Car insurance voided

Quentin

Because you used a broker (are you sure it's a "broker"), then irrespective of what they are telling you, this error seems down to them.

You need to pursue this!!

Feh

Well this is what I mean, I think it was a scam & someone duped me. I have reported it to the FOS which they are looking into. My insurance runs out with Direct Line tomorrow & the guy took pity on me & said I could send something in writing to see if anything can be done. I have sent email
So will see what his response is but I think he said that to me more for peace of mind really.

I feel so stupid.

dunstonh

Did you actually use a broker? There are some scam people around that are not regulated by the FSA. Not brokers/advisers but advertise in local papers etc that they will shop around for you. All they do is use comparison sites and you pay them a fee.

You get no consumer protection under FSA rules if you use one of these scams.

A common outcome of these scams is that they use false information to get the price down.

The fact DL was used and false information provided and that the "broker" doesnt want to know suggests it may not be a broker but one of these scams.

I have reported it to the FOS which they are looking into.

The FOS are no use to you. FOS cannot investigate until the firm does. If the firm is a scam then the FOS cannot deal with it.

Bhagwan_H

To place insurance in the UK all brokers and agents have to be authorised and regulated by the FSA. You can check if "your broker" is authorised by going to the FSA register and checking.

You will have to google it, as a new poster they will not let me put a link up.

I don't understand what has happened in this case. No broker would be able to effect cover on behalf of DL, let alone have any influence on voiding one of their policies.

Feh

All the paperwork etc was addressed to me & came to me was legit. I had no reason to doubt anything.

They said they were a broker based in London & I live in Bham so unable to check anything! So annoyed by this but will see what FOS come back with but it seems u may be right. My only concern at the moment is trying to not have my insurance voided & also getting the broker reported.

forgotmyname

How much did you pay them?

Was it an advert, We can get you insured for less. If so expect the phone numbers to vanish. And you need to declare this when you take out new insurance.

Possibly declare it forever...

Tigsteroonie

Tell us who the 'broker' is/was and I'm sure helpful MSE people will dig to see whether they were FSA registered or not.

(After all, if they're legit, they shouldn't mind being named.)

dunstonh

All the paperwork etc was addressed to me & came to me was legit. I had no reason to doubt anything.

Are you talking about the "broker" or direct line? The broker would be required to write to you. That would give you their address. Plus, the letter is required to carry the FSA compliance message on it. Is it there?

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/firmSearchForm.do

The above is the link to the FSA register. Type in the details and see if they exist.

They said they were a broker based in London & I live in Bham so unable to check anything!

You will have the name and adress.

How did you get the details?

thegirlintheattic

As others have said you can check on the FSA register.

Did the DL documents come in a DL envelope or in a normal envelope or from the broker?

raskazz

As others have mentioned, Direct Line deal, er, direct as their name implies, not through brokers.

What you really need to do is give us the name of the "broker" so we can check whether authorised.

Also, how was payment made? Where did you get the "broker"s contact details from? If Direct Line are saying the address does not correspond, what address shows on the documentation the "broker" forwarded to you?

Did you find the "broker" via an advert on Gumtree or the like?

In terms of obtaining quotes now you have had a policy voided, speak to a proper broker - i.e. one that is FSA authorised (check here: http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/firmSearchForm.do) and has a physical office that you can walk into! Explain what has happened, the broker may then be able to find a sympathetic underwriter who is willing to look at your risk on an individual basis.