Didn't pay insurer last year, renewed insurance and they want payment for last year?

GEJ098

Hi

I've just gone to renew my car insurance and my insurer has told me I didn't pay them anything last year, so I now owe them for last years insurance premiums.

Now, assuming the benevolent insurer insured me when I'd not paid them, how do I check this please?

Obviously it's huge mistake on my part, but it seems incredible they'd not bothered to contact me when I was supposed to be paying them monthly and that they still apparently covered me during this time.

Thanks

Weighty1

Check with your bank.....

GEJ098

I'm sorry, I don't follow? I didn't pay anything last year and my bank isn't my insurer.

I wasn't clear. I wondered if there's a way (insurance database?) where I can see if my car insurance was valid last year, despite me having not paid for it.

My insurer insists I owe them for last year as they say I was covered despite not having paid anything for a whole year.

BoGoF

If they didn't formally cancel your insurance then you were covered whether you paid or not......which is lucky for you.

Pay up for the cover you had.

JGB1955

Ask for s copy of your insurance certificate for last year?

dunstonh

Now, assuming the benevolent insurer insured me when I'd not paid them, how do I check this please?

Simple. If the policy was in force then it was in force. Payment is a separate issue.

Obviously it's huge mistake on my part, but it seems incredible they'd not bothered to contact me when I was supposed to be paying them monthly and that they still apparently covered me during this time.

Often with monthly premiums, you are doing it under a credit agreement. This often involves third parties or an extra layer of admin. That layer sometimes becomes unlinked and the insurer thinks you are paying when you are not. They usually find out but often not until later in the term.

Lorian

if you haven't renewed yet https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/

zagubov

I'm baffled why you're challenging them at all. You'd be in much deeper doo-doo if they'd stopped insuring you and you'd driven around and got spotted by the authorities.

GEJ098

dunstonh wrote: »

Simple. If the policy was in force then it was in force.

Often with monthly premiums, you are doing it under a credit agreement. This often involves third parties or an extra layer of admin. That layer sometimes becomes unlinked and the insurer thinks you are paying when you are not. They usually find out but often not until later in the term.

Thanks, that add some clarity to how they work and why they want payment.

zagubov wrote: »

I'm baffled why you're challenging them at all. You'd be in much deeper doo-doo if they'd stopped insuring you and you'd driven around and got spotted by the authorities.

I'm not challenging them. I'm paying them, albeit £180 per month. I'm curious for the very reasons you mention, because if I wasn't insured for the period in question, then why would I pay them...

agrinnall

It's simple, you can't renew insurance that isn't currently in force, so if they are allowing you to renew for the next year then you are currently covered. Whether you paid or not is irrelevant to the cover being in place.



The other issue is whether renewing is the right thing to do, for car insurance it is rarely the sensible money saving option so if you haven't checked elsewhere you should do so now.

System

It seems to me you have been very lucky to get away with this. Grab their goodwill while you can and pay up in full asap before they change their mind.
What's the point in arguing with something that has, rarely, worked in your favour?