Problem with Compare the market/insurance factory.

Smex

Okay. I work for a small company with a few vans.

I needed to get insurance for a new van so I went on compare the market and filled in the forms. The part in question is the part that asks if I have no claims bonus on any other vehicle, which there is, the new owner (my boss) has 7 years no claims bonus on his own car so I filled in this part based on that information.

The insurance came to about £400, that was fine, I accepted that and paid them.

About a month later I get a phone call from them telling me that the no claims bonus is in use with another vehicle. Yes I told them, it is, but the form I filled out asked that. They then told me I can't use that if it's in use on another vehicle.I told them that's what the form said so I filled it in. They told me I owed them about £380 extra since there's no no claims bonus on the van.

Several phone calls and letters (and about 4 month and often consists of them not getting back to me) I got a letter saying they were cancelling our insurance since we never paid the extra and because I gave them the wrong information.

I phoned them back and was put back and forth between departments and eventfully got someone who kept talking to me. Pretty much what it came down to was that since they got the wrong information I have to pay extra. I told them that all the information I provided them was correct and they told me it was a problem between myself and compare the market. In the end it turned in to them just explaining how compare the market works over and over and not listening to me.

Now it's the company's money not mine so I'm not too bothered but it is rather rubbish.

Any advice on what to do now? Should I cancel the insurance and go else where or should I pay them the extra?

I'd prefer to go somewhere else but it would probably be cheaper to stay with them.

Quentin

You cannot use the ncd on more than one vehicle.

So if the present insurer is still the cheapest without any ncd, and cheapest is what you want then pay up before they cancel.

Otherwise cheapest will never be an option in the future with a cancelled policy to disclose!

And if they do cancel then they will still chase for the extra premium owed to date.

forgotmyname

Bit confused here.. Your van or the company van? Boss has no claims on his car? But what about the vans? How are they insured?

Why would you not just add it to the companies existing policy?

The problem now is if you allow them to cancel that policy you or the company will need to declare that in future renewals.

This maybe picked up at a later date where there is a risk of the insurance cancelling all the policies for non disclosure.

Its a good reason for them not to pay out.

You could be in a position now where all the present policies are useless.

Smex

A cancelled policy to disclose, I never though of that.

It's the company van but they asked if there ncd on any other vehicle, which there was, they never said anything about it being in use.

There's no company policy for all the vans, each van in insured by it's self, probably because there's only 5 and each van was bought when we took on new plumbers.

I've not been doing this for too long, the person who used to do this part was fired for drinking on the job and other things.

So the best thing to do is just pay them the rest of the money then? As I say it's the company's money not mine do I don't really care.

forgotmyname

If the vans are owned by the company then a trade/fleet policy maybe worth a look.

But watchout for the policy excess and whats covered. Same driver for each van? Or will they sometimes change?

Who monitors who is driving in case a speeding ticket comes in. Usual driver says i wasnt driving at the time. All driving to be logged.

Lots of pitfalls here. Transport manager/company director.. can be liable.

If the boss says you arrange the transport then its down to you to stay legal.

We had a depot lose its operators licence due to a dozy transport manager.
Very costly mistake.

Smex

It's a plumbers so each plumber has their own van, they are the registered driver and the company is the owner.

It's not a big company, I'm the only one who's in the building all the time and I do mostly everything.

I think we'll just pay the extra and I think I'll look in to having trade policy or something.

Thanks everyone.

rs65

There are 2 questions on NCD - seems you have answered the 2nd one.

The help button with the first one says

Helpful hint: Each year you hold a policy in your own name without making a claim, you build up a no-claims discount. This could save you money. If you do not know your no claims discount (NCD), you should make a best guess, as this can always be changed before you purchase your policy. Proof of No Claims Discount (NCD) may be required. NCD can only be used on one policy at any one time. The expiry date or renewal date must not be more than 24 months before the commencement of cover for the vehicle.

Having 5 employees, 5 vans, property and liabilities to insure, I really suggest you get a decent broker.

You shouldn't have this responsibility just because you are in the building.

There is a broker finder tool on https://www.biba.org.uk