Car insurance adds premium without informing me

JulioR

Hello, I hope somebody can help and advise please.

We took out car insurance with a specific company. We were happy with the quote and proceeded to go through the usual questions online. If I can remember correctly we went through a price-comparaion website.

I put in all the correct information, stating my job as a consultant (I am a consultant) and my wife as a PA (she was a PA at the time).

I have 10 years no-claims cover and gave them proof of this.

Then, in May this year somebody banged into the door of my car as I was putting my son in the car seat. We were parked and stationary. I had to chase the driver, but with a witness we put in a claim - first I've ever done.

The insurance company told me that the cost of repair was more that the value - the car was from 2006. So we bit the bullit and took the cheque and used it for a new car.

I called the insurance company added the car and thought nothing of it until they asked me about my job. I told them that I was a consultant. It turned out that the IT system had me as an engineering consultant!

Anyway, I took breakdown cover through them (thanks to MSE for pointing out the better deals that direct to RAC/AA) and so was happy.

Then today I logged in to download documents I saw that there was another one claiming an additional £70+ for change in person details. I called and asked why they had taken money without notifying me first? Is it right? Should they have contacted me by phone or email first?

I am not happy. The additional is about 1/3 extra on the premium for fully comp car.

I understand that jobs (background) do affect premiums, but I entreated correct information, hence the reason for me being angry.

I should add that they said that they will be doing an investigation into this.

Can somebody give me some insight?

Many thanks!

keith1950

This is the problem when going through comparison sites.

The questions asked are sometimes slightly different to the questions that the insurers would have asked on their website.

I assume that when you got your documents through the post/or online you didn't double check your details.

One such difference can be when the comparison site asks for Ncd and you select from a drop down menu of 1-9 years however the insurer may only go up to 5 years.

I usually find the cheapest through a comparison site and then go to the insurer via a cashback site.

If the extra cost was being taken via direct debit they should have informed you of the charge. Otherwise they should have informed you of the extra cost when you rang them.

Quentin

Them not notifying you is annoying and a complaint about their poor admin may be your approach to this.


But (assuming the charge was correctly applied) there's not a lot you can do unless you were to cancel the policy and go elsewhere, though that could well be more expensive when you factor in the charges for cancelling mid term