Young drivers Insurance

robathome1

My daughter crashed her car and it was written off, she was convicted of driving without due care and attention, the insurer has not made a decision to settle.

Surly they must either pay or decline the claim, it has been over a year, is the a breach of contract? The charge 10 times the fee to cover young drivers knowing there is a much higher risk. How can the me made to make a decision?

TIA

robathome1

Just further info, she had her licence revoked, but the insurer continued to cover her on the same policy on another car, they arfe refusing top renew

Sandtree

robathome1 said:

My daughter crashed her car and it was written off, she was convicted of driving without due care and attention, the insurer has not made a decision to settle.

Surly they must either pay or decline the claim, it has been over a year, is the a breach of contract? 

Are you talking about settling the damage to her car or a third party claim against her?

If own damage, what have they said is the cause of the delay? Has she registered a formal complaint?

If third party damage, what have they said is the cause of the delay? Is the dispute on indemnity, liability or quantum? Its not uncommon for third party claims to take over a year and if injuries are involved it can easily go over multiple years if its more than a basic whiplash. 

robathome1

It was a single car accident, so no third party was involved.

"police involvement" has been the only response for a delay, the trial was 9 months after the incident, they have all the police statements etc

Sandtree

Was there any question of drink driving?

Ultimately she needs to lodge a complaint and escalate to the FOS if either she is unhappy with their response or they have not provided a final response within 8 weeks (whichever is sooner)

robathome1

No, she was breathalised.

They have refused to pay, why do they take these kids money if they refuse to take the risk? Surely that is a breach of the contract?

Sandtree

robathome1 said:

No, she was breathalised.

They have refused to pay, why do they take these kids money if they refuse to take the risk? Surely that is a breach of the contract?

Then you need to clarify on what grounds or under which clause they have declined to pay.

The end game will be to register a complaint and then escalate to the Financial Ombudsman if you are unhappy with their response (or they don't respond within 8 weeks). You are in a much better position to make a meaningful complaint if you need to understand their reasoning first.

8871Jlw

Seems a bit strange really - insurers don’t just ‘refuse’ to pay a genuine claim.

My advice is always to call them - ask why there is such a delay - ‘police involvement’ sounds trivial and in my experience, not a reason to delay paying an own damage claim unless there is an issue over indemnity.  If there was I’d have expected the insurer to advise you of what exactly that was by now.  Perhaps there’s an aspect of your daughters policy wording which excludes cover if it transpires they are convicted of a driving offence?!? I’m Just speculating! 

As the person stated above, you can always make the formal complaint to force the issue, but my advice would be to call them Monday and go through it in detail 👍🏻