Insurance - not declaring accident

KayJay

Okay so it's my fault but I need to vent!


I had an accident in April 2012. Guy pulled out and hit me as I was on main road. Lots of damage to my car and personal injury from me. I claimed through his insurance and all settled.


I renewed my insurance May 1st 2012 and 2013, came to do it yesterday and was asked if I had any accidents in the last three years and I said not since the one in April 2012. Turns out they didn't know about it. I apparently never told them! I would have renewed less than a week after my accident! I am finding this incredible and have asked for the phone calls for both years to be sent to me but I have checked the documents and they say NONE under accidents. Well I should have checked closer.


The annoying thing is - I am renewing but they have put on a charge of £430 which is the amount extra I would have paid for the last two renewals. This is chuffing well annoying because I cannot see why my policy has to go up as I was minding my own business driving down the road, and because if I had known, I could have claimed that extra amount back from the other driver. I assume now it's too late to do that.


GRRRRRRR.

Mark_Mark

You should have informed them at the time of your accident as you agreed to do so when you took out the policy.

movilogo

You don't have to renew with them. You can refuse to pay the extra pro-rate charge. In reality, if you had a claim during that time, they could have refused it (although they could not refuse a claim to 3rd party).

AdrianC

KayJay wrote: »

The annoying thing is - I am renewing but they have put on a charge of £430 which is the amount extra I would have paid for the last two renewals. This is chuffing well annoying because I cannot see why my policy has to go up as I was minding my own business driving down the road

Drivers who have been involved in a claim - even a not-at-fault - are statistically more likely to be involved in another, and therefore a higher risk. So the premium is higher.

and because if I had known, I could have claimed that extra amount back from the other driver. I assume now it's too late to do that.

It wouldn't have been paid anyway.

whitelabel

KayJay wrote: »

Okay so it's my fault but I need to vent!


I had an accident in April 2012. Guy pulled out and hit me as I was on main road. Lots of damage to my car and personal injury from me. I claimed through his insurance and all settled.


I renewed my insurance May 1st 2012 and 2013, came to do it yesterday and was asked if I had any accidents in the last three years and I said not since the one in April 2012. Turns out they didn't know about it. I apparently never told them! I would have renewed less than a week after my accident! I am finding this incredible and have asked for the phone calls for both years to be sent to me but I have checked the documents and they say NONE under accidents. Well I should have checked closer.


The annoying thing is - I am renewing but they have put on a charge of £430 which is the amount extra I would have paid for the last two renewals. This is chuffing well annoying because I cannot see why my policy has to go up as I was minding my own business driving down the road, and because if I had known, I could have claimed that extra amount back from the other driver. I assume now it's too late to do that.


GRRRRRRR.

vent away,


but you should have done a notification only to your insurer.


You have 6 years to make a claim against a 3rd party
except
unless
you have settled in full and final settlement
and also
you cant claim for rise in your insurance policy anyhow


expensive lesson learnt. youre lucky they are not refusing to insure for deliberate non disclosure, which would cost you far more than £400 quid in the long run

neilmcl

The obvious thing to do is simply not renew with them and look elsewhere for a cheaper deal, which you probably should be doing as a matter of course.

arcon5

By when the new insurer asks for proof of no claims surely they'd question why it says none under accidents.

dacouch

movilogo wrote: »

You don't have to renew with them. You can refuse to pay the extra pro-rate charge. In reality, if you had a claim during that time, they could have refused it (although they could not refuse a claim to 3rd party).

They would not have refused a claim hence why they are requesting the money.

The Insurer can and generally will pursue the money

dacouch

arcon5 wrote: »

By when the new insurer asks for proof of no claims surely they'd question why it says none under accidents.

The original Insurer will probably retain the no claims bonus proof if the outstanding money is not paid.

thenudeone

whitelabel wrote: »

you cant claim for rise in your insurance policy anyhow

Why not? People have reported successfully doing so on this forum.

As a general legal principle, there is no reason why not.

It's possible to prove that insurance costs have risen directly due to the accident (by doing dummy quotes), and if the other party's insurers have admitted liability, there is no legal reason why future extra insurance costs can't be included, just like future medical costs resulting from an injury can be.

But I would expect a fight, because it's rarely attempted.

rev_henry

dacouch wrote: »

The original Insurer will probably retain the no claims bonus proof if the outstanding money is not paid.

How can they do that?!

I know we've had this conversation before but I still think its outrageous that an insurance company can ask for more money to cover a pro rata difference in premium - its like buying a lottery ticket already knowing you've won. Insurance is a gamble essentially. You pay a premium and the insurance company is gambling that you won't have a claim. After the policy has lapsed they already KNOW you won't have a claim. OK I know there's the 6 year thing but still...