Car impounded through no fault of my own!!!

[Leroy2583]

Hi,

 

I'm new to the forum and was after some advice.

 

I recentley insured my car through bond lovis and paid my deposit. I then moved house just before xmas and notified my insurance company to let them know.

 

Tuesday of this week im pulled over by an officer who say's im not insured, im obviously shocked, explain that i am and give my insurance details. Officer rings bond lovis who promptly tell him my policy was cancelled on 13th of jan due to a 1 missing signature of proposal form.

 

Therefore car seized me with long walk home!! Upon speaking to bond lovis i explain i changed my address with them and they say no record of this exsists. They sent recorded delivery letter to old address which was returned to them as undelivered. They say there is nothing they can do for me. They even took payment out of my bank on the 9th of jan and cancelled it on the 13th!!!!!

 

Im currently unemployed and there is no way i can afford impound fee's let alone money for a new deposit for insurance. I feel totally let down by this as if when it goes to court i am found guilty i'll also lose my license as still within 2 yr period

 

I know its a long post but im in bits over the thought of losing my car and license for something i never intentionally did!! Any advice would be gratefully appreciated

[Leroy2583]

bump

[Leroy2583]

bumpty bump bump

[crem]

This needs someone with some detailed insurance knowledge I think. Be patient and I'm sure someone will pick up on it shortly.

[Leroy2583]

bump

[MARTIN3030]

You requested it be moved to the insurance forums-but I think general consumer issues may give you some answers,so will move there.

[MARTIN3030]

The Insurance company appear to have done what was required of them.They sent out a notice to you by recorded delivery and refunded your payment.

It would help your case if you could prove that you had notified them about change of address.

Did they not have any contact number to call you ?

 

It could be argued that you would have seen the refund to your account and should have questioned that.

 

I dont think there is much you can do aside from lessening any penalties by being able to prove mittigating circumstances.

 

Certainly the Insurance company dont look to be accountable here.

[slick132]

I agree with Martin's comments.

 

However, if you can show the insurer evidence of your telling them of your change of address and pursuade them that they should have called you when the Rec'd Del'y letter was returned, they could consider re-instating cover.

 

When did the policy start.

[Leroy2583]

Thanks for your comments, just to clarify the insurance company did not refund any money until after i had been pulled over, and is still not in bank as yet, also the letter they sent via recorded delivery was returned to them by the post office undelivered.

 

They have 'no record' of my phone call to change the address but have the correct telephone number for me and never contacted me via this route.

 

Reading through the proposal forms last nite, the signature was missing not off the proposal form but a page at the back for additional info regarding claims and convictions. They will have a signed copy of the other proposal form. would this be something i could take up with them?

[Leroy2583]

policy started early december by the way, so far they've had a £136 deposit and £67 installment

[Leroy2583]

bump

[slick132]

Hi Leroy,

 

No need to bump so often. We get email to say the thread has been posted on.

 

If this is a local brokerage rather than a larger direct insurer, it has to be worth you while have a calm talk to the broker.

 

Explain what has happened and that you feel this is quite unnecessary considering your minor oversight and the costly consequences.

 

This could have been avoided by one phone call. Ask to speak to a senior staff member if you get no joy initially, and see if they'll agree to restore cover.

 

Whether this will satisfy the authorities, who it seems were acting properly at the time, is another matter.

 

Good luck with this.

[juliusceasor]

If you have a record of when you called them to inform them of the change of address either a mobile phone bill (or ask the mobile phone company for a record of when you called this number ) or speak to your landline provider. With this you may be able to ask the insurance company for any recording from that call and who you spoke to.

 

I am sure that the insurer will oblige if you can prove it to them you called as it is unlikely to cost them anything to reinstate the insurance if they made a mistake.

 

hope that helps

[slick132]

Good suggestion Julius.