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Mined the GAP?

I bought an 03 plate Porsche Boxster S from a specialist dealer in March 2008 and was charged £500 for GAP insurance as an 'extra', although no paperwork ever materialised to support this, despite numerous requests. Having just written the car off, I am unable to contact the dealer who, according to Companies House, is still trading, although I cannot trace any details other than the Registered Office, which I have written to. I have finance on the car and GAP insurance was effectively included in the finance agreement (it's invoiced as part of the purchase, less the deposit I made). The finance was arranged by the dealer so I'm assuming they were 'known' to each other - it's a national company. Is there a central database where I can find out whether the policy was ever taken out by the dealer, or did they just trouser the cash, and, if the latter, is there an effective remedy to reclaim it? Does the finance company have any responsibility in this at all as I'm assuming there is some sort of 'finders fee' to the dealer - and presumably an obligation therein? The crash was irksome enough (I skidded on oil from an accident the previous day at what is apparently a well known local M27 blackspot) so it would be frustrating to find out I paid for a service that I don't stand to benefit from when I really need to.

Asked on 9 January 2010 by A.M., Bournemouth

Answered by Honest John
Financial Services Ombudsman's office and the Financial Services Authority. The dealer had to be a licensed credit broker to sell you either the finance or the GAP insurance and if he was not registered then that was a criminal offence and you can get the police involved. If you did not get what he sold you, similarly that is financial fraud and
again a criminal offence. But, of course, that may not help you. If he gets sent down, how do you get your money? On the other hand, if he has any assets at all, you may get to grab them. You will need a specialist solicitor
Tags: insurance
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