Insurance no claims bonus question

[NiceCupOfTea]

Had an accident last year that was my fault, my insurance paid out. I have protected no claims bonus (allowed 2 claims in 5 years).

I had 4 years' no claims bonus. My renewal for this year has just come through showing 4 years' no claims bonus again.

On the one hand I understand why it is not 5 as I had a claim(!), but should the protected aspect stop it affecting this and should I now be on 5?

I know I could give them a call, just wanted a straw poll on here first so I know what I should be expecting them to say!

[kambites]

Presumably depends on the exact wording of the NCB protection. I suppose if it says you wont lose any no claims bonus in the even of a claim, then four years is right; if it says a claim wont affect your no claims bonus then it should be five?

[NiceCupOfTea]

What happens when filling in comparethemarket and that sort of thing? Presumably whatever my current insurers decide has happened to my NCB is what I have to go with as they are the ones providing the proof if I change?

[kambites]

NiceCupOfTea said:

What happens when filling in comparethemarket and that sort of thing? Presumably whatever my current insurers decide has happened to my NCB is what I have to go with as they are the ones providing the proof if I change?

Correct.

[sday12]

You've got 5, but as your policy has not yet expired they will have it down as 4.

They will only ever document it as 5 once the date has passed.

[ZOLLAR]

Your Protection only protects the NCB you have at the start of the policy not the future NCB to be earnt, as you've had a claim you won't earn a "No claims Bonus".
You're renewal is correct in showing 4 years as the 4 years were protected.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Also, my NCD on other cars/policies is unaffected?

[Mikeyplum]

ZOLLAR said:

Your Protection only protects the NCB you have at the start of the policy not the future NCB to be earnt, as you've had a claim you won't earn a "No claims Bonus".
You're renewal is correct in showing 4 years as the 4 years were protected.

That's how I understood it. Is this not the difference between "protected" NCB and "Guaranteed" NCB?

"Guaranteed" being that you still EARN NCB even if you have a claim?

[ZOLLAR]

Mikeyplum said:

ZOLLAR said:

Your Protection only protects the NCB you have at the start of the policy not the future NCB to be earnt, as you've had a claim you won't earn a "No claims Bonus".
You're renewal is correct in showing 4 years as the 4 years were protected.

That's how I understood it. Is this not the difference between "protected" NCB and "Guaranteed" NCB?

No guaranteed means no matter how many fault claims you have you'll never lose your NCB (or until your insurer declines to cover you)
Protected allows for 2 fault claims within a 3 year period.
I'm not aware of any protection that allows you to build NCB whilst also having a fault claim as it defeats the point of a no claims bonus.
An insurer can still allow a NCB after a fault claim at their discretion (rare but usually due to the outcome of a claim or a complaint)

[Mikeyplum]

ZOLLAR said:

No guaranteed means no matter how many fault claims you have you'll never lose your NCB (or until your insurer declines to cover you)
Protected allows for 2 fault claims within a 3 year period.
I'm not aware of any protection that allows you to build NCB whilst also having a fault claim as it defeats the point of a no claims bonus.
An insurer can still allow a NCB after a fault claim at their discretion (rare but usually due to the outcome of a claim or a complaint)

Thanks for clearing that up!

[ZOLLAR]

Mikeyplum said:

Thanks for clearing that up!

No worries

[bull996]

All a bit pointless IMHO.

You pay extra for protected NCB, but you still have to declare any claims and the premium rises accordingly.

[ZOLLAR]

bull996 said:

All a bit pointless IMHO.

You pay extra for protected NCB, but you still have to declare any claims and the premium rises accordingly.

PNCB only protects your discount it has never been there to prevent increases in premium.

[andrew]

bull996 said:

All a bit pointless IMHO.

You pay extra for protected NCB, but you still have to declare any claims and the premium rises accordingly.

companies are a bit inconsistent on this

had a claim a year or so ago with pncb

some companies don't want to know about the claim, some do. one put the premium up by over 50% !

[ZOLLAR]

andrew said:

bull996 said:

All a bit pointless IMHO.

You pay extra for protected NCB, but you still have to declare any claims and the premium rises accordingly.

companies are a bit inconsistent on this

had a claim a year or so ago with pncb

some companies don't want to know about the claim, some do. one put the premium up by over 50% !

Did they say they didn't need to know because you had PNCB if so that really is quite bizarre.

[andrew]

ZOLLAR said:

andrew said:

bull996 said:

All a bit pointless IMHO.

You pay extra for protected NCB, but you still have to declare any claims and the premium rises accordingly.

companies are a bit inconsistent on this

had a claim a year or so ago with pncb

some companies don't want to know about the claim, some do. one put the premium up by over 50% !

Did they say they didn't need to know because you had PNCB if so that really is quite bizarre.

paraphrasing just a little, "as long as you've had less than so many claims in so many years with pncb, we don't need to know the details"

[TwigtheWonderkid]

sday12 said:

You've got 5, but as your policy has not yet expired they will have it down as 4.

They will only ever document it as 5 once the date has passed.

Utter tripe. Your renewal invitation always shows the level of bonus that will apply to the upcoming renewal they are inviting.

[sday12]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

sday12 said:

You've got 5, but as your policy has not yet expired they will have it down as 4.

They will only ever document it as 5 once the date has passed.

Utter tripe. Your renewal invitation always shows the level of bonus that will apply to the upcoming renewal they are inviting.

Utter tripe, mine didn't.

[NiceCupOfTea]

With my current insurers (A-Plan / Markerstudy) I can confirm that it is correct: NCB protected, but obviously not earned this year.

Thanks all!