Two insurance questions.

CiniO

My wife has a car and insurance policy on it.
I also have a car and insurance policy on it.

Question 1.
Last year, my wife was driving my car, which is insured on my policy and she is a named driver. She crashed that car, after which it was classed as write-off. No one else involved. I claimed for the value of my car from my insurance policy. I stated in the claim documents that it was my wife driving. After few weeks claim was sorted. We rang my wife's insurance company and told them she had an accident, but it was under my policy and I claimed for it. They said it won't affect her policy.

I was checking her policy documents recently, and realized that when her policy was renewed few months ago, on the premium price breakdown, within other discounts, there is actually a loading of nearly 20% described as "claim load".
Are they allowed to increase her premium for "claim load" considering she never claimed for anything? Yes - she was involved in a single vehicle collision, but it was me who claimed as it was my car and my policy which covered it.


Question 2.
Last year we had my wife's policy suspended for about 40 days, as we didn't need any cover on her car for that period. The letter we received confirming suspensions sounds like that: "Thank you for your recent instruction to us regarding the suspension of the policy. We confirm that the above amendment has been processed. Any refund due for the period of the suspension, will be calculated on the date of reinstatement of the policy".
As we didn't receive any refund for a month after reinstatement of the policy, I gave them a call, and I was told refund will be in a post within 5 days. Nothing came in, so I had to give them another call. And then another, and another. I think after 4 or 5 call eventually refund came in post.

This year situation was nearly the same. We suspended the policy for over a month. It's been over 2 months now since policy was reinstated, but no refund was sent to us. I didn't bother calling them yet. I'm actually thinking about writing a request for refund together with adequate interest for 2 months delay. Do you reckon it has any point, and would the be liable for any interest for delaying a refund for over 2 months?

MugMugs

In relation to query one, was there any third party damage? If there was, her third party extension would have been liable for 50% of any third party claim and could well have paid out for the same. Ring them and ask.

CiniO

MugMugs wrote: »

In relation to query one, was there any third party damage? If there was, her third party extension would have been liable for 50% of any third party claim and could well have paid out for the same. Ring them and ask.

There wasn't any third party damage.
Her policy didn't pay out anything.

MugMugs

Your named on her policy? If so, are they loading you the named driver as you had a claim? Have you actually called them to find out?

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

My wife has a car and insurance policy on it.
I also have a car and insurance policy on it.

Question 1.
Last year, my wife was driving my car, which is insured on my policy and she is a named driver. She crashed that car, after which it was classed as write-off. No one else involved. I claimed for the value of my car from my insurance policy. I stated in the claim documents that it was my wife driving. After few weeks claim was sorted. We rang my wife's insurance company and told them she had an accident, but it was under my policy and I claimed for it. They said it won't affect her policy.

I was checking her policy documents recently, and realized that when her policy was renewed few months ago, on the premium price breakdown, within other discounts, there is actually a loading of nearly 20% described as "claim load".
Are they allowed to increase her premium for "claim load" considering she never claimed for anything? Yes - she was involved in a single vehicle collision, but it was me who claimed as it was my car and my policy which covered it.

Your mistaking insurance companies with normal companies/life. They make up their own rules. Not sure how they can load her policy unless your company sued her company for part payment, which does happen.

But your wife has had a claim, on your policy, so if she rings around she'll have to declare the claim.

CiniO wrote: »

Question 2.
Last year we had my wife's policy suspended for about 40 days, as we didn't need any cover on her car for that period. The letter we received confirming suspensions sounds like that: "Thank you for your recent instruction to us regarding the suspension of the policy. We confirm that the above amendment has been processed. Any refund due for the period of the suspension, will be calculated on the date of reinstatement of the policy".
As we didn't receive any refund for a month after reinstatement of the policy, I gave them a call, and I was told refund will be in a post within 5 days. Nothing came in, so I had to give them another call. And then another, and another. I think after 4 or 5 call eventually refund came in post.

This year situation was nearly the same. We suspended the policy for over a month. It's been over 2 months now since policy was reinstated, but no refund was sent to us. I didn't bother calling them yet. I'm actually thinking about writing a request for refund together with adequate interest for 2 months delay. Do you reckon it has any point, and would the be liable for any interest for delaying a refund for over 2 months?

You have to keep hounding them. No joy with interest.

djimi

CiniO wrote: »

I'm actually thinking about writing a request for refund together with adequate interest for 2 months delay. Do you reckon it has any point, and would the be liable for any interest for delaying a refund for over 2 months?

At a guess Id say you would be absolutely wasting your time and your request will go nowhere, but if you feel its worth chancing your arm then more power to you!

CiniO

MugMugs wrote: »

Your named on her policy? If so, are they loading you the named driver as you had a claim?

Hmm. I didn't think about that. I'm indeed named on her policy.
Could be that then.

Have you actually called them to find out?

I find ringing them completely pointless, as I think over last 5 years I rang them at least 50 times, and I never found out anything by that. They just have no clue over there in their call-centre. It's not unusual to ring them, get an answer, and then ring them again in 5 minutes, talk to someone else and get 100% opposite answer which contradicts the first one.
Ringing them is wasting your time.

CiniO

Del2005 wrote: »

But your wife has had a claim, on your policy, so if she rings around she'll have to declare the claim.

But that's the thing that it was my policy. I claimed. I filled in the forms. I signed it, and obviously I had received a compensation for the car from them. Only link with her was that I filled in her details as driver details on the claim form.
Does that still mean, she had a claim? or me? Or maybe both?

djimi

CiniO wrote: »

I find ringing them completely pointless, as I think over last 5 years I rang them at least 50 times, and I never found out anything by that. They just have no clue over there in their call-centre. It's not unusual to ring them, get an answer, and then ring them again in 5 minutes, talk to someone else and get 100% opposite answer which contradicts the first one.
Ringing them is wasting your time.

So why stick with them for 5 years if you cant deal with their customer support? Being able to talk to your insurer would be one of the most important things to me; dealing with a claim is bad enough without having to worry about incompetant staff over the phone.

Jimdagym

CiniO wrote: »

But that's the thing that it was my policy. I claimed. I filled in the forms. I signed it, and obviously I had received a compensation for the car from them. Only link with her was that I filled in her details as driver details on the claim form.
Does that still mean, she had a claim? or me? Or maybe both?

But she would have been asked was she is an accident when renewing, and if she wasnt, she (all of us) have to inform them. There is no real hiding from it unless you pay for all the damage oput of your pocket and noone ever finds out, which is what I suspect they really want.

CiniO

Jimdagym wrote: »

But she would have been asked was she is an accident when renewing, and if she wasnt, she (all of us) have to inform them.

She was never asked about anything when renewing.
Renewal comes automatically. They didn't even ask her if she intents to renew.
We did ring them though after the accident (this was before renewal) to inform them she had an accident in my car, and I claimed for it, but we never told them she had any claims, as she didn't./

CiniO

djimi wrote: »

So why stick with them for 5 years if you cant deal with their customer support? Being able to talk to your insurer would be one of the most important things to me;
dealing with a claim is bad enough without having to worry about incompetant staff over the phone.

It's Aviva. They were the first ones I got my insurance in Ireland as they easily accepted my NCB from Poland. Even more I still had my policy in Poland in operation with NCB applying to it, when I got my policy in Ireland, so generally I had the same NCB on both policies, which I think is against the rules Irish insurers use. Anyway - they never asked if I still had my policy back in Poland so there was no problem. Year later my friend was trying to get a policy from them using his NCB from Estonia, and they asked for a proof that his policy in Estonia was no longer in force, so they must have learned since.
I was with them only for two years and then moved to Allianz, which in regards to customer support is no much better ( I think most insurers are bad regards this). However when I was dealing with a claim, it's completely different team, and I must say it pretty much all went trouble-less.

Then my wife got policy at Aviva, as they offered the best price, and also they joined her one year NCB from Poland and 2 years named driving experience on my policy with aviva, giving her 3 years NCB, which any other company wouldn't do.
They also provided pretty good price for a car assuming it's modified.
So generally it's all about price that my wife stays with them, as most other companies would be more expensive.

Marcusm

CiniO wrote: »

But that's the thing that it was my policy. I claimed. I filled in the forms. I signed it, and obviously I had received a compensation for the car from them. Only link with her was that I filled in her details as driver details on the claim form.
Does that still mean, she had a claim? or me? Or maybe both?

She has been involved in an accident which is admitted to be her fault. They are entitled to tale that into account in setting the base insurance premium they would calculate for her. Certainly, plenty of experience in the UK arising even from accidents where no claim has been made as it informs the risk inherent in covering that driver. Not sure why it would be described as a claim loading.

CiniO

Marcusm wrote: »

She has been involved in an accident which is admitted to be her fault. They are entitled to tale that into account in setting the base insurance premium they would calculate for her. Certainly, plenty of experience in the UK arising even from accidents where no claim has been made as it informs the risk inherent in covering that driver. Not sure why it would be described as a claim loading.

That was my main concern as she didn't claim anything.
If it was "accident claim" then it would be clear enough for me.

However MugMugs already pointed out, it could be as I had a claim as it was my policy, and I'm named on my wife's policy.

Jimdagym

CiniO wrote: »

She was never asked about anything when renewing.
Renewal comes automatically. They didn't even ask her if she intents to renew.
We did ring them though after the accident (this was before renewal) to inform them she had an accident in my car, and I claimed for it, but we never told them she had any claims, as she didn't./

But your insurance quote us based on assumptions. Every renewal is like that. The obligation is on the policy holder to inform their insurance of all accidents, disqualifications, penalty points etc. this will be stated on your renewal, and your policy. Failure to inform them can lead to voiding of the policy.

CiniO

Jimdagym wrote: »

But your insurance quote us based on assumptions. Every renewal is like that. The obligation is on the policy holder to inform their insurance of all accidents, disqualifications, penalty points etc. this will be stated on your renewal, and your policy. Failure to inform them can lead to voiding of the policy.

This is from renewal letter:

Dear Mrs xxxxxx.
Your car insurance policy is due for renewal on .....
Based on our current records we are pleased to offer a discounted renewal premium of .......
The attached renewal schedule outlines details of your cover.
What to do next.
Please check the information is correct and up to date. If you are happy to renew, you do not need to do anything...
Duty of disclosure
The details on this Renewal invitation and the premium offered, are based on the information previously supplied to us. It is vitally important that you tell us of any material change in the risk.....


Assumption were only applicable when obtaining a policy.
They base their renewal premium on information supplied when obtaining policy and all information provided in between. Considering all was up to date (we did inform them about the accident just after the accindent) I can't see any need to disclose any more information during renewal, as there actually isn't any more information to disclose.

Jimdagym

But just because you do not see a need to tell them, doesn't mean there is no need. Of you don't think the information matters to them, then it wouldn't have affected your policy. I think it's quite clear in the renewal letter that you need to tell them. Anything else is just giving them a chance to screw you when you really need them.

CiniO

Jimdagym wrote: »

But just because you do not see a need to tell them, doesn't mean there is no need. Of you don't think the information matters to them, then it wouldn't have affected your policy. I think it's quite clear in the renewal letter that you need to tell them. Anything else is just giving them a chance to screw you when you really need them.

Now I don't really get what you mean.
My wife told them already about the accident.
Are you trying to say that she should tell them again the same thing during renewal?

Our man in Havana

It should say on the renewal/NCB about any claims they have on record.

CiniO

Our man in Havana wrote: »

It should say on the renewal/NCB about any claims they have on record.

It doesn't say about any claims.

Marcusm

CiniO wrote: »

That was my main concern as she didn't claim anything.
If it was "accident claim" then it would be clear enough for me.

However MugMugs already pointed out, it could be as I had a claim as it was my policy, and I'm named on my wife's policy.

I can't see why you being a named driver is a reason to increase the premium as you have not had any accidents. The fact that your wife has had an accident (irrespective of whether there has been a claim against her policy or indeed even if there was no claim against any policy) is the BEST reason to increase her policy as it indicates a predisposition to accidents, even if there has been no claim.

CiniO

Marcusm wrote: »

I can't see why you being a named driver is a reason to increase the premium as you have not had any accidents.

I didn't have any accidents, but I had a claim, as I claimed for my car, which my wife crashed.

The fact that your wife has had an accident (irrespective of whether there has been a claim against her policy or indeed even if there was no claim against any policy) is the BEST reason to increase her policy as it indicates a predisposition to accidents, even if there has been no claim.

That makes sense to me, but why is it called "claim load" then?