Windscreen Chip - Why is Repair Free?

unlocated

Glassman wrote: »

It is also my understanding that any insurance activity - no matter how insignificant it may be - gets recorded on the Claims & Underwriters Exchange database (CUE). If you were to call your insurer and enquire about something (even if it is just for information purposes) it will leave a footprint on your file.

I have been (and still am) victim of this. I enquired for info about a criminal damage and this is affecting my premium!

Do you say what you ask leaves a footprint? I am quite tempted to organise a flash-telephone-mob of people asking info for what to do when UFO lands on their car smashing it..

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

redux wrote: »

Correct, and I found that although my insurer had stated it would not affect no claims bonus they did want to add a loading to the renewal

I complained, on the basis that if they'd told me this clearly I would not have claimed, whereas it now looked like getting the crack repaired via the insurance would cost me more spread over 3 years than if I'd had it fixed myself

They discounted the premium.

Some sample quotes with other insurers added no loading though.

I experienced this some years ago. I noticed my premium had gone up substantially though I had protected no claims and had also made a no-claims not affected claim for side window glass broken (moral of that story was don't put walking boots in a Currys bag when going walking and leave the bag in sight in the car). When I queried the increase, the rep had no hesitation in stating that my base premium had been increased by the claim.

Over the years I've discussed this with various people. I think that this is a very deceptive practice, but people in the industry don't think there is a problem.

InsideInsurance

unlocated wrote: »

I have been (and still am) victim of this. I enquired for info about a criminal damage and this is affecting my premium!

Do you say what you ask leaves a footprint? I am quite tempted to organise a flash-telephone-mob of people asking info for what to do when UFO lands on their car smashing it..

Its not a footprint, which is just a record of a search, but most insurers will enter the details of any incident that they become aware of just to ensure you "remember" to tell other insurers in the future

Custard_Pie

My Fiance called out Autoglass for Her's. The landed up replacing the whole windowscreen at £70 excess (Churchill). The Guy claimed that the chip had been filled before and could only be filled once. How would they know that?

Quentin

If it had been previously repaired he would see the repair.

If it hadn't then he was probably on LSD and hallucinating

Hoof_Hearted

"All chips turn into cracks" -- patently not true. Small chips out of sight line can be safely left. they are not a MoT issue.

Bongles

IanMSpencer wrote: »

Over the years I've discussed this with various people. I think that this is a very deceptive practice, but people in the industry don't think there is a problem.

What is it that you think is deceptive? It seems quite reasonable to imagine that someone's premium might depend on their claims history.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

Bongles wrote: »

What is it that you think is deceptive? It seems quite reasonable to imagine that someone's premium might depend on their claims history.

Not when there is a protected no-claims. The only difference between the before and after was a claim for an action that was unrelated to the actions of the insured. To find that there are two mechanisms, a no-claim and a secondary affect on the base premium is not made clear to the layman. These windscreen policies are explicitly sold with statements that your no-claims bonus will not be affected. They make no mention that they will claw back the fee by other means. That is what I call deceptive. The general public are not supposed to be expert actuaries.

Quentin

IanMSpencer wrote: »

Not when there is a protected no-claims. The only difference between the before and after was a claim for an action that was unrelated to the actions of the insured. To find that there are two mechanisms, a no-claim and a secondary affect on the base premium is not made clear to the layman. These windscreen policies are explicitly sold with statements that your no-claims bonus will not be affected. ......

A "layman" is expected to be able to understand the difference between "no claims bonus" and "premium".

When you have a chip that needs repairing and you don't want it on your insurance record the solution is not to make a claim at all - check out what a local independent will charge or DIY.

Bongles

Quentin wrote: »

A "layman" is expected to be able to understand the difference between "no claims bonus" and "premium".

Exactly. If protecting your no claims discount meant your premium was not affected by risk factors, how on earth would it be calculated?

If you expect no increase in premium after making a claim, do you also expect no reduction in premium after, e.g., reducing your annual mileage or moving house to a lower risk area?