Don't EVER notify your car insurance of an 'incident' if you don;t intend to claim!!!

nanana_2

yes. after they phoned me back "re: my CLAIM". I wrote to them confirming that I was just informing them and that I was NOT MAKING A CLAIM. I got a letter back starting with words to the effect of "Thankyou for writing to us about your claim....". It took about another four letters before I got one back acknowledging that I was not making a claim but that "their computer system couldn't log my communication any other way..." so like it or not it was on their system as such. I switched and guess what... my new insurance company has me down as making a no fault no cost CLAIM. AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! Will I tell my insurance company again if I don't claim (if there is no way they could know). What do you think?

JohnPeard

How about...

You have to tell your insurer of change of material fact, else they could turn down your next claim.

However, you could report it as a modification.

"I am writing to tell you that I have modified my car slightly by changing the shape of the bonnet"

- No claim of course, but you have informed them....

Mozette

I do sympathise! My car touched another - no damage, but the driver was so unreasonable - including phoning the police! that I suspected he might be after getting some work done to his frankly rather scruffy car. Told the insurance company... oh, you know the rest! But that's insurance companies, I still puzzle over the time I told them that I was no longer a !!!!less student, but a responsible civil servant, and my premium went up £20 How does that work? I HATE insurance companies, and I hate the fact that I have to deal with them (not on a personal basis, I've always spoken to very pleasant people).

socks_uk

[Mozette;5348699]I do sympathise! My car touched another - no damage, but the driver was so unreasonable - including phoning the police! that I suspected he might be after getting some work done to his frankly rather scruffy car.

I guess this is why it's a good idea to carry a disposible camera in the glove box for evidence. It may cost about £4 but it may save you £1000's if you have an accident (if you remember you have it of course!).

olly300

nanana wrote: »

yes. after they phoned me back "re: my CLAIM". I wrote to them confirming that I was just informing them and that I was NOT MAKING A CLAIM. I got a letter back starting with words to the effect of "Thankyou for writing to us about your claim....". It took about another four letters before I got one back acknowledging that I was not making a claim but that "their computer system couldn't log my communication any other way..." so like it or not it was on their system as such. I switched and guess what... my new insurance company has me down as making a no fault no cost CLAIM. AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! Will I tell my insurance company again if I don't claim (if there is no way they could know). What do you think?

Cheers.

I would have taken it up with the finiancial ombudsman:
1. as it's costing you money
2. can be argued as a breach of contract due to it being inaccurate

If another people took a complaint to a financial ombudsman of notifications being recorded as claims when they are not, then I'm sure insurance companies would stop trying it on. Or they would simply change their wording. (However I think you are probably out of time in your case. )

However I'm a season complainer.

stars_bright

I have foud the same problem. A car rean into the back of me and I claimed against them. Although it doesn't effect my no claims discount I still have to mention it as an incident and surprise surprise my premium has gone up. This is so unfair as the other party was at fault and their insurance paid out. It seems that thew insurance companies are a law unto themselves

raskazz

A few points:

In law you must disclose any loss or damage that would be covered by the policy in question - whether fault or non-fault or settled privately. Whether you claim through an insurer for the loss or damage is irrelevant. If you fail to disclose such incidents then you are breaching the duty of utmost good faith, and you are then entering very dangerous territory. I have seen countless policies voided as a result of non-disclosure.

I would strongly advise everyone reading this to totally ignore the title of the thread - what is the point of saving a few pounds if there is no cover inforce when you need it?

It might not seem fair but put yourself in the insurer's shoes. If your claims statistics show that people with a non-fault claim are more likely to put in an actual claim in the policy year, then you increase premiums accordingly. This is no more discriminatory than rating on any of the other facts material to the risk.

Altarf

A case that was reported in the newspapers a while ago was a person who had had their car stolen, but the insurance company was refusing to pay out.

Apparently they had admitted to the insurance company that the car had been broken into a couple of times, but they had not reported the incidents as they didn't want to claim and lose their no claims bonus, for the few cds and bits & bobs that had been taken.

The insurance company's response was that had they known about the previous breakins, then they would have considered the car at a higher risk and thus loaded the premium appropriatly. As they had not been informed they were invalidating the insurance.

So by all means don't tell the insurance company about accidents and thefts, but don't be surprised when they refuse your claim.

What you should do though, is if it is the fault of a third party then submit a claim to them/their insurers for the additional cost of your future insurance as an uninsured loss claim.

beautifulgorgeous_2

We had 3 no fault accidents in 6 weeks, twice we were not even in the car so I dread to think what our premium will be!

jacquij123

I have had two no fault accidents in the past two years, one a write off, one close, both claimed and handled very quickly and easily with the insurance companies. When my insurance comes up for renewal, (two cars) I have shopped around and managed it get it cheaper each time than the previous year so it's not always bad news.