cooling off period with car insurance

BG Insurance should be avoided at all costs. Their processes actually border on criminal activity.

As an example,

1. You must be supplied details of fees, charges and get out clauses up front. (BG do not this)
2. You must be supplied details of the contract before final purchase. (BG do not do this)
3. They will not supply your insurance Certificate/Policy or even a cover note until they carry out their so called Validation Process.
4. There are technical problems on their website, which does not update the policy review (they refuse to fix this).
5. You are not given any receipt for your online transaction. You are just sent and Email with the Total cost and a 'Quote' number, not a Policy Number.

The So called Validation Process:

This is where their staff calls the customer, at which point they attempt to state that the customer did not purchase the correct cover, forcing them to re-quote.

Another thing that has been brought to my attention, where a driver has an Unspent Non Motoring Criminal conviction.

Even when disclosed, the aforementioned technical issue prevents this from being shown on the Policy Review.

Also after purchase, BG then try to ask the specific nature of the Criminal Conviction.

The law is very clear about this, any insurance company or their brokers can request such information concerning unspent non motoring criminal convictions prior to purchase, however if they ask for that information after purchase (or for specifics of the conviction). The customer has no legal obligation to supply that information.

However BG are asking for specific information after the fact, and instantly terminating the insurance if the customer refuses to supply further information. An action which has actually been illegal since 2013.


My advice to anybody purchasing from BG is. Don't!!! well not unless you want your insurance just randomly cancelled on you and massive administration/commission charges.

On another note, Visa Credit/Debit Card Handling Europe have been made aware of the Criminal actions of this company, and have been clawing back deposits etc on behalf of account holders. So far BG has not challenged any of these Charge/Claw backs. If it carries on like this, card services Europe will refuse to handle transactions to BG.

For those, who think they are obligated to stay with Barry Grainger Insurance.

If you have not received a cover note, a certificate of insurance, the policy (contract). Or even Policy number (They only email the quote number after purchase). Which is normal practice with BG.

Then you are not obligated to any contract.

Contact your Debit/Credit card company and explain to them what has occurred and that they are refusing to supply the purchased product (Without Validation, that they rarely validate unless they increase your premium). and get your Credit/Debit card company to claw the payment back. If you set up instalments, inform your bank to block the Direct Debit.

BG know their practices would never stand up in court, so ignore any attempts from so called collection agents.

It really is time that Trading Standards stepped in and shut this rogue insurance broker down. The manner in which they approach contracts is unlawful.

On another note: You do not have to declare that you have been refused insurance or have had it cancelled on you, as BG are unlawful in their practices. The Entire Industry knows this.

To be honest I am disgusted that Underwriters like Ageas and still endorsing BG's illegal behaviour and refuse to investigate the broker.