wrong plate no insurance (again)

[pneumothorax]

Hi all. Due in court soon after being stopped on my bike last year. I have three bikes insured with the same provider and had renewed 2 weeks before meeting the police officer. Plate was completely incorrect but was that of a similar bike-I was riding a Ducati Monster 696, the plate was for a 796....insurer insists that it's the plate number I gave them which seems implausible but it's got to the stage where they are saying that's what I gave them and have not been forthcoming with recording of the call made at renewal.

Having read similar threads in the past, how likely (generally) is a Magistrate going to consider the above mitigating features?

ie I had an active policy for a very similar bike

grateful for any advice

[Somewhatfoolish]

Get a lawyer you daftie, if you're absolutely sure you gave them the correct details you've done nothing wrong but this isn't going to be easy to deal with yourself.

[Buzz84]

Normally the insurance companies send you all of the documents after starting or renewing a policy. They will say that you need to check all the details and inform them of any errors as soon as possible.

Doing so covers their back and puts the responsibility onto you unfortunately.

[HiAsAKite]

pneumothorax said:

Hi all. Due in court soon after being stopped on my bike last year. I have three bikes insured with the same provider and had renewed 2 weeks before meeting the police officer. Plate was completely incorrect but was that of a similar bike-I was riding a Ducati Monster 696, the plate was for a 796....insurer insists that it's the plate number I gave them which seems implausible but it's got to the stage where they are saying that's what I gave them and have not been forthcoming with recording of the call made at renewal.

Having read similar threads in the past, how likely (generally) is a Magistrate going to consider the above mitigating features?

ie I had an active policy for a very similar bike

grateful for any advice

Sounds a mess - I'd push to get a copy of the recording - plus that it should have been your 696. Do you own 796?

[Sir Bagalot]

pneumothorax said:

Hi all. Due in court soon after being stopped on my bike last year. I have three bikes insured with the same provider and had renewed 2 weeks before meeting the police officer. Plate was completely incorrect but was that of a similar bike-I was riding a Ducati Monster 696, the plate was for a 796....insurer insists that it's the plate number I gave them which seems implausible but it's got to the stage where they are saying that's what I gave them and have not been forthcoming with recording of the call made at renewal.

Having read similar threads in the past, how likely (generally) is a Magistrate going to consider the above mitigating features?

ie I had an active policy for a very similar bike

grateful for any advice

So what did they say when you followed their complaints procedure?

What then did the Ombudsman say?

What did your policy paperwork say?

[IJWS15]

Sir Bagalot said:

So what did they say when you followed their complaints procedure?

What then did the Ombudsman say?

What did your policy paperwork say?

You are missing something - most folks don't read their policy documentation, most don't even check the certificate. It is always someone else's fault.

[pneumothorax]

yep. agreed, one needs to check the documents etc. the broker keeps promising to forward the recordings of my renewal conversation-10 days prior to my tug. Just wondering if push comes to shove and I present it as "right bike wrong plate" how likely it's going to be considered favorably, or ideally if anyone has any experience of a similar situation.

[silentbrown]

If you "renewed with the same provider", what did the previous year's policy say?

If that was also wrong you shouldn't have been able to tax the bike.

[pneumothorax]

HiAsAKite said:

Sounds a mess - I'd push to get a copy of the recording - plus that it should have been your 696. Do you own 796?

nope. hence why I have suggested it's implausible that I gave them an incorrect reg that happened to be the same model, also black....

[pneumothorax]

bought in September 2020 then renewed in April 2021, then got nicked. you have a good point though re tax, must have been on the MID as the correct plate at that point.

[surveyor]

pneumothorax said:

bought in September 2020 then renewed in April 2021, then got nicked. you have a good point though re tax, must have been on the MID as the correct plate at that point.

Do not think DVLA check insurance for VED anymore.

[LargeRed]

slightly off topic - I had a similar problem with Virgin Media, who over the phone told me to scrap my new router box after I ended the contract.
Later, they tried to charge me for is value, but upon reviewing the call recording, they found their call handler had infact told me to scrap it.

YES !! go for the call recording.

[silentbrown]

surveyor said:

pneumothorax said:

bought in September 2020 then renewed in April 2021, then got nicked. you have a good point though re tax, must have been on the MID as the correct plate at that point.

Do not think DVLA check insurance for VED anymore.

They may not check at that time, but there's a regular check done - if a vehicle is taxed but uninsured the registered keeper should get a warning letter sharpish. (ask me how I know!)

[pneumothorax]

Just checked. bike bought in September 2020, tax expires September 2022. Plate must have been on the MID at purchase. Broker has put on wrong plate at April 2021 renewal. Unless previous owner's insurance was still in effect at purchase...

Anyhow, broker has promised me the call recordings by close of play today..

[CarCrazyDad]

pneumothorax said:

Just checked. bike bought in September 2020, tax expires September 2022. Plate must have been on the MID at purchase. Broker has put on wrong plate at April 2021 renewal. Unless previous owner's insurance was still in effect at purchase...

Anyhow, broker has promised me the call recordings by close of play today..

They will cough up if the recording shows you provided the right details

Good luck

[Dingu]

If you have provided the right details, or really if they can’t show you provided the wrong ones, they should give you a letter of indemnity (or similar). Essentially proves they would have honoured any claim and therefore you were insured, just not shown on databases etc.

[pneumothorax]

CarCrazyDad said:

They will cough up if the recording shows you provided the right details

Good luck

Yep. They have promised the recording today and I don't think it records me describing the plate as documented-I would have to have guessed the reg from a Monster in black from millions, I have been informed it's been listened to by someone, and they can hear me phonetically reading the plate-I told them that, it's my usual practice, but they will never tell me who listened to it. Interesting times, I suspect I am not going to be seeing any recordings and that they also insure said bike.

[unident]

pneumothorax said:

Just checked. bike bought in September 2020, tax expires September 2022. Plate must have been on the MID at purchase. Broker has put on wrong plate at April 2021 renewal. Unless previous owner's insurance was still in effect at purchase...

Anyhow, broker has promised me the call recordings by close of play today..

How did you tax it for 2 years?

[pneumothorax]

nothing from the broker today, really not surprised-reporting to the ombudsman on Monday.

[Ian Geary]

How soon are you due in court?

I doubt the ombudsman can do things in less than "many" weeks, certainly not in a few weeks.

You might want to request a delay to the court case saying that an ombudsman review is underway.

Not sure how to do that of course, but it is relevant to the pending prosecution because a letter of indemnity would (I guess) help you avoid 6 points