Bikesure policy price increase and cancellation

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Good evening everyone

I hope someone will be able to give me advice as an expert, a person who within insurance business or someone who also experienced this kind of situation. Would be really grateful for help, not only me personally but I think there is much more people according to reviews and comments Bikesure gets in the internet (I googled a bit).

 To begin with, my former insurance company MCE which I was for over 3 years went into administration, so my cover ended at the end of January. For that reason I had to shop around for a new company that would cover my bike, which I did via gocompare I think (not sure, I checked a few comparison sites like moneysupermarket, confused, etc.). The best what doesn’t mean the cheapest deal was provided by Bikesure, which with some additional things that I added was £460. I’ve got accepted, paid the amount in full and got my paperwork in my consumers account, so far so good.

Cover starts the next day. Next day or 2 days later I’ve got a message from Bikesure with bold red letters saying Immediate action needed. You may not be covered and advising to contact Bikesure to provide additional information. When I spoke on the phone with one of the consultants she asked a few questions, told she will get everything done in the system and put me on hold, just to inform me a few minutes later that the style I use a bike is business use not commuting, and kindly offered me to change it with increase my premium to £860 (for 125 bike!). I assumed that when I use a bike to go to work in the morning and come back in the afternoon home it’s commuting, I wouldn’t be able to carry a toolbox and run from client to client anyway (I’m self employed trade working on big sites in London, so when I get a job I spend a while in the same place). I said I want to shop around and been told that insurance can be put on hold for a week and to cancel it will cost £90 (rip off, they don’t inform about that before you sing the contract with them, their website FAQ says “The cancellation figures are not part of what have to be advised to you when you take the policy out, which is why we send the policy booklet out to you and also offer the 14-day cooling off period.” ). She put it on hold and not much later I’ve got a message from another insurance company that covers my car that they want me to provide some documents, because they are concerned about my policy (all sorted and fine).

Now comes my question part. I cancelled policy with bikesure within 14 day cooling off period, they charged me about 90 pounds and I got refunded the rest of the money within few days. But when I asked consultant if that cancellation (asked by me, I don’t want to have anything to do with them) will affect me in future she said that cancellation is cancellation and I have to inform insurers in future about it, which obviously, at least on comparison sites excludes me from quoting in almost all companies. The question is does it really count that I had my policy cancelled when I did it myself? On many sites like confused that it’s different when you cancel policy or get it cancelled. The more I read the more confused I am. Is it going to affect me for the rest of my life as they say or at least for at least few years? And what can I do with extortion-like bikesure attitude which suggests “you take twice the price from us or you will have problems anyway” (their arrogant consultants that treat the customer at least like he’s mentally !!!!!! when you disagree with them are separate thing).

I would be really grateful for any advice.

Thank you and have you all a nice and peaceful evening

 

 

dunstonh

Now comes my question part. I cancelled policy with bikesure within 14 day cooling off period, they charged me about 90 pounds and I got refunded the rest of the money within few days. But when I asked consultant if that cancellation (asked by me, I don’t want to have anything to do with them) will affect me in future she said that cancellation is cancellation and I have to inform insurers in future about it, which obviously, at least on comparison sites excludes me from quoting in almost all companies. 

If you cancel it then it's not declarable to other companies.

(I’m self employed trade working on big sites in London, so when I get a job I spend a while in the same place)

  Self-employed going to locations of a client is business use. Not commuting.

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dunstonh said:

Now comes my question part. I cancelled policy with bikesure within 14 day cooling off period, they charged me about 90 pounds and I got refunded the rest of the money within few days. But when I asked consultant if that cancellation (asked by me, I don’t want to have anything to do with them) will affect me in future she said that cancellation is cancellation and I have to inform insurers in future about it, which obviously, at least on comparison sites excludes me from quoting in almost all companies. 

If you cancel it then it's not declarable to other companies.

(I’m self employed trade working on big sites in London, so when I get a job I spend a while in the same place)

  Self-employed going to locations of a client is business use. Not commuting.

Thank you for your comment. Now I know the difference. I assumed that if I have just one job, don't make money on my bike and it doesn't make me any profit other than taking me from one place to another like a bus that it's commuting, which I was wrong.