Driving Vehicle Not Knowing My Insurance Policy Had Been Canceled by Insurance Company

[Daniel182]

Hello

 

My sister had taken out a car insurance five weeks ago through a major online-search engine company that gets you the best deal. She filled in the form etc and did the installments option.

 

All went fine got the insurance policy, then 2 weeks later she revived a letter regarding mileage declaration from her insurance company, they wanted her to sign the letter stating she would not exceeded the 1000 mile limit.

 

Five weeks previous when she filled out the online form on the G*******e website she chose up to the 5000 mile option. She compiled with the insurance company filled out the letter and sent it back stating that there must have been a error when filling out the form.

 

Without having to go into unnecessary, needless information. My sister and girlfriend are best mates and prior to the car Insurance, they had planned a holiday which they went on.

 

Anyway she got back home yesterday picked up a few things from her local supermarket and filled up with petrol. The supermarket’s petrol station has number plate recognition cameras.

 

She gets home, then later on that evening she checks her email and there is one from her insurance company she has car insurance policy with, Well-at least what she thought!

 

The car insurance company had cancelled her insurance policy on the 23rd of May 2011. Ok she had a email but what she cannot understand they have her mobile phone number yet they did not contact her to say there was still a issue or say they were canceling her insurance policy and to add insult to injury they have charged her a £55.00 cancellation fee.

 

Neither did she get a letter through post stating that her insurance policy was cancelled, but i take it the email is just as legal. She did try and speak to a employee about her insurance policy yesterday but not one of the four employees she spoke to wanted to help, accept for one that told her that a letter had sent out dated June 2nd 2011.

 

Whats worrying her is her car number plate being picked up by the number plate recognition cameras. will anything come of this? and can she get her £55.00 cancellation fee back?

 

 

Thanks

Edited June 8, 2011 by Daniel182

[brassnecked]

First thing get the car off the road, and renew/ take out another policy ASAP, as the rules have changed regarding insurance, requiring insurance to be in place at all times continuously, Others will know more but they are in effect from 20th june:

 

See here

 

http://www.newsinsurances.co.uk/blog/sorn-motor-insurers%E2%80%99-bureau-continuous-insurance-enforcement-the-new-continuous-insurance-enforcement-regulation-requires-that-car-owners-be-insured-or-declare-their-vehicles-off-the-road/0169478564

 

If you cannot get cover you will need to SORN the motor as you cannot even keep it in your drive or in your garage, from then without insurance.

 

If you get cover quick and the car is off the road and the ANPE cameras haven't seen you, you may well be ok. Others will know more as I may be completely or partly wrong.

[esmerobbo]

Although the petrol station says it has ANPR all it will have is CCTV which in the case of a drive off it can give to the police. Normally a cancellation fee is paid if the policy holder cancels. Since they cancelled the cover I would argue that it is not due.

[brassnecked]

Although the petrol station says it has ANPR all it will have is CCTV which in the case of a drive off it can give to the police. Normally a cancellation fee is paid if the policy holder cancels. Since they cancelled the cover I would argue that it is not due.

 

The ANPR will only apply as emerobbo says to fill up drive aways, or overstays giving rise to an unenforceable invoice, I would arrange cover with another company pdq, then try to reclaim the cancellation fee, using a letter before action and threaten small claims track. others will know more

[Al27]

How are they taking a £55 fee? HAve they debited it from your card?

 

This is your only problem - you just need to start from scratch with a different (and better) company.

 

Which insurance company is this by the way?

[Daniel182]

Hello

 

First of all thanks for your replies, very much appreciated.

 

Sorry for not responding sooner.

 

The company in question was Hastings direct.

 

A letter was written to Customer Relations Department and within 2 days an employee from Hastings contacted my sister via phone and apologized and told her that the money had now been refunded.

 

Thanks again for replies.

[honeybee13]

Hi Daniel. If you haven't already, I think you should post about this on the CAG insurance forum - Hastings are not very popular there. Someone should be able to advise you how to handle this.

 

My best, HB

[Dragons Dennis]

As far as I am aware, cancelling an insurance policy via e-mail would not be acceptable notification in law. I believe they must notify the insured by post.