Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[jonnycool]

The email I received actually told me that I didn't have to answer 'yes' to that question, and I'll  retain that in my records. Another thing in the email was, and I can't quote at the moment, because I'm on my phone, but it listed some terms and conditions, one me them being 'we do not insure cars that have been written off', so despite the fact that I didn't know this about the car, I haven't got much to argue with really. They're also refunding more than a month's premium as well

[Kevin Wood]

The email I received actually told me that I didn't have to answer 'yes' to that question, and I'll  retain that in my records. Another thing in the email was, and I can't quote at the moment, because I'm on my phone, but it listed some terms and conditions, one me them being 'we do not insure cars that have been written off', so despite the fact that I didn't know this about the car, I haven't got much to argue with really. They're also refunding more than a month's premium as well

The key point is if you were asked if it had been previously written off when you took out the cover and if that information is hidden in the Ts and Cs.

Whilst it's fair enough for them to cancel your cover if they find you've given false information it's not fair if they decide they don't want to honour your policy any more so have found some spurious detail that they think allows them to wriggle out of it.

I would work out if you are going to be out of pocket on the proportion of the premium they refund.

[jonnycool]

Here is how they explain themselves in the email...

A vehicle is often declared a write off when an Insurance Company decides the vehicle is damaged beyond economical repair. There are 4 write off categories, Category A and B vehicles should be scrapped as they are no longer roadworthy and Category C and D vehicles can be repaired and placed back on the road. When you purchased your policy, you electronically signed and agreed to the Terms and Conditions and I would like to draw your attention to the following section regarding vehicles we cannot cover:

1.If it has been previously written-off or scrapped (including where the vehicle log book identifies that the car has been previously damaged or repaired, or an HPI database check identifies the vehicle as a category A, B, C or D write off). A HPI Check can identify if a vehicle has outstanding finance, is stolen, written off or provide a warning for suspicions relating to the mileage recorded for it.

As detailed in the Terms and Conditions, your vehicle is unacceptable for cover and we will be unable to continue to insure this vehicle due to it’s history. Your policy will be cancelled in 7 days with effect from 23:59 on 11/07/2012 unless a change of vehicle is made on your policy.

Your policy will be cancelled on a pro-rata basis which means that a cancellation charge will not be applied and you will only be charged for the number of days insurance you have used.

Upon the cancellation of your policy there will be a refund due of £55.01 (which is inclusive of Insurance Premium Tax). This refund will be processed back to the original payment details on the date of cancellation and can take up to 14 days to show in your account.

If when looking for new quotations you are asked if you have ever had insurance cancelled or declared void, you do not need to answer yes to this question as this policy is being cancelled due to an indemnity issue with your vehicle only and not due to an issue with you as a Policy Holder.

I emailed the local Trading Standards office last night to see if they can help me with a claim against the dealer I bought it from, as I'll be out of pocket when I come to sell it, the increased insurance premiums I'm going to have to pay and for all the 'distress' involved 

[Kevin Wood]

OK. Seems the insurance company are being reasonably fair. I wonder if that exclusion is a new addition to their terms, and that's why it's only just come up? Let's hope this isn't going to be a trend that all insurers follow.

Certainly worth making a note of any costs you face in reinstating insurance and loss of vehicle value. Might be worth a small claims action against the trader?

[jimac]

I emailed the local Trading Standards office last night to see if they can help me with a claim against the dealer I bought it from, as I'll be out of pocket when I come to sell it, the increased insurance premiums I'm going to have to pay and for all the 'distress' involved 

I don't think Trading Standards will help you with a claim against the dealer. Any action they take may help prove that you have a case, but I think you would need to take legal action yourself, probably via a lawyer.  You need to have shown that you have taken all reasonable steps yourself to seek a remedy so your first step would be to explain to the dealer what you have found out and ask them to offer some level of compensation.  Be prepared for the dealer to say that they told you it was a Cat D write-off when you bought the car...

[Kevin Wood]

Indeed. Come up with a figure estimating loss of value and cost of sorting out the insurance fiasco and request the dealer make amends. Threaten to take it to court, seek publicity, etc. if he resists. He may just pay up to avoid any hassle.

Local trading standards will, as said, not be much use in a one-off case, but you never know, it might not be a one-off and they might be looking for evidence against the guy already.

[noel]

A Category C write off will appear on the log book as Al describes, but a Cat D won't.
A Cat D means the vehicle was damaged, and the repair cost was more than 40% or 50% of the vehicles pre accident value. Stolen recovered vehicles normally appear as a Category X, not a Cat D.
How long have you had the vehicle for? If not a long time, I would be back in touch with that trader asap as Cat D's have a lower market value.
If you need assistance, PM me.

im just going throuh this cenario with recent rear end shunt to my mig and they said 66% of the pre accident value but i am finding this post very interesting