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

Labman_2

calisto wrote: »

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but if every incident has to be informed to the insurer can someone advise:

I awoke this morning to find a copious amount of birdplop splattered on the car. So much that I found it quite a shocking incident.

I tried to remove the first spatter with some spit and an old McDonalds serviette I had in the car. Unfortunately this scratched the paintwork a bit. I guess a bit of T-Cut or something will restore it.

The other 2 splats I removed using a soapy sponge and warm water and managed not to leave any scrapes behind.

Should I inform the insurers? I am really nervous in case this affects future claims. I accept that I will suffer a minimum of £25 admin fee just for calling them, but the future "claims" record worries me.

Also, thinking about it, I am very anxious about modifications too. I've been reading these forums and was always under the impression a "mod" was a bodykit, outrageous alloys, engine mods, etc.

It appears that even a decal, or factory option is a mod. I am worried because I have a "Magic Tree" air freshener, and a factory fit "Fuel Computer" in the dash. I can inform my insurance company and will be met with a £25 admin fee for telling them. But if I don't, I understand my RTA insurance is null and void?

Can a proper insurance underwriter confirm that they have the ability to void RTA insurance on their whim of what a "mod" is? Air freshener? Pen? Cup in holder? Parking Sensor? Sat Nav? Aftermarket air-filter / wiper blades / spark plugs / tyres?

Should I inform them I have a non-Ford/Motorcraft Oil Filter and FUCHS 5W/30 as pattern part replacements in my last service? £25 admin fee?

How are they allowed to void the legal minimum insurance on such items / trivial incidents?

I call total B.S.! The legal minimum cover is demanded by law. I can't see how trivialities can effect the contract. Just as Consumer Law protects against unreasonable terms in contracts with Dixons, Currys, etc.

...alcohol...drugs....alcohol & drugs? Chill is my advice.

marble

1) I wouldn't bother notifying your insurers about the incident with the birds. No third party was involved and it's not a road traffic accident. If you knew who owned the birds, you could perhaps take a private law suit against them, but the insurance company wouldn't get involved or want to know.

2) Modifications which cause your car to be more appealing to thieves or more likely to be involved in an accident need to be declared. A decal may well make the car more appealing to thieves and should be declared. What you put in your car is up to you (and is car contents, not a modification). Feel free to carry gold bullion around in your boot ... it doesn't need to be declared as a modification. Similarly, I don't think motor oil makes your car more appealing to thieves so I wouldn't worry about this either.

Insurance companies can only void your policy if you withhold material facts ... ones which will cause a significant change in premium. If your insurance company charge you £25 just to give you advice, then switch next year. Most companies will be more than happy to put your mind at rest ... nothing you have mentioned should be a worry (other than decals and perhaps wipers if they make your car look more inviting).

Al

calisto

LOL! I am of course being facetious - except of course, someone has already been done for having factory fit parking sensors. (do a MSE history search)

What I am annoyed at is the general mantra that "declare everything, no matter what - better safe than sorry" without using that thing we all used to have called common sense.

My worry is that relying on common sense is no longer seen as reasonable by insurance co's. It's also potentially extremely expensive!

Either an "admin fee" will be charged, or worse, and "incident" will be recorded as a "claim". Total nonsense!

mustrum_ridcully

People forget the old mantra "the job of insurance companies is not to pay out"

I've read some of the posts here and can't help but think that the extra cost added to insurance premiums for "non claims" is worse than the banks and overdraft charges - punishing people for being honest.

I've often heard that you can't enforce an unreasonable contract and can't help but think that this is unreasonble.

Oh and calisto you should let the insurance company you know it's your 'moral duty'. Hope didn't leave any watermarks on your paintwork as that'll add at least another £20 to your premium

nickmack

calisto wrote: »

What I am annoyed at is the general mantra that "declare everything, no matter what - better safe than sorry" without using that thing we all used to have called common sense.

The problem is many people don't seem to know what constitutes a modification or relevant incident. In this case, it's often better if they declare rather than risk losing a much larger amount if the claim is refused.

It does seem a bit of a rip off, but as others have said, insurance is based on assessing risk. Even if you don't want to claim, when an incident occurs it shows an increase in that risk. In the interest of fairness for all premiums, it should be recorded and that data used accordingly.

Little_Mama

Ok, quick question here.

How does it work if you've had a no fault claim through an act of vandalism on your car but you're about to renew your motorbike insurance? I should point out that the act of vandalism took place 100 miles from home.

Do you answer that you've had an 'incident' in the last however may years?

Thanks in advance
LM

roddydogs

this can also happen-somone mistakes your reg no for another (or just plucks a number out of the air which happens to be yours-)and reports to thier insurance company that a vehicle reg no**********(your number) hit their car and drove off so they are claiming against you. (your insurance company is on the police database)
Quiet obvioulsy you then say (as i did) that you were nowhere near, say Scotland at that time. Your insurance company (Churchill in my case) then sends you 3 letters demanding an explanation, despite repeated calls that the incident was nothing to do with me.
Net result-when i get my renewal notice it still says i have this as a "Claim", thou as i luckily, as have a protected bonus i do not pay any extra premium!

raskazz

Little_Mama wrote: »

Ok, quick question here.

How does it work if you've had a no fault claim through an act of vandalism on your car but you're about to renew your motorbike insurance? I should point out that the act of vandalism took place 100 miles from home.

Do you answer that you've had an 'incident' in the last however may years?

Thanks in advance
LM

Depends on the wording of the question. Most insurers word it as 'motoring claims, accidents etc' which would of course include any damage or losses associated with your car.

raskazz

mustrum_ridcully wrote: »

I've read some of the posts here and can't help but think that the extra cost added to insurance premiums for "non claims" is worse than the banks and overdraft charges - punishing people for being honest.

It is nothing to do with 'punishing' anyone and has everything to do with the assessment of risk. After all, you are free to take your business elsewhere if an alternative insurer offers you a more competitive price.

mustrum_ridcully wrote: »

I've often heard that you can't enforce an unreasonable contract and can't help but think that this is unreasonble.

Using claims and losses data to assess risk is perfectly fair and indeed is a fundamental of insurance. The principles of insurance are well established in law.

raskazz

calisto wrote: »

Also, thinking about it, I am very anxious about modifications too. I've been reading these forums and was always under the impression a "mod" was a bodykit, outrageous alloys, engine mods, etc.

It appears that even a decal, or factory option is a mod. I am worried because I have a "Magic Tree" air freshener, and a factory fit "Fuel Computer" in the dash.

The fact that you as an indvidual assosciate modifications only with extreme alterations is irrelevant.

Insurers' questions are worded in a clear way - usually along the lines of "has the car been modified or altered in any way/had optional extras added?". If you answer honestly, then there is no problem.

calisto wrote: »

I can inform my insurance company and will be met with a £25 admin fee for telling them, plus lord knows on the premium. But if I don't, I understand my RTA insurance is null and void?

Admin fees have been discussed elsewhere and are fair. If the modification is genuinely insignificant then no insurer will void cover. You cannot really 'void' RTA cover, but we don't have to go into all that here.

calisto wrote: »

Can a proper insurance underwriter confirm that they have the ability to void RTA insurance on their whim of what a "mod" is? Air freshener? Pen? Cup in holder? Parking Sensor? Sat Nav? Aftermarket air-filter / wiper blades / spark plugs / tyres?

Depends entirely on what the circumstances of the claim are; what the modifications are and how they alter the appearance or function of the vehicle; and whether some other non-disclosure or misrepresentation is in evidence. Underwriters do take a commonsense approach on these matters - under FSA rules we cannot repudiate a claim on grounds of non-disclosure of fact if the insured could not have reasonably been expected to disclose that fact.

calisto wrote: »

How are the insurers allowed to void the legal minimum insurance on such items / trivial incidents?

See the above point re: FSA rules.