VOIDED INSURANCE

[liam18james]

Hi Folks. Looking for general advice here. A bus hit my car by pulling out of junction and claimed they never saw me. Clearly not my fault. Didn't declare an exhaust tip. Insurance claiming this is performance enhancing which clearly isn't. Any advice on how to challenge this??

Also, looking to purchase new car and insurance hasn't been voided at the minute but they are threatening to void. Does this go to a database for other insurers to see? Basically asking how all this effects me and how I can sort this situation into a situation which is best outcome for me

[CraigyMc]

liam18james said:

Hi Folks. Looking for general advice here. A bus hit my car by pulling out of junction and claimed they never saw me. Clearly not my fault. Didn't declare an exhaust tip. Insurance claiming this is performance enhancing which clearly isn't. Any advice on how to challenge this??

Also, looking to purchase new car and insurance hasn't been voided at the minute but they are threatening to void. Does this go to a database for other insurers to see? Basically asking how all this effects me and how I can sort this situation into a situation which is best outcome for me

It doesn't have to be a performance modification to affect your insurance.

See: every body kit in the world.

[liam18james]

But they are specifically saying it's performance enhancing. When it isn't. It's purely cosmetic.

[Burnzyb]

Regardless, if it was just an exhaust tip then that's just foul play, make sure you name and shame if they do decide to void so we can avoid these con artists.

That's like saying we've voided your insurance because you've fitted them seat belt pad things.

[liam18james]

I wondered if this was just me who thought so. No different than changing my seat covers for example. Is there any agencies/companies that can help in situations like this?

[ChemicalChaos]

You might like to try the insurance ombudsman, who can lean on insurers who are taking the piss

[Codswallop]

liam18james said:

Hi Folks. Looking for general advice here. A bus hit my car by pulling out of junction and claimed they never saw me. Clearly not my fault. Didn't declare an exhaust tip. Insurance claiming this is performance enhancing which clearly isn't. Any advice on how to challenge this??

Also, looking to purchase new car and insurance hasn't been voided at the minute but they are threatening to void. Does this go to a database for other insurers to see? Basically asking how all this effects me and how I can sort this situation into a situation which is best outcome for me

The story doesn't add up. Surely if you got hit, the bus company's insurance is dealing with your claim. Why would your insurance void your cover? Usually they just adjust any payout to take account of the higher premium if you had insured your car properly and declared all modifications (which they would have asked about at start of policy).

[anonymous-user]

Financial Ombudsman is last course of action really and takes time. you could threaten them.

How bad/good was the exhaust tip?

You really need to speak with someone higher up, if it is a non fault accident I really can't see why they would void your insurance.

'an insurer must not: .unreasonably reject a claim made by a customer'

[liam18james]

I called my insurance and informed them about the accident. They took forward my claim, took my car and then called to say there was a "performance enhancing exhaust" undeclared. I told them that in no way is it performance enhancing. Now threatening to declare void. I don't understand the whole thing because I am not to blame. I was driving along my street when bus pulled out into side of me.

I have seen the FOS and wondered if they could help me out

[Boosted LS1]

OP, ask them to explain how much performance has been gained by fitting a bit of bling to your exhaust pipe.

[RWD cossie wil]

Whilst I always say declare your mods, an exhaust trim is just ridiculous... what about non standard tyres? Pretty much every Car on the road would have had a different brand on at some point?

[liam18james]

Tying to palm me off by saying their engineers are telling them it's performance enhancing. What are my options? Try threatening them with FOS and anything else?!?

[discusdave]

liam18james said:

I called my insurance and informed them about the accident. They took forward my claim, took my car and then called to say there was a "performance enhancing exhaust" undeclared. I told them that in no way is it performance enhancing. Now threatening to declare void. I don't understand the whole thing because I am not to blame. I was driving along my street when bus pulled out into side of me.

I have seen the FOS and wondered if they could help me out

you my young friend are about to be raped! ..

[Odhran]

liam18james said:

Tying to palm me off by saying their engineers are telling them it's performance enhancing. What are my options? Try threatening them with FOS and anything else?!?

Ask to see the engineer's report.

[Matt UK]

liam18james said:

Tying to palm me off by saying their engineers are telling them it's performance enhancing. What are my options? Try threatening them with FOS and anything else?!?

Tell them you believe that this is not the case and that your solicitor would like a copy of the engineers report.

[liam18james]

Ok I will give them a call tomorrow and speak to them about all the points. I just want to know what my options are.

My second question though; who is informed about my voided insurance? Is their a database?

[Swoxy]

Claim from the bus driver's insurer.

[Mound Dawg]

When I worked for a large insurance broker one of the companies we dealt with tried to do this to a customer we'd insured with them. Same thing, twin tailpipe fitted. The car was a five year old Focus Ghia and the guy was mid forties so we were hardly in Max Power territory.

I told the underwriter not to do this, I explained to him how he was going to look like a complete tw@t when the customer complained to the Ombudsman and his head office made him reverse his decision. I told him they should pay the claim, keep the policy until renewal then we'd place it elsewhere then.

He went with his original decision to void.

It played out exactly like I told him it would.

And yes OP, there is a database so you need to get this sorted!

Edited by Mound Dawg on Monday 27th March 22:55

[Wacky Racer]

liam18james said:

Hi Folks. Looking for general advice here. A bus hit my car by pulling out of junction and claimed they never saw me. Clearly not my fault. Didn't declare an exhaust tip. Insurance claiming this is performance enhancing which clearly isn't. Any advice on how to challenge this??

Also, looking to purchase new car and insurance hasn't been voided at the minute but they are threatening to void. Does this go to a database for other insurers to see? Basically asking how all this effects me and how I can sort this situation into a situation which is best outcome for me

If the "trim" was just decorative you should not have anything to worry about. What was the value of the car?

When you take out new insurance on your "new" car, one of the questions will almost certainly be have you had any accidents in the last three/five years, whether it was your fault or not?

[anonymous-user]

So you're possibly going to get your insurance voided for not declaring a mod, and if it does get voided you want to know if you can get away with not declaring the fact that you've had insurance previously voided? There's a common thread there - not declaring stuff ends badly if you need to use your insurance.

It seems pretty implausible that they're talking about cancelling insurance for an exhaust tip. Are you definitely just talking about a tip OP, small piece of trim that goes on the very end of the exhaust pipe, maybe a few inches long maximum? Not talking about a back box or anything like that?

If it genuinely just is a tip then it should be easy to sort out, you just need to talk to someone there with the first clue about cars.