Beware!! Car Insurance and Occupations

OriginalNaughtyBonbon

Be aware of insurance companies trying to up the cost of the policy once you have been with them 15 days

I took out my policy. Then 15 days later received a letter querying both mine and my partners occupation. When calling them firstly I was told my occupation had to be changed meaning an increase of £150. I argued the point during numerous phone calls and stated that this is my occupation and there should be clear written definitions made available should they decide otherwise. After many phone calls going around in circles they decided that my occupation could remain the same, but then queried my partners. And guess what they decided his should also be classed as something else meaning an increase of £150. During each phone call I asked for full written definitions of occupations that they are using. They also couldn't read them verbatim to me.

Anyway I decided to complain, after calling the fsa and being advised that the definitions should be available.

After going through the ins and outs of my partners occupation. And many more phone calls the cost of the policy remained the same.

I have searched the web and have found that this practice seems to be common place for this company.

The excuse they used was that I had input different occupations during the comparison search. My partners occupation falls within two categories. I later did another search using both categories of my partners occupation and they came out the same price.

And guess what I never received a written copy of the definitions they repeatedly referred to.

They know of Martin Lewis's money saving advice regarding occupations and are trying to raise the cost of the policy after 15 days. Thus leaving you with the option of paying the increase or terminating the policy i.e. having to pay for another policy but also having to wait for your refund minus the cost of 15 days insurance and a fee for them looking into your occupation. If you are on a low income and have to wait for the refund before you can arrange another policy you have no insurance at all. Either way you end up paying more.

forgotmyname

Lesson there. Dont do comparisons with your real details.

It flags up on their systems as potential abuse. So they inspect your details carefully.

Examples of what you are and what you chose and what they said you should be?

dacouch

Don't use Right Choice Insurance Brokers RCIB

ohreally

OriginalNaughtyBonbon wrote:

I have searched the web and have found that this practice seems to be common place for this company

Name of company?

vikingaero

Even though you made a FOS complaint, did you get the full name of the persons you dealt? If so you should make a formal complaint to the Insurer about them. When persons intent on scamming are the subject of scrutiny, even under pressure from their bosses they very quickly stop it.

Oli.s

OriginalNaughtyBonbon wrote: »

Be aware of insurance companies trying to up the cost of the policy once you have been with them 15 days

I took out my policy. Then 15 days later received a letter querying both mine and my partners occupation. When calling them firstly I was told my occupation had to be changed meaning an increase of £150. I argued the point during numerous phone calls and stated that this is my occupation and there should be clear written definitions made available should they decide otherwise. After many phone calls going around in circles they decided that my occupation could remain the same, but then queried my partners. And guess what they decided his should also be classed as something else meaning an increase of £150. During each phone call I asked for full written definitions of occupations that they are using. They also couldn't read them verbatim to me.

Anyway I decided to complain, after calling the fsa and being advised that the definitions should be available.

After going through the ins and outs of my partners occupation. And many more phone calls the cost of the policy remained the same.

I have searched the web and have found that this practice seems to be common place for this company.

The excuse they used was that I had input different occupations during the comparison search. My partners occupation falls within two categories. I later did another search using both categories of my partners occupation and they came out the same price.

And guess what I never received a written copy of the definitions they repeatedly referred to.

They know of Martin Lewis's money saving advice regarding occupations and are trying to raise the cost of the policy after 15 days. Thus leaving you with the option of paying the increase or terminating the policy i.e. having to pay for another policy but also having to wait for your refund minus the cost of 15 days insurance and a fee for them looking into your occupation. If you are on a low income and have to wait for the refund before you can arrange another policy you have no insurance at all. Either way you end up paying more.

What's your occupation, and what did you put it down as, and what do they say they want to change it to?

spacey2012

When you finally take an offer from these companies, you tick a box agreeing to terms and conditions.
So until you have agreed those terms, why are they capturing, storing and acting upon data you have not assigned to them.
A big data protection issue I think

[Deleted User]

Name of insurance company?

I guess it's Admiral group by any chance?

I renewed a policy with them at the start of the month and have had a few missed phone calls from them (confirmed by whocallsme.com) since.

Maybe it's them trying to pull the same trick on me.

scotsbob

spacey2012 wrote: »

When you finally take an offer from these companies, you tick a box agreeing to terms and conditions.
So until you have agreed those terms, why are they capturing, storing and acting upon data you have not assigned to them.
A big data protection issue I think

I think banks and insurance companies are an exception to this. Something to do with fraud prevention allows them to freely share data. Therefore any information you give to one company can be freely shared to prevent fraud. It is in their terms and conditions.

Oli.s

Hopefully the OP will return and tell us the occupations, they could be something really similar but with different titles causing the issue. Apparantly some occupations are regaded as less risk than others.