Insurance *********** !!!! - got me over a barrell.

[D-Rider]

Now this isn't a post asking where everyone gets their good deals - I know where to look...... it's just me letting off steam ..... but ......

Today I received my renewal through the post ..... £419.37 FFS

Rang them up to ask why the huge increase.
They confirmed that last year's premium was £211.25 (which is a bit more than I remember it being - but maybe they're right) and told me that this year's quote is with zero NCD as I'm currently making a claim.

I pointed out that I'm claiming on legal expenses rather than my bike policy as I was using 3rd party only cover riding my son's bike and the accident was the fault of the other party. I also reminded them that when I phoned up to report the accident I checked whether the accident would affect my NCD or load my premium and was told it wouldn't.
The girl on the other end of the phone went off to check.
She came back to report that until the claim is settled in my favour, I have zero NCD.
I'm told that I need to pay the full premium but will get a refund if the claim is settled in my favour.
However, unless it's settled 100% in my favour I completely loose all my NCD !! - not what they told me when I reported it.
Also with the police failing to get the details of a single witness, what are the chances of it being settled 100% in my favour? - even though it should be.

What's more, even if my NCD is restored (with 1 more year than last year) the premium will have gone up to £250.

I'm sure that I could have done better elsewhere but at this moment I can't go to any other insurers and tell them I've got a NCD.
Effectively I'm in limbo but have to renew!

Thanks so much to the myopic motorist that knocked me off.

I'm now wishing I'd not bothered to claim - the NCD loss over the next few years will cost significantly more than replacing my helmet and fixing the minor damage to my son's bike.
OK they've asked for a load of other info for out of pocket expenses (which don't come to much) and personal injury (which I wasn't considering and am not so bothered about) but I could have avoided the hassle of it all and kept my NCD intact.

... does it come across that I'm not happy ....


Lessons for the rest of you:
..... don't get knocked off by anyone - even if it's not your fault
..... don't get knocked off just before your insurance is due for renewal - it makes things even worse - you can't even shop around effectively.

[EdinburghFalco]

Dick Turpin Insurance Services I presume?

[paddyz1]

Fuck 'em

Make it worthwhile and claim for loss of earnings.

[back_marker]

We had a similar experience with the car insurance.

Dozy cow backing out of the drive opposite backed into the side of our car. Everything settled amiably, she admitted it (didn't really have a choice anyway) and her insurance coughed up in full.

Come renewal time they tried to double the premium due to having made a claim, despite the fact that it was completely covered by the other insurance company and NCD being unaffected. Told them to poke it and went elsewhere. It still affects the car insurance with other companies but not to such a degree, and when it came to getting SWMBO's bike insurance it had to be mentioned then as well due to the car insurance policy being in her name.

Fortunately it doesn't affect my bike insurance.

[Chabby]

I'm now wishing I'd not bothered to claim - the NCD loss over the next few years will cost significantly more than replacing my helmet and fixing the minor damage to my son's bike.

They've got you over a bigger barrel than you suppose.

Insurance companies expect you to tell them if you've been involved in an accident whether you claim or not.

A mate had an old runabout (car) nicked and didn't bother claiming as his NCD was worth more than the car. Come renewal time he'd lost it anyway - the company had found out via the PNC that it had been reported stolen.

I got skelped when someone ran into my wife as she drove her own car. Although the other driver was 100% to blame and all costs were recovered, my insurance went up as my wife was a named driver on my policy and had been involved in an accident.

ALL insurance companies are twats and bastards!

[andybev]

I fully concur with that assessment. I got stung at renewal for a no fault claim AND I had NCD protection. They make up the rules as they go along. Bunch of robbing thieves. MPs, bankers, insurers - its all been set up to fleece the public it seems to me... </rant>

[D-Rider]

I fully concur with that assessment. I got stung at renewal for a no fault claim AND I had NCD protection. They make up the rules as they go along. Bunch of robbing thieves. MPs, bankers, insurers - its all been set up to fleece the public it seems to me... </rant>

Don't forget Lawyers .... they make money out of whatever the situation ... and lots of it.

Anyway I've written to my insurers asking for an explanation of whay they have not done what they said they would.

TBH I could have understood the situation if they'd told me at the outset that until fault was established I might loose my NCD (well part of it - losing all seems just wrong). It's the telling me one thing and doing another that grates - especially as I may have just decided not to claim (and I don't think the 3rd party has claimed). The loss of NCD over several years is likely to cost me a lot more than the damage to the bike and helmet.

[andybev]

I think they want to know about all your activities whether you claim or not so they can build a profile of you and calculate the likelihood of you claiming again and quote accordingly. Very Orwellian if you ask me. Thats why I don''t do loyalty cards. Its only a matter of time until these systems all link up and your virtual identity is more 'real' than you are!

Or I might be paranoid...