RSA Echoice have cancelled my policy!

Endo

Evening,

I was involved in an accident in Nov 2012 where a man pulled out of a junction infront of me. I informed my insurance (RSA Echoice) have filled out an accident form and 2 weeks ago someone came to inspect damage. I am named on the policy but not the main driver. Anyway, yesterday, the main driver and policy holder received 2 letters (both dated 29.01.2013) saying they were cancelling the policy - no reason given.

Of course, I rang them to be told I had not filled out a form they sent three weeks ago regarding the accident. I am certain I did not receive this form. I would not have binned it or anything by mistake. I spoke to the supervisor and was told this was the reason for cancelling (very confused by this) and that they also thought I was fronting - basically they believe that I use the car more than the main driver and policy holder and we have somehow lied about this to get cheaper insurance which is NOT the case! I just so happened to be driving when accident happened. I am not the main driver.

Can anyone help? I am of course going to complain about this.

Thank you for reading.

vaio

On my policies if there is a problem then I ring rather than letting a named driver ring. A named driver ringing might add fuel to the fronting argument.

More generally, if you (or rather the policy holder) believe they have unfairly cancelled the policy then you can complain and, if they don't play ball, refer to the FOS.

Obviously having a cancelled policy on record will affect the future premiums of the policy holder so if they take out replacement insurance they must declare the cancelled policy but keep evidence of the premium loading as that will be recoverable if the complaint/FOS referral goes your (or rather the policyholders) way

Caz3121

whose name is the vehicle registered in?
Do the main driver and policy holder have any other vehicles?

Endo

Thank you for your responses. The vehicle is registered in the main drivers name and he is also the policy holder - sorry for being unclear. We are the only two on the policy and neither of us have any other vehicles.

rs65

Endo wrote: »

Can anyone help? I am of course going to complain about this.

As the car (and the policy) belong to someone else, I suggest that it is them that should make the complaint.

Does the owner have proof of purchase in their name?

vaio

Problem you have is that you dealing with the policy adds weight to their fronting argument particularly if you are of an age where the insurance is significantly cheaper if you are named driver rather than policy holder.

Obviously there can be circumstances where a named driver would legitimately be dealing with insurance, I deal with my dear old dads but that's because he is old and wouldn't know an online quote if it bit him on the bum. He's been insured pretty much continuously for the last 65 years and I'm of an age where adding me to his policy actually reduces his premium. He also drives an OAP type car and I have my own car & policy.

However, if I was a teenager without my own car/policy and/or the policy was relatively recent and/or it was on a teenager type car then I could well imagine suspicions being aroused.

The bottom line is the insurers need to treat the policy holder fairly and shouldn't cancel a policy without good reason. If the policy holder feels he has been treated unfairly then, as in post #2, he should lodge a complaint and refer to the FOS if still unhappy once the complaint has been addressed.

Whose fault was the accident? Have the insurers declined to pay any claim?

dacouch

Funnily enough I was reading the relevant part of the E Choice policy this evening for another E Choice cancellation (Instalment Default and then accident) and noticed the part about notifying them of changes. It has in there they reserve the right to cancel the policy if you don't complete a claim form / notify a claim quickly / respond to letters about claims.

A most odd policy wording but typical of arrogant RSA.

If the accident is not your fault you could either go direct to the other Insurer or use a claims management company.

You need to address the issue with E Choice though as you don't want them to cancel

Endo

The policy holder was sat with me while I rang them and actually spoke to them too to confirm that they believe we are "fronting". I have filled in a claim form (describing the accident etc) in Deecember about a week after accident but this form I allegedly did not fill in was a "questionnaire" (they were extremely vague). We (me and policy holder) also tried to get through to the claims department after we had spoken to the people that said they were cancelling the claim but they kept cutting us off? Which further leads me to believe they are not dealing with this in a decent manner. Could they not have rang to confirm questionnaire was received? Or even sent it by recorded delivery?

Furthermore, which I should have added earlier the letters received were dated 29th January but were not received until 4th February! One day before they cancelled the policy! I assume this is the "7 day" notification.

Yes, I am 22 and it is my grandfather's car but I have been driving it since Feb 2008 and we have been insured together this whole time. The car is his and he has proof of purchase. He is the main driver of the car as stated previously.

forgotmyname

Do you live together? How far away do you live?

Have you ever taken the car home overnight? Use it for work?

How long did he own the car before adding you onto the insurance? How long have you been on his insurance?

dacouch

Could you answer the following questions to make it easier for us to help you.

Did you grandfather have a car before 2008?

Did you obtain your licence just before you took cover in 2008?

Who actually paid for the car eg whose bank account did the money come from?

Does your grandfather have any other cars?

Do you drive the car mostly in the day or mostly nighttime?

Do you normally drive to work or college?

Whose address is the car normally kept at?

Endo

Yes I use the car for work but it is always returned to his garage at his address (he lives round the corner) He bought the car from new in Nov 2000 and has no other cars. Yes I obtained my license Feb 2008 and was insured on the car shortly after. I drive mostly during the daytime.

RSA Echoice were informed of all the above factors when the policy was taken out.