Insurance voided due to car having PPF! HELP PLEASE!

[irc]

bad company said:

This looks like a very similar case where the Ombudsman found in favour of AXA. I tried uploading the finding but I’m on a ship at sea with weak WiFi.


https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/DR...

" AXA then provided Mr W with his policy documents and asked him to make sure his
information was correct at all times. The policy schedule said that the car had no
modifications and provided AXA’s definition of modifications:
“Any modification which change the maker’s standard specification including cosmetic
changes or manufacturer’s options.”"

That's a bit all encompassing. Manufacturer's options? So to get AXA insurance you need to tell them every option your car has. If it was bought second hand you might not even know. Winter tyres? New floor mats?

AXA? Count me out

[200Plus Club]

For avoidance of any doubt Admiral require you to declare ppf film (clear) if fitted as a tick box " exterior decorative modification ". I asked this question on Wednesday and they confirmed with their underwriters, and ticking that box didn't affect the quote I was given unduly, so they got my repeat business.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

Just found this thread OP. That's shocking treatment by AXA OP.

Glad it had a positive conclusion.

I'll certainly avoid AXA in the future seeing how appalingly they treated you.

It's a really stupid decision on their part as things like this have habit of growing legs and turning into a Ratner moment given the way today's media works.

[Pmifa]

ingenieur said:

I think they do put pretty much everything in the small print. If you read the small print on a lot of financial products (and some other products) you will usually find the main reason you want the product is excluded from the product offering despite the marketing of the product promoting that sort of use. There is vast dishonesty in the area of financial products. I would say at least half of all financial products sold aren't fit for purpose and the customers are unaware.

Agree, it’s about time the regulators of this world banned it and made them use ‘large print’. Insurance companies just use it to dodge claims as they know the vast majority won’t read, or understand, it all. I have the same every year when renewing motorbike insurance. Go touring abroad and their favourite to hide is ‘yes you are covered riding abroad’ then hide the fact in the ‘small print’ that it’s only for bikes up to 125cc ffs.

[CanAm]

Pmifa said:

Agree, it’s about time the regulators of this world banned it and made them use ‘large print’. Insurance companies just use it to dodge claims as they know the vast majority won’t read, or understand, it all. I have the same every year when renewing motorbike insurance. Go touring abroad and their favourite to hide is ‘yes you are covered riding abroad’ then hide the fact in the ‘small print’ that it’s only for bikes up to 125cc ffs.

All my insurance policies, including AXA, are in the same size print throughout (apart from headings obviously).

[The Gauge]

Good news for the OP.

I've never knowingly seen a car with clear PPF, in fact I'd never heard of it. Is it easy to tell if a car has it fitted, say when looking at buying a 2nd hand car?

[Glasgowrob]

Interesting issue

The wife’s sq2 came new from the dealer with ppf applied to the boot lip

Do I need to declare that?

[Simpo Two]

The Gauge said:

I've never knowingly seen a car with clear PPF, in fact I'd never heard of it. Is it easy to tell if a car has it fitted, say when looking at buying a 2nd hand car?

You can see a fine line where the edge is. I thought all decent cars had bits of it in high-risk areas; I put some on my TVR 20 years ago - 'Armourfend'.

[Davie]

This is another example of why I think the insurance providers are a joke. Cancelled policies for PPF film yet nobody bats an eyelid if you're running on the cheapest, nastiest tyres with eBay bargain bin suspension, steering and braking components on a car that scraped through its last MOT's with a huge list of advises.

Sorry state of affairs, but glad it had a positive outcome for the OP.

[markbigears]

Congratulations OP. I do like a dog with a bone! Just spent the last half hour having a read. Being heavily in to the detailing scene, loads of high end car owners / YouTubers now seem to fit this “as standard” from detailing companies. Not as cosmetic enhancement, but purely for stone chips. I’ve never seen anyone post about informing your insurance company, so I doubt it’s not commonly known about and I’m sure a nice get out of jail free card for insurance companies.
I detest the insurance industry with a passion.

[BobToc]

Brilliant result OP, congrats!

[Simpo Two]

Davie said:

This is another example of why I think the insurance providers are a joke. Cancelled policies for PPF film yet nobody bats an eyelid if you're running on the cheapest, nastiest tyres with eBay bargain bin suspension, steering and braking components on a car that scraped through its last MOT's with a huge list of advises.

Sorry state of affairs, but glad it had a positive outcome for the OP.

A reasonable outcome might be 'OK we'll fix your car but we won't pay for new PPF'. But perhaps I'm placing too much emphasis on reasonable.

[JurassicGTS]

bosshog said:

I just called my insurer LV= and they class PPF as a modification, so I declared it and it’s added £20 to my premium.

Reason they gave as it will cost more to repair.

Interesting, when I switched from Saga to LV in August I checked twice and recorded the time and names of the advisors and both said PPF wasn't classified as a modification whereas a colour wrap was.

[ingenieur]

CanAm said:

Pmifa said:

Agree, it’s about time the regulators of this world banned it and made them use ‘large print’. Insurance companies just use it to dodge claims as they know the vast majority won’t read, or understand, it all. I have the same every year when renewing motorbike insurance. Go touring abroad and their favourite to hide is ‘yes you are covered riding abroad’ then hide the fact in the ‘small print’ that it’s only for bikes up to 125cc ffs.

All my insurance policies, including AXA, are in the same size print throughout (apart from headings obviously).

It's just shorthand for hiding important details from customers.

The issue is that you take out a policy expecting something in particular. Let's say for instance the policy includes a courtesy car. One day tragedy befalls you and you are in need of a courtesy car, the circumstances are the usual circumstances under which a courtesy car would be provided. You ask your insurance company to come good on their promise only to be told it is not possible to request a courtesy car on a Thursday and you may only request one courtesy car in a 12 month period. Since you have requested a courtesy car once you cannot make the same request again under this policy.

You will complain.

They will tell you it is in the agreement / policy documents.

You check, you find it on page 152, 14th paragraph.

[Fifty]

Did AXA sort you out in the end OP?

[CanAm]

Fifty said:

Did AXA sort you out in the end OP?

Yes. See post from the OP 22/11/23

[Fifty]

Yeah, I knew that he had won his case but there was this bit at the end of OP’s post;

‘ I have accepted the terms above and i am now waiting on AXA to get in contact with me they have 4 weeks from the 13th November to get touch and rectify the problems! I haven't heard from them thus far and eagerly awaiting their call so i can finally get out of them what i should've in the 1st place!’

I don’t think I saw any further update on whether he got paid out as expected, hence my question

[Teddy Lop]

Well done OP.

AXA were funking useless when some ladysocket rammed me on a roundabout. Too much computer says.

Surprisingly quick to offer me £150 compo to close the complaint I didn't even open when they neglected to inform me the OP insurance had admitted liability. (This was significant as I'd declined a replacement van as it was unclear if I'd be hit with hire charges and as the van lacked enhanced security it was of limited use plus a liability anyway, effectively leaving me unable to work for a couple of weeks, personally I think I'm entitled to lost earnings but without someone the size of an insurer to fight your corner it's a hopeless endeavour. It took AXA over a year to get admiral to pay)

[Durzel]

Davie said:

This is another example of why I think the insurance providers are a joke. Cancelled policies for PPF film yet nobody bats an eyelid if you're running on the cheapest, nastiest tyres with eBay bargain bin suspension, steering and braking components on a car that scraped through its last MOT's with a huge list of advises.

Sorry state of affairs, but glad it had a positive outcome for the OP.

Whilst I agree with you in principal, PPF is basically a vinyl wrap, albeit transparent. They complicate repairs, because a car with PPF that is involved in an accident that requires repainting will also need the PPF redone, and they are typically two different disciplines in automotive repair. There is also the issue of it not being advisable (possible?) to PPF freshly painted panels.

In short - a car that requires a damaged bumper to be fixed will cost significantly more and take significantly longer if it had PPF fitted and it’s being replaced. That extra time means extra hire car costs, etc.

[C70R]

My favourite threads on PH are the SP&L threads where the 'experts' are wrong.

davek_964 said:

PPF costs money.

If your car was in an accident, then the insurer would need to get the repair carried out and pay for new PPF to restore your car to its pre-accident condition. Which means, additional repair cost to them.

Hence, the modification that you think is irrelevant makes a material difference to them should you need to claim.

Legacywr said:

langtounlad said:

half term?

Good call.

Grumps. said:

No but the op appears that he was aware it had it on, so perhaps should have disclosed it when applying for the insurance.

dundarach said:

Tell the insurance about anything different, or don't change it.

It's not that hard really is it?