Serious Insurance Question
Discussion
Basically, yeserday I got pulled by the police for having no insurance. I thought I did so I gave them some details to look up and double check. They came back and said it was cancelled upon renewal at the end of January. Therefore, car got siezed and £150 tow fee. On top of this, being a young driver I got 6 points and £300 fine unless the insurance company takes blame.
On the renewal certificate (Which was later cancelled) it says that they should give 7 days notice, as it does online as well, but they cancelled it there and then. They said they sent a lettter which shouldve got to us after but it didnt, and this doesnt explain what happends between cancellation and letter. The letter wasn't by recorded delivery otherwise I wouldve recieved it definitley.
Currently they won't budge, but i need to know where i stand becuase it would involve points, higher insurance premiums and license revoke. I cant afford that!
On the renewal certificate (Which was later cancelled) it says that they should give 7 days notice, as it does online as well, but they cancelled it there and then. They said they sent a lettter which shouldve got to us after but it didnt, and this doesnt explain what happends between cancellation and letter. The letter wasn't by recorded delivery otherwise I wouldve recieved it definitley.
Currently they won't budge, but i need to know where i stand becuase it would involve points, higher insurance premiums and license revoke. I cant afford that!
Organisations do make mistakes but I've a feeling this will end up being something OP hasn't done correctly. Op, how much was the premium and when was it paid and how? Was it an annual premium or monthly installments?
My money is on installments and he's not set up the bank direct debit correctly or at all, or the debit card payment for whole or deposit premium bounced.
Responsibility to pay and make sue it's paid falls on policyholder I'm afraid.
But as I say, companies do f
k up, I've had an energy supplier do so recently, so get you facts straight, (post the whole story on here if you need informal advice), and be prepared for a battle if they have messed up.
My money is on installments and he's not set up the bank direct debit correctly or at all, or the debit card payment for whole or deposit premium bounced.
Responsibility to pay and make sue it's paid falls on policyholder I'm afraid.
But as I say, companies do f
k up, I've had an energy supplier do so recently, so get you facts straight, (post the whole story on here if you need informal advice), and be prepared for a battle if they have messed up. s3fella said:
Organisations do make mistakes but I've a feeling this will end up being something OP hasn't done correctly. Op, how much was the premium and when was it paid and how? Was it an annual premium or monthly installments?
My money is on installments and he's not set up the bank direct debit correctly or at all, or the debit card payment for whole or deposit premium bounced.
Responsibility to pay and make sue it's paid falls on policyholder I'm afraid.
But as I say, companies do fk up, I've had an energy supplier do so recently, so get you facts straight, (post the whole story on here if you need informal advice), and be prepared for a battle if they have messed up.
I agree either bounced direct debit or if paid in one lump sum the OP had changed the card during the yearMy money is on installments and he's not set up the bank direct debit correctly or at all, or the debit card payment for whole or deposit premium bounced.
Responsibility to pay and make sue it's paid falls on policyholder I'm afraid.
But as I say, companies do f
k up, I've had an energy supplier do so recently, so get you facts straight, (post the whole story on here if you need informal advice), and be prepared for a battle if they have messed up. Regardless of the circumstances leading to it, if the OP used a vehicle on a road (or other public place) whilst uninsured, then the [strict liability] offence is complete.
A court does have the discretion not to endorse the licence of an offender if it finds 'special reasons' exist for not doing so. At the very least, this would require the offender to have reasonable grounds for believing insurance cover was in place, as well as (typically) requiring them to demonstrate to the court that they were in some way misled into believing they were insured.
A mistaken belief of cover (however genuine or honest the belief may be) is unlikely to be capable of amounting to special reasons on its own.
A court does have the discretion not to endorse the licence of an offender if it finds 'special reasons' exist for not doing so. At the very least, this would require the offender to have reasonable grounds for believing insurance cover was in place, as well as (typically) requiring them to demonstrate to the court that they were in some way misled into believing they were insured.
A mistaken belief of cover (however genuine or honest the belief may be) is unlikely to be capable of amounting to special reasons on its own.
Edited by SS2. on Sunday 2nd March 11:54
For future reference, check insurance status online: http://ownvehicle.askmid.com
In basic terms, a Special Reasons hearing would typically be resolved with one of the following outcomes:
- not your fault that you weren't insured - absolute discharge, no points
- your fault that you weren't insured - 6-8pp, income based fine, prosecution costs, victim surcharge.
If you accept the fixed penalty (or 6-8 pp are endorsed at court) and you were a newly qualified driver at the time of the offence then DVLA will revoke your licence - meaning you'll need to apply for a provisional and pass the driving tests again.
In basic terms, a Special Reasons hearing would typically be resolved with one of the following outcomes:
- not your fault that you weren't insured - absolute discharge, no points
- your fault that you weren't insured - 6-8pp, income based fine, prosecution costs, victim surcharge.
If you accept the fixed penalty (or 6-8 pp are endorsed at court) and you were a newly qualified driver at the time of the offence then DVLA will revoke your licence - meaning you'll need to apply for a provisional and pass the driving tests again.
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