Bankruptcy and fraud conviction affecting wedding insurance?

scabbymonkey

Me and my partner are starting to plan our wedding and after researching we have found the wedding insurance from e&l to be the best. We were all set to buy the policy until I looked at the small print and under the exclusions part it says no person who has been bankrupt or had a conviction for certain things will not be covered. I am a discharged bankrupt, and have a conviction for benefit fraud (received a community service sentence). The policy was to be in my partners name, although obviously I was named as the bride to be! I am completely clueless over insurance policies. So would this policy be completely useless for us? And does my history mean I will forever be faced with similar problems for insurance?

ACG

Whats wedding insurance? If the bride doesnt turn up you get a thai bride?
Worth getting if thats the case :P

some insurance companies will ask about convictions/bankruptcy. To be fair if youve been convicted of fraud can you blame them for not wanting to cover you? I only really deal in life insurance so you will get a better answer (not too hard is it) off someone who deals more in general insurance.

Spiderham

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I think you really may struggle to get the insurance. Bankruptcy and fraud are going to be two of the biggest red flags for insurers.

I'd advise speaking to a broker who may know of an insurer who will cover you, but I'd expect it to be more expensive.

Regarding you having problems going forward, you will continue to have problems until the conviction and bankruptcy are spent. For the conviction (assuming there where wasn't a prison sentence attached) this will be spent 5 years after the conviction date (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw/Sentencingprisonandprobation/Sentencingandcriminalrecords/DG_199794). I think it's six years for bankruptcy (but don't quote me on that).

scabbymonkey

So insurance companies believe that one conviction makes a lifelong criminal and untrustworthy person?

dacouch

E&L are never best.

VictorM_2

scabbymonkey wrote: »

So insurance companies believe that one conviction makes a lifelong criminal and untrustworthy person?

Yes YesYesYesYesYes

copa_feela

scabbymonkey wrote: »

So insurance companies believe that one conviction makes a lifelong criminal and untrustworthy person?

It makes you an untrustworthy person, yes, especially for something such as benefit fraud which takes planning and continued deception.

Added to the above, you have had two fines from TV Licensing. There is a definite pattern forming here!

scabbymonkey

copa_feela wrote: »

It makes you an untrustworthy person, yes, especially for something such as benefit fraud which takes planning and continued deception.

Added to the above, you have had two fines from TV Licensing. There is a definite pattern forming here!

how do you know that?
Yes I had fines for being so short of money I couldnt heat my home in -5 conditions, back at a time when my mental state was not right. Yes Ive made mistakes in my life, but I didnt ask for judgement, I have asked for advice. I am not that person anymore. I royally screwed up, but have changed and improved my life.

copa_feela

scabbymonkey wrote: »

how do you know that?
Yes I had fines for being so short of money I couldnt heat my home in -5 conditions, back at a time when my mental state was not right. Yes Ive made mistakes in my life, but I didnt ask for judgement, I have asked for advice. I am not that person anymore. I royally screwed up, but have changed and improved my life.

But you have to appreciate that past mistakes will affect how people see you now (and in the future). We've all made mistakes, it takes time for others to forget them.

Given that you are still in debt, is the expense of a wedding really a good idea right now?

Spiderham

scabbymonkey wrote: »

So insurance companies believe that one conviction makes a lifelong criminal and untrustworthy person?

Benefit fraud is in a similar vein to insurance fraud in their minds. Obtaining money by deception my claiming something you're not entitled to, so you can see the comparability. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, people can only have convictions considered until they are spent.

Spiderham

scabbymonkey wrote: »

how do you know that?
Yes I had fines for being so short of money I couldnt heat my home in -5 conditions, back at a time when my mental state was not right. Yes Ive made mistakes in my life, but I didnt ask for judgement, I have asked for advice. I am not that person anymore. I royally screwed up, but have changed and improved my life.

Further to my previous comment, the bankruptcy does make insurers nervous too. If you have been bankrupt previously that shows money issues in past and possibly currently too, by your own admission in another thread you are a bit hard up at the moment.

Now if you are struggling financially, it means that it is more likely that you would be tempted into trying to claim on the insurance via a non-legitimate claim to recoup the expenses made if you think you have spent too much. This coupled with the previous convictions is likely to not make you the best of propositions to an insurer so if I'm being brutally honest I think you really will struggle to get the insurance.