Trouble with Insurance
Discussion
My Insurance company has decided to cancel my insurance on my 98 Chimaera because I did not send proof of a Thatcham 1 alarm and immobilizer being fitted. I told them that these were factory fitted as standard, to which I got the reply, no they were not!
I have definitely got a factory alarm and immobilizer as it is in the Chimaera user manual how to operate them. Are these not Thatcham approved, or is this insurance bloke talking bo$%ox?
I have definitely got a factory alarm and immobilizer as it is in the Chimaera user manual how to operate them. Are these not Thatcham approved, or is this insurance bloke talking bo$%ox?
Alarm systems can be installed to a cat 1 standard but later in their life be removed from the Thatchman rating. This is/can be due to the fact that the maker has to pay each year a licence fee to have it included in the rating once they refuse/stop paying it is no longer classified as cat 1 approved even though nothing has changed with the alarm etc
quote:True, but if the alarm was Thatcham Cat 1 at the time of fitting then most insurers will still class it as Cat 1*, but will often ask you to get an Alarm Health Check done to prove that the alarm is still operating correctly. This costs around £35-£40.
Alarm systems can be installed to a cat 1 standard but later in their life be removed from the Thatchman rating. This is/can be due to the fact that the maker has to pay each year a licence fee to have it included in the rating once they refuse/stop paying it is no longer classified as cat 1 approved even though nothing has changed with the alarm etc.
(* provided it was dropped from the Thatcham list due to the manufacturer not renewing the license, rather than due to the discovery of a security-related defect)
>> Edited by JonRB on Monday 30th September 08:50
As far as I can remember, the Meta system as fitted to the Griffith/Chimaera is Thatcham cat 1 approved only as long as it is fitted with bonnet/boot pin switched. As TVR use those inputs to connect the ultrasonics/radar detector, it is technically Cat 2.
I'm pretty sure that's what the TVR letter explains.
I'm pretty sure that's what the TVR letter explains.
If it is a Thatcham 1 alarm and was fitted by TVR (or 1st dealer) then you should have an installation certificate that came with the car as proof of alarm type and fitting.
I had the same trouble with my insurance company (Direct Line) and after 3 months of correspondence them trying various solutions wrote to Lotus for a copy of the original certificate. Lotus sent me a copy of the original with an official stamp. So I'd suggest you give that route a try.
BTW Direct Line said that until I sent them the proof I would only be third party insured, once I had sorted out the Alarm mularkey I wrote them another letter asking for a rebate because I had actually paid for a fully comp policy and wanted three months compensation. They refused! B'stards!
I had the same trouble with my insurance company (Direct Line) and after 3 months of correspondence them trying various solutions wrote to Lotus for a copy of the original certificate. Lotus sent me a copy of the original with an official stamp. So I'd suggest you give that route a try.
BTW Direct Line said that until I sent them the proof I would only be third party insured, once I had sorted out the Alarm mularkey I wrote them another letter asking for a rebate because I had actually paid for a fully comp policy and wanted three months compensation. They refused! B'stards!
I have a letter from TVR that came with my car saying that all TVRs built after 1999 have a combination of Meta products that, together, are Thatcham Category 1.
My insurers seem to have accepted this, which frankly came as a bit of a surprise on account of the fact my TVR was built in 1997.
My insurers seem to have accepted this, which frankly came as a bit of a surprise on account of the fact my TVR was built in 1997.
quote:
BTW Direct Line said that until I sent them the proof I would only be third party insured, once I had sorted out the Alarm mularkey I wrote them another letter asking for a rebate because I had actually paid for a fully comp policy and wanted three months compensation. They refused! B'stards!
Typical insurance company mentality! I assume third party means fire and theft, therefore they would pay up if your car was nicked, but not having a Cat 1 immobiliser precludes you from claiming if you stack your own motor, theres logic!!!!
Further to my last post. The insurance company did not accept that an alarm and immobiliser were fitted even though I faxed them the relevant pages in the manual.
They said they wanted a letter from the TVR factory that this had been done. In the mean time they would take my money but, I would not be covered if the car was stolen!!!!
I told them politely to p!%s off and got insured through Pearts, cheaper, trackday cover, less excess and includes breakdown cover.
They said they wanted a letter from the TVR factory that this had been done. In the mean time they would take my money but, I would not be covered if the car was stolen!!!!
I told them politely to p!%s off and got insured through Pearts, cheaper, trackday cover, less excess and includes breakdown cover.
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