your car),they could have even gone on hols etc and still would have been none the wiser.

Ask admiral what was the letter & email relating to? and you would like copies,if they realised they had not gone for the payment,surely they could have reapplied for the payment.

Becciboobah

We had exactly the same problem with Admiral! Although I checked to see if the money had gone out and when after 5 days it hadn't I rang them back up and again the old 'operator error' excuse was bandied about. I rang them 6 times to change the DD date, it was never changed hence the 'you must pay up in full letter'. Rang them that day, took card details said it had gone though fine, exactly as you said but alas money never went out. I probably should have complained too but tbh was just glad to get it paid up and shot of talking to their incompetent staff. At least I know I'm still on the insurance register as you can check that online too.

Have written a letter saying I don't want them to automatically renew next month. Fingers crossed they stick to that as they are a pain if you don't tell them at least 5 times that's the case! They are shockingly bad at doing the simple things.

Have a simple claim that they still haven't sorted, even told ME to ring the witness! That's your job! Sent them 3 diagrams of the accident as well as the photo's and no-one's bothered to look at them. Just keep sending more letters saying they need a diagram! Aaaarghhhhhhhh!

vaio

If you want to avoid the 6 points and conviction you need to opt for court with the police and get admiral to reinstate the policy and confirm that you were insured when you were stopped.

Because of the urgency I’d be inclined to give the FOS a ring for advice although they normally don’t get involved until the insurers complaints procedure has been exhausted (up to 8 weeks) but given the short timescale you have it would be reasonable for them to get involved sooner.