Backdated insurance cancellation?

robw88

Hi,

I recently had an insurance policy for a van, and needed to add a new employee as a named driver. Unfortunately, due to the employee's age they wouldn't cover him. I have since taken out new insurance, but forgot to cancel the old policy.  I was hoping the old insurer may backdate the cancellation from the date of our new policy, but they say they will only do that if the vehicle was sold. 

Are there any code of practices for insurance I can look through to see if they should backdate the cancellation? It's about 6 months' worth of premium, so it's not an insignifcant sum!

Many thanks

Sandtree

Due to MID reporting requirements there is probably more pressure on them not to backdate it than to backdate it... MID state the number of days from the effective date of a change that it must be reported to them, insurers dont have to get 100% in the time limit because there will be policies cancelled back to inception for Fraud etc but it is very high 90s percent and so any insurer is reluctant to face the sanctions for failing to hit target (which ultimately can result in them being banned from writing motor insurance in the uk) just because a policyholder forgot to cancel.