Adrian Flux Car Insurance - they cancel your policy and then charge you £53???

KG

Has anyone else experienced this?

I got a text from my new car insurers about a policy I took out yesterday saying I needed to call them as my policy was in danger of being cancelled. I called and spoke to someone who wanted to basically go through the info I had given them line by line. It was odd but I agreed - they were asking very specific questions like whether the drive I keep the car on overnight is in front or behind the house, and whether it is kept on the driveway every single night without fail (those last two words overly emphasised), etc.

They kept referring to the fact that I had recently got a quote which used different info and I explained that this was the one which was auto generated when I logged back in to the comparison site I used, so they would have based it on my old address and my old job. (I amended this to get the new quote). So, in a way, I got that they might want to ask questions, but the questions just seemed ultra specific.

Finally they seized on something I said which differed slightly from the info on the form - the value of the vehicle. I must have gone with the value that the comparison site suggested, and I gave a slightly lower figure on the call. At which point they said they needed to speak to the insurers and get back to me.

They called back a few minutes later and said that the car value was now too low and they could not insure it so they were cancelling the policy. I reluctantly accepted this because I know this is a thing with some insurers, only to be told I was going to be charged more than £50 for the privilege (which is more than 1/2 of the value of the premium after insurance tax).

Of course, I argued this and asked to speak to a manager, but they kept on saying it was in the agreement I had signed up to.

I am not disputing it might have been in the agreement and maybe I should have been more cautious. However, a cynic would wonder if they were actively looking for a reason to cancel my policy given how specific the questions were. I am not saying this is what they are doing - but it would make a profitable (evil) business plan if you had a chunky fee attached, right?

I pointed this out and talked about speaking to trading standards and putting in a complaint to the comparison site, and the rep's voice changed and she was suddenly able to 'do something for me' and reduce my charge to £28.

It just all sounds not quite right - has anyone else experienced this?

EDIT

Following comments below, I have recieved confirmation from the insurance company that, as the cancellation was agreed between me and them over the phone, rather than the company deciding independently to cancel the insurance and the informing me, that this will not show on my record and I am not obliged to disclose this when applying for insurance in the future.

Quentin

Having a cancelled policy like this on your record is bad news as you must disclose the cancellation to other insurers you approach for quotes.

Most online Insurers refuse to quote in those circumstances

So do your utmost to get this policy reinstated.

Failing that then do take this through their complaints procedure and escalate to the FOS if you are not happy with the reply.

KG

Quentin wrote: »

Having a cancelled policy like this on your record is bad news as you must disclose the cancellation to other insurers you approach for quotes.

Most online Insurers refuse to quote in those circumstances

So do your utmost to get this policy reinstated.

Failing that then do take this through their complaints procedure and escalate to the FOS if you are not happy with the reply.

They won't reinstate it. They say that the value of the vehicle is now too low for them and there is nothing I can do about that one.

dunstonh

I called and spoke to someone who wanted to basically go through the info I had given them line by line.

This can happen on a risk targetted basis (your data happens to match a profile of a higher fraud group for example) or just random selection.

They kept referring to the fact that I had recently got a quote which used different info

Many insurers do have anti-fraud checks on a range of questions where people input different answers. Typically, it does it when there are multiple changes and not just one.

It just all sounds not quite right - has anyone else experienced this?

Cancellations after anti-fraud checks are not uncommon. However, where an insurer is cancelling because its outside fo their underwriting criteria, you would expect them to waive the fee.

If you are unhappy then raise a complaint. They will most likely not charge the cancellation fee as their response. Not because you are in the right or wrong here. Just that its cheaper to refund/not charge a small amount rather than create a drawn out complaint process.

Quentin

KG wrote: »

They won't reinstate it. They say that the value of the vehicle is now too low for them and there is nothing I can do about that one.

In that case a complaint that this occurred accidentally and it is unfair on you to now have to disclose this as a cancellation.

KG

Quentin wrote: »

Having a cancelled policy like this on your record is bad news as you must disclose the cancellation to other insurers you approach for quotes.

Most online Insurers refuse to quote in those circumstances

Just asked nw insurer to clarify this and they said:

"Ah okay, no this will be fine. If the other insurer could not cover due to the value of the car this will not be an issue. We would only need to be made aware if you had insurance cancelled or void for reasons such as missed payments."

Quentin

Nevertheless you do have a cancelled policy on your record (for evermore) unless you get this sorted as advised

System

KG wrote: »

They won't reinstate it. They say that the value of the vehicle is now too low for them and there is nothing I can do about that one.

I thought that having a vehicle that does not come within the insurer's criteria of acceptable vehicles was called a "declining to quote", not a cancellation?

KG

I have recieved written confirmation from the insurance company that, as the cancellation was agreed between me and them over the phone, rather than the company deciding independently to cancel the insurance and the informing me, that this will not show on my record and I am not obliged to disclose this when applying for insurance in the future.

I will edit the OP to clarify this.

System

That makes more sense. It would be worrying if one were supposed to constantly update the vehicle's value as the year progressed, in case depreciation suddenly dipped it below their acceptable figure.

Clutt1

Hi everyone,

Never used the forum before so total newbie. I am in a very bad situation and need a lot of advice. I insured with Adrian flux direct 2 years ago with my partner as named driver. We sold the car about 2 weeks ago and cancelled the car insurance policy with flux direct. Since last week ageas the underwriters have phoned me up saying I have not disclosed 6 penalty point for myself and a cancelled insurance for my partner (even though I did declare a in10 when I first took out the policy). They are now threatening to void my insurance policy and refund the 2 years worth of policy payments I have paid to them? Is this something anyone can help with? I was astonished as I would of thought they would of picked the non disclosure a lot sooner? Any advice would be greatful