Tesco Bank and Covea Car Insurance Cancelled..

aimzee84

Hi!

On 1st March I took out an insurance policy with Tesco Bank, underwritten by Covea, for my car.

Today I received a letter dated 7th March informing me that as of 14th March my insurance was being canelled as "It has been brought to our attention that the information provided during the application process for the above mentioned policy may not be valid"

I have zero no claims, have had two seizures (the last one 6 years ago-but still renew my licence every four years-DVLA fully aware), and added my partner as an additional driver to the policy. All of these details were on the application form.

I called Tesco Bank, absolutely fuming, and was told they couldn't tell me why, and that I couldn't contact Covea as they were not customer facing. I ignored this and contacted Covea anyway, who gave me the details of Synectics Solutions, the agency they use to do fraud checks. I called them up and they were very helpful, I have filled out my form for an Access Request, and will wait to receive that.

I also just got off the phone to the Ombudsman, who are raising a complaint for me with Covea (I have already complained to Tesco Bank), as I have been given no right to appeal, and simply been told they cannot tell me how they made the decision, but it has 'something' to do with 'something' on the Syenctics Solutions report.

I have never made a fraudulent claim, I have never lied about NCD, I did not fail to disclose any DVLA-aware medical conditions.

I have an appalling credit history, but was advised that this was nothing to do with it.

I am still livid that no attempt was made to contact me to discuss anything, I was not asked for proof of identity or address, which I would have provided, and I received just three days notice of cancellation-the later is dated 07 March, and was sent First Class Signed For, so my power of deductions point to it being posted yesterday-three days after the date of the letter..

Is there anything else I can do? I am due to travel 150 miles on Monday to visit family, but without insurance (I've applied for a couple of others but been turned down as I currently now have to declare a 'cancelled policy') obviously I'm scuppered!

HELP!!!

InsideInsurance

In the short timescales available to you the only option is to buy another insurance policy remembering to declare that you have now had insurance cancelled.

If you have appalling credit have checked your Credit Reference Agency reports recently to see if there is any CIFAS loadings there eg for No Intent To Pay? Presumably you've never had insurance cancelled before?

The ombudsman cannot take on a complaint until 8 weeks after you've made a complaint or you've received an official response (whichever is sooner). Any offer to register a complaint for your before this is a rubbish letter they send on your behalf to register the complaint with the company to start the clock ticking on the 8 weeks. You are MUCH better off registering your own complaint than relying on the ombudsman to do it for you. I have seen several of their letters and they sum up the whole issue, often poorly, into a single paragraph.

aimzee84

Hi!
Many thanks for your reply..

No, I've never had insurance cancelled before, and three years ago I took out a DRO and since then I ceck my Experian report monthly, nothing has flagged up there..

I was just talking to my partner having read some info about what may be contained in one of these reports, and when I returned from 7 years living abroad I applied for JSA before starting work, and was told I couldn't have it because I was an habitual resident (I also had to fill in form after form of Right to Reside forms etc..) Could this have had some impact if they thought that was a fraudulent claim?

I will put my complaint in writing to Covea as well-thanks for that tip, I hadn't realised the Ombudsman would just write a little 'note'!

spacey2012

Start the official complaints procedure.
You must do this with who you paid, you must only use writing with a stamp and obtain a certificate of postage from the post office which is free.
You must inform them what you want them to do about the problem.

This starts the clock for the FOS.
Ask them to issue a deadlock letter if they do not wish to take the complaint and wish you to progress to the FOS.

InsideInsurance

aimzee84 wrote: »

Could this have had some impact if they thought that was a fraudulent claim?

I will put my complaint in writing to Covea as well-thanks for that tip, I hadn't realised the Ombudsman would just write a little 'note'!

CIFAs loadings dont tend to last that long on the CRAs.

Its a stock letter they send basically asking them to register a complaint on your behalf and it gives them a paragraph of space to type in the summary of the complaint. Of cause you are just talking to call centre agents who with the best will in the world arent the highest trained people and undoubtably will have fairly strict targets on how much time they spend on each call and how much time they can spend between calls before becoming ready to take the next call.

kingstreet

Have you ever done "dummy" quotes using your own details, then changed different items, trying to find out the impact of things like convictions, accidents, medical conditions?

We've heard of people having their cover cancelled as the insurer thought they had deliberately lied on the forms after finding out how much the cover would have been by being honest.

aimzee84

I will get my own letter written up..

What kind of information would be help on one of these reports?

aimzee84

kingstreet wrote: »

Have you ever done "dummy" quotes

I've only done this when it was a case of seeing what a difference it would be adding my OH as a named driver..

I've had two seizures in my life (last one in 2003), and as I am still on my last 'restricted licence' (simply meaning i have to renew it in Jan 2015 so the DVLA can contact my GP), I declare that-I have no driving restrictions, only a shorter validity on my photocard licence. I've no motoring convictions, no unspent criminal convictions, and not fibbed about my NCD!

I just can't understand what has been flagged up on this report that has caused them to just cancel the policy..:mad:

rs65

Is it possible to cancel the policy before they do?

aimzee84

I had considered that-but I don't know where I would stand as they have already given me notice that they are cancelling..? Could I get around it that way?

mills705

InsideInsurance wrote: »

CIFAs loadings dont tend to last that long on the CRAs.

Its a stock letter they send basically asking them to register a complaint on your behalf and it gives them a paragraph of space to type in the summary of the complaint. Of cause you are just talking to call centre agents who with the best will in the world arent the highest trained people and undoubtably will have fairly strict targets on how much time they spend on each call and how much time they can spend between calls before becoming ready to take the next call.

I take offence at what you have said inside more about the fact you say call centre staff aren't highly trained....
Where I work to become an agent have to have about 7 weeks training on product knowledge and upgrades as well as other guidelines. Sit a test then we can take calls! So more often than not we are actually quite capable of making decisions and knowing a lot of information about products! Yes we may not be working in the most glamorous job but we are quite good at it the majority of the time. Actually call time isn't targeted at all! Call work or how long it took you between calls was where I worked up until recently but now that dropped too.
Sorry rant over!
Where I work we will normally receive a fraud alert from the insurer. Which will be as said above differing ncb allowances differing claims being added or what not. Usually this will mean a letter asking for proof of ncb, license, v5 and usually proof of address.
Very rarely will the underwriter know why this has been asked.
They often do ncb validations now and again. As a lot of people don't send in the proof a lot of the time!
Another reason could be an I.p address. I had a fraud notification through last week for a guy who took a policy out 70 miles away from his supposed home address. Sure enough he hadn't declared the right information.