Elephant Insurance trying to fleece me for an extra £23

[DCLane]

I've taken out car insurance with Elephant recently, who are part of Admiral. Having done the quote online and bought the same day, I've just got this:

"A check of your policy details against our system records has highlighted a discrepancy in the details you gave us. The information differs to that recorded on another quote with us or another company within the same group.
We have included the omitted vehicle modifications. See the enclosed Motor Proposal Confirmation Form. Please note extra condition 11 of your policy applies in respect of non-standard parts replacement.
As a result of this change a balance of £23.32 is due which we will shortly debit from the card details we hold on file. "

I phoned them (not on the 0871 number that came with the e-mail) and apparently it's because a quote using the same car reg. was done before [not by me, given the date on it] and it included a modification. As a result they've added the charge

To remove it I had to:

• Go to a local garage
• Get them to inspect the car
• Get them to write a letter saying the modification wasn't on
• Post/fax the letter to Elephant

And all at my own expense!

A long phone call later has got them to remove the charge ... I hope. I asked them, repeatedly, why I need to do this and who does the bill go to for doing so? 'Lionel' (not his real name, but hey!) clearly didn't want to hear/understand and only a threat of being asked to be put onto his supervisor got him to act. If they don't there will be a re-charge on the credit card, a letter to them and the Ombudsman.

I do wonder how often they do this, and how many people miss it/don't bother?

 

[DCLane]

And a second one:

"A check of your policy details against our system records has highlighted a discrepancy in the details you gave us. The information differs to that recorded on another policy with us or another company within the same group.

We have included the omitted vehicle modifications. See the enclosed Motor Proposal Confirmation Form. Please note extra condition 11 of your policy applies in respect of non-standard parts replacement.

As a result of this change a balance of £23.07 is due which we will shortly debit from the card details we hold on file. "

Somehow, somewhere someone's going to get a rocket!

 

[oldfatfool]

Have you checked to make sure this mod was removed before you bought it?

I hope you never have to claim, but if you do I hope your car is completely (and I mean completely) std!!

 

[Maz]

All insurance companies are a bunch of crooks. I hate them all.
Glad you got it sorted (fingers crossed), but it does make you wonder how many other times they pull this stunt on people.

 

[DCLane]

Have you checked to make sure this mod was removed before you bought it?

I hope you never have to claim, but if you do I hope your car is completely (and I mean completely) std!!

Thanks - yep. Completely standard and has been since day 1. It's 'bling' enough as it is, being a Lime Yellow Saab Aero convertible. 'Gary' this time says that this one will be removed.

It looks like if anyone ever does a quote with the vehicle reg. and it doesn't match they alter your application and charge you

The vehicle in question:

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

You can refuse to pay and your insurance is only null and void if you have an accident and it is proven that your car has been modified and your cover doesn't take into account the modification... the onus shouldn't be on you to prove that they have the incorrect info based on a previous search for insurance cover.

 

[oldfatfool]

Get on to them fast, some vandal as moved the steering wheel

 

[swee'pea99]

Recently got my renewal docs on my home and car insurance, with all the usual blether about 'don't worry, you don't have to do anything, we'll take care of it all for you.' How kind. 10 minutes on a price comparison website and I got like for like cover from other 'Household name' insurers for £455 (as against £820) and £230 (as against £325).

The entire industry is built on customer inertia.

 

[vernon]

The trouble is that they've got you by the short and curlies. Either you cough up or your insurance is null and void....or you have to go to great trouble to show that they are wrong. The fact that they share information with other insurance companies is also an interesting issue. Is there a data protection problem here.....probably not, scarily, because at the time of a quote or when we sign up, presumably we also agree to something allowing them to share our intimate details with all and sundry.

There isn't a data protection problem. They are combating an insurance fraud problem where folk make multiple claims from one incident. I have no objections whatsoever to data being shared between insurance companies if it helps to eliminate fraud and contributes towards lower premiums. I know that there's other issues regarding inflated premiums due to insurance company initiated dodgy practices but it looks like government intervention is pending on some of them.

 

[vernon]

The entire industry is built on customer inertia.

And it's our duty to shop around at renewal time.

I tried it with my car insurance and found that the competition was more expensive than my existing provider.

At least I tried.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Only 3 more months to go till I can change my car insurance away from Admiral. They may be cheap, but pray you never have a claim even one obviously not your fault.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Yep..a bunch of crooks...

and bloody incompetent...

....which is where I chime in with my NEVER EVER EVER INSURE ANYTHING WITH PRUDENTIAL message....

...got pulled for no insurance some time back...cop calls pru from car...they say I have no insurance...I get done..car impounded...points...fine....pound release fees...and massive headaches all round...

I DID have insurance all the time like I said..pru operator cocked up because their screen was showing wrong info...(Prus words) ...so after a month+ of stress and expense I ge tcompensation...licence returned fre of points etc...full apolgy from pru (only after I demanded one)...then on th erenewal they hiked my premium so dam high it was robbery so i told them to ...'take a hike' and now insure elsewher for nearly half th eprice.



All that after 15 years with the pru.

...Ok...back to subject at hand...rant over lol!

 

[fossyant]

Lime green will be the problem - if you like it !

 

[gbb]

I just narrowly missed the extra charge for modification of policy details...£30 plus in my case.
I'd rang them (Hastings) to increase annual mileage on my imminemt renewal. I will be using the car more.
'No problem sir, thats all done...but i'll just update your existing policy (it expires in two weeks) so thats all up to date as well'

This of course would incur the charge...huh, not if i can help it...so i replied..'no need, my circumstances right now are the same, the extra mileage will only apply from next month'
'Oh ok, thats fine sir'

Don't miss a chance do they ?

 

[ufkacbln]

Insurance companies are lowlifes in general

You would be amazed how they can wriggle.

Friends of ours had a small crack in the garden wall that borders their garden on to a small stream and had it investigated - they talked to the insurance company who suggested it should be looked at. They got a local builder who told them it was cosmetic and not to worry. Informed the insurance company that there was not a problem, and as the builder was a local there had been no charge, so no claim was made

Some years later during a storm, the water rose, and in the torrent the wall fell down, so they claimed on the insurance.

...to be told that as they had not declared the previous claim their entire insurance was nvalid!

It turns out that even if you ask advice that can be considered a claim and invalidate your insurance if you don't declare it later!


Another friend has been designated as a "flood risk" and the premium increased. Pointing out that he lives up a hill and it needs an unlikely 85 foot rise in water level before he has a problem has fallen on deaf ears - his postcode is in a designated flood risk area!