Car Insurance NCD Proof - Rejected?

spaniel101

I have recently changed my Car Insurance Policy from Hastings Direct, to Sainsbury's.  I am aware I had 'a lot' of years NCD, but admittedly have never concentrated per say on the exact number over recent years, for the very reason that insurance companies can't seem to make their minds up, given comparison sites recently (over the last 4/5 years in my experience), the maximum allowable for selection for NCD as being '9 years or more'.  When I requested a quote from Sainsbury's Bank, I was pleasantly surprised to see a run of many years, I therefore 'plumped' for 15 years NCD not thinking too much about it.   I duly uploaded my proof of NCD from Hastings to Sainsbury's online, which specifically states (and again has done for the last 4/5 years) with each change I have done, 9 years or more.   All good.  

Sainsbury's have since informed me that the uploaded proof has been rejected.   I telephoned their 'customer service' as requested to find out why yet the poor girl didn't sound a day over 17 bless her and self-admitted, reading from a script "...we require documentation that states your 15 years NCD".  I therefore thanked her for her time but suggested it probably best I write to them as   a) I don't have proof of NCD stating 15 years, for the very reason that insurance companies have only allowed 9 years or more and b)  having looked back historically, I actually have 21 years NCD (last historic accident (fingers crossed!) was 2008, leaving '8 years NCD Allowed' - yes I still have that letter too, this rolled on over the years to 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, - insurance companies then changed their maximum allowable selections to 9 years or more from 2015/2016 onwards.

I have spent this weekend photocopying all the years Car Insurance Policies going back to 2008 proving me as named driver showing my full NCD protection on all and I am composing a letter/spreadsheet to them, stating oops apologies its actually 21 years, not 15.    Is this sensible/the correct course of action, otherwise I am at a loss of what else to say to them if they are not willing to accept the 9 years or more as it being ...more than 9 years, or is it just me?   My gut feeling is that perhaps either an office junior has been vetting these or in the very least someone not that familiar with car insurance NCD protections/max allowable limitations (me neither it seems!), or maybe they are?

  

sheramber

9 years or more could be 10 so it is not proof of 15 which is what they need.

csgohan4

if your last renewal document does not mention a specific number, You can only go by what it says, you cannot simply say 15 years when it does not state this. 

spaniel101

Thank you all.  Am I better off not bothering to ask (demand even!) that they change it to 21 years NCD then in my letter to them (I have enclosed heaps of evidence going back to 2008 to prove the continuity and insurance companies ever changing limitations) and am I right in saying then, that as the last proof only states 9 or more, that I am indeed limited to the 9 or more and they will be required to change my policy to the said 9 or more, not 15.. nor 21 (sorry, just to be clear on the stance) ?

Fundamentally, I take it this wouldn't change my policy price per say either, given their maximum parameters (although they may now try to charge an administration fee) ?

csgohan4

spaniel101 said:

Thank you all.  Am I better off not bothering to ask (demand even!) that they change it to 21 years NCD then in my letter to them (I have enclosed heaps of evidence going back to 2008 to prove the continuity and insurance companies ever changing limitations) and am I right in saying then, that as the last proof only states 9 or more, that I am indeed limited to the 9 or more and they will be required to change my policy to the said 9 or more, not 15.. nor 21 (sorry, just to be clear on the stance) ?

Fundamentally, I take it this wouldn't change my policy price per say either, given their maximum parameters (although they may now try to charge an administration fee) ?

no harm in asking your previous insurer to amend the renewal letter or clarifying with the current insurer regarding the proof you have for 21 years

dunstonh

but admittedly have never concentrated per say on the exact number over recent years, for the very reason that insurance companies can't seem to make their minds up, given comparison sites recently (over the last 4/5 years in my experience), the maximum allowable for selection for NCD as being '9 years or more'.

around 5 years is the generic level.    Some insurers go beyond that but.

When I requested a quote from Sainsbury's Bank, I was pleasantly surprised to see a run of many years, I therefore 'plumped' for 15 years NCD not thinking too much about it.   I duly uploaded my proof of NCD from Hastings to Sainsbury's online, which specifically states (and again has done for the last 4/5 years) with each change I have done, 9 years or more.   All good.  

If you select 15 years then you pretty much need to be able to evidence those 15 years.      Many people retain their renewal notices to allow them to supply the required history.   However, plenty do not do that.

 Is this sensible/the correct course of action, otherwise I am at a loss of what else to say to them if they are not willing to accept the 9 years or more as it being ...more than 9 years, or is it just me?

You are doing what you would expect to do if moving to an insurer that uses a longer period of NCD.

My gut feeling is that perhaps either an office junior has been vetting these or in the very least someone not that familiar with car insurance NCD protections/max allowable limitations (me neither it seems!), or maybe they are?

Your gut feeling is wrong.    And perhaps it's a little condescending to say its an office junior (and the earlier comment of referring to the "poor girl" and not sounding over 17?). I am certainly not one for all this woke rubbish but gender and age is not an indication that they don't know what they are doing.     What you are being asked for is quite normal and what you are doing to provide the evidence is quite normal.  You need to provide evidence of the whole period you are claiming you have in no claims.

spaniel101

Thank you csgohan4.  My last 4/5 years NCD proofs have all stated 9 years or more (max) so going back to Hastings alone will likely be a nonplus.   I think overall as you have kindly suggested, I'll ask Sainsbury's for clarity on the evidence I have provided and if they are willing to correct it to 21 years, otherwise I can only see this being a continuing issue as the years go by (although Sainsbury's at the moment seem to be the only insurance company with an endless number of years for selection and of course I'm sure they may change this goal post again no doubt!).

They can only say no I guess.

A_Lert

Maybe I'm being pessimistic, but I'd say that if Sainsbury's accept you as having proven 9 years no claims, and don't charge you additional "admin fees" for that, and don't cancel your insurance on the basis you can't prove what you said (which would totally shaft you), then that is a good result for you.

Grumpy_chap

I suspect this is heading in the direction of a cancelled policy and fraud marker.  The questions are to be asked based on what you can evidence, not whatever the applicant chose to "plump" for.  Could end up a very expensive mistake.

daveyjp

Once you get to 10 its irrelevant, hence why 9+ is stated.

spaniel101

Thank you all for your helpful advise, much appreciated.  I am reassured this is just normal and not that they are just omitting  the 9 years and more factor.   I also apologise for seemingly coming across as condescending, no malice intended I can assure you, my only excuse being early hours of the morning having had a day of putting my letter and spreadsheet together, along with 13 years worth of insurance documents (on the back of 8 weeks of home schooling!).  

I am certainly happy to negotiate on the evidence I have provided if this is the correct action expected, I purely wanted to be certain of what I am bringing to the table, without it then looking like im asking mission impossible for them to correct it to the applicable 21 years (admittedly not helped by my random 15, you live and learn!).  Clearly I know very little about insurance, but you have all enlightened me, so thank you.   I will update you all as and when.