Insurance Cancelled Because Of "Multiple Different Quotes"

sparker123

I did multiple quotes once out of interest, changing occupation to see what difference it makes( since I was made redundant) and I never had this problem. It seems some insurers don't care if you are unemployed any way and I wouldn't recommend putting wrong info since you are basically handing them a good reason not to pay out.

I think the comparison sites set up temporary / anonymous accounts so I never had any problems. They ask you sometimes if you have ever had insurance canceled so worth being careful I guess.

I once spoke to a pushy salesman who would have been quite happy to put my occupation as employed to sell me a policy even though I told him I was unemployed !

marlot

Hastings_Direct_company_representative wrote: »

...if you have run a number of quotes and they have each have differing information (i.e different occupations or different mileage amounts)...

That's rough for someone who is considering changing jobs!!!!

Quentin

If you want to get an idea of what the difference in premiums will be for a change of job before deciding on the new job (??) then do anonymous quotes online with the different jobs!

Dangermac

The biggest issue as I see it, is that the OP will need declare (if asked) that they have had insurance cancelled/declined. Most insurers currently ask if you have ever had insurance cancelled/declined.


May cause the OP many problems in obtaining competitive insurance.


This whole issue of cancelled/declined insurance is one which the FOS should be taking great interest in, in my humble opinion


DM

marlot

Dangermac wrote: »

...

This whole issue of cancelled/declined insurance is one which the FOS should be taking great interest in, in my humble opinion


DM

I agree. As a minimum it should be allowed to expire after (say) 5 years.

Quentin

marlot wrote: »

I agree. As a minimum it should be allowed to expire after (say) 5 years.

Although most do ask if you "ever" had a policy cancelled, search for insurers who only ask for cancellations in last 5 years (or ask a local broker - not Swinton- to help find sympathetic insurers when you have a cancellation to disclose)

eddddy

Quentin wrote: »

If you want to get an idea of what the difference in premiums will be for a change of job before deciding on the new job (??) then do anonymous quotes online with the different jobs!

Here's a more realistic real-life example, which resulted in a cancelled policy by Hastings...

• Somebody who was working in a shop, but had a university place in 6 months time.

• They wanted to know what their current premium would be (as a shop worker) and get an idea of how much it might increase by when they became a student. So got 2 quotes with 2 different occupations.

Plus...

• Added their aunt as a named driver for a quote, but initially wasn't sure of the aunt's occupation.

• Phoned aunt and asked exact occupation, and corrected it for the final quote.

Following the above, Hastings cancelled the policy.

Fortunately, the driver's parent is a barrister and could argue the case forcefully and eloquently with Hastings (with threats of FOS, legal action etc). Hastings eventually gave in and reinstated the policy a few days later.

dacouch

eddddy wrote: »

Here's a more realistic real-life example, which resulted in a cancelled policy by Hastings...

• Somebody who was working in a shop, but had a university place in 6 months time.

• They wanted to know what their current premium would be (as a shop worker) and get an idea of how much it might increase by when they became a student. So got 2 quotes with 2 different occupations.

Plus...

• Added their aunt as a named driver for a quote, but initially wasn't sure of the aunt's occupation.

• Phoned aunt and asked exact occupation, and corrected it for the final quote.

Following the above, Hastings cancelled the policy.

Fortunately, the driver's parent is a barrister and could argue the case forcefully and eloquently with Hastings (with threats of FOS, legal action etc). Hastings eventually gave in and reinstated the policy a few days later.

Best practice for an Insurer in these circumstances is to ask the customer for a written explanation. This would then be reviewed by a senior member of staff before a decision is made.

This would enable them to weed out the intentional from the innocent and ensure they do not penalise the innocent with a cancelled policy for the rest of there life.

I am surprised after the £1m+ fine for cancelling policies after Hastings made a mistake on the premium they quoted that they are not more on the ball in dealing with these.

stokesley

Quentin wrote: »

Although most do ask if you "ever" had a policy cancelled, search for insurers who only ask for cancellations in last 5 years (or ask a local broker - not Swinton- to help find sympathetic insurers when you have a cancellation to disclose)

Having recently taken out a policy with them, I noticed that RAC is one.

RozJC

Just an update....

Hastings Direct sent me out a letter saying they're working on my complaint, so now I guess I just have to wait and see if anything comes from it.