Voided car insurance policy

WorzelGummage

A friend recently had her car insurance voided as she failed to disclose 3 points. This was not deliberate - she genuinely forgot about them.
Will this now make it impossible for her to get a new insurance policy from another company ?
Any recommended companies ?

InsideInsurance

She can still get insurance but will be blocked from many of the main stream insurers and will probably be paying three times or more the premium. Unfortunately for life and not just on her car insurance.

She can try and raise a complaint on the grounds of an honest mistake, check if the insurer (and it is insurer not broker) would have accepted her if she had declared it, but you are very much wanting a big good will gesture.

BobQ

What is her excuse for forgetting? Most people I know who have 3 points tend to drive a little more carefully because it for fear of getting another one.

I can understand why an insurer would presume it was fraudulent or at least deceitful to do this.

Quentin

WorzelGummage wrote: »

A friend recently had her car insurance voided as she failed to disclose 3 points. This was not deliberate - she genuinely forgot about them.
Will this now make it impossible for her to get a new insurance policy from another company ?
Any recommended companies ?

She will get cover ok but at a cost.

A local broker (not Swinton) will be able to source cover for her.

The points don't need to be disclosed after 5 years, but she now has to disclose the cancelled policy for ever.

Tiddlywinks

Asking about traffic convictions is one of THE standard questions... with the answer used to decide if the company wants to take on the risk and at what cost.

There is no way she could have just 'forgotten' as it would have been a direct question.

forgotmyname

Just make sure she remembers to declare the points if still valid and the fact she has had insurance cancelled.

Fail to declare that and it maybe when they need to claim.

weejonnie

When was the policy incepted? If it was after 5th April then there is additional protection in "The Consumer Insurance Disclosure Act" - which means that if it is agreed that if the misrepresentation was not deliberate or reckless, the insurer cannot void the policy - but do have the right to charge extra and amend the terms to treat the consumer how they would had they known of the conviction.

Even should an additional premium be charged under this legislation, it won;t be regarded as having had special terms imposed or a policy cancelled - which will be far better in the long run.

There is no case law as far as I am aware as to whether the circumstances outlined count as 'deliberate or reckless'.

thenudeone

Speaking as someone who has had them in the past, I agree it's very difficult to "forget" you have points.

It would be better to contact them and offer to pay all the extra premium for a year if they agree to re-instate the policy and accept that it was never cancelled.

That way the cancellation won't need to be declared to other insurers.

forgotmyname

I can remember mine in 2006. Very clearly i can still pinpoint the camera vans location.

It was damn sneaky. They moved the roadworks down but left the speed signs up. Was it worth fighting? I thought not with the time off work etc.

I was with direct line and it made zero difference to the quote.