Is there any way out of this backdated payment??

[lstgrl]

After changing cars recently and therefore transferring my insurance, my friend said "you know you have to tell them if you have any convictions..".
I thought that a conviction was when you go to court, NOT when you get fined #60 and have 3 points put on your license for going 5mph over the speed limit and getting caught by a camera.
When i volunteered this information to Diamond (who i've been with for 3/4 years with no claims) they informed me that i have to pay them over #600 for not telling them sooner. They are backdating.
My policy runs out in January anyway but i wanted to be honest and open as and when i discoverred how it works.
I realise that had i made any claim the policy would have been void but i DIDN'T make any claim, haven't cost them anything and i genuinely didn't realise that points are a conviction. It seems that i'm suddenly in awful trouble with them - cancelling my insurance policy and involving debt collectors!
Are they right?
I'm making steps to just pay what i can but it seems extremely unfair.
Anyone??

[redcrx]

they are right, and if you dont pay what you owe and the cancel then youll have to declare that to any future insurer too

I cant see how you didnt realise

[jake-the-peg]

Have you only got one conviction and set of 3 points or more?

Most insurance companies aren't bothered about one sp30, or maybe even 2.

Sounds like a bit of a fast one if that's the case.

Not sure what you can do about it though

[redcrx]

ove 3-4 years it could add up. diamond may charge higher for just 3 points compared to others

[kevin131061]

I would contact insurance ombudsman. There are 3 companies my family have insurance with and they all say the speeding conviction makes no difference to the cost of the insurance. Someone is at it big time

[danchip]

make up a name and use a nearby address and get a quote from them do one with the points and one without and see what the difference is!

this should let you calculate how much more your premiums should ahve been over the 3/4 years and whether they are over charging you

[redcrx]

even if it makes no difference, it still has to be declared.

http://www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk/html/F S13.htm according to this the premiums can vary a lot after a conviction as i said

[lstgrl]

Thank you for being helpful.
Redcrx - i can't see how you can't see how i didn't realise - it's fairly simple.... There's "declare any driving convictions" and there's "declare if you have any points on your license".
I'm not stupid but clearly was ignorant in this instance as the word 'conviction' strongly suggests going to court and having a ruling made.
I haven't withheld the information knowingly and now that i've informed them, it's costing me dearly. Maybe only those who do not manage to live so rigidly in line with the system can appreciate where i'm coming from.
Thanks for input.

[daveygh]

i have just recently been caught on camera doing 36mph in a 30 zone and instead of points i was offered the chance to do a drivers worshop for �95 - does this need to be mentioned to the insurance co as i will still have a clean licence?

[redcrx]

Most basic driving convictions are dealt with by the points system I cannot understand why people dont class these as driving convictions. Diamonds website asks "Do you have any motoring offences, fixed penalty points or disqualifications (including pending convictions) in the last 5 years?"

I expect youd have been rushing to pay any difference you owed the insurer had you needed to make a substantial claim on the insurance.

as you say, youve made a mistake, had you realised at the time then youd have paidan increase in premiums so its understandable they are requesting the money now.

[bednobs]

dayey - no you dont have to declare it as you are swaping a "conviction" for the course so its not counted

[Mrs_Pegasus]

I received an insurance renewal from Tesco insurance and rang to change my address. We went through the usual updating of details and noticed they hadnt got a speeding fine on one of the policies. I remember calling them about the fine which my husband had picked up and I remember notifiying them on both my car and his but it registered on the one policy and not the other. They wanted �260 for updating their system, so I gave them notice on both policies and re-insured elsewhere.

Can you not do the same?