Car Insurance Cancelled....Huge bill.

Quentin

Forrest_Dweller wrote: »

... none of my previous documents show points. There isn't an rea on the page where it would show them......

If you search the documents again there should be a section (separate from the actual policy) stating each drivers details including any convictions.

Quentin

Forrest_Dweller wrote: »

Yes, ther is no mention of points on policy documents correct or incorrect!!!

Thanks for the judgement, I was more after guidance really.

How have I "judged' you?

By pointing out that we are supposed to check insurance documents that was intended as 'guidance'!

dunstonh

This is a case of non-disclosure effectively. They have no record of you notifying them of any of the points. Although the 2007 one could be the 2008 one (i.e. you told them but couldnt be sure of the date).

The FOS treat non-disclosure differently if its accidental or on purpose. People who claim accidental often are telling lies. Equally, insurers can often assume that everyone is telling lies and be too harsh in their response. The FOS publication indicates they take the view of how likely it is that you would remember the issue.

Now, if you look at your case, you have three convictions in a relatively short period and one fairly recently. It is unlikely to be considered accidental forgetfulness. You could be that forgetful or disorganised but equally, you could have been trying it on. No-one will know apart from you. Problem is that those making the judgements are going on the balance of probability and three convictions in a short period is pretty hard to forget.

Even if they decide it is accidental non-disclosure, it doesnt really help. The FOS position is that the consumer needs to pay the premium they should have been paying.

So, if you decide to fight it, you are not on firm ground. The only way you are likely to come out of this with a win on your part is if it can be shown that you did declare the points and its Direct Line that made the error. Not sure that there is anything you have posted that suggests any error by Direct Line though.

dacouch

Forrest could you list your approximate renewal premiums for each year from 2006 to the current year.

If you made any changes in a year eg moved or changed car could you note it next to year.

The premiums might give a very rough idea if there was a loading for convictions as six points would attract a fairly big premium loading and nine points even more

Forrest_Dweller

I'm in the pocess of getting all my paper work together. I will post the info up as I go.

The more I think about this the more I have a problem with the incorrect 3 points from Jan 2008. If they have managed to get that wrong then there is every reason to believe they have made an error with the rest of my convictions.

flashnazia

Forrest_Dweller wrote: »

I'm in the pocess of getting all my paper work together. I will post the info up as I go.

The more I think about this the more I have a problem with the incorrect 3 points from Jan 2008. If they have managed to get that wrong then there is every reason to believe they have made an error with the rest of my convictions.

Regardless of this you are supposed to check your renewal documents carefully. Had u done this you would have realised at the time. It now looks like you kept schtum on purpose. Sorry but I think you will have to chalk this to experience.

Forrest_Dweller

I have been through all my paper work. There is no mention of points & there is no section that refers to them either. This is year after year.

I have had a small result onight in hat they have admtted that they are unable to verify what happened regarding the points so have waived the 3 previous years extra premiums which totals £600+.

I have nothing to lose here so I'm going to keep digigng.

Forrest_Dweller

Ok so after many hours of digging & talking to various people I have what I think is a reasonable grasp of how this works. Obviously something somewhere has gone a miss & if I'm totally honest I think I may have not informed DL at last years renewel. There is some money that I owe here but the question is how much.

Currently DL have waived the previous years are asking for only the amount owed for my 2 current policies. Aproximately £1200 on top of the ££500ish that I have paid already for the year on both policies.

Total premium paid £1000
Total backdated premium being asked for £2350

From what I have been told & from what I can work out from looking at other premiums I'd would expect a loading of 30-50% for nine points for the kind of low level convictions I have. Bearing in mind DL were aware of 3 points already (although dated incorrectly) that leaves 6 points to add. With that in mind I would estimate the extra premium to be around £300 give or take bit.

I plan to speak to them this evening about this as currently their loading is 230%. I think they are going to be hard pushed to justify that as a reasonable amout.

Comments welcome.

dacouch

Where have you got that two speeding conviction on top of one already is 30% to 50%

It could be with some insurers but by no means all Insurers as plenty of companies regard that many speeding convictions to be serious and an indication of a reckless driver. The loadings can be much more and lots of Insurers would decline to offer cover.

If you run a dummy quote through on the DL website and adjust the age of your car, your age and the ages of the convictions to be what they would have been at the renewal dates in question. Then also re run the quote without the two most recent convictions. You would then know ROUGHLY what difference it makes as of today but this would not necessarily be the same as how they would have loaded at the times of your renewals.

Forrest_Dweller

That information has come from hours of putting dummy quotes together. I know it'll not be 100% accurate but it'll be in the same ball park. It was also confirmed by a motoring insurance broker.

At the moment they are adding 230% loading for the 2 extra convictions. I can't see how that is justifiable.