Confused by car insurance

bailey1183

Hi there,

I'll try and explain this as best I can;
I bought my car in July 2012 and have had it insured with 1st central since then. BUT I was only a learner at the time and so insured with my provisional licence. When I passed in January I changed my details to full licence, paid the difference (as I had paid in full) no problems. In March I added my mum as a driver as she had my car whilst I was heavily pregnant. Again, paid the difference.

So its time for renewal and I get a letter saying
"Whilst your details have not changed, due to amendments to 1st Central's underwriting policy, we regret to advise you that we are not able to offer a renewal for the coming year".

It goes on to recommend one of its partner companies and confirms that I have 1 years no claims bonus.

So my problem firstly is, do I actually have 1 years no claims??
This letter clearly states so, however, whenever I try to get a quote from someone else, they say I cant possibly have 1 years no claims, as I havent held my FULL licence for a year yet.

Secondly, when I use comparison sites, 1st central are still offering me a policy, so are they just unable to RENEW my policy, but will give me a brand new one??

And finally, the fact that they wont renew (which cannot be due to anything I have done as I have no convictions, no claims, no accidents, havent moved house or changed car, havent missed a payemant as I paid in full!!) is this counted as being refused insurance??? If so my insurance is going from £1000 (approx) a year to £2000 and I theres no reason why?!

I tried phoning them but the person (in renewals department) was none the wiser and said they dont know why sometimes they wont renew, but that sometimes it is merely a commercial decision (ie they are selling too much insurance in an area or something??). But then if this is the case surely it cant be seen as being refused as its not my fault, why should I be penalised?

I don't want to state that I have never been refused to my new insurance company only for them to turn around and say that 1st central refused me and then get blacklisted from all decent insurance companies!!

I hope all that was clear and sorry for the long post, TIA for any advice.

Quentin

You need to explain to new insurers that you earned your ncd partly whilst a learner and partly as a full licence holder, and that you have held your policy the full 12 months.

See if a local broker (nor swinton) can help you use the NCD if online it's getting rejected.

No need to worry about disclosing this as a "refusal/cancellation".

Read up on 1st central here and on the net and you might think you are lucky to have just had this issue with them!

bailey1183

Yeah I have a friend who was with them and she's the one who ended up blacklisted due to something she didnt do thats why I am so worried!

Thanks for the reply, here was me thinking that my insurance would go down (a little!) after the first year!

bailey1183

So would you say its not a refusal/cancallation then and I can tell my new insurer I have never been refused?

InsideInsurance

Yes you have 1 years NCD

When designing websites there is a balance between making them as simple and idiot proof as possible -v- being able to deal with as large a number of potential customers as possible. A significant proportion of insurers have decided that validating license -v- NCD is of more benefit to those who make mistakes even if it costs them a few people that did earn NCD whilst a learner.

Call centre agents traditionally had more flexible systems and so are more likely to be able to deal with the situation, though this is changing and more locked down systems are getting more common.

The main reason your premiums are going up could well be to the fact that male and female pricing had to be harmonised this year due to eu sexism law so males saw small drops and females saw significant rises.

Ultimately the decline to quote isnt really the kind of refusals they are asking about and they did allow the policy to run to term but to be 1,000% safe, speak to the potential new insurer/ broker and double check with them BEFORE buying.

Quentin

It's not a refusal/cancellation. It's as they say a "company policy" decision.

bailey1183

Thanks,

I've just spoken to a local broker and he has said that no its not a refusal and that 1st central are notorious for doing this too.
He also said its best to speak to someone as suggested by you Insideinsurance, as they can maybe tweak the policy based on the fact I had a provisional for 5 months and full for 7 months, as when you just tick boxes on internet sites it can look as though I have no NCD due to a claim rather than the fact that I insured my car when I was a learner.

Thanks for the help! Needless to say I won't be going with 1st central again in the future.