Asda car insurance - a warning

slopemaster

I recently took out car insurance with Asda. (To start in 3 weeks time.)

After filling in the normal details and paying in full for the insurance, the "welcome" e-mail received seconds later demands copies of driving licences, and also written proof of NCD - in spite of having been given my current insurer and policy number in order to verify my no claims during the online application.
The mail then immediately goes on to threaten
"If we have to cancel your cover as a result of you not sending your documents, you’ll have to disclose that your cover has been withdrawn to any new insurer. This may mean that you’ll be refused cover, or you may have to pay a higher premium."


This is not a very welcoming e-mail to send to a new customer, and immediately makes me think of cancelling the insurance before it starts. So they then go on to say that if I do so, I will be charged a £45 cancellation fee!


I am not at all happy that they do not disclose until after taking payment that they are going to demand copies of driving licences and written proof of NCD. Surely most insurers check these things electronically; i've never been asked for them before. If they are going to ask customers to jump through extra hoops, it should be made clear before buying.


Yes, it is probably there somewhere in the small print of their terms and conditions – I admit I didn't read them and should have done.
But I feel that this is very sharp practice, as it is definitely not mentioned anywhere during the application.

I am even less happy with the threatening e-mail about "having to disclose that cover has been withdrawn" if you don't do what they demand. It is really unacceptable to be threatening customers in this way in the first contact with them.

Potential customers should be aware of this before buying.

I have mailed them back asking them to cancel, and saying that I do not believe they have the right to charge a £45 fee as I am cancelling within the 14-day period, and they have not yet provided any cover. I will see what they say – awaiting a response.

Quentin

You have been lucky not to have been asked for proof of your NCD previously. It's the norm, not the exception.

Requesting driving licences is becoming more widespread, and you can see why they ask!

They were correct about a cancelled policy having to be disclosed to other insurers for evermore and this causing problems and extra cost, and cannot be accused of threatening you for pointing this out.

If the ts + cs provide for you paying a fee whenever you cancel, then you have a fight on your hands to avoid it!

(And the next insurer you go to may well want the same proof that you are now cancelling over!)

slopemaster

Quentin wrote: »

You have been lucky not to have been asked for proof of your NCD previously. It's the norm, not the exception.
Requesting driving licences is becoming more widespread, and you can see why they ask!

But surely all that is checked electronically?
Their website even SAID during the application process that my NCD would be checked electronically before quoting - so why then go on to also demand paper proof?
It honestly feels as tho they're just trying to make things difficult

RichardD1970

All sounds pretty standard to me.

jay1181

Hi this is the norm now. If you have a problem with giving these items that they ask for phone them up and they may and I say may be able to check it online but since the DVLA has had a shake up and that the insurer cannot just phone up or check you licence number any more without your consent being given to the DVLA directly.

The only other option that's available and is the cheapest option is for insurance companies is to ask for a copy of your drivers licence and anybody else that will be insured. This may also help stop you from being given points due to maybe allowing somebody to drive who did in fact not have a valid licence etc as you would be able to prove that you did in fact see and have provided copies to your insurer This will help stop most licence fraud.

I am aware of a certain lady lol lady (I attended school with her brother) who keeps telling her insurance company that she has had her licence since she was 17 (she is now 37) in reality she has had a licence since she was 33 not 17 she had a provisional since 17 and its only a matter of time that that deception will be caught out either with a police stop or with an accident or like your insurer is doing asking for proof. She has remained with her current insurer since they didnt bother asking for proof and is still getting away with it for now. I am all for the checks. If people have nothing to hide then there is nothing to worry about.

forgotmyname

Not threats just the terms and conditions in black and white.

Yes they can get that information by other means, But that costs them which will also cost you.

Costs less to ask you to send them the proof.

You told them to cancel. Oh dear. Try getting insurance declaring that forever more.
Some companies wont even quote when you tick that box, Others may charge you much more.
Dont declare it and your not properly insured.

£45 is a reasonably admin fee.

Dont forget to declare your car SORN because your probably uninsured now.

Quentin

forgotmyname wrote: »

You told them to cancel. Oh dear. Try getting insurance declaring that forever more.
Some companies wont even quote when you tick that box, Others may charge you much more.
Dont declare it and your not properly insured.


Dont forget to declare your car SORN because your probably uninsured now.

Ignore this scaremongering.

You do not have to tell other insurers at all when you cancel a policy!

keith1950

"If we have to cancel your cover as a result of you not sending your documents, you’ll have to disclose that your cover has been withdrawn to any new insurer. This may mean that you’ll be refused cover, or you may have to pay a higher premium."

This is quite normal, at least they are "crossing the t's and dotting the i's " before the policy starts.

Some insurers don't ask for these until you put in a claim and you can find yourself in a worse state....even find out that because you haven't been totally honest/accurate that your insurance is void.

POPPYOSCAR

We have just changed insurers on one of our cars and did not have to provide proof on anything.

Got the quote on line, rang up, confirmed details, paid and documents sent in post, all done and dusted.

Glad I did not take it out with Asda!

Quentin

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

We have just changed insurers on one of our cars and did not have to provide proof on anything.

Got the quote on line, rang up, confirmed details, paid and documents sent in post, all done and dusted.

Glad I did not take it out with Asda!

It would help the op (and others) if you told who this was with

POPPYOSCAR

Quentin wrote: »

It would help the op (and others) if you told who this was with

Lancaster.