Confirming Insurance Details

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Mon 3 Mar 2008 20:11
Confirming Insurance Details - NARU
I had a reminder of just how important it is to check your insurance details today. I'd double checked on the phone when taking the policy out that I'd be covered towing my caravan. The call centre had told me that they'd had to check with their manager, because the caravan (24ft) is slightly longer than their maximum length (23ft).

The policy arrived today, no note about any dispensation. So I ran the call centre to double check "No we don't cover caravans over 23ft under any circumstances". Double checked with manager.

Just as well I checked - the policy booklet doesn't mention a maximum length, and they told me they destroy the tapes of the conversations after a week or two.
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Mon 3 Mar 2008 20:54
Confirming Insurance Details - Bill Payer
the policy booklet doesn't mention a maximum length


Well I'd say you were covered then.
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Mon 3 Mar 2008 20:58
Confirming Insurance Details - Falkirk Bairn
You must be covered even if the caravan is greater than 23ft as the Ins Co failed to declare that it was not covered under the policy.

If you fail to declare important information you are not covered.

If Ins Co omits an exclusion then there is no exclusion and you are covered.
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Tue 4 Mar 2008 12:34
Confirming Insurance Details - Chris M
I see where you are coming from but what happens if you make a claim. You phone them up:

I've had an accident whilst towing my caravan.
How long is it sir?
24 feet.
Sorry sir, we don't cover them over 23 feet.
But you said it was covered when I told you it was 24 feet.
No sir, we would never say that.
Yes you did.
No we didn't.
Yes you did.
Prove it then.
I can't
Get lost then (probably use more customer focused language)

Better to get it sorted now, rather than later, me thinks.
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Tue 4 Mar 2008 12:48
Confirming Insurance Details - james86
I would be having a rather different conversation if it was me.

Please can I claim for my caravan
How long is it?
24 feet
We only cover 23.
Show me where in my policy it says that.
Sorry it doesn't say. But we told you on the phone!
Tough. Show me in writing.
Doesn't say.
Then I'm covered!

If it doesn't say on the document (and in particular if the tapes of the convesration are destroyed, but not sure if this is even needed) then your policy will have no choice but to cover it. You might have to threaten / take them to court, but you will be covered.
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Tue 4 Mar 2008 14:20
Confirming Insurance Details - Bill Payer
I would be having a rather different conversation if it was me.

My conversation with them would be the same as yours. And I wouldn't care what was said - there's often some comment in the T's & C's that nothing said is binding anyway.


When my kids were younger we put them on Mrs BP's insurance as named drivers - the ins co was at great pains to point out (verbally) that they would only be covered for very occasional use and certainly not for driving to Uni or work. I said the kids have their own cars but maybe would want to take Mum's to work if their's was being serviced etc - ins co said "oh, that would be fine"!

When the documents came they simply said that all drivers were covered for SD&P and commuting.

Sometimes you can ask too many questions and talk yourself out of things.

Edited by Bill Payer on 04/03/2008 at 14:21

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Tue 4 Mar 2008 14:25
Confirming Insurance Details - L'escargot
When there's controversy like that I think you need to change your insurer.
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