Car insurers got details wrong

dunstonh

If the policy is voided due to an insurer error then it never existed and is not classed as a cancellation. Just 100% protect yourself, you should ask for confirmation in writing that it is not classed as a cancellation.

If the policy is voided, then premiums should be retuned in full.

If the insurer have made an error, they are on sticky ground with any complaint made. Whilst errors can happen and its understood they can happen, the insurer cannot suddenly pull the cover and not refund.

were do I go for a quick legal solution

You dont. If you start legal action then the complaints process will stop and you lose access to the financial ombudsman service. If a complaint has been lodged, then you have to wait for that outcome.

their argument this afternoon was 'well we covered him initially and if he'd had an accident we would have taken the blame for the discrepancy on his insurance'

They are correct in that respect.

IvanDrago

why cant they just correct his details and carry on insuring him?

dunstonh

IvanDrago wrote: »

why cant they just correct his details and carry on insuring him?

Either two scenarios will exist here on that point.

1 - the correct details increase the premium and the policyholder wont pay it. So, they have no choice but to cancel.

2 - the correct details increase the risk to a level that the company is not able to take on or not willing to take on.

Number 2 seems to be what is happening here. Many insurance companies target certain parts of the market and will refuse parts they dont want to deal with. This may be their own choice or it may be a consequence of their underwriters or re-assurers for giving a price for certain types of business.

rudekid48

OP, check the documentation that your son received when he first took out the policy. If these documents show his correct date of birth then this will help your case no end

Like an earlier poster said, you need to get them to confirm if they have just cancelled the policy or voided it. If the latter then you should get a 100% refund, if the former then you will have to pay for the time on cover, but make sure that this is based on the original premium that they quoted you and not the corrected one.

You still haven't named the company - is it a Broker or a Direct? Naming the company can help as there are a lot of company reps floating around this forum that may pick it up for you....