Insurance nonsense
Discussion
Bit of a rant this, really, but any advice appreciated!
I changed one of my cars recently and in order to get a competitive insurance deal on the next one I had to change brokers/insurers. The new broker require proof of my NCD within 14 days (although on enquiry they agreed to extend it to 30) - the underwriters apparently state this cannot be obtained by communicating with the other insurer or by any scanned or broker copies. The other insurer has not provided me with this and my new insurer is threatening cancelling my policy or charging me an undefined amount if I do not give them the proof within 5 days.
What exactly am I, as a customer who has already paid, expected to do here? I do have the NCD I stated and appear to be at the mercy of the insurance industry whose companies may or may not wish to play ball. Surely:
a) Given insurers are more than happy to share information between each other in order to "prevent fraud" they should equally be able to share such information for the benefit of the legitimate paying customer
b) I am entitled to my NCD proof and my previous company should not be unreasonably delaying this process.
Steve
I changed one of my cars recently and in order to get a competitive insurance deal on the next one I had to change brokers/insurers. The new broker require proof of my NCD within 14 days (although on enquiry they agreed to extend it to 30) - the underwriters apparently state this cannot be obtained by communicating with the other insurer or by any scanned or broker copies. The other insurer has not provided me with this and my new insurer is threatening cancelling my policy or charging me an undefined amount if I do not give them the proof within 5 days.
What exactly am I, as a customer who has already paid, expected to do here? I do have the NCD I stated and appear to be at the mercy of the insurance industry whose companies may or may not wish to play ball. Surely:
a) Given insurers are more than happy to share information between each other in order to "prevent fraud" they should equally be able to share such information for the benefit of the legitimate paying customer
b) I am entitled to my NCD proof and my previous company should not be unreasonably delaying this process.
Steve
Never had that issue before. In the past it's taken one call to the previous insurer who has then sent a note to the new insurer.
As you say though in an age when apparently there is a database for everything and insures are more than happy to sell your data left right an centre that in these situations they could use the available data more wisely.
As you say though in an age when apparently there is a database for everything and insures are more than happy to sell your data left right an centre that in these situations they could use the available data more wisely.
To be honest I can see it becoming a problem.
My recent policy ran out with Bell (was taken out before they made trackers mandatory). I didn't get a renewal quote through at all, not even an email about making a renewal (they did have correct email as emailed me my documents!), when I phoned up they told me I had to login and such, surprise surprise there was no renewal there either. But they could tell me the amount over the phone..
Thankfully I renewed with one of their sister companies and the NCD was transferred otherwise would've been a nightmare.
My recent policy ran out with Bell (was taken out before they made trackers mandatory). I didn't get a renewal quote through at all, not even an email about making a renewal (they did have correct email as emailed me my documents!), when I phoned up they told me I had to login and such, surprise surprise there was no renewal there either. But they could tell me the amount over the phone..
Thankfully I renewed with one of their sister companies and the NCD was transferred otherwise would've been a nightmare.
Was the premium surprisingly cheap to begin with? That's because they never intended to honor it. They ask you for something, hoping you can't get it. If you do get it to them somehow, "it never arrived". Either way they cancel your policy and hit you with a massive cancellation/administration fee. That's how the "budget" insurers make their money.
Ring your old insurers and insist on an email. I had this when I moved mid term, the change of car was in the region of 2 grand for another 3 months, I was like how about no. I just badgered them to send me confirmation. I then spoke to the new insurance explained the drama and emailed them the confirmation once it came, they seemed ok with that as proof, but I did have to badger and make a nusiance of myself.
A bit of a sticky spot then 
14 days seems a short time frame, the industry standard when I was in it was 30 days. May have changed now a lot of the NCB is communicated by email. They underwriters/broker cannot request proof of bonus on your behalf, the only person whom can request it is the PH and then it has to be sent to the PH and you are responsible to forward it on. Data protection and all... But I do agree, it would be easier if they stored them on a central database so any insurer could access it for proof.
If you're reasonably firm with them they should extend until you get the proof released from previous insurer. Did you have any claims in your policy year? (assuming it is protected NCB) Any windscreen claims or anything they might be looking into? Afaik this is the only reason they would delay issuing NCD, apart from lazy staff ofc
14 days seems a short time frame, the industry standard when I was in it was 30 days. May have changed now a lot of the NCB is communicated by email. They underwriters/broker cannot request proof of bonus on your behalf, the only person whom can request it is the PH and then it has to be sent to the PH and you are responsible to forward it on. Data protection and all... But I do agree, it would be easier if they stored them on a central database so any insurer could access it for proof.
If you're reasonably firm with them they should extend until you get the proof released from previous insurer. Did you have any claims in your policy year? (assuming it is protected NCB) Any windscreen claims or anything they might be looking into? Afaik this is the only reason they would delay issuing NCD, apart from lazy staff ofc
No claims at all or any other complicating factors other than switching insurers mid-term due to change of vehicle.
The quote was quite cheap so I am suspicious now - it was through Lancaster with Allianz as the underwriter. Lancaster insist they will only accept my previous insurer's original copy, specifically NOT an emailed PDF, fax, photocopy, broker's copy or direct telephone communication from other insurer. I told their agent today what I thought of this although I'm sure I'm wasting my energy on them.
My previous insurer says they are sending it to me so I will send it special delivery to Lancaster. Is there anyone I can complain to and do I have any rights if they cancel my policy despite being in a position to perfectly well verify my NCD? I see someone on money saving expert says Lancaster did this to them...
Steve
The quote was quite cheap so I am suspicious now - it was through Lancaster with Allianz as the underwriter. Lancaster insist they will only accept my previous insurer's original copy, specifically NOT an emailed PDF, fax, photocopy, broker's copy or direct telephone communication from other insurer. I told their agent today what I thought of this although I'm sure I'm wasting my energy on them.
My previous insurer says they are sending it to me so I will send it special delivery to Lancaster. Is there anyone I can complain to and do I have any rights if they cancel my policy despite being in a position to perfectly well verify my NCD? I see someone on money saving expert says Lancaster did this to them...
Steve
Edited by DocSteve on Thursday 21st February 19:57
If you're switching insurers mid-term, then can't you send proof of your NCB at your last renewal with a covering letter from your insurer of the last part-term to say you've not made a claim in that time?
I think switching insurers mid-term is the key issue here - it must be worth your while what with the inevitable cancellation fee etc for your last insurer??
Talking of sending proof of NCB off at renewal, I was with one insurer 2 years ago then switched to another one for last year's insurance cover. This year I switched back to the original one - and they asked for proof of my NCB... this is the first time ever in 25 years of insuring motor vehicles I have ever been asked for this. Not a problem, though, they sent an SAE.
As regards your new Insurer, make sure they know what is going on and there will be a few days' delay
. You don't want your new policy cancelling because they haven't got the proof of NCB within their target time (which could *ahem* possibly do with extending, as the weekend beckons ?)
.
I think switching insurers mid-term is the key issue here - it must be worth your while what with the inevitable cancellation fee etc for your last insurer??
Talking of sending proof of NCB off at renewal, I was with one insurer 2 years ago then switched to another one for last year's insurance cover. This year I switched back to the original one - and they asked for proof of my NCB... this is the first time ever in 25 years of insuring motor vehicles I have ever been asked for this. Not a problem, though, they sent an SAE.
As regards your new Insurer, make sure they know what is going on and there will be a few days' delay
. You don't want your new policy cancelling because they haven't got the proof of NCB within their target time (which could *ahem* possibly do with extending, as the weekend beckons ?) .I think the key here is just to get the extension from your new insurer, which they should grant as it's a hassle for a broker to cancel a policy.
If you have requested a reasonable extension on their deadline, i.e. a week, and they cancel before the agreed new deadline for proof of bonus, then you would need to contact the insurance ombudsman.
If they start giving you hassle about extending it, it's normally worth threatening them with the ombudsman (do this only as a last resort!). Not to be a cock, but mainly because if they are a broker, and the ombudsman looks into a claim, they are fined five hundred pounds just for the initial research part of the ombudsman inquiry regardless of outcome, thus wiping out any profit they made on the policy. This normally puts them on the back foot pretty well. gl!
If you have requested a reasonable extension on their deadline, i.e. a week, and they cancel before the agreed new deadline for proof of bonus, then you would need to contact the insurance ombudsman.
If they start giving you hassle about extending it, it's normally worth threatening them with the ombudsman (do this only as a last resort!). Not to be a cock, but mainly because if they are a broker, and the ombudsman looks into a claim, they are fined five hundred pounds just for the initial research part of the ombudsman inquiry regardless of outcome, thus wiping out any profit they made on the policy. This normally puts them on the back foot pretty well.
gl!shotgunfacelift said:
because if they are a broker, and the ombudsman looks into a claim, they are fined five hundred pounds just for the initial research part of the ombudsman inquiry regardless of outcome,
This is a myth, it doesn't work like that.Anyway, as noted above, the problem is that PoB is at renewal and you are trying to get it mid-term. You should be using your previous term of insurance.
Noger said:
This is a myth, it doesn't work like that.
Anyway, as noted above, the problem is that PoB is at renewal and you are trying to get it mid-term. You should be using your previous term of insurance.
I'm not trying to get any more than what was available at my last renewal. I do have that letter but the new co say they can't accept that as I could have had a claim in the meantime. They refuse to accept any email or other communication from the previous insurer apart from the original NCD proof letter, which is what I am waiting for. Anyway, as noted above, the problem is that PoB is at renewal and you are trying to get it mid-term. You should be using your previous term of insurance.
They have said they will extend it to 30 days after further discussion. Bloody ridiculous, the whole thing..
DocSteve said:
Lancaster insist they will only accept my previous insurer's original copy, specifically NOT an emailed PDF, fax, photocopy, broker's copy or direct telephone communication from other insurer.
Well it's certainly heart-warming to see an insurer being just as unpleasant & untrusting towards a fellow insurer, as they are to the poor wretches they call customers..(sorry, can't offer any practical advice - but what a ridiculous situation!)
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