I have come across too many complaints about policies being cancelled, when claims have not been disclosed properly when buying Insurance online.

The Insurers don't always check the CUE (claims & underwriting exchange) when you buy Insurance online. They then check the details you have disclosed against the CUE database, which is a central claims database used by Insurers. If the details don't match up the Insurers will come back either asking for extra money or to say they have cancelled the Insurance. If they cancel the Insurance, you may not get much notice of this. Insurers are supposed to issue a letter or sometimes email giving 7 days notice of cancellation. But sometimes this is not received or until after the 7 days.

There is also the possibility that undeclared claims will not come to the Insurers attention, until you try to make a claim. If this happens, it could put you in a very difficult position. In some cases, the Insurers could void the policy from inception and not cover your claim.

The advice is not to buy Insurance online, if you have any claims to declare. You can get some indicative quotes online putting the claims information you have in, but you should really phone companies to arrange the cover. Make sure you are giving accurate claims information and the Insurers are happy to arrange the cover. If you are in any doubt, about claims details, obtain them from your previous Insurers. They are sometimes listed on the renewal notices received.

If in doubt speak to Insurers or a brokers. Do not arrange cover online, unless you are confident you have the accurate details to provide.

Read out customer services guide when you contact them and keep any recordings or logs

I found that after you purchase insurance and they send you the paperwork, half of the details are wrong so you have to call them anyway.

They always mess up my eu licence with a uk one.

Never had a problem changing the policy details, but annoying nonetheless.

I had my first accident in 20 years driving this year, so I will pay attention to this issue.

Thanks.

Yeh, I agree with the view, if you are unsure of the claims history, speak to someone.

The alternative is you can still get the quote online, just ask them to call you prior to proceeding, it's not that easy if you are doing it at midnight, but if you do it in the daytime, boy, do they call you back fast.

On this matter, I just run a mock insurance quote and it asked me how much the claim was for.

But the claim is ongoing, what should I declare?

Ask the claims department for the underwriters for the reserve amount they have set against it.

Make sure the new insurer knows the claim is ongoing, and how you got the figure if you go with them.

Ask the claims department for the underwriters for the reserve amount they have set against it.

 

Make sure the new insurer knows the claim is ongoing, and how you got the figure if you go with them.

Ok, thanks

err, why wouldn't you declare all of your claims and/or driving convictions - as you are required to do? Why would the same as what you say, not also apply to buying a policy via some other route - that is to say, not declaring your past claims may also cause a subsequent problem?

The thread is over two years old, Deighton....

err, why wouldn't you declare all of your claims and/or driving convictions - as you are required to do? Why would the same as what you say, not also apply to buying a policy via some other route - that is to say, not declaring your past claims may also cause a subsequent problem?

Online transactions which require a consumer to provide accurate information and to understand everything are more risky to the consumer. If you are organised then of course you will enter full correct details, but many people are not great with details. They don't remember dates of claims, which might be important i.e was it within the declarable period. If people have had several claims, they might get one date wrong and the Insurers would not have provided Insurance with the correct information.

There is also a problem in regard to when Insurers check CUE to see whether info declared is accurate or not. Not all Insurers check CUE automatically at quote stage. It might get picked up later and cause a problem.

Generally, i find that consumers are more likely to be prompted during a conversation to check claims history. During a conversation it might become apparent that the customer does not have claims info from previous Insurers. The Insurance clerk can therefore suggest the customer finds out the full correct details of claims.