New (to me) car and current Insurance Company won't cover.

[CopperNitrogenTitanium]

Have purchased a new (old!) car to replace my unreliable (newer) vehicle. Presumed changing over current policy cover would be a done deal, and possibly cheaper if anything.

Worked my way through website online details and then got a 'we can't insure this car' message (can only think age is the issue - but it's pristine and lower mileage than my current vehicle).

They want a £55 cancellation fee to end my current insurance policy, and will only refund an apparently meagre % amount of my yearly premium (only renewed a month ago and scraped together total amount to pay annually due to added costs for paying monthly).

I feel I'm being shafted. And don't even get me started on the 'additional driver' discount'. It appears that if estranged STBXH was named on the policy (even though I own the car and, even if we were still together, and he would, theoretically, never drive it) I would be paying around £30-£50 LESS per annum.

What fresh Hell is this?

I have emailed the Company with my complaint - sadly it's one of those 'we don't have a phone-line in order to reduce costs to you' type, so no human to plead my case to.

WWYD?

Grateful thanks in advance.

Just checked email -

'When you inform us of a change, we will tell you if this affects your policy, for example whether we are able to accept the change, and if so, whether the change will result in revised terms and/or premium being applied to your policy" Page 4

There are over 200 different ratings factors that are taken into consideration when deciding if we will cover a vehicle, so we are unable to pinpoint the exact reason for decline as it is an automated process determined by the underwriters.

However, looking at the registration of the vehicle would suggest that the vehicles age is the factor'.

Poor old car, only 16 years old and already on the proverbial scrap-heap. Insurance policy with another company started at midnight so will be driving legally and safely despite the quotemehappy ageism glitch.

Here you go op!!! 08701747002. Existing customer line.

mrssmith79 No cats were harmed in the making of this thread!

BikeRunSki - yes, I was aware of that ruling. The focus, certainly on T.V reporting, at the time was on the previously assumed riskier driving behaviour of young men versus young women. As I was old then, and ancient now, I never considered how it might affect me some years down the line.

Thanks to all who replied.

Poor car

The original website shows they only cover cars up to age 13 so it probably is the age. I am impressed you a running it at 16 yrs tho, we just scrapped our 16 year old car. I didnt even try selling it .

You may well find that as a pp said that third party, fire and theft is the way to go. Particularly if you're able to put the money you save aside for any disasters. They probably looked at the age and likely rural use and determined that it would cost a lot to fix versus its worth.

Good evening.

I have received a further email -

Thanks for your email

The reason we must charge a cancellation fee is because as an online insurer we keep our costs low to insure as cheap a quote as we can be provided to the customer. Our annual premium does not factor in the possibility that the policy may be cancelled so we must charge a cancellation fee as it costs us money setting up and maintaining the policy.

Online only provider (proudly states this in their marketing blurb as a way to offer lower cost insurance) Computer programme decides not a human - and a cancellation 'policy' is a standard industry service across the board as a matter of fact

Regarding not being able to cover you for your new vehicle, I'm afraid we do reserve the right to decline insurance if anything is changed to the original policy we agreed to insure originally.

No clear up-front explanation or definitions of what an insurable vehicle, and certainly no mention of age exclusions

There is no extra amount to pay as it is already removed from the refund.

Shaft me once shame on you, shaft me twice shame on me, pure Gobbledygook - it clearly states that I will be charged £55 to cancel this policy - matters not a jot where this money is taken from

I'm sorry it is not something you were expecting but we do provide these details within your policy documents and we would be unable to refund the fee as we charge this in these same instances each time.

I've looked online, still can't find this explicit exclusion - happy to be proved wrong

I hope this explains a bit more as to why the charge is applied and I would still like to apologise we were unable to provide cover for your new vehicle but it is a underwriting decision that we do not insure vehicles over 13 years of age.

Where do you mention this in your website?

If you are still unhappy with the response to your query then I can escalate this as a formal complaint where one of our Dedicated Customer Care Managers will be in contact within 2 working days to acknowledge your complaint.

Go on ahead

If you'd like to find out more about our complaints service, you can do so by clicking here: www.quotemehappy.com/portals/0/docs/Quotemehappy.com_Complaint_Enquiry_Leaflet.pdf

Thank you,

David J
Quotemehappy.com team

It does mention the 13 yrs on the website,,maybe in faq, as i read it on there, but the cancellation charge is crappy! Maybe try the newspapers as well, those consumer rights people

Poor car indeed BomabadierFritz it is actually quite the bee's knees, and a sterling example of her marque. I must have missed the +13 years exclusion on the Faq's so eager was I to be legally out trundling down the highways and byeways. Well spotted. I'm still swooning over the magnificent length of my bonnet as viewed from my elevated driving position - Queen of the motoring world I am!

GiddyOnZackHunt I have always gone fully comp. despite the cost - and as I've aged, not so gracefully, I have on the whole enjoyed premiums of @£200 for my pains - regardless of car age/make/engine size. I've never even looked at third party (big paranoid fearty me) but maybe I should?

neonrainbow Thank you for the telephone number - I am better at writing than speaking, but this is handy to have in my back pocket. This also to BikeRunSki - NFU been recommended to me for a lot of things but they only conduct their business by telephone, no online anonymous bot controlled website...I know, I know, I'm my own worst enemy!

TheFallenMadonna - luckily the car is question is only old, and has never had an accident that would make her an insurance 'risk'. Glad you managed to cover one that had a few mishaps before you were the keeper - been there too and likewise never had a problem with insuring.

Still chuckling over mrssmith79's 'damaged cat' and the very good idea from the poster known as reallybadidea!

If I get my disputed £50+ back I'll let you know.

Many thanks for all the advice, personal stories, and suggestions. Very gratefully received from my fabulous new very high up driving position.

Enjoy the new car. Im feeling quite guilty about scrapping mine now