Swiftcover - Cracked windscreen

Minstadave

Minstadave

Minstadave

Caporegime
Joined
8 Jan 2004
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Rutland
I discovered yesterday's weather had taken its toll on my car and I've got 6" crack from the bottom right corner of my windscreen.

Now I'm with swiftcover who have a terrible windscreen policy which says I pay £65 excess and don't gain the years NCB for claiming a replacement windscreen.

Does anyone know a rough figure for a replacement windscreen? I'm wondering whether I should just stump up myself rather than pay the excess and loose the years NCB.
 
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Probably from a couple of hundred to a grand dependent entirely on what car/windscreen spec.
 
It's an Audi A3, not heated or anything.

I've got 4 years NCB so the not gaining my 5th year is not the end of the world just seems annoying.
 
Muffin` said:
Get what you pay for tbh
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I paid sweet FA for insurance with them when I had the Mondeo (and subsequently swapped the E30 onto the policy) and didn't have to lose NCB for windscreen claims. I was always under the impression that you did lose that year's NCB but the paperwork said otherwise when I read through it.

Didn't need to claim though so never tested it.

Minstadave said:
It's an Audi A3, not heated or anything.
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I had a replacement windscreen a few years ago for a BMW E36 coupe and that would have been £400 for a standard glass unit, windscreen cover was £75 though so no worries. :p
 
Yeah - their wording is a bit horrible. I looked it up and found this section:

This section only applies if you have comprehensive cover
We will pay
To repair or replace broken glass in your car’s windscreen (including panoramic windscreens) or windows, and any scratching to the bodywork caused solely and directly by broken glass from a broken windscreen or window. We may choose to repair your car with parts that may not have been made by the car’s manufacturer but are of a similar standard. Any payment for replacement of glass under this section will not reduce your No claims discount, (although at your next renewal you will no longer be eligible for any increase in your No claims discount according to our declared scale). However, in order to obtain the full benefit under this section the work must only be undertaken by our approved windscreen repairer contactable via Swift Glass Claims on 0871 231 2310*.

Source is page 9 of http://www.swiftcover.com/carinsurance/policy-wording/1_1_101_CarPolicyWording.pdf.

So you don't lose any NCB, but they won't increase it either. I'd shop around at renewal time and see if anyone will credit you as it was only a windscreen incident.
 
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peterwalkley said:
Yeah - their wording is a bit horrible. I looked it up and found this section:

This section only applies if you have comprehensive cover
We will pay
To repair or replace broken glass in your car’s windscreen (including panoramic windscreens) or windows, and any scratching to the bodywork caused solely and directly by broken glass from a broken windscreen or window. We may choose to repair your car with parts that may not have been made by the car’s manufacturer but are of a similar standard. Any payment for replacement of glass under this section will not reduce your No claims discount, (although at your next renewal you will no longer be eligible for any increase in your No claims discount according to our declared scale). However, in order to obtain the full benefit under this section the work must only be undertaken by our approved windscreen repairer contactable via Swift Glass Claims on 0871 231 2310*.

Source is page 9 of http://www.swiftcover.com/carinsurance/policy-wording/1_1_101_CarPolicyWording.pdf.

So you don't lose any NCB, but they won't increase it either. I'd shop around at renewal time and see if anyone will credit you as it was only a windscreen incident.
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I still got another years NCB (i do have 15 years NCB)
 
I had the screen replaced on my e38 7 Series when insured by Swiftcover, they fitted a genuine BMW screen and I didn't lose any NCB.
Iirc I paid about £60 excess - this was 2005 mind you!
 
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I think I'll just claim, their policy says you don't lose a year, you just don't gain the current year's worth at the end, I'll just leave them and hopefully the new insurer will let me off.

At the end of the day the difference between 4 and 5 years NCB isn't going to be huge I wouldn't have thought.

Are you recovering steadily Scania?
 
The difference will be absolutely minimal - when I went from 4 to 5 years ncb the discount was literally a few pounts (only remember because I put it in incorrectly, realised and had to re run a quote)
 
Minstadave said:
Are you recovering steadily Scania?
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Yes thanks mate - started my Cardiac rehabilitation sessions at my local gym today (supervised gentle workouts etc) it damn near gave me another one!! :o

Slow progress, but I'm an awful lot better than I have been!!
:)
 
rodenal said:
The difference will be absolutely minimal - when I went from 4 to 5 years ncb the discount was literally a few pounts (only remember because I put it in incorrectly, realised and had to re run a quote)
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Just claim, I was with swift a few years back for a year, but the renewal was a silly price, so you'll probably move on when next renewal anyway...
 
Just claim, unless you have 0 NCD currently and want your 1st year it'll probably be cheaper than paying to replace a windscreen.
 
From my take on that wording you don't lose a NCB, you don't even not gain a years NCB, just swiftcover personally won't apply a further years discount to you.

I do wonder though, what else do people generally expect to be exempt from when considering NCBs? If a puncture were to occur should you get your £100-£200 tyre replaced on insurance without it affecting your NCBs?
 
Problem is coming renewal time they give you a certificate for 4 not 5 years NCB and most insurers won't give you the extra year back as far as I know.

Most insurers don't effect your NCB with a glass claim. I don't really mind swift is different on this matter, I'm stuck with it, my real question was which would be better - paying myself or claiming. Looks like claiming is the better option.
 
Minstadave said:
Problem is coming renewal time they give you a certificate for 4 not 5 years NCB and most insurers won't give you the extra year back as far as I know.

Most insurers don't effect your NCB with a glass claim. I don't really mind swift is different on this matter, I'm stuck with it, my real question was which would be better - paying myself or claiming. Looks like claiming is the better option.
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I'm guessing it will cost £300 min for a new screen, and i guess if you add the excess + not having and extra year ncb won't cost you that much. But as always shop around for renewal, as you will likely get a better deal anyway.
 
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