Car insurers requiring additional documents and proof and threatening cancellation

Cripes

Hi folks

Just wondered how common it now is to have to provide the following additional documentation (scans etc) upon taking out new motoring insurance (car and bike):

V5 (all pages)
Driving Licence (I have the old paper type)
Utility bill within last 3 months
DVLA licence share code

In the past I've posted off proof of no-claims bonus but having recently taken out car and bike insurance I've had requests to provide all of the above. What annoyed me was the fact I was on holiday and received a notice of insurance cancellation on my return, for not supplying the documents. The arrival of the new V5 in my name is completely outwith my control, and down to the supplying dealership and the DVLA.

Additionally, I got asked to provide an MOT certificate for a classic car I have laid up. The insurer decided they would cancel my insurance if I didn't supply it so I had to rearrange alternative cover. Ironically, I only required the insurance to drive the car from the supplying garage to the MOT station, where it currently resides, awaiting work to pass an MOT (was pre-booked etc).

When I rang up about the bike docs they said it was purely a random thing, but I'm wondering whether there's a marker against me? The reason is that I did have a car insurance cancellation request sent to me for a car I don't own and have never heard of. When I rang up to state this they said my details had been used to obtain insurance and they urged me to report it to Action Fraud. After the call they said don't worry, but check your bank account (no money had been taken by the insurance company) and we're satisfied you are not at fault. They confirmed this in writing, but another letter arrived the very next day saying I was being reported. I assumed they'd got mixed up in the post and the letter stating I was in the clear was the definitive one.

Bit worried my card is marked now, what with all the data sharing.

AdrianC

Is the classic pre-1960? If so, it'd be MOT exempt, but an insurer's perfectly free to require you to get one.

Given that you're on an old paper licence, I suspect that you've failed their normal ID check.

Cripes

It's a 1984 Merc. They even want me to photograph the speedo! I understand they can ask for anything and set the parameters, but was just amused that after three decades of being trusted by insurance companies (clean licence, never made a claim) I suddenly find myself under great scrutiny with a hard line attitude and a tight timescale.

AdrianC

Cripes wrote: »

It's a 1984 Merc. They even want me to photograph the speedo!

Limited mileage policy?

Mobeer

It might be worth checking with one or more credit reference agencies:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/credit-reference

Ignore any so-called "credit score" but check they have the correct details for you.

Cripes

Thanks for that - it's a laid up policy, so understandably they want to ensure it's not used meantime - fair enough.

Interesting about checking credit agencies. I signed up to Clearscore no problem, but Noddle said "Sorry, we haven’t been able to verify and validate your identity and can’t provide your credit report."

I provided identical details to both and have had same house, bank, job for 30 years, and voted in all elections!

facade

Cripes wrote: »

it's a laid up policy, so understandably they want to ensure it's not used meantime - fair enough.

I fail to see why: a laid up policy would only provide third party cover in the event of the vehicle being driven whilst stolen, so what difference does the mileage make?


I don't get this "utility bill" idea either, like a lot of people, I don't get paper bills any more to save money. Dare say I could cobble something up on the pc if I had to though

rs65

facade wrote: »

I fail to see why: a laid up policy would only provide third party cover in the event of the vehicle being driven whilst stolen, so what difference does the mileage make?

Would it? I understood laid up policies to effectively be property cover with no motor certificate, although I haven't seen a laid up policy for years. Why would it provide third party cover at all?

ukmike

Is the classic pre-1960? If so, it'd be MOT exempt

Wrong,any car over 40 years old is exempt.

It was announced in the 2014 budget that from April 2014, the classic car exemption from VED (road tax) will begin rolling from 40 years

AdrianC

ukmike wrote: »

Wrong,any car over 40 years old is exempt.

<cough> You do know the difference between VED and MOT, right?

ukmike

Oops!.....