Car Insurance: Phantom Accident

j0nathon2

In April, somebody 200 miles away from where I am was involved in an accident and claimed it was me who drove into them. It turned out after weeks of calls, they'd made a genuine mistake and written down the wrong registration number, and Octagon told me it was now all sorted.

Come insurance renewal time, my NCD was 3 years short, as they'd deducted it for the accident! So many calls to Octagon, and they finally partially sorted it (they confirmed by email my NCD would be re-instated, but they never updated my renewal letter/schedule).

I am now with another insurer, and have received three proofs of no claim from Octagon:

A letter online stating 1 year, an email, stating 4 years and a postal letter stating 3 years (4 is correct). I am not too concerned about that discrepancy as I have one at least with the right value, but both recent letters show an accident in April as "No Fault", "No cost", "No other driver".

Could this be an issue, as I told my new insurer I've had no accidents, but Octagon's records are showing this phantom accident? I don't really want to deal with Octagon again as they're useless and incompetent, but on the other hand I don't want in 2 months time to find my insurance is cancelled or null and void because of all these discrepancies...

KingS6

To err on the safe side treat yourself as uninsured until you can establish exactly why this false incident has not been expunged from your record. As you say yourself you don't want your insurance cancelled or being voided in the event of an accident.

Not worth the months it could take to prove they should have included NCD. Plus any additional agro from being involved in an accident.

You can always take out temporary insurance and make yourself insured again. Not worth the risk if Octagon start dragging their heels. Have you sent Octagon anything in writing asking them to clarify their position, state your position and, what you want them to do about it?

arcon5

Just tell the new insurer to make a note of the situation.

Don't take out a temporary policy as suggested! That's daft.!

angrycrow

Contact Octagon and advise them that as it has been proven to be a case of mistaken registration and nothing to do with you they have to remove the record from the CUE Database. This will stop other insurers seeing the alleged accident and assuming you have lied to them about your claims history when you have not. If they refuse to do so or claim incorrectly that they cant remove it remind them that the data protection act requires all records to be accurate and recording an accident against you on CUE that it has been proven you had nothing to do with is an inaccurate record.

j0nathon2

Well I talked to Octagon today, again, and they're refusing to remove the accident.

I have now put in writing to them exactly what has happened and what I want doing to resolve it.

Ectophile

Have you worded the letter as a formal complaint? They must have a complaints procedure set out.

If they refuse to help, try the Financial Ombudsman.