Forgot to declare SP30 and a claim going through

[jonamv8]

Not me luckily... but a good friend.

Honest mistake.

Nearly two years SP30 small fine received.

Switched insurers last year, approx September time, forgot to declare SP30 as they had completely slipped their mind by now!

This only came to light when insurers requested the access code to view the driving license online, checked all the sections out of curiosity and found the SP30. Rang DVLA to query it as they still don't recall the circumstances but DVLA have confirmed that they were convicted by fixed penalty.

So their current claim is going through and this has come to light. They are worried about this lack of memory and how it may influence their claim. I know for a fact that if they had remembered the points then they would have declared them as they are honest and even if they weren't, their is nothing to be gained from not declaring a small SP30 these days I don't think.

I said I would do what I could and ask PH wisdom as a few Insurance experts on here. They intend writing to insurers immediately and holding their hands up to the error.

Any advice I could pass on is hugely appreciated by my friend and myself

[jonamv8]

p4cks said:

They'll adjust the payout to include the increase in premium that your friend should have been paying.

Unlikely they'll cancel claim and void insurance if it's an honest mistake. If it's a genuine fraud attempt and they can prove it then they will cancel claim and avoid.

Goes without saying that they will happily pay the extra to keep policy from being void as it's a genuine error.

Thanks for the advice

[jonamv8]

Hub said:

p4cks said:

They'll adjust the payout to include the increase in premium that your friend should have been paying.

Unlikely they'll cancel claim and void insurance if it's an honest mistake. If it's a genuine fraud attempt and they can prove it then they will cancel claim and avoid.

But anyone could always say, 'oh I forgot officer'. You have a responsibility to declare the facts surely?

I agree!

In their defence though they hope the insurance company considers:

1. Time passed - 20month
2. Very small offence, not DD or a serious ban
3. Lack of counterpart paper license to reference
4. Its an honest mistake and they are alerting their insurers to it

[jonamv8]

Sure will. I should hear in the next week or so I guess so will update.

I would also like any others with actual experience of this to post please

[jonamv8]

don29 said:

It happened to me in 2002, however I'd had 2 speeding convictions, both within a month or two of each other that I'd neglected to update my insurance co with.

I called them from the roadside immediately after my accident and told them. Amazing they were fine, there was no extra loading and the claim was paid out.

Thanks, that is positive to hear, I am passing responses on my friend

[jonamv8]

oyster said:

How can you forget something so recent?

There's a specific question with a drop down Yes/No option and it's a mandatory field. So the OP's friend must have consciously answered no at that point.

Correct I was with them when they did as they used my PC.

You are talking about somebody who is unbelievably unorganised with little administrative skills. It's just who they are, they have other qualities. Knowing my friend, I believe it is an honest mistake as they understand the severity of not declaring points, due to me advising them!!

3 points and £100 fine wouldn't have registered on their radar at the time let alone 20 months later.

They are a bit of a nightmare in this regard!!

[jonamv8]

rustyuk said:

I worked in a Lloyd's Claims department for over 5 years. Never saw a single claim thrown out for a SP33 or TS10 etc.

No insurance or drink driving was dealt with on merit and was usually referred to the under writer.

Useful to know thanks for posting

[jonamv8]

oyster said:

How can you forget something so recent?

There's a specific question with a drop down Yes/No option and it's a mandatory field. So the OP's friend must have consciously answered no at that point.




Edited to add:
If the form was set up to default to no, then it's possible to forget but I am 99.9999% certain forms like that aren't defaulted at any answer.

I agree I think they actually stated no due to honestly forgetting

[jonamv8]

By way of UPDATE:

Just had a phonecall from my friend. They have received notification from insurers that they have validated their claim and it's being passed to another team for processing.

My friend wrote a covering letter with the documents that they requested. In it they highlighted the SP30 and put their hands up to it being an honest mistake. They also highlighted that they had failed to change their address on their driving license.

No mention of it so far so seems like the insurers are ok with the admission.

I'll update further as and when I hear they have concluded matters.

Thanks for all who posted with their experiences it has helped reassure my friend during a difficult time.

[jonamv8]

Sheepshanks said:

jonamv8 said:

3 points and £100 fine wouldn't have registered on their radar at the time let alone 20 months later.

It's not like it (the penalty itself) turns up out of the blue. If it was a camera then there would be a couple of rounds of paperwork. If he got stopped at the roadside then surely he'd remember that.

OK, you can forget to mention it, but it's a bit odd that he has no recollection of it at all. Maybe it's wrong and someone used his details, or the DVLA have screwed up (as per a recent thread where they cancelled someone's licence).

For you or I yes, I would never forget that but I work in IT in an Office running a company so I have to be good with the details.

They simply are not very good with what deem to be small details. They are not a PH'er, not into cars and don't really give a toss about stuff that the majority on here would class as important.

Names and Faces though - they'd beat me every time.

Horses/Courses. They forgot and I believe them.

[jonamv8]

p4cks said:

As per my first reply I thought it would go this way.

Glad everything sorted itself out.

Thanks mate

My friend had a call yesterday, they are loading the policy by £140 ish , about 20%, as a result of SP30

[jonamv8]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

jonamv8 said:

Thanks mate

My friend had a call yesterday, they are loading the policy by £140 ish , about 20%, as a result of SP30

But that covers the shortfall for 2 years, not just 1?

Single year. They were insured elsewhere previously and yep you guessed it that insurer wasnt told either.

Like I say tho - they have qualities as a friend but admin isnt one