Car insurance cancelled.

Leigh_Myers

Hi all. This is my first post. If I do or say something wrong, please go easy on me.
So here is my problem. Back in 2011 I took out car insurance with 1st central. About one month later I received an email saying that they have cancelled the insurance because I didn't send proof of no claims in time. They say that they sent two letters out to my address and also sent two emails to me. When I phoned them I explained that I did not receive anything but the cancellation email. To cut a long story short. After some investigation it turns out that I made a typo on the proposal form. I put the wrong door number down. ( 56 rather than 54). When spoke to 1st central I told them of my mistake and apologised profusely and offered to email the proof of no claims discount right away. I was met with a point blank refusal. The policy was cancelled and that was that. I told them that I did not receive any other email from them but they insist that they did send them.
Anyway, I have accepted that there is nothing that I can do about it. I now have a copy of the email that 1st central say they sent me informing me the reason why it was cancelled. Strangely, they can't find the original email that would have been time and date stamped so I could have proven if it was sent in the first place.
Do I now have to declare this cancellation FOREVER? Surely not. I have not been dishonest with the insurance company. I have 16 years no claims, no accident or claims ever and have no points. Surely there should be some time limit for disclosure of a simple clerical error. After all, we all make mistakes. I completely agree that people should be penalised if they do not disclose as they are certainly a high risk to insurance companies.
Has anyone been in this situation before? Do insurers take a sympathetic stance in these kind of situations?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Quentin

You do have to disclose cancelled policies for ever. This will mean it's virtually impossible to buy "off the peg" online.

But explain the circs and hopefully you will find a sympathetic company to take you on, or see if a local broker (not swinton) can help.

Leigh_Myers

Don't you think that's a little unfair. I mean, I could loose my lisence for dink driving. After a couple of years I wouldn't have to declare it. Surely this is far worse than a simple clerical error when everything I said I had checks out. There should be some sort of time limit on this type of thing.

magpiecottage

You can try complaining to the insurer. What will come of it is uncertain - but you are within your rights to complain and, if necessary, take the matter to FOS.

forgotmyname

If companies ask "have you ever" then you will need to declare it.

If you switch insurers it may mean a phone call to explain the situation for years to come. Its best to get this sorted.

Dont get lazy or give up until its sorted.

mobilewizard

To be honest with you, your best bet is to setup a policy with another insurer.

By all means tell your new insurer that this has happened, but I highly doubt they will even record it, and having your policy cancelled for that reason doesn't increase the risk of you making a claim with them, so shouldn't affect your premiums.

Gavin_C

Leigh_Myers wrote: »

Hi all. This is my first post. If I do or say something wrong, please go easy on me.
So here is my problem. Back in 2011 I took out car insurance with 1st central. About one month later I received an email saying that they have cancelled the insurance because I didn't send proof of no claims in time. They say that they sent two letters out to my address and also sent two emails to me. When I phoned them I explained that I did not receive anything but the cancellation email. To cut a long story short. After some investigation it turns out that I made a typo on the proposal form. I put the wrong door number down. ( 56 rather than 54). When spoke to 1st central I told them of my mistake and apologised profusely and offered to email the proof of no claims discount right away. I was met with a point blank refusal. The policy was cancelled and that was that. I told them that I did not receive any other email from them but they insist that they did send them.
Anyway, I have accepted that there is nothing that I can do about it. I now have a copy of the email that 1st central say they sent me informing me the reason why it was cancelled. Strangely, they can't find the original email that would have been time and date stamped so I could have proven if it was sent in the first place.
Do I now have to declare this cancellation FOREVER? Surely not. I have not been dishonest with the insurance company. I have 16 years no claims, no accident or claims ever and have no points. Surely there should be some time limit for disclosure of a simple clerical error. After all, we all make mistakes. I completely agree that people should be penalised if they do not disclose as they are certainly a high risk to insurance companies.
Has anyone been in this situation before? Do insurers take a sympathetic stance in these kind of situations?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

How odd that they cancelled your policy completely.

In my experience, the insurer simply raises the premium, or rather removes the discount that you have not provided proof you are entritled to.

There, therefore, seems more to this. Perhaps the fact you gave a false address (and didn't rectify it!) was also a factor ... but still I think it would require more for most insurers to cancel your policy.

Don't you even know your neighbours?
I often get post for my neighbours (either because of an incorrect address or an error ny the postie) and simply pop the mail in the neighbours door ... and perhaps advise them of any inaccurancy in the address, espevcially if it's 2 letters from the same company.

Even if I don't know the person a piece of mail is addressed to, I would pop it back in the post box as not known at this address. If your neighbour had done this it would either be re-routed to tou (if the postie spotted the error in the address) or would be returned to the sender who I am sure woulkd have made efforts (e.g. by email) to discover your correct address rather than cancel your policy ... and their premium.

Leigh_Myers

Gavin_C wrote: »

How odd that they cancelled your policy completely.

In my experience, the insurer simply raises the premium, or rather removes the discount that you have not provided proof you are entritled to.

There, therefore, seems more to this. Perhaps the fact you gave a false address (and didn't rectify it!) was also a factor ... but still I think it would require more for most insurers to cancel your policy.

Don't you even know your neighbours?
I often get post for my neighbours (either because of an incorrect address or an error ny the postie) and simply pop the mail in the neighbours door ... and perhaps advise them of any inaccurancy in the address, espevcially if it's 2 letters from the same company.

Even if I don't know the person a piece of mail is addressed to, I would pop it back in the post box as not known at this address. If your neighbour had done this it would either be re-routed to tou (if the postie spotted the error in the address) or would be returned to the sender who I am sure woulkd have made efforts (e.g. by email) to discover your correct address rather than cancel your policy ... and their premium.

Where does it say in my post that I gave a false address? Hard to see how it is a FACT. My driving licence was registered to that address, my car was registered at that address.

Quentin

Leigh_Myers wrote: »

Where does it say in my post that I gave a false address?

Here :

Leigh_Myers wrote:

.....it turns out that I made a typo on the proposal form. I put the wrong door number down. ( 56 rather than 54)........