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Warning-UK Classic Insurance Scam

To: MG List <mgs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Warning-UK Classic Insurance Scam
From: David Hill <davhill@cwcom.net>
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 22:56:36 +0100
Cc: Triumphs List <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Organization: Psychomotor
Hi, All, 

I've been severely pi**ed off today by my insurer.
When I got my BGT , back in August, I rang the broker and told them it
was a modified car to be used, in part, for business. They lightened my
wallet by £160, which I didn't think was too bad. Then, I had to fill in
a modified vehicle report, showing...
ST head, HS6 carbs, naughty cam, tubular exhaust manifold, alloys and
tubular rear dampers. 

I should add that one of my classics is rarely used and that I have
never made a claim on my own insurance. 

They came back to me today, telling me that I had said the car was
'customised', not modified and, what with the business use, the cover
was not valid and could they have *another* £126.

I rang them and after a number of tries, got someone intelligent. So, I
pointed out that...

1. There is no way the car is customised, nor would I want such a car.
2. I had given them, both verbally and in writing, every detail of the
modifications and use. 
3. They had messed up, having had all these details for at least 10
weeks.
4. If they didn't get me at least a reasonable requote, I would insure
elsewhere.

A refund was explored, but they were wanting to give me back £85; i.e.
they would take nearly 50% of my premium for less than three months
cover. And no, they wouldn't continue the cover for a shorter time.

Then, they said that the problem was the business use; two calls later,
it was the modifications that were the problem. 

After all this foolishness, I now have to tell them in writing that my
two classics (BGT and Triumph 2.5PI) are not used for business-which
they now aren't anyway. I also have to declare that my modern car *is*
covered for business use. Incidentally, this classic insurance covers
cars for 'pleasure'-whatever that means. 

So, I smell a large rodent here. On the one hand, the company is taking
a fair bit of cash for the two cars. On the other hand, they are
dictating use (rather than just agreeing mileage) *and* demanding that I
have one car covered for business even though such use is no longer
relevant. Equally, what is 'pleasure' use, as opposed to social,
domestic and pleasure. It's a pleasure to drive my cars so does that
mean I can use them for any purpose? 

To my mind, this looks like a means of drumming up cash, so UK listers
beware. 

I'll post the outcome when I know it. In the meantime, any thoughts?

Dave Hill

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