Vocal Voices

My local shopkeeper, Raj, just had his car written off. He had only paid two instalments on his insurance but they made an offer. They then wanted him to pay the rest of the policy in full, but it included a previous damage claim - that does not seem right. He will be out of pocket. The previous damage must be on the previous owner's insurance, surely?

When my car got written off it was only three months into the new policy, but I always pay in full rather than instalments. All that happened was that the policy rolled over to the new(er) car. I have the cover notes and the policy number is the same. Why cannot he keep the old policy same as me?

I have advised him to get a meeting with a legal insurance broker. Is that right?

He is with someone called Marshmallow Insurance. They tend to be for overseas drivers, but boy are they expensive!

Legal advice is always good in these cases. Which legal advice I have not had experience with.

I onlyuse well know British Insurance comanies for my car and house insurance.

Long time since i had to make a claim so cannot give any advice.

They were trying to pull a fast one.

He had a voluntary excess, so that came off - correct.

The previous damage was indeed on a previous insurance, so not his. Wiped off.

He has not had to pay off the months left on his old insurance and take out a new one - it can just roll over to his new car. The broker sorted that.

He now has a VW Polo on a 59 plate and is back on the road.

excellent news Frank. And if I were Raj, I'd report the insurance company to the Ombudsman and cancel if he can (he has very valid grounds) and get a new one with a different, more reputable, company. Or, at the very least, not renew with them when the time comes.

They don't call them "loss adjusters" for nothing. I have a different word for that but it's not quite polite.