B + E insurance little rant

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

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having passed my B + E yesterday I contacted my insurance company, Direct Line, to advise them of the change to my license and the fact I will now be towing my trailer.

ME “ I would like to advise I have passed my B + E and will now be towing my trailer.”

ADVISOR 1 “ Your what ??”

ME “MY trailer test, category B+E”

ADVISOR 1 “ B test ??”

ME “no, my B PLUS E”

ADVISOR 1 “ Okkkkaaaay, umm, what is it you need me to do ??”

(ME – repeated what I said at the start)

ADVISOR 1 “ Ummm, I think I need to transfer you to someone else in customer services”

ADVISOR 2 “ How can I help?”

ME “ I would like to advise I have passed my B + E and will now be towing my trailer.”

ADVISOR 2 “ Your what ??”

ME “MY trailer test, category B+E”

ADVISOR 2 “ Ummm”

ME “You really have no idea what I am talking about do you? “

ADVISOR 2 “ No, sorry”

At which point I got pretty mad and explained the law to her and told her I thought Direct Line needed to do some urgent staff training! I made sure she had noted it on my policy and also that I would now be towing my trailer but seriously, Im disgusted , these companies are the first to shirk out of a claim if they can find a chink of information you haven’t passed onto them!!

Rant over lol. :o:o:o
 
I don't actually think you *have* to tell them. So most people probably don't, hence the confusion. You do have to tell them if you have a tow bar fitted but I think letting them know you're going to be towing is just courtesy and isn't entirely necessary?

Hopeless that they don't even know what it is though!
 
jesstickle said:
I don't actually think you *have* to tell them. So most people probably don't, hence the confusion. You do have to tell them if you have a tow bar fitted but I think letting them know you're going to be towing is just courtesy and isn't entirely necessary?

Hopeless that they don't even know what it is though!
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yes you do have to tell them, otherwise you might not be insured. The examiner told me yesterday to make sure I contacted them re: me now towing and the change to my license.
 
As towing is permitted under certain rules on a B licence then the only change possible is towing heavier trailers than before

If a driver wants the trailer covered by the insurer then that is a different matter
 
ROG said:
As towing is permitted under certain rules on a B licence then the only change possible is towing heavier trailers than before

If a driver wants the trailer covered by the insurer then that is a different matter
Click to expand...

that makes sense, knowing what the insurance companies are like though, surely its right enough to tell them about a change to your license and not give them any excuse to get out of a future claim? I also got the impression not all trailers are covered automatically 3rd party when your towing unless you advise the insurance company you are towing? So my trailer is covered 3rd party but not for the contents according to the person I spoke to.
 
NeverSayNever said:
that makes sense, knowing what the insurance companies are like though, surely its right enough to tell them about a change to your license and not give them any excuse to get out of a future claim? I also got the impression not all trailers are covered automatically 3rd party when your towing unless you advise the insurance company you are towing? So my trailer is covered 3rd party but not for the contents according to the person I spoke to.
Click to expand...

I agree with you

OH...and best to get everything in writing from insurers
 
ROG said:
As towing is permitted under certain rules on a B licence then the only change possible is towing heavier trailers than before

If a driver wants the trailer covered by the insurer then that is a different matter
Click to expand...

That's kind of what I was trying to say really. You have to tell them you have a tow bar, they have to assume you're going to use it. Which doesn't mean it isn't a good idea to tell them you are definitely towing but it does mean you don't have to. Hence plenty of people don't and I expect this is the reason the people in the call centre knew nothing about it!
 
jesstickle said:
That's kind of what I was trying to say really. You have to tell them you have a tow bar, they have to assume you're going to use it. Which doesn't mean it isn't a good idea to tell them you are definitely towing but it does mean you don't have to. Hence plenty of people don't and I expect this is the reason the people in the call centre knew nothing about it!
Click to expand...

yeah thats true i can see - but its the change to the license she had no clue about, Im still pretty appalled they dont know the basic driver categories.
 
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