Dispute over No Claims Bonus

[Grandad Gaz]

Hi, I have had my van insured with the same company for years. At the last renewal they wanted a lot more than I was prepared to pay, so I went elsewhere.
Now, I have never claimed on a van insurance, ever. Had my own van for about 20 years, so when I was asked by new insurance company about no claims I said it was the maximum. I payed by debit card and thought that was that.

They have since asked me to send them my renewal notice from previous insurer for proof of no claims. I sent this off but, they have replied saying it does not show any no claims discount and I would have to ask the last insurer to send me a letter confirming any No Claims discount.

This has annoyed me. Surely they can find out these things for themselves and tbh, I can't see the previous insurer being too keen to assist!

Any ideas as to the best way to play this?

Cheers

[Jobbo]

Your renewal notice from the old insurer would be your proof of NCB, usually. Check that.

[GKP]

I'm part way through a similar thing. Just renewed with a new insurer and got the quotes based on 15 or so NCB. Proof of NCB turned up from previous insurer showing only 5 years. "But that's the maximum we allow, sir".
New insurer not overly impressed.

[Grandad Gaz]

Jobbo said:

Your renewal notice from the old insurer would be your proof of NCB, usually. Check that.

Not in this case. It looks like they have deliberately left that bit out.

[Grandad Gaz]

GKP said:

I'm part way through a similar thing. Just renewed with a new insurer and got the quotes based on 15 or so NCB. Proof of NCB turned up from previous insurer showing only 5 years. "But that's the maximum we allow, sir".
New insurer not overly impressed.

That's interesting! Just been looking through previous policy and found no claims to be 6 years. That's how long I have been with them. Not happy.

[Aviz]

Admiral just asked for my previous policy number and name of insurer. I assume they either phone them or have some sort of central database they can use to check.

[Hip2Bsquare]

Some insurers cap it at 5 yrs - damned annoying when you have, say 9 years as you lose 4 yrs in the blink of an eye

[frosted]

It's funny how they know about accident history but no ncbs . It's ok cuz r1loon will come here in a minute and call you all knobbers for even saying a bad word against insurance companies and how they pay out £1.15 for every £1.00 they take in . I find it annoying that even though I had 4 years ncb from elephant, swiftcover said they can't get it by phone even though in the end they did .

[Terzo123]

Insurance companies are not slow in cancelling policies if they do not receive proof of previous NCB. It's hidden away in the T&C's

And even worse, some people only find out when they check their bank account and notice the refund, or worst case scenario, get stopped by the police.

[bigdods]

My new insurers demanded my renewal as proof of NCD. I had lost the renewal so they got all arsey, demanding extra money etc as it took 3 days to get a new copy of my renewal from old insurer. So when I phoned them back and told them I now had a copy of the renewal from old insurers and where did they want it sent to they told me - 'oh we use the same underwriter so I can check on our computer system. Yes I can see you have the full NCD so we wont need to see your renewal'

fking tts

Edited by bigdods on Thursday 11th November 17:19

[Antony Moxey]

Grandad Gaz said:

I can't see the previous insurer being too keen to assist!

Any ideas as to the best way to play this?

Yes, just phone them and ask. I had the same when I changed insurers after premiums rocketed - new insurers wanted proof of no claims so I just phoned old insurers and asked them for proof. No problems they said, and dispatched a letter within a couple of days.

[redstu]

Most insurers look at 5 years as being the max, so 5 or 15 should not make a difference. But if you know otherwise?

[carl0s]

Admiral's welcome letter didn't make it clear that they wanted my proof, but I just received a notice that if I didn't supply it within 7 days, my insurance price would be re-calculated on the basis of zero NCB, and that I would be charged the extra.

I have since disposed of my previous renewal letter, so I rang up Admiral and said "can't you get it from some sort of database?", and happily they said yes, and asked for previous insurer's name, and the policy number. Job done.

Edited by carl0s on Thursday 11th November 21:40

[Cost Captain]

carl0s said:

Admiral's welcome letter didn't make it clear that they wanted my proof, but I just received a notice that if I didn't supply it within 7 days, my insurance price would be re-calculated on the basis of zero NCB, and that I would be charged the extra.

I have since disposed of my previous renewal letter, so I rang up Admiral and said "can't you get it from some sort of database?", and happily they said yes, and asked for previous insurers name, and the policy number. Job done.

I had the same thing, they rang me up to say they would be recalculating the first month of my policy with zero NCB because i hadn't provided proof.

I said that the policy was taken out with 3 years NCB and I have that, and that nothing was said about failure to provide documentation causing an increase in premium for the time in which i failed to provide such documentation.

They then back tracked saying because the car is group 18 they can't insure me with anything less than 2 years NCB so "will let it slips, but just this once".

[redstu]

^^^ a database, now that's reassuring! Can't be the same one that they use when failing to spot all the insurance fraud that goes on. I suppose if all the claimants are called "David smith" (or other racial stereotypical name) then it might be difficult.

[carl0s]

Cost Captain said:

carl0s said:

Admiral's welcome letter didn't make it clear that they wanted my proof, but I just received a notice that if I didn't supply it within 7 days, my insurance price would be re-calculated on the basis of zero NCB, and that I would be charged the extra.

I have since disposed of my previous renewal letter, so I rang up Admiral and said "can't you get it from some sort of database?", and happily they said yes, and asked for previous insurers name, and the policy number. Job done.

I had the same thing, they rang me up to say they would be recalculating the first month of my policy with zero NCB because i hadn't provided proof.

I said that the policy was taken out with 3 years NCB and I have that, and that nothing was said about failure to provide documentation causing an increase in premium for the time in which i failed to provide such documentation.

They then back tracked saying because the car is group 18 they can't insure me with anything less than 2 years NCB so "will let it slips, but just this once".

You want to know what *really* takes the piss? Here's what happened previously with Admiral..

When running my quotes through, I did various things like tweak mileage, increase NCB by a year, my age, postcodes, and points on my license.
About a month after starting my insurance, I received a letter to the effect that:
"REF: Quote Massaging.
During our routine investigations both within our own company and between partner companies, we have noticed that you have previously stated in one of your quotation requests that you have three points on your license. Therefore we are going to assume that this is the case. The cost of your policy has now increased by £120. Payment will be taken within 14 days from the card with which you made the previous payment."

Cheeky bds!

So I rang them and explained "I was trying out various variables to satisfy curiosity. I don't have my paper counterpart. Not sure where it is." She said it was up to me to prove to them that I didn't have the points on my license. She offered to ring the DVLA on my behalf, to which I accepted, and thankfully they confirmed that I had no points on my license (half to my surprise.. I wasn't entirely sure.. I had an idea that any points I did have, would be expired by now, but wasn't quite 100%).

Edited by carl0s on Thursday 11th November 21:58

[anonymous-user]

Aviz said:

Admiral just asked for my previous policy number and name of insurer. I assume they either phone them or have some sort of central database they can use to check.

I was pretty fked off when admiral wanted me to do leg work and get them documents after i had just paid near £3,000 for a years insurance. After explaining to them they just said no problem and took the policy number and name of previous insurer like you mentioned.

The reason they do this is that if you have an accident they will check with the previous insurer then.

[Who me ?]

Hip2Bsquare said:

Some insurers cap it at 5 yrs - damned annoying when you have, say 9 years as you lose 4 yrs in the blink of an eye

And most cap it at 9 - more annoying when you've got something like at least 15 ,or more -premiums keep on going up at same rate as those with nine, even worse if I'd never had company cars ( not all companies will provide evidence of NCB on company business) .