Car Insurance requesting to see my PIP letter

Harmony93

Hi everyone. My vehicle insurance company have been treating me REALLY badly lately. I said I was giving up my self-employment due to health reasons (none of which are notifiable to DVLA), but they made me take out a more expensive policy which still covered me for business use. They didn't believe me that I hadn't traded for 48 hrs when I spoke to them and told them that. They looked on my Facebook business page and tried arguing that I had posted about delivering goods, within the past 48 hrs, when I hadn't. Since then I have told them online that I have ceased my business due to disabilities. They have now emailed and demanded that I shut the Facebook page down (which I haven't posted on since Feb 14th, but wanted to keep as a 'memory' of my business), and send them my PIP letter (which I had just been awarded prior to me ceasing my business) AND inform them of my illnesses/disabilities.
Are they being reasonable? Do they have the right to ask me to close a Facebook page and to see my PIP letter? I just get the impression they always think I am lying when I've been nothing but 100% truthful.

I had two weeks of countless phone calls, emails, new policies/cancelled policies etc because they didn't want to  cover my camper conversion for business use, then they decided they would, then they said they had NO IDEA what the issue was in the first place!!! They've been absolutely awful.

Thank you for taking the time to read this 

Alex_Alumni

It sounds like you've had a difficult time with them @Harmony93 I'm sorry to hear about it! As for if they have the right to ask you to close your Facebook page and send a copy of your PIP letter, I'm afraid I don't have a firm answer for you. 

I'd encourage you to enquire with Citizens Advice, Advice local or the Equality Advisory & Support Service for more specialist advice. 

If there's anything else we can help with, please ask   

Harmony93

Thank you @Alex_Scope. Its been an absolute nightmare 😭

Harmony93

@Alex_Scope and still is, it seems... x

rebel11

What you should do is raise a formal complaint in writing / email.

Explain that you feel to are being treated 'unfairly', tell them why you think you are being treated 'unfairly' and tell them what you want them to do to resolve the situation. Explain that if the matter isn't resolved, you will lodge a complaint with the FOS.

Follow their complaints procedure will be on their website. Once you get a final letter / deadlock letter, if you still aren't happy, then lodge a complaint with the FOS.    

Harmony93

Thank you so much @rebel11I just didn't know what to do about it all. It has caused me so much anxiety

OverlyAnxious

How long is left on the insurance?  Might save the hassle & stress just to cancel it and start a new policy with another provider.

They can't make you shut down the Facebook page or force you to provide a PIP letter - which is irrelevant in terms of 'work' anyway.  You are allowed to work and claim PIP. 

However they are within their rights to choose which risks they will cover - which cars, which professions, etc, so they can legitimately refuse to insure you if changes are made mid policy.

Harmony93

Hi @OverlyAnxious thanks so much for your reply. I took the policy out on Feb 8th after 2 weeks of them messing me about saying they couldn't insure me as a market trader using my small camper conversion. I was doing one market, one mile from my house, one half day a week. I said I was contemplating giving it up due to me health anyway. I took out a policy online with them, with business cover, then they said I was able to do local deliveries anyway on a commuting basis as long as I did less than 200 miles a year!! So I agreed and cancelled the business policy, took out a social, domestic and commuting policy. Then a few days later they phoned me again and said they could no longer insure me as the underwriters had looked on my business Facebook page and found I had been advertising and running a market since I took out that policy saying I was going to cease trading, however I had done NO SUCH THING!! I had not used my van for the previous market either as I had been left with no insurance due to them (I had taken a renewal with them and set up payment plan, but hadn't seen their message saying they needed to validate my policy afterwards). 
I argued this with them as I KNEW I had not posted any such thing within the 48 hrs preceeding our phone conversation,  contrary to what they said. So the lady spoke again to the underwriters and explained. I said I would cease to trade if it was going to cause so much trouble and I was thinking of finishing anyway because of my health. 
Then she came back saying they advised keeping the business policy and to cancel the SD&P policy!!!! So, I did as they said. I then heard my PIP decision and I ceased trading on 14th Feb, but on 19th officially informed HMRC. I have since filled out online contact form to insurance *removed by moderator - possible identifying information* telling them I am no longer trading. They emailed to say there was a message on the portal for me - there wasn't,so I let them know, they emailed again to say they had re-posted it....STILL nothing there!! But they also said 'the message was saying I must permanently close my Facebook page, send them my PIP letter and write to them explaining what health conditions I have'.
I haven't replied as these things really make me anxious, I find them incredibly intimidating and I don't have the courage now to phone them.

So, the policy is only a month or so in. I would much prefer using a different company. *removed by moderator - possible identifying information* have done nothing but make my life incredibly difficult, stressful and made me out to be a liar on several occasions when I could not have been any more honest I'd tried!! 

I'll get cancellation charges now if I cancel but at least I'd be rid of them. It makes it difficult being a camper conversion/motor home. But I did use a specific comparison site for camper coversions before (AF were the cheapest).

Maybe I'll try again.

Thank you so much x

Harmony93

I forgot to say!! The lady I spoke to on that last occassion, said she had explained to the underwriters that I had not done what they said, she came back and said they were happy to proceed but advised I kept the business policy after all and cancelled the SD&P policy. So I did this. So at the end of the conversation I asked her to confirm what I was actually allowed to do now... and she said,  oh its OK, you CAN still run the market stall and make deliveries!! So I said, but this is what all the hassle has been about, because they don't want me to do this and she said they were happy now and she had absolutely NO idea why there was ever a problem in the first place!!! 

Then, it was since then I actually decided to definitely end my business hence them requesting the things they are now requesting.

So so annoying and stress inducing!!

anawilliam850

I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you've been experiencing with your vehicle insurance company. While it's understandable that they want to ensure they are covering you for the appropriate use of your vehicle, it's important for them to treat you with respect and fairness.

In terms of their request to shut down your Facebook page and provide them with your PIP letter, they may be within their rights to make these requests as part of their investigation into your use of the vehicle. However, it's important to carefully review the terms and conditions of your insurance policy to understand what information you are required to provide to them and what they can request from you.

If you believe that the insurance company is treating you unfairly or unreasonably, you may want to consider filing a complaint with the company's customer service department or escalating the issue to a higher level of management. You may also want to seek advice from a legal professional or a consumer advocacy organization to better understand your rights and options.

Overall, it's important to communicate with your insurance company in a clear and honest manner, while also advocating for your own rights and needs.

wilber

Hi
*removed by moderator - possible identifying information* are only a broker.
sack them now before they refuse to insure you, then you will have to tell another insure you have been refused.
go to a comparison site and get quotes.
LV for example are fantastic service.
No broker has the right to be so obnoxious.
good luck

Hannah_Alumni

Hello, 

Just to let everyone know, I have removed the name of the company as it could potentially be identifying information if anyone makes a link to potential similar comments made on other forums or social media.