Wits End!

michelle9868

I need some advice on what to do next please.

My husband and I decided to emigrate to NZ. (we are home again now after 2 years) He went first and I stayed behind to sell cars etc. Some idiot bumped into me in a private car park. I tried to press charges but the police informed me that if I wasnt in the country when it went to court I would be charged with contempt and an arrest warrant issued. It didnt seem worth it to come all the way home for that so I dropped it. I informed the insurers but the excess was too high so I arranged for a local one man company to repair the damage on my drive. He also touched up some bits on my car.
Anyway, I sold both carsand rang the two insutance companies to tell them. My husbands ins company wanted it in writing so I explained he was in NZ and wrote them a letter myself.

Off we went and then the letters started arriving from my mother -in -law that we owed my husbands car insurance company over £400. We rang from NZ to enquire why but the debt collection company didnt want to help, just kept repeating their mantra, when were we going to pay? We didnt know what on earth we were being hassled for so ignored it.
Anyway, we came home from NZ, I had to apply for bankruptcy, things had got so bad. The letters were still coming for my husband so we contacted the Financial Ombudsman who at first tried to sort it out. It turns out the company think we claimed on the insurance just before we sold the car so want a years worth of premiums back. I know I paid the guy who repaired it cash but it is now over 4 and a half years ago. The Financial Ombudsman have now considered their position and as we are disputing there is a debt to pay (we did this from the beginning) they can not help us!! We are now receiving bailiffs letters and at our wits end as they just will not listen. Can someone please help us in what to do next?!
Thank you for listening

Quentin

michelle9868 wrote: »

. It turns out the company think we claimed on the insurance just before we sold the car so want a years worth of premiums back......

This is what you need to sort out, as if there was any claim, then the full year's premium would be (correctly) payable. (ie the policy year in which the claim was made)

Maybe the claim you started either resulted in some expense for your insurer before you cancelled it (the claim), they never properly cancelled the claim or there was a subsequent claim from a third party which they paid but you are unaware of.

Contact them and get this clarified.

agrinnall

I would ask the insurance company that is saying you made a claim to provide you with their evidence that you did, and that they paid for said claim. If they were able to do that then yes, you probably would owe the entire annual premium for that policy, but from what you say there was no claim so they won't be able to prove that you owe anything.

Has this been to court at all? If not then you don't have to give the baliffs anything, but the only way to be sure of getting them off your back is for the insurance company to tell them to leave you alone.

michelle9868

Quentin wrote: »

This is what you need to sort out, as if there was any claim, then the full year's premium would be (correctly) payable. (ie the policy year in which the claim was made)

Maybe the claim you started either resulted in some expense for your insurer before you cancelled it (the claim), they never properly cancelled the claim or there was a subsequent claim from a third party which they paid but you are unaware of.

Contact them and get this clarified.

Hi,

Yes, I know that is the crux of the matter but they just will not speak to me. How can I make them?

Quentin

They will have a complaint system whereby complaints can be escalated. Use it to force them to explain the outstanding amount they are chasing you for.

isplumm

michelle9868 wrote: »

Off we went and then the letters started arriving from my mother -in -law that we owed my husbands car insurance company over £400. We rang from NZ to enquire why but the debt collection company didnt want to help, just kept repeating their mantra, when were we going to pay? We didnt know what on earth we were being hassled for so ignored it.
We are now receiving bailiffs letters and at our wits end as they just will not listen. Can someone please help us in what to do next?!
Thank you for listening

Are these bailiffs or debt collectors? There is a difference - bailiffs have a lot more power - whereas debt collectors are much like you & me - so have little power - maybe post on the debt board here - or tell us the name of the firm chasing you ... bailiffs / debt collectors?

Mark

forgotmyname

Think of debt collectors as beggars, They ask and you may have money to give them BUT its your choice whether you do actually give them any.

Bailiffs are like muggers, Even if you dont have it they will attempt to take it anyway.