Cancelling car insurance

Five_Star · 30 Apr 2008 at 19:19

I successfully sold my car and rang my insurance company (Bell) to cancel. As I paid yearly and due to a cancellation fee I won’t be getting any money back (only one month left anyway), but they said that I had to return all my policy documents to them??

I thought this was a little strange and asked them why and they said it’s their normal procedure? Its annoying as I have to pay to post back the documents for a cancelled policy :confused:

Has anybody else had need to do this? and will i get into trouble if I just "forget"

Cheers

Confused · 30 Apr 2008 at 19:22

Are you getting another car? Would you have had any NCB when the policy ran out in a month?

I personally would have either got them to hold the policy, or keep it going somehow if it would get you the NCB!

Lopéz · 30 Apr 2008 at 19:22

You are always supposed to post back the old cover note, it is part of the Road Traffic Act IIRC.

I'm sure the 32p or whatever a stamp costs these days won't cause you to lose too much sleep.

EDIT

Plus you just lost a years no claims, nice one. Why didn't you keep the policy going for that last 4 weeks :confused:

zain · 30 Apr 2008 at 19:56

Lopéz said:
You are always supposed to post back the old cover note, it is part of the Road Traffic Act IIRC.

I'm sure the 32p or whatever a stamp costs these days won't cause you to lose too much sleep.

EDIT

Plus you just lost a years no claims, nice one. Why didn't you keep the policy going for that last 4 weeks

Yeah, you didn't get anything back either

Sukh · 30 Apr 2008 at 20:00

I cancelled my insurance (well technically put on hold) for just over four weeks and still got my no claims certificate

ring them and ask

Nimzicki · 30 Apr 2008 at 20:01

You're seriously that bothered about the price of a stamp? Bizarre...

Five_Star · 1 May 2008 at 07:39

No, not baothered about the price of stamps just didn't know why they needed the cover note back. (wasn't aware it was part of the road traffic act)

Sorry should have also said that its not cancelled, its suspended like Sukh said he did. I'm not going to be getting another car. moving house near a train station so will be using that to commute to work and the Wife is keeping her car.

To extend the topic slightly what happens to my NCB if I don't have my own insurance anymore but am just a named driver on the Wifes policy?? (its with Direct Line)

Cheers

Nimzicki · 1 May 2008 at 07:52

Isn't it something to do with possibly getting tax on a car thats uninsured or pretending you have insurance when you do not? Or have I completely missed the mark?

Scrutinize · 1 May 2008 at 08:33

Nimzicki said:
Isn't it something to do with possibly getting tax on a car thats uninsured or pretending you have insurance when you do not? Or have I completely missed the mark?

Yep as you can produce the documents for the police or post office for tax and they won't necessarily check if they are valid.

Glaucus · 1 May 2008 at 13:06

By law you have to send it back.

I have to ask, why the hell you cancled. should have just let it run out and get the NCD.

Five_Star · 1 May 2008 at 13:20

AcidHell2 said:
By law you have to send it back.

I have to ask, why the hell you cancled. should have just let it run out and get the NCD.

I wasn't thinking, thought I might get some cash back as car ownership for me is over for the medium turm future

TripleT · 1 May 2008 at 13:32

Ring them up and say you haven't sold it yet and are going to keep it!

You can keep your NCB's for 2years(?) without having your own insurance iirc. Although I don't know the deal with directline as you get NCB's as a named driver with them. Maybe you can use your current ones for that and add to them?

Glaucus · 1 May 2008 at 13:35

TripleT said:
You can keep your NCB's for 2years(?

yep 2 years. I asked this last time I renewed.

Phoebs · 1 May 2008 at 13:41

I cancelled my insurance with quinn last month and they sent me an envelope to send them my certificate back. but thats all i had to send back.

Five_Star · 1 May 2008 at 14:10

Hi, Yep I phoned them back just now and they confirmed (after a long time on hold) that its not cancelled but suspended and I can apply for my NCD certificate when my policy expires in August. They said I should have a pre paid envelope at home with my policy documents so will have to look tonight and will get the Mrs to call Direct Line and see about any possible discount

I seriously wish I'd never called them to cancel, live and learn I guess

Hawk Tuah · 1 May 2008 at 14:49

I planned selling my car for the day my insurance ran out.

Made things a lot easier.

therealnerd2 · 1 May 2008 at 15:29

This was the strangest thing when I cancelled my elephant policy.

They sent me a confirmation of cancellation letter which basically said:

"
Please use the enclosed freepost envelope to send us your 'Certificate of Insurance' to complete the cancellation.

We do not receive this within 7 days, we will cancel the insurance anyway"

strange

Hawk Tuah · 1 May 2008 at 15:31

therealnerd2 said:
This was the strangest thing when I cancelled my elephant policy.

They sent me a confirmation of cancellation letter which basically said:

"
Please use the enclosed freepost envelope to send us your 'Certificate of Insurance' to complete the cancellation.

We do not receive this within 7 days, we will cancel the insurance anyway"

strange

I got that too.

Like that didn't go in the bin.

mattpc · 1 May 2008 at 15:36

EPIC FAIL

M0T · 1 May 2008 at 16:20

therealnerd2 said:
This was the strangest thing when I cancelled my elephant policy.

They sent me a confirmation of cancellation letter which basically said:

"
Please use the enclosed freepost envelope to send us your 'Certificate of Insurance' to complete the cancellation.

We do not receive this within 7 days, we will cancel the insurance anyway"

strange

They sent me something similar, except it was within 3 weeks. I forgot to send it back and they refunded me after 3 weeks anyway, they didnt seem to care about getting the certificate back.