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exchanged eu licence for uk one-insurance doubled!

Hi,
My husband just exchanged his EU licence for a UK one and his car insurance doubled. I was told this was because the underwriters see this as him having a "new licence" and are charging the premium associated with someone who has only had theirlicence for one month. He has been driving for 15 years and has 5 years no claim (protected by Direct Line). He was insured last year with Direct Line. I was given the same advice from the post office.

Search engines are no use because they wont accept me ticking the box for holding a uk licence for under a year yet having 5 years no claims! Any advice to help me cut down the amount of phonecalls!

Rosie

Comments

  • dacouch
    dacouch Posts: 21,636 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Which country is your husband from
  • huckster
    huckster Posts: 5,591 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    IMHO, this is down to be people being stupid. When the staff at these companies select information from the options, they should think outside the box. All they need to do, is put down UK licence held for the same no. of years as EU licence held in the relevant field. Then add notes to the Policy, that the EU licence (country X) was swapped for a UK licence on X date.

    What they are actually doing, by saying that a UK licence has only been held for X time, may be factually correct, but I suspect is against various EU/UK consumer laws. By penalising people for correctly swapping over the EU licences for a UK one, would I expect be found to be unlawful, if subject to legal challenge.

    Think if I were in this situation, I would check with the FSA and ABI, to ask for their position on this. I suspect that they would confirm the common sense position, I have outlined.
    The comments I post are personal opinion. Always refer to official information sources before relying on internet forums. If you have a problem with any organisation, enter into their official complaints process at the earliest opportunity, as sometimes complaints have to be started within a certain time frame.
  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    rosiewest wrote: »
    Hi,
    Any advice to help me cut down the amount of phonecalls!

    Try a local broker, (not swinton).
  • dacouch wrote: »
    Which country is your husband from

    Netherlands
  • Buzby
    Buzby Posts: 8,275 Forumite
    There would be no issue if he simply advised his existing insurer that he has an EXCHANGE licence , and I agree it is incompetence of the staff concerned, as this does not mean it zeroes his licence period. In any event his UK licence should show the date his initial NL licence became valid.

    As an exchange, I'd simly put the date of his first NL licence. All our licences are the EU standard now.
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