how protected no claims works?

[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

With regards to the dog incident, I obviously have a pending claim on my policy... Prior to the incident I had 9 years protected no claims. This is obviously going down as a non-fault claim.

Why is it that even though my no claims bonus was protected, my premium is higher now that I have a non-fault claim on there?!?! Is this a common thing? Surely the point of protecting your no claims is to keep the discount that you get on your annual policy?!

The thing that is really making me cross is that last year my premium was £684. This year with another years NCB it is looking like my renewal will be around £1300. How is it that my policy is almost DOUBLING just because I have a claim on there that wasn't my fault, yet I had protected no claims and i've got another year to add to the 9 years I currently have?!?!?!?


Any info is appreciated, thanks

 

[® Andy]

It does depend on the insurer but I know that with Admiral claims of any type impact premium even if your no claims is untouched. Indeed this is why I left them for several years because they penalized me for somebody bumping into the back of my previous car whilst I was sat stationary at some traffic lights. It wasn't because of anything to do with my no claims, but because "our statistics show that if you've made a non-fault claim, you're more likely to make an at fault claim, and so your risk level has increased!"

 

[k1ano]

From the experience I have had, once your claim is settled you should be fine Emma as the claim is probably still classed as pending.

If the accident had been your fault, your premium would rise a bit (but not sure how this is worked out) but your NCB % discount would stay the same thus you would still pay more but would still have maximum bonus ... Sounds like a con I know but it still works out best.

It may also be, as Andy has said, that there may be some companies who penalise even for 3rd party incidents though I have not experienced this. I know all insurers want to know about ANY accident (in theory) who-ever the fault is and whether there are any claims or not.

Martin

 

[chunkv6]

Emma, easiest way is to think of your 9 years as a % discount off your total premium,

as you have protected your no-claims you still have the 9 years discount, it is just a discount from a higher overall premium!

hope this makes sense!?

Ian

 

[Anonymous]

Ah thanks guys yeah that makes sense! Although I still can't see their logic as to why my premium increases for a non-fault claim! I understand if it was my fault it makes me higher risk hence fair enough higher premium but fluke incident of dog running out doesn't make me risky!!! Just bloody unlucky!!!

Unfortunately it's looking like I'll have to renew with admiral again ad they're the cheapest, Adrian flux were way off for me

cheers for the info though

 

[chunkv6]

I agree it's not fair like!!!!

 

[FunkyMunky]

Admiral / Elephant have two levels of no claims protection - protected and then guaranteed. The guaranteed option with them is the one that seems to mean you don't get penalised for a non fault claim.

When my trophy was written off my policy had protected no claims yet my excess went up as did my policy premium - again this was with Admiral. I think I put myself onto a 10 month bonus accelerator policy with them, then when I renewed they deemed me lower risk again and premium returned to similar to pre-claim. However, fault or non-fault they still bump your premium for 3 years in my experience

 

[itz_baseline]

Yeah I agree it is totally unfair. I work in insurance (though household insurance) and the general thinking is that if you have to make a claim, even though it isn't your fault, you are still more likely to make a claim again in the future and that's why the premiums are increased.

Insurance has all kinds of strange rating factors that go on, but basically they see a claim as a claim. Unfair, but unfortunately true.

 

[looch]

You can protect your no claims but not your premium unfortunately [smilie=icon_aaargh.gif]