Daughter’s insurance dilemma
Discussion
My daughter has been driving for just over a year and I have the honour of arranging (and paying for) her insurance. I’ve just taken out a new policy for her and all was going well. I always add myself as an additional driver as this brings the cost down a bit.
Three weeks ago, a guy in a van cut across me, in my car, and damaged my wing, bumper and headlight. Entirely his fault and admitted as such. I called my insurance company and they persuaded me to let them handle the claim. The other driver’s insurance company called me and asked if they could sort it all out. My insurance company then proceeded to drag their feet and generally made a hash of everything they tried to arrange (wanting to put it down as a split liability claim, wanting me to sign up for credit hire for a loan car), so I sacked them off the case, told them to put it down as notification only and let third party insurance company sort everything out instead. This was done and I got my car back a week or so ago.
Now, because (I thought) there was no claim from me, I did not mention this when I filled my details out on the proposal for my daughter. I did mention an old claim from 2017. Last Friday, my daughter’s new insurance company e-mailed asking why she had not told them about this new claim which has apparently been logged on some database the insurance companies all share. They’ve asked for an explanation and threatened if they don’t receive one within 14 days that they may cancel her insurance.
I’ve written back to them explaining the above and I’ll be on to my insurance company tomorrow to give them another rocket, but I’m concerned her insurance company may think this is some sort of elaborate scam (it’s not) and void her policy, which would obviously be a disaster for her.
As the policy only started last Friday, I’m still well within the 14 days I’m allowed to cancel it for any reason and I’m wondering whether this may be the best way to go. She only uses the car infrequently and it has not moved from my drive since the new policy started.
Three weeks ago, a guy in a van cut across me, in my car, and damaged my wing, bumper and headlight. Entirely his fault and admitted as such. I called my insurance company and they persuaded me to let them handle the claim. The other driver’s insurance company called me and asked if they could sort it all out. My insurance company then proceeded to drag their feet and generally made a hash of everything they tried to arrange (wanting to put it down as a split liability claim, wanting me to sign up for credit hire for a loan car), so I sacked them off the case, told them to put it down as notification only and let third party insurance company sort everything out instead. This was done and I got my car back a week or so ago.
Now, because (I thought) there was no claim from me, I did not mention this when I filled my details out on the proposal for my daughter. I did mention an old claim from 2017. Last Friday, my daughter’s new insurance company e-mailed asking why she had not told them about this new claim which has apparently been logged on some database the insurance companies all share. They’ve asked for an explanation and threatened if they don’t receive one within 14 days that they may cancel her insurance.
I’ve written back to them explaining the above and I’ll be on to my insurance company tomorrow to give them another rocket, but I’m concerned her insurance company may think this is some sort of elaborate scam (it’s not) and void her policy, which would obviously be a disaster for her.
As the policy only started last Friday, I’m still well within the 14 days I’m allowed to cancel it for any reason and I’m wondering whether this may be the best way to go. She only uses the car infrequently and it has not moved from my drive since the new policy started.
syl said:
You still have to tell them about accidents that don’t result in a claim, which they could still get pissy about.
Yes, so it seems, although I’m pretty sure the proposal form just asks about claims, but I didn’t and here we are. I don’t know how much difference it would have made to the premium, I suspect nothing, and obviously they’re not having to use this non-disclosure to get out of a claim, so maybe they’ll just shrug it off and we’ll carry on as we were.No, I’ve just looked again at the “statement of fact” I filled out, and they have got me. Damn. The question they ask is:
f) Has been involved in any accident, theft, attempted theft or malicious damage, or sustained any loss in connection with any motor vehicle in the past five years, whether covered by insurance or not?
As I said above, I gave chapter and verse about my 2017 claim, but nothing about last month’s scrape.
f) Has been involved in any accident, theft, attempted theft or malicious damage, or sustained any loss in connection with any motor vehicle in the past five years, whether covered by insurance or not?
As I said above, I gave chapter and verse about my 2017 claim, but nothing about last month’s scrape.
Even if you go direct to the 3rd party's insurance when they are at fault it is still a claim, it's just not a claim on your own insurance.
Plus as you have already found out, all insurance companies are very specific on their questioning and cover all bases with claims and fault, pretty much have to tell them everything.
Plus as you have already found out, all insurance companies are very specific on their questioning and cover all bases with claims and fault, pretty much have to tell them everything.
Silverage said:
As the policy only started last Friday, I’m still well within the 14 days I’m allowed to cancel it for any reason and I’m wondering whether this may be the best way to go.
Although they might well accept the explanation with no further issue, I would go with cancelling the policy, just in case they decide to cancel it. If they do that, your daughter will be in for a world of pain arranging future insurance. If you cancel it first, then that possibility is removed. Just contact them to cancel, and take out a new policy elsewhere disclosing both your claims. Or with another mature named driver on her insurance instead of you, her mum, an aunt or uncle etc.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Although they might well accept the explanation with no further issue, I would go with cancelling the policy, just in case they decide to cancel it. If they do that, your daughter will be in for a world of pain arranging future insurance. If you cancel it first, then that possibility is removed.
Just contact them to cancel, and take out a new policy elsewhere disclosing both your claims. Or with another mature named driver on her insurance instead of you, her mum, an aunt or uncle etc.
Yes, that’s the nightmare scenario I need to avoid. I wonder if I call them and put my cards on the table if they would be able to give me a clue how it is likely to go? I’d rather not have to go through the palaver of arranging it all again. I’ve insured her with Carrot Insurance, but it’s Zurich behind the policy and it’s they who are kicking off. I have to deal with Carrot. They have a dedicated e-mail address for these “CUE” enquiries, so they must be reasonably common.Just contact them to cancel, and take out a new policy elsewhere disclosing both your claims. Or with another mature named driver on her insurance instead of you, her mum, an aunt or uncle etc.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Although they might well accept the explanation with no further issue, I would go with cancelling the policy, just in case they decide to cancel it. If they do that, your daughter will be in for a world of pain arranging future insurance. If you cancel it first, then that possibility is removed.
Just contact them to cancel, and take out a new policy elsewhere disclosing both your claims. Or with another mature named driver on her insurance instead of you, her mum, an aunt or uncle etc.
Might be worth seeing if that will still go down as a cancelled policy. You are only cancelling due to them threatening to cancel the policy (can't remember where I read it, and could be bJust contact them to cancel, and take out a new policy elsewhere disclosing both your claims. Or with another mature named driver on her insurance instead of you, her mum, an aunt or uncle etc.
ks). It's annoying...I had a non fault claim in my mum's car as a named driver...we both need to declare it. She used to make my policy cheaper as a named driver...Not any more !
LosingGrip said:
Might be worth seeing if that will still go down as a cancelled policy. You are only cancelling due to them threatening to cancel the policy (can't remember where I read it, and could be bks).
They haven’t actually threated to cancel it as such. Here’s the wording from Carrot’s e-mail:ks). CarrotInsurance said:
“It is important Zurich resolves these questions so that it can continue with the policy and provide the service that you expect of them.
We do understand that there may be genuine reasons behind this and please be assured that we will work with Zurich to ensure the correct outcome for you.
If Zurich does not receive a full response from us within 14 days they will either:
· request the policy is cancelled in accordance with the conditions of the policy, or
· act on the information they currently hold, which may result in this policy being declared void. This will mean that cover has never been in force.
Either action would mean that they would not meet any claims under the policy. It is also important to understand that other insurance companies may ask you to tell them about any previously cancelled or voided policy and this may affect your ability to take out insurance in the future.”
I sent my reply last Friday and I assume Carrot would forward it to Zurich promptly, so well within their 14 day deadline.We do understand that there may be genuine reasons behind this and please be assured that we will work with Zurich to ensure the correct outcome for you.
If Zurich does not receive a full response from us within 14 days they will either:
· request the policy is cancelled in accordance with the conditions of the policy, or
· act on the information they currently hold, which may result in this policy being declared void. This will mean that cover has never been in force.
Either action would mean that they would not meet any claims under the policy. It is also important to understand that other insurance companies may ask you to tell them about any previously cancelled or voided policy and this may affect your ability to take out insurance in the future.”
LosingGrip said:
Might be worth seeing if that will still go down as a cancelled policy. You are only cancelling due to them threatening to cancel the policy (can't remember where I read it, and could be bks).
If a future insurer asks if you've ever had a policy cancelled, you'll be able to answer No if you've cancelled the policy first. ks). If they ask if you've ever cancelled a policy because you though the insurer was about to do it and you wanted to get in first, then you will have to answer Yes. But I've never seen that question asked.
Silverage said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Although they might well accept the explanation with no further issue, I would go with cancelling the policy, just in case they decide to cancel it. If they do that, your daughter will be in for a world of pain arranging future insurance. If you cancel it first, then that possibility is removed.
Just contact them to cancel, and take out a new policy elsewhere disclosing both your claims. Or with another mature named driver on her insurance instead of you, her mum, an aunt or uncle etc.
Yes, that’s the nightmare scenario I need to avoid. I wonder if I call them and put my cards on the table if they would be able to give me a clue how it is likely to go? Just contact them to cancel, and take out a new policy elsewhere disclosing both your claims. Or with another mature named driver on her insurance instead of you, her mum, an aunt or uncle etc.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
You could, but what if they say "thanks for calling, we're cancelling the policy". Then you are in the nightmare scenario.
I’d be speaking to Carrot and I wouldn’t imagine they’d want to lose the business over this. I fully expect when I ask to cancel, they will want to know why and try and talk me round. At the end of the day it is Zurich talking about cancelling and I think it is a bit of a nuclear option for them, but I don’t feel like taking the chance.Silverage said:
I’d be speaking to Carrot and I wouldn’t imagine they’d want to lose the business over this. I fully expect when I ask to cancel, they will want to know why and try and talk me round. At the end of the day it is Zurich talking about cancelling and I think it is a bit of a nuclear option for them, but I don’t feel like taking the chance.
You might want to read their Trustpilot reviews.Sheepshanks said:
Silverage said:
I’d be speaking to Carrot and I wouldn’t imagine they’d want to lose the business over this. I fully expect when I ask to cancel, they will want to know why and try and talk me round. At the end of the day it is Zurich talking about cancelling and I think it is a bit of a nuclear option for them, but I don’t feel like taking the chance.
You might want to read their Trustpilot reviews.Sheepshanks said:
You might want to read their Trustpilot reviews.
I’ll see what they say tomorrow morning. I’m within my rights to cancel for any reason within the first 14 days so if they can’t assure me that Zurich aren’t going to have a problem with my omission then I’ll have no choice but to cancel and start again.Silverage said:
No, I’ve just looked again at the “statement of fact” I filled out, and they have got me. Damn. The question they ask is:
f) Has been involved in any accident, theft, attempted theft or malicious damage, or sustained any loss in connection with any motor vehicle in the past five years, whether covered by insurance or not?
As I said above, I gave chapter and verse about my 2017 claim, but nothing about last month’s scrape.
Since Green Flag comes under insurance(tax) does a callout count as a claim and should I have mentioned this in my recent renewal. Clause f would read as such to me.f) Has been involved in any accident, theft, attempted theft or malicious damage, or sustained any loss in connection with any motor vehicle in the past five years, whether covered by insurance or not?
As I said above, I gave chapter and verse about my 2017 claim, but nothing about last month’s scrape.
W124Bob said:
Since Green Flag comes under insurance(tax) does a callout count as a claim and should I have mentioned this in my recent renewal. Clause f would read as such to me.
Best ring your insurers & ask as they'll be the only ones that can give you the definite answer.Don't forget to let us know what they said.
Silverage said:
I’m within my rights to cancel for any reason within the first 14 days so if they can’t assure me that Zurich aren’t going to have a problem with my omission then I’ll have no choice but to cancel and start again.
Just be aware that it's not like cancelling other things - you'll be charged from the time on cover, plus a (probably) hefty cancellation fee.I had my daughter insured with Carrot. Took the policy out before reading the reviews about them online. This outfit seem to adopt a very aggressive approach toward the telemetry results that the black boxes record. My daughter lives in a fairly big town, lots of speed bumps, traffic lights, roundabouts etc. Score for smoothness was always negative and this seemed to disproportionately reduce the overall average. ‘‘Tis difficult to be “smooth” when you are constant stop start environments. The result was we kept getting emails threatening to cancel the policy (they operate a 3 strikes and you are out with weekly averages).
Got so fed up, we cancelled ourselves and took out a policy without a black box. Did get a decent refund which offset the additional cost for insuring elsewhere without a black box.
Some of the reviews are shocking and I think they actively look for opportunities to cancel policies so that they can keep the premiums without carrying risk. (If they cancel you, they do not have to refund anything) Of course I have no proof of this and my comments represent only my opinion.
Got so fed up, we cancelled ourselves and took out a policy without a black box. Did get a decent refund which offset the additional cost for insuring elsewhere without a black box.
Some of the reviews are shocking and I think they actively look for opportunities to cancel policies so that they can keep the premiums without carrying risk. (If they cancel you, they do not have to refund anything) Of course I have no proof of this and my comments represent only my opinion.
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