12 Point Insurance Nightmare
12 Point Insurance Nightmare
Author
Discussion

dogznob

Original Poster:

131 posts

262 months

Thursday 22nd July 2004
quotequote all
My mate (honest) has 12 points on his licence (not banned though), all amassed in the last 18 months. He’s done a lot of miles in his company car and went through a phase of picking up silly NIPs for just being over the limit.

He’s now decided that even if his car has all the speed detection gadgets in the world, he’s going to still get caught somehow. So he’s decided to get a job that doesn’t require being on the road all the time.

But, he now needs to insure a car he owns. He’s got 9 years no-claims that are still valid, but when he declares his points the insurance quotes just go ballistic.

He’s now thinking of not declaring any points when getting is insurance. Does anyone know the ramifications of doing this? Will he still have third party cover in the event of an accident? I think he accepts the fact that his own car will not be covered, but he doesn’t intend to get anything particularly flashy just now.

I can see his point, he’s not a dangerous driver and I as far as I know he’s never had any other points in 20 years of driving, but I’m not sure that fibbing is the way to go here.

ge2

298 posts

272 months

Thursday 22nd July 2004
quotequote all
I'm insured with Frizzel and they're not interested in points. In fact, they only want to know if you've been banned for something OTHER than speeding.

A sign of the times...

GiJoe

74 posts

260 months

Thursday 22nd July 2004
quotequote all
If an insurance company requests this information and you falsely declare then your insurance will be null and void. This may open you up to a driving without adequate insurance prosecution. Most insurers ignore one parking and one speeding conviction. Unless you find one that isn't concerned about speeding offences (pretty rare) I'm afraid you just have to lump it.

>> Edited by GiJoe on Thursday 22 July 17:33

xxplod

2,269 posts

267 months

Thursday 22nd July 2004
quotequote all
Telling deliberate lies to obtain a policy of insurance is a criminal offence - Obtaining a Pecuniary Advantage by Deception, under the Theft Act. It is an arrestable offence!

Dwight VanDriver

6,583 posts

267 months

Thursday 22nd July 2004
quotequote all
Specifically catered for under Section 174 RTA 88

False statement/witholding information in obtaining Insurance.

Summarily: 6 months impr, fine 5,000 or both.
Indictment (Crown Court): 2 years impr, fine and or both.

Is it worth it. Not in my book.

DVD

monkeyhanger

9,266 posts

265 months

Thursday 22nd July 2004
quotequote all
ge2 said:
I'm insured with Frizzel and they're not interested in points. In fact, they only want to know if you've been banned for something OTHER than speeding.

A sign of the times...



Frizzell / Liverpool Victoria (same company).

A very relaxed attitude to speeding convictions and equally understanding about modifications to the car

TOM_AUDI_TT

45 posts

260 months

Thursday 22nd July 2004
quotequote all
There are insurance companies that specialise in insuring drivers who've been banned or have trouble getting insurance elsewhere.
A friend uses one but I don't remember the name.
Have a browse on the NET or in the back of some car mags...otherwise I'll post the name once I've had a chat with mt mate.
He has beend banned for drink driving and has a Z3 insured so should be able to sort out your friend

mcflurry

9,184 posts

276 months

Friday 23rd July 2004
quotequote all
TOM_AUDI_TT said:

He has beend banned for drink driving and has a Z3 insured so should be able to sort out your friend

Bet it ain't cheap and the excess is a lot more than £50..

Cooperman

4,428 posts

273 months

Friday 23rd July 2004
quotequote all
There is a further risk. If you don't declare all your points you are have not complied with the requirements of the policy. The point was made that if you actually fill in a new application for and sign a false declaration you have committed an offence,however, if you already have a policy and just don't declare 'new' points then you have not signed a false declaration, you've just failed to comply with the terms of the contract to insure you. A different matter, but still it leaves you without proper cover.

The further risk is that if you had those points but were not banned, then got some more and were banned, you would be in a dilemma: to declare your ban even though the ins. co's. records don't show you to be at risk of a ban, or not to declare the ban either. Now we are getting into serious deception.

What I don't understand is if you are a high mileage driver relying on your licence for your living and you get, say, 3 points, surely with all the counter-measures technology available, you go out and get a Road Angel and, possibly, a laser-jammer, for a total cost of about £600. With those on-board you would be safer points-wise than you were before cameras were first used as there are less traffic patrols. I know it may seem expensive, but calculate how much a 6-month licence loss, plus the higher premiums would be over the years.

Others may have a different solution, like going outside the law with your car and having it not registered to you, uninsured, driving whilst disqualified, etc., and there can be little doubt that this camera obsession is driving many down that route. Those who cannot make a living without driving and who have a few minor speeding convictions causing a short-term ban are particulary likely to take this route. So, get those countermeasures in place soonest.