Things John said

Finst

dacouch wrote: »

This one has quite a big assumption at the end of the answer...

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/78748/a-cyclist-without-a-light-collided-with-my-car---who-s-at-fault-

Never mind the end, the very first sentence is complete garbage! The UK absolutely does not have strict liability for accidents with cyclists or pedestrians. Although to be fair, it does sound like the driver pulled out on the cyclist, so swings and roundabouts...

dacouch

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/79217/is-it-fair-for-an-insurer-to-refuse-cover-due-to-a-no-fault-accident-

Question...

"My 68 year old mother has just purchased a new Fiat 500 to replace a 10 year old Ford KA. Two years ago, while the car was parked in a supermarket car park and my mother was shopping, the KA was hit by another vehicle. She had the accident damage repaired by the other vehicle's owner's insurance company. As a matter of course, she informed her own insurer of the accident and repair. Now when she informed her insurer of her new car purchase, they refused to cover her citing the accident. When challenged, they responded that it didn't matter that the accident wasn't her fault, nor that they incurred no cost. They considered it grounds to refuse coverage and directed her to another insurer who was able to offer cover (albeit it a higher price, though given the car is newer, perhaps understandable). Is this acceptable practice?"

Insurance Guru's answer

"Every insurer has the right to refuse cover, but considering the risk that your mother is, and the incident, they are clearly being stupid. What you can do is (if they are on the internet) requote using your name but using her details and requote . If they provide a quote and it is less than you have now had to pay, raise a complaint and take to the financial ombudsman. Your insurer has to treat your fairly and cannot penalise you through an incident that is not your fault."

dacouch

Question...

"I have a MINI Cooper insured with Lancaster insurance (cheapest by far) and I'm due to have a baby, so it's not practical anymore. I've got a BMW 1 Series 2.0-litre petrol. I called to swap my insurance over and they said they couldn't do it because they're prestige insurance. They're charging me nearly £200 to cancel. Surely they are misleading with"

Answer...

"Firstly they cannot charge you £200 to cancel, the can only charge a "reasonable" fee which under the 2015 insurance act should be £30-50. Contact Lancaster insurance under a different name, a neighbours address and name is ideal, and ask them to quote you using the identical details on the BMW. If they refuse to quote, then they are being honest. If they provide a quote, get it in writing, then re-contact them in your own name advising that they are breaching FCA regulations under PRIN by misleading you and not treating your fairly. Advise them you wish to continue the policy that was on the MINI onto the BMW. If they then advise as before saying they will not cover, you can then advise them they would as you now have the evidence.
They now cannot refuse cover,and it would be unfair of them to penalise you by charging for you to cancel.

Raise a complaint with them, they have 48 hrs to respond and eight weeks to conclude. Advise them of the above, for misadvising and mis-selling policies in breach of the regulations and for the cancellation fee in breach of the 2015 insurance act. Then contact the Financial Ombudsman Service(FOS) and do the same. https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumer/complaints...m Make the insurer aware you have contacted the FOS. You should find it all then gets resolved very quickly."

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/79900/my-insurer-are-refusing-to-cover-my-new-car---what-should-i-do-

erm Lancaster are a broker and in addition I'm guessing it's a classic car policy

dacouch

Question...

"Could I be prosecuted during the two minutes of the year that I'm not insured?
I've just renewed my insurance with Be Wiser for the forth year in a row. I just noticed that the cover for this year ends at 23:59 on 3 July 2017 and the new starts on 00:01 on 4 July 2017. That leaves me uninsured for two minutes. What happened if I have an accident or get stopped with the police at this time? Technically, could I be prosecuted or have a claim refused?"

Insurance Guru's Answer...

"No, a tolerance is allowed of five minutes in either direction, so technically ten minutes.This is covered under the 2015 Insurance Act and it would be deemed a breach of the insurance regulations if you were penalised. The only time an insurer can reject a claim under the 2015 Act is where evidence of fraud exists. The police would see it as different matter. If you were minutes away from home you would probably be fine, if you were hours away and had the reasonable foresight to know you would not home in time before it lapsed, then they would prosecute."

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/80367/could-i-be-prosecuted-during-the-two-minutes-of-the-year-that-i-m-not-insured-

There is a much easier way to answer the question...

dacouch

Question :

Will my void insurance policy carry over to my new insurer?
I misunderstood that when getting learner insurance I needed to declare a motorbike crash. Now my insurance is void. Does this void insurance follow over to new the insurance company or is it just for the company it was void with?

Insurance Guru's answer :

It technically follows over to the new insurer, ring a broker or direct insurer and explain the situation when you try again. Always tell the insurer absolutely everything even if you are not sure. Was the policy voided in the cooling off period? If so, it then may be seen to have never existed as a policy.

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/80754/will-my-void-insurance-policy-carry-over-to-my-new-insurer-

dacouch

Question...

"Can my insurer charge me for a red light fine even though I didn't receive any points?
I got a red light fine but I went to a speed awareness course so assumed I didn't need to declare it to my insurer (Admiral). But they found out and want to charge me £320. What can I do now?"

Insurance Guru's answer...

"You are right, they cannot. You can only be penalised when charged with an offence i.e. accidents, claims or convictions. Complain to the chief exec advising they are breaching the 2015 Insurance Act in penalising you for something they should not be. Then complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Best thing to do is change your insurer as well"

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/81105/can-my-insurer-charge-me-for-a-red-light-fine-even-though-i-didn-t-receive-any-points-

Also read....

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5674887

Aretnap

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/81853/my-motorbike-has-been-insured-in-america-while-i-was-there---why-have-i-now-got-a-penalty-warning-for-having-no-uk-insurance-

Question...
In April, I temporarily imported my Triumph motorbike into the USA to use on a 3 month road trip. I couldn't SORN because it is a requirement for the road tax to remain current. I let my UK insurance lapse as I had taken out a policy issued by a USA insurer (as required). On my return I found a penalty warning notice from MID/DVLA due to the bike being uninsured for UK use. I have used the DVLA's online message service to explain why it would have been pointless maintaining a UK issued policy but all I got back was a 'standard' reply which just repeated what was said on the warning letter. I will of course restart my UK insurance once the bike completes its sea journey home. If the penalty notice arrives what should I do?

Insurance Guru's answer :
Reply back in writing to them explaining what you have written here. You cannot receive a penalty for being uninsured for UK use when it is not in the UK. It's up to them to prove the vehicle was in use without insurance.

dacouch

Question...

"Is there a 'cooling off' period when buying insurance?
My son bought insurance with Adrian Flux for his car. At the time of purchase he asked about cancellation charges. He was told first of all that cancellation in the first 14 days would cost £25 after he agreed to this and took out the policy the lady then told us the policy said cancellation was free. I am witness to this. He cancelled the insurance the next day due to issues with the MoT. Adrian Flux have charged him £96 which they say is £50 for their fees and the rest for the insurance company's fees they say that they would only give the money back if he could prove he got a cheaper quote. This was not explained at the time of purchase. Please can you let us know our rights?"

Insurance Guru's Answer...

"There is a 14 day cooling off period under distance selling regulations, there is NO fee chargeable. Once past this point any cancellation should be a "reasonable" amount of no more than £50. This is under the 2015 Insurance Act if my memory serves me. If you have paid with a credit card, then you also have additional provisions covered under the Consumer Credit Act."

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/82287/is-there-a-cooling-off-period-when-buying-insurance-

If in doubt or you do not know what you're talking about, state that it's covered by the 2015 Insurance Act

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/82287/is-there-a-cooling-off-period-when-buying-insurance-

dunstonh

That is wrong in so many places that you may as well get a 5-year-old answering.

forgotmyname

No more than £50. They are only charging £50.. The rest is the "insurance companies fees" Which I think they mean time on cover etc?