Yesterday, I renewed my insurance with a new company (Admiral) and got asked a question that I have never been asked before, or at least can never recall being asked, as I normally do car insurance on line. This year, after getting various quotes from compare the market etc, I opted to choose Admiral because of their Multicar discount.

 

For this company you have to call them rather than complete on-line (Canada call centre BTW). When we discussed the question concerning any previous motoring offences within last 5 years, I replied none, as my last one was Aug 2008. Then I remembered that the lady had also mentioned any driver awareness courses. 

 

I had indeed opted to attended one of these rather than taking the points, but for the life of me could not remember the exact date, but was certain it was over 5 years ago, as there is no record on your driving licence. Anyway, we agreed not to mention it, and if I remembered that it was within 5 years, just to advise Admiral.

 

After the phone call, I traced back my memory as to what car I was driving at the time of the offence, and remembered it occurred the Friday before Xmas 2008, so literally just days over the 5 year limit. But, and this is where it gets interesting - the original question from Admiral was "have you ever attended any driving awareness courses within the past 5 years", and not the date of the the offence.

 

Well, the actual course was some time after the actual offence, so I will need to advise Admiral, or at least clarify with them whether it is the date of the offence or the course.

 

Anyway, thought I would bring it to others attention, as this is just the type of non disclosure that could get an Insurance Company off the hook in any future claims, though how they would find out is puzzling, as nothing shown on licence.

 

Happy New Year to you all.

Sounds like another insurance " cop out " . Or at least a reason to bump up the premiums...again.

Will be interested to see if others have experienced this. Touch wood, haven't been caught out yet. I really try to keep to the speed limits, setting my a cruise control I find helps. Find a bit annoying when the car you just overtook doing 40 mph on the main road continues doing this speed through the 30 speed limit, catches you back up, drives about a foot from your bumper..:!

Oh, just remembered my New Years resolution! God will to all men ( and lady ) drivers.

Happy driving all in 2014.

Only different question I've had with Admiral is to list all factory fitted options; first and only insurer to ever ask this from me so far :wonder:

 

 

TP

Insurance companies have got wise to the numbers opting for speed awareness courses, and they are all now starting to ask with regards to speed awareness courses. Certainly all the Admiral group companies are now, its only a matter of time before they all do. Speed awareness course or points, are technically the same thing since you were caught speeding.

Recently attended one myself (DAC) - pretty poor in my opinion, but, the advice by the tutors was to say nothing about attendance  even if asked directly as it is not logged apart from the 5 year rule, ie if a further offence within 5 years, one has no other option but to take the points!

Woah ,,,, I thought Admirals call center was in wales ??

I always get a very South Wales accent whenever I call them.

Only different question I've had with Admiral is to list all factory fitted options; first and only insurer to ever ask this from me so far :wonder:

 

 

TP

yep daughter with admiral, and due to me specifying ESP+ on her monte for safety reasons she was hit with additional premium "because it made the car more expensive and harder to repair / replace as it was not a standard spec"

 

also when I had my roomster hastings direct wanted an addition £100 because I had a tow bar fitted, to which my reply was expletive off and went else where for insurance

Edited 1 January, 201412 yr by bluecar1

I thought there was a court ruling last year that said insurance companies could not refuse claims based on information they had not asked at the time insurance was taken out. This has prompted insurance companies to ask more upfront questions.

 

We've gone for a Bell / Admiral multicar policy as it was the only way to get a sensible premium for my daughter (aged 18) to drive out third car. When they asked me who the main driver of the car was, I asked how did the quantify usage? The answer - "don't know"! They couldn't tell me how usage was measured so we put my daughter down as a "shared user" with my wife - this was an extra £17 per year.

For her to be the main driver was an extra £750   even with a black box fitted (being installed on Friday).

 

Someone did suggest that once she has driven for a year without a claim, it might be worth cancelling the policy and taking out a new one to benefit from the year of no claims. Anyone else done this? If so, who with and what were the savings?

Woah ,,,, I thought Admirals call center was in wales ??

It probably is, but when I asked the (very nice) lady where I was calling she told me Canada. When I asked why, she informed me it was so Admiral could offer longer call centre opening hours because of the time difference. So, if you want to get to speak to our cousins across the pond, then call late at night.

AFAIK the five year rule applies to the offence which prompted the DAC.

Round here there is such a backlog of places on these courses, you might wait 6 months!

Whilst I have not attended this course myself I know people who have and the response to this question should be yes and now what discount are you going to offer me as having attended this type of course I am a safer driver than those who have not, this course should be used to get a discount not for the insurance company to increase your premium and this came from the person running the course!

A friend of mine attended a driver awareness course in 2013 in Hertfordshire. When the subject of insurance came up the instructors said that there was no need to make a declaration. They argued that as you had not been convicted of any offence there was no need to say anything, adding that you could say that you had attended Part 1 of an advanced driving course if you felt you needed to say something. He thought the course was excellent and that everyone should go on one!

...the instructors said that there was no need to make a declaration.

 

Unfortunately it is the insurance underwriters that call all the shots and questions should be answered honestly etc etc.

I thought there was a court ruling last year that said insurance companies could not refuse claims based on information they had not asked at the time insurance was taken out. This has prompted insurance companies to ask more upfront questions.

 

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/news/new-law-shakes-up-insurance-buying-process/0017281/