Car insurance cancelled as multiple addresses used when looking at quotes.

Sea_Shell

Back in the good old days, you'd pop into your local broker, they'd get out the rating guide from your insurer and be able to show you the different rating groups for each postcode. They'd probably let you have a copy too.

There are many good things about online insurance and comparison sites...but when they get this twitchy over perceived "dodgy" quotes and decisions are automated, reason doesn't come into it.

Jumblebumble

BoGoF wrote: »

Every time you get a quote you are saying the information you provided is true and accurate. By accepting the comparison site T and C's you are giving permission for them to share.

You have made an all to common mistake. All you can do is explain and hope for the best.

By your logic If I am going to move house in 2 weeks and my insurance expires in 3 weeks but want to take advantage of the fact that insurance is cheaper if you do not need it to start for 3 weeks I am unable to do so.
This makes no sense whatever and I would be confident in suggesting that the ombudsman would give this nonsensical stance short shrift.

FutureGirl

Jumblebumble wrote: »

By your logic If I am going to move house in 2 weeks and my insurance expires in 3 weeks but want to take advantage of the fact that insurance is cheaper if you do not need it to start for 3 weeks I am unable to do so.
This makes no sense whatever and I would be confident in suggesting that the ombudsman would give this nonsensical stance short shrift.

No because you know that at the time the policy starts, the address would be correct.

Also, insurers do check the IP addresses quotes are made from (can't remember who asked that Q)

Marvel1

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Maybe the advice to those who wish to do similar is do it in a false name so they can't track it back - would that work or do they check IP addresses. Sorry OP this won't help you.

Also clear cookies each time.

I was using moneysupermarket, gocompare etc and each time I was clearing cookies before I did a new one (same details just different site).

[Deleted User]

Best thing to do is get a VPN service. Open the site in a private browsing window and do a quote. Then close the private window, switch to a different IP address by changing VPN server, and open a new private window for the next quote.

Always use a fake name and address.

jugeo12

The insurer will likely be exercising their cancellation rights under the general conditions of the policy however my concern is under what grounds?

I know under a potential non disclosure / misrepresentation situation (where you fail to provide the correct information) an insurer cannot use previous quote enquires as grounds to cancel or void because you have no legal relationship with a quotation i.e. anyone can get a quote but it is only legally binding under contract law if it is accepted - I would imagine to some extent this might extend to this scenario..

My incline is that the have cancelled on the grounds they suspect some kind of fraud - again, I would get them to confirm the exact reasons.

What is very surprising though is that they actually sent this letter of action without contacting you first for a potential explanation!! What you have explained seems certainly reasonable to me and for them to cancel your policy without some form of explanation or proper investigation is wildly unacceptable. The FOS would crucify them for this.

My advice is to get them to clarify their reasoning for cancellation and then under what condition of the policy they are enforcing this under. Then, raise a complaint and get them to place the outcome on hold pending a full and proper investigation, querying why they cancelled without speaking to you about the circumstances first. Do not allow them to let your policy cancel during this as they need to satisfy the complaint before leaving you without cover.

Hopefully this is of some help to you.

*If in the worst case scenario they do cancel, get them to place in writing their comments that you DO NOT have to disclose this to other insurance companies. Not all other insurance companies will see it like they do however if you have it in writing and later something arises, that is your pass out of it. The newer insurer cannot reasonably hold you responsible for not mentioning this upon the advice of another industry provider.

Boggles190

I suspect it might be too late to help now as it's the 24th, but just in case.

Looking at Esure's sample policy, the cancellation right of the insurer is on page 24 and 25 and lists reasonable suspicion of fraud as a reason for giving 7 days notice of cancellation. From my days selling car insurance, obtaining quotes with multiple different addresses was a fraud inidicator and we had some people who would blantly ask where the ceapeat postcode was and then say they lived there!

I suspect it's the above they've issued the cancellation on the basis of. They have been very quick to jump on it and haven't sought an explanation either (possibly an automated process) so they seem to be acting very unfairly. Just because a fraud indicator has been triggered, doesn't mean there is any actual fraud.

You've done the right thing by raising a complaint, I would also ask for a policy extension. I doubt they will agree to keep the policy going indefinitely while the complaint is investigated, but they should at the very least give another 14 days. If you're unhappy with the complaint outcome, refer to the FOS.

As an aside, their policy wording says the cancellation will be done by letter to your last known address, it doesn't say email. It doesn't appear they're following their own cancellation process properly.

Kernel_Sanders

DELETED USER wrote:

Always use a fake name and address.

You can't use a fake address, it has to be a genuine one that appears in the national register of addresses
Of course, you mean use a fake name at somebody else's address but if that address was yours, wouldn't you be rather annoyed that it might put any subsequent quotes you make under suspicion?

Quentin

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

You can't use a fake address, it has to be a genuine one that appears in the national register of addresses
Of course, you mean use a fake name at somebody else's address but if that address was yours, wouldn't you be rather annoyed that it might put any subsequent quotes you make under suspicion?

If you have any worries use a neighbour's house number who annoys you!

[Deleted User]

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

You can't use a fake address, it has to be a genuine one that appears in the national register of addresses
Of course, you mean use a fake name at somebody else's address but if that address was yours, wouldn't you be rather annoyed that it might put any subsequent quotes you make under suspicion?

I find that a real postcode but fake house number usually works fine. Put the house number in a 34b or something, since there isn't very likely to be a 34b.