As above, when did this go this far? When did modifications cover absolutely everything and not just stuff that made the car go faster than it was designed to do so?

I think it started in the 80s, when Golf GTIs were getting nicked left, right, and centre, and it was fashionable to fit a GTI badge to your CL and call it a replica (or, if you're VW, call it a Driver.....). Insurance co's started getting sniffy over badging.

DVLA/VOSA have a database of option codes by VIN for all VAG cars first registered after the beginning of 2006. The plan is to have a section for options and modifications on the next revision of the V5.

So which of the OP's wind deflectors have full TUV approval with a licence?

Looking at team heko they are claiming TUV approval but I did not get a copy of the licence?

Regards

Motor Insurers Bureau's view on the subject.

 

 "Ref: Providing fraudulent details to acquire motor insurance:

 

We don't know who you are. We don't know what you want. If you are looking for insurance, we can tell you, we have plenty. But what we also have are a very particular set of skills; skills we have acquired over a very long and profitable career. Skills that make us a nightmare for people like you. If you didn't declare any modifications, then have a crash, that'll be the end of it, we will not look for you, we will not pursue you. But if you do try to claim, then we will look for mods, we will find mods, and we will screw you."

 

 

Case closed! 

I'm sorry.

 

Most of the information / instructions in this thread is complete ant utter ******.

 

I speak as one who spent 36 years as a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII)  working for a major (in fact the only remaining UK owned) General Insurance company in various roles including Underwriter, Risk Assessor, Claims Investigator etc. etc.

 

What terrifies me is that Oet (who I suspect is some sort of agent or other middleman) can talk about "asking questions in training" yet clearly has no understanding of either the law, custom and practice or FSA requirements,

 

Do not kid yourself that the person to whom you are speaking at the other end of the phone when querying these points has any knowledge of either cars, or indeed of Insurance. They are merely following a computer based script and are about the lowest of the low in the Insurance world (slightly below the cleaners, post room messengers and the man who refills the coffee machine)

 

Never mind if the average punter knows what a modification is, the average (average nowadays = sub-normal) call centre scrote knows even less. Lets be honest, if they actually knew or could do anything they wouldn't be working in a dark room call centre at 10.00 at night.

 

By all means ring them, but if you want an accurate and definitive answer, demand to be connected to an Underwriter (but don't hold your breath until you get through to one, we / they were / are damned elusive creatures whenever possible) and when you have been given an answer DEMAND TO BE SENT IT IN WRITING.

 

When you have it in writing post it on here together with the perpretator so we can all see it.

BJm

Posted Yesterday, 23:52

"I'm sorry.

Most of the information / instructions in this thread is complete ant utter ******."

Well said that man. Take a bow!

Soooooo, most advice given is rubbish, then tells everyone to tell their insurance company about their mods? I think were going round in circles here

This is getting a bit silly now. My last car I crashed and claimed for in 2008 had a large poppy on the front grille, now that's a modification that I didn't inform them about but they still paid out. I believe these little modifications like tinted windows, wind deflectors etc. unless they add value to the car, enhance the cars performance, contributed to the collision or are illegal then you'll be alright.

If going by what some say on here I need to inform my insurance about my LED number plate bulbs, my LED door lights, my yellow fog light bulbs, my silver door sill protectors etc etc.

I'm sorry.

 

Most of the information / instructions in this thread is complete ant utter ******.

 

I speak as one who spent 36 years as a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII)  working for a major (in fact the only remaining UK owned) General Insurance company in various roles including Underwriter, Risk Assessor, Claims Investigator etc. etc.

 

What terrifies me is that Oet (who I suspect is some sort of agent or other middleman) can talk about "asking questions in training" yet clearly has no understanding of either the law, custom and practice or FSA requirements,

 

Do not kid yourself that the person to whom you are speaking at the other end of the phone when querying these points has any knowledge of either cars, or indeed of Insurance. They are merely following a computer based script and are about the lowest of the low in the Insurance world (slightly below the cleaners, post room messengers and the man who refills the coffee machine)

 

Never mind if the average punter knows what a modification is, the average (average nowadays = sub-normal) call centre scrote knows even less. Lets be honest, if they actually knew or could do anything they wouldn't be working in a dark room call centre at 10.00 at night.

 

By all means ring them, but if you want an accurate and definitive answer, demand to be connected to an Underwriter (but don't hold your breath until you get through to one, we / they were / are damned elusive creatures whenever possible) and when you have been given an answer DEMAND TO BE SENT IT IN WRITING.

 

When you have it in writing post it on here together with the perpretator so we can all see it.

 

 

Its nice to see you have such a good opinion of your colleagues within the insurance business....are they all scrotes and 'the lowest of the low'...the people who answer the phones? What about the admin? guess they are too? as they aren't a 'fellow' after all!!

 

How pompous and what a ridiculous generalisation. So when i phone one of the site sponsors and speak to them about my policy (Chris Knott) i am actually talking to an idiot who has no idea about insurance or modifications...i guess you view brokers with the same indignation?

 

I don't work insurance any more, haven't for a long time..

 

I do know however that the FSA do not regulate and have been superceeded by the FCA and the PRA...it 'terrifies me' that a man of your knowledge experience and charm doesn't know this?

 

a little link for you to see http://www.fsa.gov.uk/

 

 

The only sensible thing you wrote, was asking for proof in paper.

 

 

fyi, i would change your avatar to 'simply old and pompous' it suits better.

Hey, I am new here and I dno't know this plan better. Umm. Maybe I can join next time!

I am pleased to be able to tell you that you are eligible for the special plan Briskoda offers for spammers. And there is no need to worry about joining next time.

I am pleased to be able to tell you that you are eligible for the special plan Briskoda offers for spammers. And there is no need to worry about joining next time.

He's toast Denis

*curve ball

I had my Fabia Mk1 PD 100 RR'd last year, it made 125 and a bit. ZERO modifications to the engine yet it made 25% over stock. The ONLY way I would have ever found out is by putting it on the rollers. Is it my fault it's more powerful than it should be? Should I declare it? **** that

Well, you've announced it to the world now Is your insurer one of the sponsors?

Well, you've announced it to the world now Is your insurer one of the sponsors?

let's hope not

 

It was announced last year anyway and the printout's in my gallery.

 

The point is, it's unmodified

No, as you say it's unmodified so nothing to declare. 

 

Dont get me wrong, I think the system needs a shake up and is as wrapped in red tape as the next person, we often dont get good value for our money when we need the policy or need defending in a accident, we loose NCB at the drop of a hat and the one that hacks me off, we have to stay with THE SAME insurer for a year to get a years NCB! Why? If I dont claim for a year of driving it shouldn't matter who I'm with I should still get the bonus. Why should we only be able to use it on one car? Just because I have a second car doesn't make me more of a risk? All that said we all have to cover our own arses. It's not worth the risk of not declaring something and voiding the policy, if nothing else it results in you & me paying for NOTHING! 

 

As for the police officer who thinks it's fine to not bother declaring smaller modifications, wind deflectors and tints are fine to not bother declaring, so at what point does a mod become declarable in your eyes? Whats going to happen when you reverse into something because you didn't see it in the dark and your insurance company come to find out about your hastily added diy window tints, you know the purple ones with bubbles and lines in? Do you think they'll happily pay out? 

 

Genuine mistakes yeah, they are just that, mistakes and someone shouldn't be done over if they buy an old Golf that has a set of VW alloys on it that they thought were standard. It doesn't in my eyes stretch as far saying that it's ok to carry out modifications and not declare them even if they are "small"?! (how you define that?)

FTR I did call up my insurers ohhhhh yes, and told them about the wind deflectors. No increase in premium. All I was asked was 'do they add power'?

 

I asked about my front strut brace, same question :think:  lots of umming and ahhing, back n forth to his line manager and said no-can-do. It's currently sat doing nothing in the garage. Insurance renewal time soon so I'll be going 'old skool' and ringing around.

 

Oh, 16" alloys were also declared, no increase. I feel better knowing that even though there was no rise in premium, I'm fully covered

what would insurers say about clear, not tinted, wind deflectors? No visibility issues.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wind-Deflectors-SKODA-FABIA-1-9-TDI-1999-2008-/181148952043

 

furthermore, why is Moll Flanders driving that car

Chances are most will say it's fine and just note it down but why give them a opportunity to get out of a claim by not bothering for the sake of a phone call? As you said, I feel much more comfortable knowing my car is 100% legit.

Its nice to see you have such a good opinion of your colleagues within the insurance business....are they all scrotes and 'the lowest of the low'...the people who answer the phones? What about the admin? guess they are too? as they aren't a 'fellow' after all!!

No - read what I wrote. I said those who answer the phones in call centres for quotes and queries are so regarded 

 

How pompous and what a ridiculous generalisation. So when i phone one of the site sponsors and speak to them about my policy (Chris Knott) i am actually talking to an idiot who has no idea about insurance or modifications...i guess you view brokers with the same indignation?

Possibly you are, I have no idea about the quality of Chris Knott's staff or their knowledge and training. I would expect that as specialist Brokers they would have considerably higher standards than the run-of-the-mill Insurer quoting (or no-quoting) to all and sundry 

 

I don't work insurance any more, haven't for a long time..

Ahh - that may explain a lot. And juding from your declared age, (35) didn't work in the Industry for very long either

 

I do know however that the FSA do not regulate and have been superceeded by the FCA and the PRA...it 'terrifies me' that a man of your knowledge experience and charm doesn't know this?

Ah, my bad, I forgot and used FSA from Habit.

 

a little link for you to see http://www.fsa.gov.uk/

 

 

The only sensible thing you wrote, was asking for proof in paper.

 

 

fyi, i would change your avatar to 'simply old and pompous' it suits better.

 

 

Soooooo, most advice given is rubbish, then tells everyone to tell their insurance company about their mods? I think were going round in circles here

 

No, I suggested that if anyone wanted to check up that they should insist on speaking to someone who had the knowledge and authority to provide an answer, and to insist on written confirmation of what was agreed to avoid "I said / they said" scenarios in the event of future problems.

 

 

FTR I did call up my insurers ohhhhh yes, and told them about the wind deflectors. No increase in premium. All I was asked was 'do they add power'?

 

I asked about my front strut brace, same question :think:  lots of umming and ahhing, back n forth to his line manager and said no-can-do. It's currently sat doing nothing in the garage. Insurance renewal time soon so I'll be going 'old skool' and ringing around.

 

Oh, 16" alloys were also declared, no increase. I feel better knowing that even though there was no rise in premium, I'm fully covered

 

Pretty much confirms what I said above about the (lack of) knowledge and authority of call centre staff

 

My point remains that the people who man these centres are in general poorly and minimally trained and generally inexperienced. The rate of turnover is enormous - some Coy's have levels of 50% + per annum.

Their fundamental job and the main thrust of their training is the input and production of straightforward Policy / Endorsement documentation.

 

This whole topic of informing the Insurers of any alteration, however minor, was largely started by the early on-line Coys. who simply didn't have the time (time = more staff = more cost = lower margins) to carry out proper checks and make decisions, so it was easier to try and place the onus on the Customer / Policyholder.

They relied on a long standing legal doctrine called Uberrima Fides (Google it for explanation, but make sure it is UK law being discussed, not US as that is slightly different) but with the assistance of threads such as this have managed to expand its scope ever wider.

Whilst this applies to all, the Courts are extremely unlikely to rule against an ordinary member of the general public who is not an expert in either cars or insurance who innocently carries out a few minor "mods", or innocently buys a car that has had some carried out.

 

I stand by my contention that much of this is merely scare-mongering.

 

Oh, and don't get me started on the idea that Insurers send out people to inspect all accident damage, and will therefore spot if you have changed the colour of the fluffy dice without telling them. Years ago we employed small armies of Motor Engineers, who's main job was to check on the damage and negotiate the repair cost with the  - usually iffy back-street - body shop. They largely disappeared when Insurers started appointing Approved Installers who quoted on standard repair joba at agreed rates

No, as you say it's unmodified so nothing to declare. 

 

Dont get me wrong, I think the system needs a shake up and is as wrapped in red tape as the next person, we often dont get good value for our money when we need the policy or need defending in a accident, we loose NCB at the drop of a hat and the one that hacks me off, we have to stay with THE SAME insurer for a year to get a years NCB! Why? If I dont claim for a year of driving it shouldn't matter who I'm with I should still get the bonus. Why should we only be able to use it on one car? Just because I have a second car doesn't make me more of a risk? All that said we all have to cover our own arses. It's not worth the risk of not declaring something and voiding the policy, if nothing else it results in you & me paying for NOTHING! 

 

As for the police officer who thinks it's fine to not bother declaring smaller modifications, wind deflectors and tints are fine to not bother declaring, so at what point does a mod become declarable in your eyes? Whats going to happen when you reverse into something because you didn't see it in the dark and your insurance company come to find out about your hastily added diy window tints, you know the purple ones with bubbles and lines in? Do you think they'll happily pay out? 

 

Genuine mistakes yeah, they are just that, mistakes and someone shouldn't be done over if they buy an old Golf that has a set of VW alloys on it that they thought were standard. It doesn't in my eyes stretch as far saying that it's ok to carry out modifications and not declare them even if they are "small"?! (how you define that?)

Well, if the tints are legal and properly applied I don't understand how they can be blamed for lack of driving skills. I define them in my own personal choice when I take out insurance, what you define at notifiable is up to you when you take out insurance. I'll add a little disclaimer, what I express here are my own views and no one else's and do not represent any police force. The fact is, I don't like traffic and I don't enforce it anymore since I changed roles.

Also I read a post way back in the tread stating a optional extra chosen at order of new vehicle is a modification, I don't agree with this either. A modification by very definition is a change to its original status, if the vehicle is built like that and came out of the factory like that then it's not a modification. Ie how am I meant to know if my 4 year old car had a cd changer as standard spec or not? When asked I simply say none to the best of my knowledge.

Further on BJM's #70, if you don't believe him answer this question honestly. Have you ever been to a real "call centre" rather than the film sets used in Tv adverts? I have, and can say that real call centres tend to run "feel like they need cleaning" at the best of times, and also feel a bit like battery farms.