Car Insurance - Admiral's Tactics

babychunder

First some background, in this post, and then a question in the second, and a horror story in the third. All help, advice, sympathy, cups of tea etc. very welcome.

I insured my car with Admiral in 2014 for £300-odd with protected no claims, I got a stone through my sun roof, windscreen and sunroof replaced and damage to the leather interior, cost £3,000-odd to repair.

Got my renewal notice in 2015, and it's now £700-odd. Off over to confused.com and get a quote from Elephant for £450. I phone Admiral and ask 'em why the premium's doubled. "You've had an accident Sir and you're a higher risk. Plus the premiums on your make of car have gone up this year". I say "Ok, well even if I believed that, which I don't, how come Elephant is offering the exact same policy terms for £450?" Admiral then offers to do it for £450 so I sign on for another year, congratulating myself for saving £200-odd without noticing that my premium's gone up 50%.

Got my renewal notice last week and it's just under £700. So I shop around again, on confused.com again, and I get a quote for £550 from Elephant. I call Admiral and they offer to do it for guess what £550. But since that's a 25% rise and he won't negotiate any lower I go to the meerkats website and I end up getting a similar policy for £334.

Seems to me that Admiral, who owns Confused.Com, and Elephant is "gaming" me to get my premium up. Anyone had the same experience?

babychunder

Question - See above where I describe my accident while covered with protected no claims on my own policy. Now, I am also a named driver on my wife's policy and I'm wondering if I'm obliged to declare that accident (which wasn't my fault, BTW)

babychunder

Horror Story - My wife's premium for her car was £200. Admiral demands another £300, and helps themselves to it from her credit card before she has a chance to cancel, negotiate or shop around. Admiral say it's increased the risk on her policy because I'm a named driver. There's another 22 year old named drive on there already, I'm in my 50s and never had a claim in my life other than the one above.

Quentin

babychunder wrote: »

...... Now, I am also a named driver on my wife's policy and I'm wondering if I'm obliged to declare that accident (which wasn't my fault, BTW)

Having protected no claims discount doesn't give any other benefits than it says on the tin!!

You risk having the policyholders insurance cancelled if you don't confess! (And being blameless is irrelevant to having to disclose your claims and losses to insurers when applying for cover)

Quentin

babychunder wrote: »

Horror Story - My wife's premium for her car was £200. Admiral demands another £300, and helps themselves to it from her credit card before she has a chance to cancel, negotiate or shop around. Admiral say it's increased the risk on her policy because I'm a named driver. There's another 22 year old named drive on there already, I'm in my 50s and never had a claim in my life other than the one above.

if she didn't give them instructions to add you then she has grounds to complain that this money was taken wrongly. If no instructions were given then she can get the credit card company involved too


She should follow the admiral complaints procedure, pointing out they acted prematurely and asking for a full refund. Then if unhappy with the reply or she is ignored for 8 weeks she can escalate to the FOS