Car Insurance Article Discussion

WildTDDi

mikey72 wrote: »

If you have always had two vehicles, why haven't you earned two full ncds?
I've got several, those on mainstream polices all have full ncd earned over the year, the classics and kit car are on specialist agreed value polices, but don't earn ncd on that type of policy.

Unfortunately, although I have had two cars for the last 5 or 6 years or so, it hasn't been the same two. I went down to one car for about 6 months (the one with the full NCD), but due to fuel costs and the fact that this car I use for shows and meets, I didn't want to put the extra mileage on, so bought a Mondy diesel for daily running about in. Because I have only owned the car for a year, the mx NCD I can have is 1 year. My previous cars did have full NCD, but because I sold them and there was a gap in the insurance I had to start again. I should have kept my old policy going, despite not having the car any longer and then tell my insurance company I'd bought a new car and to move my NCD earned on my prior car to my new one. Oh well, you live and learn!! However, my new insurance company I've just set up a policy with (believing I had full NCD) are now threatening to CANCEL my policy!! Arrghhh!! you just can't win!!! So, I have written an email explaining what has happened, hopefully they will just make an amendment to my new policy (which will cost me a lot more money than first quoted)

System

Most good car insurance companies would be able to apply the NCD from your previous policy even though there was a gap of 6 months (2 years gap is often allowable), so the fact you have only owned this newer 2nd car for a year should have nothing to do with the NCD applicable to the 2nd car policy.

mikey72

Beat me to it.

If you'd had two policies, you should have two full ncd. As above, a gap of up to two years is normally ok.

However, if you are using one full ncd already, you can't use it again, as you appear to have done.
But, if you still have evidence of the second full ncd, or can contact your old insurer and obtain it, and it's less than two years old, you new insurer may accept it. Keep in contact with them though, don't let them cancel.

ghost_writer

I just want to warn people against using a company called E-Car Insurance. I was caught out because after paying an online premium of £935 for the year, I found that I couldn't get my NCD that I thought I was entitled to (this was due to personal reasons).
I then tried to contact the company who had a premium rate phone line but after about 10 minutes on hold (at £1 a minute) I was back at the start menu. They were very slow to reply to my emails by which time I was out of the 14 cancellation period, and they then told me that the premium would double without the NCD. I then asked to cancel the policy. This was over 2 months ago and despite my repeatedly emailing them they have only just responded. They are now offering to refund me just £178. They claim they must take:
- £200 Commission - £129.88 Time On Risk - £339.55 Non Disclosure fee - £12 Insurance Premium Tax on Commission - £75 Cancellation fee - £0.38 Legal Expenses
I think this is pretty bad behaviour and doesn't take into account the issues of my situation or the amount of time it took them to respond to my queries. I know I was probably quite unaware that I couldn't get hold of my NCD and I think there needs to be more public information about how this works, as I think Insurance companies probably rely on the fact that people don't fully understand the complexities of the system.
Anyway I feel really conned and have lost a lot of money at a time when I am in a very stressful life situation.
So I would advise anyone to avoid this company, they do seem cheaper but it's because of their 'email only' communication which as I've illustrated makes it well-nigh impossible to sort out a problem.

mikey72

Submit a formal written complaint, then refer it to the FOS.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/54/insurance.htm

WildTDDi

BAA1 wrote: »

Most good car insurance companies would be able to apply the NCD from your previous policy even though there was a gap of 6 months (2 years gap is often allowable), so the fact you have only owned this newer 2nd car for a year should have nothing to do with the NCD applicable to the 2nd car policy.

Oh right, ok? Well I'm even more confused, as the insurance company I have gone to, to insure my second car is my "old" insurance company and I advised I had two cars with them before, both with full NCD. However, they said due to the gap, they couldn't/wouldn't use this and that I had to start again. Can I go back to them and complain about this? as they should still have the records surely?? As they have now set up my policy with only 1 year NCD and I have had to pay out well over £480 due to this fact, whereas with the full NCD it would only be £285.

WildTDDi

mikey72 wrote: »

Beat me to it.

If you'd had two policies, you should have two full ncd. As above, a gap of up to two years is normally ok.

However, if you are using one full ncd already, you can't use it again, as you appear to have done.
But, if you still have evidence of the second full ncd, or can contact your old insurer and obtain it, and it's less than two years old, you new insurer may accept it. Keep in contact with them though, don't let them cancel.

Thanks for this, see my reply to BAA1.

alanaberdeen

I'm changing my car at the end of next week so I phoned my Insurance Co. (One Call Direct) at the end of last week to get quotes on a couple of cars I was looking at.
For both cars I was told there would be a payment of £55 required, but no change of monthly pament. After checking my policy I see they charge £55 for any amendment, but I thought there would be a change in the repayments too, probably less but not sure as its a newer car but a lower insurance group (Group 12 down to group 6), should I ask them if there is a change in payments?
Is the £55 fee a bit steep too?

System

WildTDDi wrote: »

Oh right, ok? Well I'm even more confused, as the insurance company I have gone to, to insure my second car is my "old" insurance company and I advised I had two cars with them before, both with full NCD. However, they said due to the gap, they couldn't/wouldn't use this and that I had to start again. Can I go back to them and complain about this? as they should still have the records surely?? As they have now set up my policy with only 1 year NCD and I have had to pay out well over £480 due to this fact, whereas with the full NCD it would only be £285.

Send a letter of complaint, the complaints procedure should be documented in your policy information.

System

alanaberdeen wrote: »

I'm changing my car at the end of next week so I phoned my Insurance Co. (One Call Direct) at the end of last week to get quotes on a couple of cars I was looking at.
For both cars I was told there would be a payment of £55 required, but no change of monthly pament. After checking my policy I see they charge £55 for any amendment, but I thought there would be a change in the repayments too, probably less but not sure as its a newer car but a lower insurance group (Group 12 down to group 6), should I ask them if there is a change in payments?
Is the £55 fee a bit steep too?

alanaberdeen - you have duplicated this same post - see : https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3523417

If they have said that the premium from the date of change of car up to the end of the current cover period will not change, then why question it ?
The renewal premium may change when it becomes due.

If the admin charge is shown as £55 on your policy documentation, then you agreed to that amount when you took out the insurance, why does anyone think it is okay to complain after the fact ? if you didn't like the charge you should not have taken out that policy should you.