Penalty

flashnazia

This only works if you renewed recently but still worth a go...
Check Admiral website and put your details in as a new customer with 5 years NCB. If the quote is less than what you are paying I would take action by writing to them and pointing out the difference. if this doesn't work give the financial ombudsman a go.
Good Luck

barvid

Thanks, all. Particularly keen on flashnazia's thought - I'll get a new quote for myself shortly and see what turns up.

It's a daft situation, though, isn't it? My premium once went up because someone drove into my car and knocked the wing mirror off. I didn't claim; I paid for the repair myself. I wasn't driving (in fact, I was in Egypt!). I was parked sensibly. All in all, someone else's fault entirely and no loss to the insurer. And yet the premium just goes up and up...!!

zappster1966

Wow this is a touch of deja vu.
On 26/07/06 my car was rear ended at traffic lights - by an unmarked police car and my insurer was ... Admiral.
The police admitted liability immediately, got the courtesy car, my own car (a Rover) was repaired eventually once the repair shop managed to source the parts required ... and it has been recorded as a no fault claim on their records. So my 5 years no claims bonus is untouched. And to be honest I can't fault Admiral in any way for how they handled the whole thing, their service was brilliant.
But when the premium renewal arrived in April 07 I was staggered to see it had jumped by nearly £250 p.a. ... thought it must be a mistake ... but when I queried it was told that statistically you've got a much increased chance of being hit again in the year following your original accident.
Odd, huh ?
So I changed over to the AA. Even though I declared the accident to them their premium was much the same as Admiral's had been the year before.
But it's made me wonder quite what the point is in having a no claims discount at all.

nomoneytoday

Statistically, people with a claim that wasn't their fault make more claims the following year. Apparently, the initial crash subconsciously makes them drive in a different way...

barvid

I've finally heard back from Admiral. They confirmed that all accidents are treated as fault accidents for the purposes of calculating premiums. This makes no sense to me. If another driver runs into me, I can understand why his insurance should go up. If I'm not at all to blame and all costs are recovered, why should my premium go up by the same amount? I'm thinking of leaving Admiral behind - this seems very suspect to me.

ab7167

Umm, I wouldn't actually claim for something like scraped paint as I am a big believer in banger-nomics, therefore my cars are usually pretty bashed about anyway! I've only ever claimed when the car has actually been dangerous or impossible to drive. After one accident the back wheels were actually pointing in different directions! I didn't try to drive it, but no idea what would have happened...

I do take the point that someone who claims a lot for small things is more liable to cost the insurance company money if they are "claim-happy" so to speak.

On a slightly different topic, do I have to notify insurers if I have been involved in a minor ding and have settled without going through an insurance company? (wing mirror error of judgement :-)

marleyboy

The same rules apply to house insurance, should I be burgled and put in a claim for loss, albeit its not my fault someone smashed my window and took my belongings, my insurance will go up, I will be seen as "at risk of burglary". Obviously everyones at risk, but my claim lights up a flag on their system. Insurance companies are only there to take the cash, not to pay it out, they do this reluctantly and you can garauntee they will get that back out of you with your premiums. Call it a compensation loan.

barvid

> On a slightly different topic, do I have to notify insurers if I have been involved in a minor ding and have settled without going through an insurance company? (wing mirror error of judgement :-)

Officially I think you do - most that I've dealt with want to know the complete history of the car, regardless of whether a claim was actually made.