car insurance and data protection act

kitkat14

Had a claim in 2010 and when I renewed my car insurance last year, I was told that the claim was settled and amount was £0. My insurance is due for renewal and my boyfriend adviced me to contact the previous car insurance (ecar) to ensure that it was indeed settled and for how much as I would be needing these information to get new quotes and not knowing the correct information insurance companies could actually use this against me in the future (not insurable and providing fraudulent information). So I contacted ecar yesterday and they said it was settled earlier this year but they wont give me the amount as this is protected under the Data Protection Act.

As far as I know the Act defines the law on processing of data on identifiable living people (PERSONAL DATA)! I do not see any personal data in the settlement amount that I am asking for and certainly the other party's information is not included there nor being asked and the information I am after relates to me anyway!

Has anyone experienced a similar thing?

InsideInsurance

The amount is not personal data and you are entitled to know..... how would it work if esure hadn't settled and it had gone to court? The third party would claim for an undisclosed amount because they wanted their details protected? And if you chose to settle it outside of the insurance you'd have to have given them a blank cheque because you couldnt know how much they'd claimed?

Sounds like an inexperienced call centre operator thinking they're doing the right thing but have heard of it happening before. Call back and ask to speak to a manager if they decline again

rs65

Tell them they are hindering you in obtaining other quotes and remind them that Treating Customers Fairly is a basic principle in the insurance industry.