Refused car insurance - forgot to tell insurance provider about a claim for replacing

dave_lufc

Basically April 2012 i had a crack in my windscreen so auto glass replaced it for me and i paid the excess they claimed the rest from my insurance provider (Churchill)

In December 2012 my policy was up for a renewal, I shopped around and found a better quote through a comparison website with More Than. In the claims and accidents section i completely forgot to state about the claim windscreen and ultimately More Than have cancelled my policy 2 weeks into it.

It is even more frustrating because i had windscreen cover with Churchill. so its not like i was trying to lie or cheat as the replacement of the windscreen by autoglass didn't affect my no claims bonus.

So i am really stuck now. Does this mean because More Than cancelled my policy that i will have trouble finding insurance for the next 5 years?

Is there anything i can do as i feel its a tad harsh how i have been treated ( I would undestand if i didn't tell them about a claim for an accident that was my fault but this was a crack in the windscreen that i had cover for!)

Will i have to go to a local broker now for my car insurance?

I need as much help and advice as i can get!

Thanks

amiehall

Sadly this cancellation will have to be declared indefinitely, not just for 5 years You could write to them apologising, stating it was a mistake and ask them to reconsider the cancellation. You can still use a comparison site, but you will need to tick the box about having insurance cancelled. You should still get quotes though.

thenudeone

I would certainly raise this as a complaint and take it further if necessary.

You are obliged to declare any material (i.e. relevant) information to a prospective insurer, but that doesn't mean that a single minor omission automatically allows them to do what they want. The ombudsman will expect them to act reasonably in the circumstances.

The Ombudsman will take two factors into account:

1) Whether the non-disclosure was deliberate or inadvertant. Since windscreen claims don't affect NCD it's an easy to think they don't need to be declared, when its obvious an accident does.

2) Whether, if the facts had been fully declared, the insurer would still have offered cover (although at a higher premium) or would not have offered cover at all. I find it difficult to believe that a windscreen cover would stop them offering cover at all (unless you have other recent claims), but you can check by putting dummy details into their quote website to see. Keep a print of all the details and the quotes because you may need them to argue your case.

Have a look here then consider the grounds for a complaint:
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/46/46_non_disclosure_insurance.htm
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/7/july-innocent-non-disclosure.htm
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/48/insurance-non-disclosure.htm
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/27/27-ins-nondisclosure.htm

rs65

dave_lufc wrote: »

i feel its a tad harsh how i have been treated

Extremely harsh (but the fact you had cover for it is irrelevant).

Use their quote system to see if one windscreen claim would result in a rejection or perhaps premium loading. If they would accept you, put in a complaint.

weejonnie

I can fully sympathise with your position (In many cases people don't report broken quarter-lights when things get stolen from the car because its not worth complaining - but such incidents must be reported, as also minor scrapes with no other vehicles involved) and find it hard that More Th>n would cancel the policy due to such a singular occurrence.

You make it sound as if going through an insurance broker is a penance - it isn't and you might actually get some service and someone to talk to face to face instead of a call centre in Outer Mongolia or wherever. Very often insurance brokers have good relationships with insurance companies and can plead your case for you, if they believe it doesn't affect the risk. (They want your custom as well - and service is one thing that they can offer which you are lucky to get over the internet)

Quentin

weejonnie wrote: »

You make it sound as if going through an insurance broker is a penance - it isn't and you might actually get some service and someone to talk to face to face instead of a call centre in Outer Mongolia or wherever. Very often insurance brokers have good relationships with insurance companies and can plead your case for you, if they believe it doesn't affect the risk. (They want your custom as well - and service is one thing that they can offer which you are lucky to get over the internet)

Needless to say weejonnie is a broker!!

Although many reputable companies have overseas call centres, Outer Mongolia isn't known as being used, and this seems just advertising rhetoric.

And aren't swinton brokers too? No-one would say they can offer service so good we should go there instead of use the net!

System

According to the Autoglass advertisements having a small chip repaired before it turns into a crack actually saves the insurance company money.
So you are not actually "claiming" anything at all.

Quentin

Clifford_Pope wrote: »

According to the Autoglass advertisements having a small chip repaired before it turns into a crack actually saves the insurance company money.
So you are not actually "claiming" anything at all.

The op actually had his windscreen replaced, but even had it been a repair it would still need disclosing to a new insurer!

quickstepqueen

Dave_lufc...thankyou for highlighting this.

I'd literally just renewed my policy today and whilst searching on MSE for anything about Churchill's new "recycled parts" policy I came upon your post.

I didn't even think to mention the windscreen repair I had done last year when renewing. The repair had only cost me the £10 excess and although I'd made a note of the day I'd rung to arrange the repair I wasn't sure if I'd rung the insurance company first or Autoglass direct.

Anyway a quick call to the insurance company and I was advised that ANY windscreen repair/replacement HAS to be declared though he thought it wouldn't affect my premium. A quick check of the system though revealed I had indeed rung the insurance company about the chip (and either they must have put me through to Autoglass or given me their number.)

Either way like you I hadn't seen it as a "claim" because claiming on windscreen repair/replacement doesn't affect the no claims bonus.

Although it's left you in an awkward position (and I'm not sure how you deal with it) it has highlighted an important point and one that I am personally glad you mentioned.

faddy

I had a windscreen claim three years ago which it didn't occur to me to disclose to my current insurer, and another window claim a few months ago since I've been with them. My current policy expires in a few days and I will mention both claims when looking for quotes. But should I mention the older claim to my current insurer, regardless of whether I renew with them?