No Claims Bonus cert rip-off

luketitz

Apologies if in the wrong area (mods please move if that's the case)

Long story short - the missus changed car insurer, needed evidence of no claims bonus for new provider. Old provider - Axa - charged a 15 euro fee for this simple printing of a sheet and sticking in an envelope - in branch.

Had a look through her contract and saw no such mention of this exorbitant fee.

Has anyone else heard of or experienced this before?

Bannasidhe

Mine is always automatically included with my renewal info - Aviva/One Direct.

My mother used to use a broker and I happened to be there when her insurance was due for renewal - the broker hadn't sent out much info beyond the exorbitant amount they wanted. I got on the phone to a few companies and got her a quote for 60% less. Explained that the brokers had her no claims statement so we were allowed 30 days to send it on. Took the brokers two weeks to send it out but they didn't charge.

bazz26

This is now the practice of most insurance companies. This is how they can offer lower premiums to new customers by clawing it back from general administration fees for which I am sure the likes of charging for temperary/permanent transfer of the policy to another vehicle, re-issueing your NCB cert or insurance disc fall under. Similar to bank charges.

Top Dog

I thought insurance companies were obliged by law to provide proof of no-claims when sending out a renewal, to allow customers safely shop around without delaying?

Granted I'm with Aviva like an above poster, and its automatically sent out to me, but I did believe that they had to do it.

bazz26

Top Dog wrote: »

I thought insurance companies were obliged by law to provide proof of no-claims when sending out a renewal, to allow customers safely shop around without delaying?

Granted I'm with Aviva like an above poster, and its automatically sent out to me, but I did believe that they had to do it.

They do at renewal time but I think the OP requested an ad hoc issue of the cert which there is an admin charge assocated with.

chubchub

Unfortunately so.. the first one is issues for free but after that it depends on company. 25 I was charged before for this. Rip off but In a way I see there point. People would just keep for print outs constantly instead of looking properly for it.

Chriscl1

luketitz wrote: »

Apologies if in the wrong area (mods please move if that's the case)

Long story short - the missus changed car insurer, needed evidence of no claims bonus for new provider. Old provider - Axa - charged a 15 euro fee for this simple printing of a sheet and sticking in an envelope - in branch.

Had a look through her contract and saw no such mention of this exorbitant fee.

Has anyone else heard of or experienced this before?

It could have been worse, she could have been with 123.ie and paid €40 admin fee.

bazz26

Chriscl1 wrote: »

It could have been worse, she could have been with 123.ie and paid €40 admin fee.

Which is subsidising how they can undercut premiums of their rivals.

Tallon

Yes, she needs to pay it

Look at it like a €15 fine for not filling her NCB away every year.. It's really easy to do to be fair

oldyouth

Tallon wrote: »

Yes, she needs to pay it

Look at it like a €15 fine for not filling her NCB away every year.. It's really easy to do to be fair

But if you change insurers mid-year, the last renewal NCB won't suffice. They would need a current document

Top Dog

oldyouth wrote: »

But if you change insurers mid-year, the last renewal NCB won't suffice. They would need a current document

Are you sure about that? Surely if its the most recent then it'd be ok?

oldyouth

Top Dog wrote: »

Are you sure about that? Surely if its the most recent then it'd be ok?

No, it won't do. If you have been insured since the renewal date, you need a fresh document. If you have not been driving since renewal and your policy has lapsed, a 'gap in cover' declaration can be used in conjunction with your last renewal NCB

Tallon

oldyouth wrote: »

But if you change insurers mid-year, the last renewal NCB won't suffice. They would need a current document

It is current, it's still the current year. So if you have 2 years NCB and you cancel half way through, you still only have 2

I cancelled from Quinn years ago half way through the year and used my NCB to go to FBD with no issues.

Each year I renew my policy, I just mention that I want the NCB sent with the Disc and they have no issue with that, and no extra charge

Then I just file them away for future reference

luketitz

Chriscl1 wrote: »

It could have been worse, she could have been with 123.ie and paid €40 admin fee.

Cheers folks, got all the answers I needed here, I won't be kicking up too much of a fuss then!

The irony of the quoted comment above is that's who she's going with! Doubt their quotes will be beaten any time soon though, so hopefully we won't be needing to pay that admin fee to change provider at all!

oldyouth

Tallon wrote: »

It is current, it's still the current year. So if you have 2 years NCB and you cancel half way through, you still only have 2

It's not current if you have been insured/driving since your renewal date. Insurers will want to verify that you are still entitled to 2 years NCB. In other words, that you have not declared an accident since last renewal

Chriscl1

luketitz wrote: »

Cheers folks, got all the answers I needed here, I won't be kicking up too much of a fuss then!

The irony of the quoted comment above is that's who she's going with! Doubt their quotes will be beaten any time soon though, so hopefully we won't be needing to pay that admin fee to change provider at all!

make sure your mrs sends the cert to 123 by registered post as they manage to lose two of mine and tried to say i never sent them:mad: luckily the second one was registered!! im with axa now, better price for me and i use the axa plus card quite a bit and also the axa discount with stena line is nice:)

luketitz

Chriscl1 wrote: »

make sure your mrs sends the cert to 123 by registered post as they manage to lose two of mine and tried to say i never sent them:mad: luckily the second one was registered!! im with axa now, better price for me and i use the axa plus card quite a bit and also the axa discount with stena line is nice:)

I scanned and e-mailed it to them!