What the F. . . . insurance shock

*hic*

*hic*

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I am currently on hold to my CAR insurance company whilst renewing my car insurance. They are referring to the underwriters over the question "Have you ever had any insurance refused?" Flippantly I said "yes, on a horse" and they have just come back to me to confirm that as I had a horse pass it's vetting but the insurance underwriters decline to cover it on seeing the vetting certificate I have to declare that on ALL my insurance policies and it will put up the premiums.

I am actually in tears here.

I cannot get car insurance, RAC's panel of insurers have "declined to quote".

The vet gave her a pass certificate with "lame after flexion both hindlimbs for 6 strides" and told me that that was fine when I queried it. NFU cancelled the cover after receipt of vetting cert and I am now right in the sh!t.
 
I don't think I can do that, it's insurance fraud, and with the sharing of information between companies and the fact that all the major insurers have refused to cover just one of the five vehicles I have insured I suspect the information will be round already. It would be my luck to get prosecuted for it.
 
Call me naive....but I don't see how car and horse insurance can be even related in regards to each other?
 
jemima_too said:
I don't think I can do that, it's insurance fraud, and with the sharing of information between companies and the fact that all the major insurers have refused to cover just one of the five vehicles I have insured I suspect the information will be round already. It would be my luck to get prosecuted for it.
Click to expand...

I'd go to NFU then for a quote - they will have a better understanding of the situation, I would imagine.
 
Don't panic!!! In this case they are asking if YOU have had insurance refused- I know this is complex but in the case with the horse insurance they were not refusing to insure you, they were refusing to cover the horse as it was too high risk. I agree that you should explain this however as you have now told them that you have been refused insurance. Use the example that many companies do not cover imported cars- this does not mean that you have been refused insurance just that the car itself was refused as it was too high risk. Hope this helps...
 
The trouble was that the quote from NFU was over £2K (I have an 18yo on the policy) and the quote from RAC was £900. That vet has cost me a huge amount of money. I was advised to sue at the time but wanted a quiet life and no-one commented on the possible insurance problems.

Horse and car insurance are not connected. The question is there to catch out insurance fraudsters ie those who have set a car on fire and claimed that it was stolen and torched, or arranged to have a car stolen - and then been caught out and had their insurance cancelled, not disagreements over vettings.
 
BFG and farrierlover - thank you for that, it gives me some hope but I'm not certain they will wear it. I'ts worth a try.

I have to go now, I NEED some fags but of course I can't drive to the shop to buy any so it will take me a while to walk.
 
Did the horse's insurer agree to cover the horse apart from vet's fees?

If so go back with that information.


I had a similar case to the example above. I replaced my estate car with a double cab pick up in 1996 when these vehicles were mush less common. Took out a policy and then got a call to say "sorry but we've decided it is a commercial and we can't cover it".

I was left ringing round but had no problem getting other insurance as it was a legitimate reason.

Explained this to other insurers. You bought a horse and your vet passed it but his report showed problems that you had not been told about at the time of taking out the policy which meant that the insurance would not cover pre existing conditions. This was only for THIS horse.
 
Hi Jemima, I work in the Insurance industry and what I wrote is correct- when they ask if you have even been refused insurance, they are specifically asking if YOU have even been refused cover as you would have been if you had commited fraud/got a criminal record/had dodgy dealing with a company/not declared a material fact etc. This is why they would not insure someone who had been refused insurance- that person is obviously a bit on the unsafe side.

It's not to guard against people who have not had their items insured because they were too high risk- I'm sure that you would have been able to find a company that would have insured your horse albeit with many exclusions. You probably need to ask to speak to an underwriter or even a manager to discuss this with them and explain that you were incorrect when you said that you had been refused.

Why not ride your horse to the shop? Make sure you get chocolate too, that'll make you feel better ;)
 
Its not insurance fraud. Trust me.. just ring up another company and dont tell them, its got NOTHING to do with the car insurance!!!

I used to work in insurance for RBS, I dealt with most of the big policies.. Direct line, chruchill, tesco's, the bank policies ect ect and basically the person you spoke to on the phone cant tick a box on the computer and shes being a parrot and thats why she told you what she did.

Just ignore it, NOTHING will happen I swear. I had people who were so blatently making fraudulent claims and yet if they protested enough not a lot could be done. We declined cover on one person who went to the newspapers, RBS were so worried about the publicity we covered her. She really shouldnt have been covered because she lied but they still did.

You are like one tiny ant in the whole wide world of insurance. Trust me, when it comes down to it because you had a horse that once failed its vetting, it is not going to affect your car cover if you DONT tell them.

Even if it did, it would never stand up in court. Its just not related in any way shape or form!! Now if you lied and said you had never been turned down for insurance when in fact you were because you went to prison for a danferous driving offence THAT is different.

Honestly dont worry about it. These companies make millions, your not affecting them in any way.. you wouldnt be worth the money of taking you to court anyway.

Hope I've reassured you. These companies do take the pee sometimes, its just because they employ dip sticks who like to read off a script. I used to use my brain and common sense at work which is why I did well :)
 
Hi Jemima_too

I also work in insurance and I'm afraid that legally you do have to declare ANY case where you have been refused insurance. Under UK insurance law you are obligated to do so and if you do not any claim you make under the policy may be declined and the policy voided.

That said our underwriters would not view your case of horse insurance as a problem so I really cannot comprehend the issue with your car insurer. You disclosed all material facts in both cases by the sounds of things.

Just one question - have you had any claims? Insurers are "cherry picking" more and more these days and some - even the big players - only want the best risks.

I would recommend you find a good local broker and talk to them face to face. Whilst online cover might be cheaper I think you will get on far better talking to someone in person and literally showing them your documentation.
 
Hello.
I work in insurance....

you are right about the insurance fraud and sharing of information. You are better to be safe than sorry with declaring the information.

You shoudl find though that if people are refusing you cover you can go back to your old insurer and they are actually obliged to take you back on as they legally cannot leave you with absolutely no insurance.
The premium may be sky high but they should offer some sort of cover. So don't panic, I would actually maybe suggest going to see an insurance broker. They will be able to search around for you and may have connections with insurers that will mean they will take you on as a favour to that broker.

Most broker work on commission from the insurance company so you should not have to pay them too....

Don't worry too much, you will be able to sort something out

x
 
Definitely do not lie about having been refused!! Insurance companies share all this information, and you have now technically been denied car insurance, because of today's call. I would certainly call NFU, explain the situation and get a quote from them for the car. Good luck. xx
 
Quote from NFU for car - yesterday - £2340. Quote from AVIVA through the RAC £891.51. It's because my 18yo daughter, who occasionally drives it when she is home from Uni (it's my car), is on the policy. Today of course RAC / AVIVA won't cover me.

I am currently waiting for a call from NFU to find out whether a policy was issued and cancelled or whether it wasn't. That is apparently what it hangs on.
 
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