Car insurance, I can prove 20yrs+ NCD but they will only accept 5yrs

[CW1]

Hi,
Recently changed my car insurer who, when I got a quote on their website, asked how much NCD I had. I've got loads (in excess of 20yrs) so went for their max of 20yrs.
After I'd paid, they e-mailed me, asking for proof of the 20yrs. I went to great lengths to scan old certificates & renewals covering that period, & sent them by e-mail. Most insurers have a max they give - this one's 20yrs, previous one is 5yrs, others have been in between.
Now they're saying they'll only give me the 5yrs my previous insurers will confirm, quote

"Proof of No claims discount can only be taken from your most recent insurer and therefore we are only able to accept the five years supplied by your previous insurer. Should an insurance company have a maximum no claims discount entitlement of five years this is the maximum you can take to your next insurer regardless of how many claim free years you have in total."

That's new to me !! I've never been told this before, & no insurer has ever confirmed the true period of NCD I've got.
Can they do this ?

[berniecuddles]

they make the rules up as they go along im sure they do!!

[Bob906]

If you claim to have in excess of 20 years NCD did you stick with 1 insurer over that period of time or did you change, if you changed, then it is right that they only give the maximum NCD from your previous insurer whatever theirs is.

Anyone can say they have got 20+ years NCD but only if they have been with 1 insurer over that time, and get the proof to pass on.

[squarebear]

But surely, if he can prove through old policies and certificates that he has 20+ years, why are they questioning it?

[CW1]

I always get quotes from other insurers when it's due for renewal so no, I haven't always been with one insurer. BUT I do have proof of NCD going back years, via different insurer, so why do I suddenly lose 15yrs+ ? No other insurer has ever questioned my NCD. Doesn't seem right to me ...

[ABerrant]

They are giving you maximum NCD so it is irrelevant if they call it 5yrs, 20yrs or 100yrs.

The vast majority of insurers use "5 years NCD" as synonymous with "maximum NCD" and have done for at least a decade.

[CW1]

ABerrant, they're NOT giving me their max. Their max is 20yrs. They're giving me 5. And that's with the previous certificate saying "You have 5 years OR MORE maximum no claims discount". I have certificates & renewals to prove insurers DO offer more than 5. One says 7, another 10 ...

[CW1]

By only offering me 5yrs when they quoted for 20, they're gonna want more money, so they're not giving me their max, are they ?
One insurer, some years ago, quoted 75% as their max, for 5yrs. They gave me 75½%, presumably 'cos I had way more than 5yrs !

[ABerrant]

Can you name the insurer so that we can ascertain that 20 years NCD actually gives a higher %age discount than 5 years?

Surely the premium you are paying with "5 years NCD" is lower than another company with 9 or 20 so I do not see where the problem lies.

[redcrx]

have you got a cooling off period? if so, cancel the insurance and move to a cheaper insurer.

[CW1]

ABerrant, no disrespect but I think you're missing my point. The quote for 20yrs was the cheapest I could find. If I'd entered 5yrs instead of 20, I doubt they would've been, & if they ask for another payment to make up for the 15yr shortfall they probably won't be the cheapest.
The one I'm having the "problem" with is Zurich Connect.
https://www.zurich-co...%B4%B9%D9%CF%B4%B4%B5
In fact, I've just seen on that page they're offering 21yrs+ now !

redcrx - I never thought of that !! I'll check that out as soon as I've had brekkie. Night shifts, eh !! lol

[bednobs]

it might be an idea to ask them how much (if any) difference there is

[ABerrant]

Motor insurance policies have a statutory 14 day cooling-off period.

Have the insurers increased the premium from that which they originally agreed?

[ABerrant]

Having just checked the policy booklet for Zurich Connect they list only five levels of NCD: 1yr, 2yrs, 3yrs, 4yrs, 5 or more yrs.

They may ask if you have up to '20 years' but their definition of maximum claim free years is '5 or more'.

e.g. if you have 20yrs NCD (unprotected) and make one claim you are reduced to 3yrs NCD at next renewal. This is true for any value of NCD greater than 4yrs.

http://zdownload.zuri...nnect/motorpolicy.pdf

[CW1]

The 14 days is up but they've "had me over a barrel" from the start as I didn't receive the original letter asking for proof of NCD until 11 days after the policy had started.

ABerrant, don't understand why they apparently only give 5yrs if the drop down on the link I posted goes up to 21+, especially as I always protect my NCD. AND if that's the case, why the fuss ? They've acceptable proof for only 5yrs. They want me to ring'em, why if not to increase my premium ? Not going to, really don't have time at the mo' (& I'll lose my rag !). I'll e-mail again, ask what extra premium I'd have to pay, & say they've got my custom under false pretences as although they do say proof of NCD will be required (which I knew I could do), if does NOT say it all has to be the previous insurer - I wouldn't have been able to do that so would NOT have taken out the policy.

Thanks for all your opinions, appreciate it. :o) best get this e-mail sent & get to work ...

[twix123]

If there is a big difference in the premium between 5 years NCD and 20 years NCD, and they request an extra payment, invoke their Complaints Procedure, details of which will be included within your policy documentation, pointing out that the website quote that you accepted did not state that the claimed No Claims period had to be only with your previous insurer. When you get their final response, if it is not in your favour, you have the right to take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which the insurers must inform you about.

[CW1]

Thanks Twix.

I e-mailed'em Wednesday, basically asking "what now ?" and that if this was going to affect my NCD next year (ie. they'd only confirm 6yrs if I changed insurer next year rather than 20+) OR they intended asking for an extra payment this year, then I was going to seek advice from the Ombudsman with to view to cancelling this car insurance AND the house insurance I've had with them for the last 4 years.
Received a read receipt not long after (always request one from them as the e-mails weren't being answered at 1st, and send High Priority), then missed a phone call at 6:20pm (from a landline number) as I was getting ready for work. Called the number while on my way to work and it was them but the office shut at 5pm (??). Haven't heard any more.

The booger is, I got more quotes last night (just in case !) and they're pretty much all best part of £100 dearer ! I'm sick to death of the whole thing but far as I'm concerned, the ball's firmly back in their court. And they'd better hurry up, I'm off on holiday in a coupla weeks (the 1st in years, and BOY do I need it !) ...