Page 1 of Question for our boys in blue (or anyone else who can help!)

Its a bit long -winded but basically a friend of mine had her car hit last night by a drunken, uninsured, banned, polish driver who also legged it from the scene (luckily he was caught by 2 blokes who saw it happen). She did a statement etc late last night then this morning rang her insurance company too be told......................she didnt renew her policy last october!
The insurance company have a recording of a phone call she made to them end of sept quering the price increase. On this phone call the agent said if she wanted to cancel she would have to put it in writting (which she never did) but they obviously still went ahead and cancelled. They have told her they will give her the rest of the yr for free as a `good will` gesture but will have to send it to tribunal about back dating her insurance which could take 2 weeks minimum. She rang the police who told her they may not follow her `no insurance situation` up if she is `lucky` or she could end up with 6 points and a fine - she has 3 so 6 points will disqualify her.
Whats likely to happen?
Juls

Blimey, I thought to cancel it it should be in writing and you need to return the certificate of insurance....is she still in posession of this?

Also, if she paid by DD I`m guessing the DD`s stopped - did she not notice this?





why take life so seriously..its not like you are going to make it out alive

Last time I got my renewal I shopped around and got it cheaper elsewhere...never thought to write to old insurance co. & cancel.....just didn`t accept renewal & didn`t pay which in itself cancelled the policy.

I think it depends on the payment method - direct debit gets automatically renewed unless you cancel. Pay by cheque etc and they send you a renewal invitation but no certificate. Then you actively have to tell them you want to renew.



why take life so seriously..its not like you are going to make it out alive

Thought the police had direct access to the insurance database so what showed up when they checked?
I`d say that`s one for the ombudsman. Is she in any of the motoring organizations as they should offer legal help.

Snaps

She (stupidly) doesnt really check her bank statements as they still go to her parents house. I thought the police should of checked her as well as him but she says they were only interested in him which I think is kind of understandable in the circumstances.
Not sure about the ombudsman thing - will ask her.
Juls

This item was edited on Saturday, 19th January 2008, 19:48

if its a matter of urgency tell her to check online as they are often quite well backdated - otherwise tell her to find the statements asap! I`m not sure what the police procedure is but i remember in my 2nd year of driving i got randomly pulled over as i wasn`t insured (from their database) but I was and had certificate on hand to prove it so don`t take what they handing officer`s system says as fact!

ps. why is the fact the guy is polish relevant?

funnily enough the database is not 100% fool proof, as it relies on third parties ie the Insurance Companies advising DVLA/PNC of insurance details.

With regards to her getting a disqualification, that is a matter for the courts, but a basic answer is if she has had her licence less then two years the disqualification level is 6 points, and if held longer its the customary 12 points, however the court have discretion to decrease or increase the number of points `awarded` (if that is the right word).



`i am going to live forever or die trying`

Was it budget car insurance by any chance, because they did EXACTLY the same thing with me.

I was buying a new car and I rang to get a quote for it. I told them it was far too high and I probably wouldnt take it when I got my new motor.

They took this as `cancel my existing policy immediately`. Luckily it was for slightly less than a month and nothing bad happened, but I only found out when I bought my car and called them to say I was going with another company and they should cancel my policy.

Needless to say, I was absolutely furious. Not least because they make you jump through hoops for absolutely everything, except, apparently, canceling the f***ing policy.

It was Tesco insurance :¦
Oh and butters Quote:
ps. why is the fact the guy is polish relevant?Its not relevant if you think Im going down the route of being prejudice - it was the description of the idiot my friend gave to me - it didnt even occur to me it may cause `offence` :/
FYI its come to light he is in this country illegally and was previously banned and `deported` for the same offence and others. Would I now be wrong to say the polish bast*rd deserves everything he gets (though it will probably be a slap on the wrists and a roof to live under >:( )
Juls

This item was edited on Sunday, 20th January 2008, 15:27