Partner’s Car Insurance Cancelled

lookoutapiano_2

Hi,

Bit of a long shot due to time passed, but would be grateful for advice. 

My partner had her car insurance cancelled on her back in 2017. The reason being that the insurer discovered the car was modified when this had not been declared, and their policies were unable to cover modified vehicle (it was a More Than, Smart Wheels policy). 

The modification was tinted rear windows - she was quite young and it was only her second car and she had no idea that this was something that would be classed as a modification. Lesson learned the hard way. 

Someone came round to the house without prior warning and took photos, and then she received the cancellation notice, no chance for her to explain or alter her policy (I know this would have likely been in the T&Cs, just seems harsh). 

This is now, and has ever since really been affecting the cost of her premium. Is there any way this can be appealed? I know it’s her fault, but it’s just a shame her naivety is costing her so much. Other than this she has no claims etc. at all since she started driving. 

If I do contact them would I just be appealing that this be altered to something like a mutual cancellation on her record?

Thanks in advance

k3lvc

Presumably there was some prior event that led to them paying a visit ? A claim ? Prior knowledge of the vehicle ? I can't imagine an insurer turning up out of the blue just to take a pic

I can't see she's a leg to stand on - and certainly not after 5 years - the time to request a mutual cancellation (which would probably have been rejected) was at the time

lookoutapiano_2

k3lvc said:

Presumably there was some prior event that led to them paying a visit ? A claim ? Prior knowledge of the vehicle ? I can't imagine an insurer turning up out of the blue just to take a pic

I can't see she's a leg to stand on - and certainly not after 5 years - the time to request a mutual cancellation (which would probably have been rejected) was at the time

No claim or anything, I can only assume they could see from previous history prior to her having the car that it had previously been noted as modified? 

She didn’t even realise anyone had been until she received the letter of cancellation. 

I thought as much regarding the time elapsed - unfortunately I didn’t know her then or I’d have made sure she at least tried to appeal it!

Thanks for your response

Sandtree

So she new the tint wasnt standard but didnt know it was a "modification" or she thought the car came with a tinted rear screen as standard?

Ultimate she, not you, can complain to them and argue the case however if they believe she either intentionally or recklessly provided wrong information then the cancellation will stand. It certainly sounds like something else was afoot that she may not be telling you about as insurers dont pay a private investigator to take photos of random customer's vehicles... she may not be aware of it either though as they may have gone for an easier way of ending the relationship with a non-disclosure cancellation rather than carry on whatever else triggered the investigation. 

As of today MoreTh<n currently state:
Please let us know if any changes have been made to your car after it was produced by the factory (e.g. engine modifications, body kits, etc.).

If she knew the window was tinted post production its hard to argue that it wouldnt fall into the scope of what they've asked for

dunstonh

Someone came round to the house without prior warning and took photos, and then she received the cancellation notice, no chance for her to explain or alter her policy (I know this would have likely been in the T&Cs, just seems harsh). 

That is highly unusual.  She must have registered high on their anti-fraud systems or had some trigger to require a visit.    Perhaps the previous owner used them as an insurer and declared it and they saw a mismatch but even then, you wouldn't expect a visit. Just a letter/email asking for clarification.

This is now, and has ever since really been affecting the cost of her premium. Is there any way this can be appealed? I know it’s her fault, but it’s just a shame her naivety is costing her so much. Other than this she has no claims etc. at all since she started driving. 

She may want to avoid the comparison sites for a while and use a specialist broker.    One where an explanation can be given and a personal decision made.  Not a computer decision that is black and white.

lookoutapiano_2

Thanks everyone for your responses!

She knew the windows had been tinted, but didn’t realise this fell under ‘modification’ as she thought this only applied to things that altered the actually mechanical/performance side of the vehicle, like the exhaust/engine etc. 

I also thought it strange that they had someone call round and take photos. 

I’ll ask her to e-mail them - it’s worth a try and she can only end up where she is now already I guess. 

Thanks for the heads up about specialist brokers as well. It’s just a shame that whilst some ask regarding last 3, or 5 years, some insurers ask if you have EVER had it cancelled, so it is going to follow her forever. 

Sandtree

lookoutapiano_2 said:

She knew the windows had been tinted, but didn’t realise this fell under ‘modification’ as she thought this only applied to things that altered the actually mechanical/performance side of the vehicle, like the exhaust/engine etc. 

At the end of the day she has little to lose but its not one to get any hopes up on... if she knew they didnt come out of the factory like that then the wording above that will have been on their website at the time make it very clear its any modification and the example given include cosmetic changes like a bodykit. 

It doesnt matter if its intentional or reckless non-disclosure, both give the insurer the right to cancel under CIDRA, and so they will give her the benefit of the doubt in that it wasnt intentional but maintain it was reckless

TELLIT01

I suspect many (most?) people assume 'modification' means mechanical changes to the vehicle, but they are wrong.  It's potentially possible for insurers to use the most trivial change to a vehicle as an excuse not to pay out. 

400ixl

Some insurers only want to know about policy history for up to 5 years, but many do not put a time limit on it at all. You need to read the question carefully for each provider you get a quote from. As mentioned above, going through a broker may help as they could have access to insurers that are more sympathetic to this circumstance.

It is unfortunate that she didn't contact then immediately as often the decision can be reversed at the time by being honest as to why it happened and paying the premium difference. Just accepting it was the worst course of action.

dunstonh

Some insurers even include dealer options as non-standard.  So, you really need to be careful when reading the explanation of modifications mean as if varies.

Sandtree

dunstonh said:

Some insurers even include dealer options as non-standard.  So, you really need to be careful when reading the explanation of modifications mean as if varies.

The norm is that factory fit optional extras are included, hence the More Th<n wording posted above which only asks for things done after it left the factory. 

Admiral and sister companies is a notable exception to this as they want all modifications declared including optional extras and then they dont actually insure them even after declaring

For secondhand cars this creates a number of challenges, knowing what was included as standard with your variant and if you do identify something is non-standard was it an optional extra factory fitted or done afterwards. Bakebean can exhausts on a Citroen Saxo X would be simple but certainly with my penultimate car fitting cruise control after production was easy and cheaper than it as an optional extra... if you dont have the original purchase invoice its hard to know if the person overpaid or did it after and so declarable.