Points V Driving awareness course?

arcon5

Iceweasel wrote: »

What utter verbal rubbish - verbal diarrhea.

Just read that slowly and let the full meaning of what you've said sink in.

You really can't see the difference?

There are none so blind as those that will not see.

If two people burgle a house and only one gets caught they are both equally scum - just one has a conviction one hasn't. So one can say I have a clean record the other can't, yet both are offenders.

Difference in ops case is one pays a lump upfront, loses a days pay and takes the course to preserve the licence.
One takes the points, declares to insurers and pays a little extra each year but doesn't lose a days pay and doesn't have to pay another 80.

Now which option to take isn't the same for everybody. The woman may for example have a tenner a week disposable income and earning 150 quid a day so taking the cause would bring further hardship on her unlike the points option where this is more like spreading the cost.

Get out of your own !!!! and own bubble and open your mind up to the fact not everybody is the same and certainly (fortunately) not everybody is you.

Jeeze some people!

Hintza

The insurance company have no right to ask the question and I wouldn't tell them anyway if they did. To me these questions are just a fishing trip to charge you more.

TBH though I would probably find it easier to avoid insurers if they asked the question.

Anyway it is a moot point up here in Scotland as we don't get the option of a course.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

Hintza wrote: »

The insurance company have no right to ask the question and I wouldn't tell them anyway if they did. To me these questions are just a fishing trip to charge you more.

TBH though I would probably find it easier to avoid insurers if they asked the question.

Anyway it is a moot point up here in Scotland as we don't get the option of a course.

They have every right to ask the question. Whether you answer it is another matter but then you are into a world of being potentially uninsured.

The solution is to answer the question and if you don't like the premium take your business elsewhere.

Many people's logic is that if you've done the course you should be a safer driver, their logic is that there is a statistical link between those who are caught speeding and claims, so that they want to know about those people.

I happen to believe that it is short sighted of some of the insurers. I am not sure whether the premium does go up, it does not always go up for 3 points. It may even be that they ask so that they can monitor their claims history to see if there is a difference. It would be quite interesting if they found that SAC attendees had better statistics and they potentially could be offered a reduced premium.

Hintza

IanMSpencer wrote: »

They have every right to ask the question. Whether you answer it is another matter but then you are into a world of being potentially uninsured.

They should never be able (by legal means) to find out whether you have attended a course or not.

They might as well ask you if you had weetabix in the morning, it is none of their business.

Aretnap

IanMSpencer wrote: »

They have every right to ask the question. Whether you answer it is another matter but then you are into a world of being potentially uninsured.

Not if the course is an alternative to prosecution which is spent under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (as amended). If it is you have a statutory right to answer "no" to the question, and the insurer cannot penalise you for doing so, even if they do find out.

I think that the new law is fairly clear and that SACs are indeed now covered by the ROA and that if Admiral are still charging extra for them (at least,ones done more than 3 months ago) then they're acting unlawfully. It would take a brave person not to declare them, risk having the claim refused, and then rely on making a complaint. A lower risk way to settle the matter would be to pay the extra premium, make a complaint about being treated unfairly, and ask the Financial Ombudsman to tell Admiral to refund the difference. They've indicated previously (in a slightly different context) that they'd uphold a complaint along those lines.

By way of analogy, there seems no reason why a rehabilitated drink-driver, if he had evidence, would not have an equally strong case if he was refused insurance or was given less favourable terms and conditions than other policyholders, simply because of his spent conviction. If firms insist on asking questions about spent convictions, then they must effectively ignore the answers they receive. Otherwise, we are likely to consider they have breached their statutory duty.

WillyWonga

I was caught at 36 in a 30 zone and was sent the initial letter of prosecution. Sent back admitting offence.

Was sent letter a week later offering a speed awareness course, 3 points & £100 fine or contest in court.

Opted for speed awareness at £85 - no brainer really as cheaper than fine and points plus from later this year the DVLA computer is linking with the insurance database so insurers will see how many points you will have and your quote will go up.

The courses are not office hours, they operate 7 days a week. I went on a bank holiday Monday for 4 hours. I must admit I enjoyed it and learnt some new things especially after 20 years passing my test. Its all light hearted, the 2 people taking the course were driving instructors.

At the end of the course they said you don't have to say to your insurance company that you have been on a course. You chose the course over points and insurers have no right to ask.

As long as you have not attended a course in the past 3 years you may be offered one for a speeding offence if not too serious an offence.

Johno100

WillyWonga wrote: »

Opted for speed awareness at £85 - no brainer really as cheaper than fine and points plus from later this year the DVLA computer is linking with the insurance database so insurers will see how many points you will have and your quote will go up.

It has to be said that only a fool would fail to declare points on their licence when they take out insurance.

WillyWonga wrote: »

At the end of the course they said you don't have to say to your insurance company that you have been on a course. You chose the course over points and insurers have no right to ask.

But at least one major insurance conglomerate do and neither the FOS. ABI or government appear to want to act in that regard.

topdaddy_2

As a company car driver id have the points all day long. I aint taking a day off and paying for the privilege.

AdrianC

WillyWonga wrote: »

plus from later this year the DVLA computer is linking with the insurance database so insurers will see how many points you will have and your quote will go up.

Unless you were planning on lying to your insurer, it makes no difference.

At the end of the course they said you don't have to say to your insurance company that you have been on a course. You chose the course over points and insurers have no right to ask.

I suspect they also said that if the insurer asks, then you have to be honest in your reply.

Quentin

WillyWonga wrote: »

........ 2 people taking the course were driving instructors.

At the end of the course they said you don't have to say to your insurance company that you have been on a course. You chose the course over points and insurers have no right to ask.......

As you say they were driving instructors! (Not insurance company reps, and definitely giving bad and dangerous advice)

If you don't want your insurer to know then choose one that doesn't ask.

If you are asked and lie then you breach the undertaking you give that you have been truthful in your application.