Non-Fault Accident/No Claim HUGE Premium Rise

gavinthomas

In March of this year, the back of my car was hit by a driver who wasstealing petrol from a forecourt and was carrying false number plates.

Having informed my insurance provider about the accident, and confirmed thatI would not be making a claim on policy, I was assured that my no claimsdiscount would be unaffected, and that my premiums would be the same as theywere before.

Later that week, I received a letter to say that my premiums would increaseby a massive £1500. :mad:

I again rang up the insurer and was told that my no claims discount stillstands, my premiums wouldn’t be affected and that it must be a miscommunicationbetween departments.

Having checked my bank account this month, the insurer has taken out thehigher premium monthly payment.

So again I rang them. Today I was told that even though I was not making aclaim, my premiums have risen because there it is logged as an 'open incident',that by law must stay open for at least 6 months, and that during that 6 monthsI will have to pay the additional £67 a month.

Is this right? Is there such a law that a case must stay open for 6 monthseven though I won’t be making a claim, and very unlikely for the thief toclaim!!!

Any help would be great.

InsideInsurance

There is no "law" but simply company policy. Normally it would only apply to fault claims as they await to see if any TP decides to claim against you. For a non-fault claim it is almost totally pointless to do it.

Once they close the file non-fault they would then reinstate the NCD and adjust your remaining premiums to reflect the over payment in the first X months

lisyloo

I was assured that my no claimsdiscount would be unaffected

Do you have any proof?
Anything in writing? Date, time name?

It's not that I don't believe you, but the company concerned won't just take your word for it.

Don't rely on telephone calls for important things like £1500 (although £67 per month doesn't add up to that).
You need to get assurances like that in writing.
Otherwise don't accept the renewal and lapse the policy.

mikey72

Is the increase at the renewal, or mid term on your existing policy?

gavinthomas

The increase is midterm. The insurer has also told me that if i decide tolet the policy laps it may be classed as a cancelation of policy and incuradditional charges!

I don’t have anything in proof, but dates and times and representativenames.

Is there any way that I can show the insurer that there would be no claimmade - I have a police report that states I was the only one in the car, andthe petrol station has confirmed that it was a thief that hit the back of mycar and I can’t think of any other potential third parties.

losgiganteskid

Write to your insurer telling them that you wish to withdraw the "claim" stating that YOU will personally deal and pay for any claim that manifests itself following this incident - (if that is what you want to do) - that should have the desired effect of your company reinstating NCB

mikey72

gavinthomas wrote: »

The increase is midterm. The insurer has also told me that if i decide tolet the policy laps it may be classed as a cancelation of policy and incuradditional charges!

I don’t have anything in proof, but dates and times and representativenames.

Is there any way that I can show the insurer that there would be no claimmade - I have a police report that states I was the only one in the car, andthe petrol station has confirmed that it was a thief that hit the back of mycar and I can’t think of any other potential third parties.

Ask them which part of their t&c's allows them to alter the premium mid term. As far as I am aware, you would have agreed the policy for the year, and the premium to be paid at the start of the policy. You are paying monthly, but the cost is fixed at the outset. They cannot change the premium mid term. If you have a claim which affects your ncd, this will be reflected in an increased cost next year as your ncd will be reduced. If they insist on over charging, put it to them as a formal complaint, then refer it to the FOS.

vaio

what he said ^^