Had Personal Insurance cancelled

Callumatwal

Hi all,

I recently had a crash whilst delivering for a service called Amazon Flex. Now Amazon arrange a separate policy for this activity (hire or reward) which is designed to work on top of my personal insurance which is SD&P + Business.

Now in the event of the crash I had filled in the claim with Zurich since at that moment in time, I was effectively insured with Zurich rather than Hastings. Everything was good up until then.

Yesterday I get a call from Hastings since the 3rd party made a claim and its come up as I'm insured with Hastings (by default on the MID). I explained that I had other cover arranged for me while I deliver and that I had already notified Zurich. I also have all policy numbers and reference numbers so they could forward it on.

Today I get a lovely text from Hastings saying my policy has been cancelled because they do not allow use of a "dual policy" ie. being insured by two seperate insurers.

Now, I'm looking hard in the policy info to find anything about this but I cannot find anything regarding this.

Whats the deal here?

lisyloo

Now, I'm looking hard in the policy info to find anything about this but I cannot find anything regarding this.

Ask them for the section/paragraph/page number in your policy.


This is very worrying because apart form the fact you are no longer insured you'll have to say yes to the question "have you EVER had insurance cancelled" for EVER, which may increase premiums and certaintly make it difficult to get on-line quotes in the usual way.


You need to make it clear that you weren't covered under two policies at the time.

Callumatwal

Ask them for the section/paragraph/page number in your policy.

- yup I asked her for the line in my policy which states this.


However, they've now given me another reason (I wrote this post whilst on hold). So this job with Amazon Flex isn't any kind of permanent employment, I dont do it for a living or anything of the sort.

They've probably scrutinised my policy and seen that I didn't put it down as an occupation.
The thing is while I partake in this activity, I'm not insured with Hastings, I'm insured with Zurich. For me to put the occupation of a delivery driver on Hastings or any insurance would mean it would sky rocket - because then they would surely have to cover me for this activity too (hire or reard etc).

But this is not the case, I don't do it for a living, it's not deemed to me as an occupation of any kind. I'm a student.

The fact hat I've had a crash whilst partaking in this activity and the claim is being settled with Zurich means that its nothing to do with Hastings! So why are they allowed to cancel my policy? Surely this is unfair and unjust?

Nasqueron

Get the facts sorted and write a formal complaint to Hastings, you need this cancellation reversed due to the long term impact on premiums

Quentin

You will find that hastings do need informing about occupation changes - you can see a delivery driver is a different profile to whatever you told them was your occupation


That looks to be the problem here!


Make sure you disclose your part time role to any new insurer you approach for quotes now, as well as this cancellation

Callumatwal

From a insurance glossary, I see occupation defined as:

Occupation
is the job, career or profession that an individual does for a living. It is a term used to summarise the work, tasks and activities that you do for your job.

I don't do this for a living. I'm not "employed" by Amazon.

My point is, okay if I had informed them that I occasionally do deliveries, they'd probably hike my premium up a lot. But for what reason? They're not the ones that would settle any claim in the event of an incident, Zurich would. This is the logic I followed of why I kept it as it is. I'm a student and do not have any proper job on the side.

If I was employed by an employer as per say, then that makes sense to put it as a secondary occupation. This however, seems different given that I have a seperate policy which covers me for this

lisyloo

As above start the clock ticking on a formal complaint. You need this reversed as it will have long lasting effects, so this is a battle you need to fight.


Obviously you shouldn't drive the car or even leave it on the public road until it is insured. Do you have a private driveway you can put it on short term?

Quentin

Callumatwal wrote: »

My point is, okay if I had informed them that I occasionally do deliveries, they'd probably hike my premium up a lot.

You miss the point - you agreed to inform them of occupation changes and didn't!


A breach of policy conditions designed to get a lower premium does allow them to cancel.


And expect future premiums to be much more expensive with this on your record for evermore to disclose

keith1950

You are acting as a self employed courier for Amazon and whilst Zurich may be covering that driving Hastings need to know if you have any other employment.
Insurance is all about statistics and risk and , as an example , if you drive for Amazon you could be more tired than usual when you might later drive on your Hastings policy.
You have not been informing Hastings about you total driving risks.
As such it appears that you have misrepresented those risks to Hastings and as such broken the terms and conditions that you must have acknowledged when buying the insurance.
I think you are clutching at straws to trying to justify this and basically haven't got a leg to stand on.

Callumatwal

As above start the clock ticking on a formal complaint. You need this reversed as it will have long lasting effects, so this is a battle you need to fight.


Obviously you shouldn't drive the car or even leave it on the public road until it is insured. Do you have a private driveway you can put it on short term?

They've given me 7 days notice so I'm insured til next Wednesday. And yeah I do have a driveway.

I have started a complaint within Hastings, if nothing comes from it I think the ombudsman is the next option?

you agreed to inform them of occupation changes and didn't

I hear what you're saying, but how is it an occupation when that's defined as being something which is for a living? I deliver under a commercial insurance policy (when I do).

The irony of this is this was the first "block" I did under my new policy. It was bad luck I had an accident but that's all being sorted with Zurich. Is every little thing I do to make a buck here and there considered an occupation now?

paddyandstumpy

Callumatwal wrote: »

They've given me 7 days notice so I'm insured til next Wednesday. And yeah I do have a driveway.

I have started a complaint within Hastings, if nothing comes from it I think the ombudsman is the next option?

I hear what you're saying, but how is it an occupation when that's defined as being something which is for a living? I deliver under a commercial insurance policy (when I do).

The irony of this is this was the first "block" I did under my new policy. It was bad luck I had an accident but that's all being sorted with Zurich. Is every little thing I do to make a buck here and there considered an occupation now?

You're getting hung up on what an 'occupation' is. You shouldn't.

Aside from the fact you are earning money by working for Amazon, to live (the very definition of earning a living!!); what is the question on your statement of facts?

I bet it's "Full Time Job" and "Part Time Job"? As such; you should have disclosed it's your part time job. Whether you then use the car for this and/or require insurance for this is an irrelevance; you withheld a material fact.

If you had disclosed and told them you have cover elsewhere for this they may or may not have taken a different course of action.

By withholding the information you withdrew their right to make that decision.