[Big A]

Got a letter through yesterday by recorded delivery notifying me that my insurance was going to be cancelled with effect from 30th January because of "unacceptable modifications"[:O]. They did however give me an alternative quote of £772.72, nearly £150 more than present. Wondering what the fook they were on about, as the only real mod I have at the moment is my tints (which I wouldn't class as a mod), I called them to see what it was all about. They informed me that as I have fitted a US 20th Anni GTi badge, and my Golf is not a GTi, they were cancelling my cover, as they see it as more stealable. Yet when I declared this they were fine with it telling me "if its only the badge its OK".

When I asked if taking the badge off would help she said "I'll call you back". Two minutes later she called saying if I take it off immediately my cover will be restored back to normal. I informed her that I cant get access to my Golf as its in the bodyshop for repair, to which she asked "do they park your car in the street or in public view" to which I replied "sometimes". She then added that if I dont remove it immediately and my car gets stolen then I'm not covered. Needless to say the badge is now off and so will the rest of them when I get it back.

Sorry for a bit of a long rant but although its all sorted now I am well pi**ed off how petty they can be especially when it was declared to them. Have been with this insurance company for many years and modded my last Polo with about £5k of extras and they didn't mind, yet a £20 badge nearly lost me my cover[}]

 

[NikB]

How pathetic, who's the insurance company?

 

[Royster]

Name and Shame matey. What a bunch of dorks!

 

[bbs rs2]

I bet they wouldnt offer you a discount if your car was de-badged !!!!

 

[Mikedav]

I wouldn't have bothered phoning them to declare a badge TBH...I havent declared my rear lights or grille as I don't think they'd even notice in the event of claim. I will declare wheels / suspension when I do that though.

I see their angle, the fact you have declared it makes them think its now a GTI Replica and thus more attractive to thieves? Its a complicated field, I know someone who has a full bodykit, declared but on the form it says 'body coloured bumpers' - is he covered or not? Hes declared it, so they should...

V Confusing

 

[Big A]

The insurance company is Corinthian who needless to say I will not be renewing with when it comes up in April.

Hope this doesn't affect future quotes? as I technically haven't been refused cover.

 

[DBGTTDI]

so if i put on monty 2's, add sports sus, a chip to 150 bhp and a all red TDI badge I won't get charged anymore ? I DON'T THINK SO !

(note 130/150 pd's are in the same group 'cause ABI can't tell them apart)

 

[Felix]

Thats pathetic - I said that a GTI badge made a car more nickable than a TDI badge when I had my argument with the ABI and they said that it did not matter.

They will use any excuse what so ever to do you for money - tell them to stick it up ther backside and get on with someone who actually wants money.

 

[Chris]

Jesus, talk about petty!!

I want money back then, mines not badged 'GTI' anymore!

 

[Big A]

My car is also probably got better security than a standard GTi, as I have a Clifford fitted and also put a Stoplok on at night yet they dont take this into account. A-holes

 

[Otto]

Did u tell them about the badge?

 

[Mikedav]

Did you tell them about the better than stock security

 

[Chris]

You'd be suprised at how little insurance companies value additional security devices. My last Golf had no alarm, just a cat2 immobiliser. I paid over £300 for a full new system to get it to Thatcham Cat1, along with my £70 disklok..... and it made bugger all difference.

Then again, neither does a driveway or garage!!

 

[Big A]

Yeah told them about the badge and about the added security, which they said they would take a note of. Other than that not a thing happened to the cost of my policy.

 

[terminator]

Try Liverpool Victoria when your renewal is due as they are mod friendly, if you phone them for cover rather than going the online route.

 

[Cossie boy]

makes me laugh, talk about a lack of common sense!

 

[_Spud_]

One thing I am wondering, how did they find out about the badge? Did you call and let them know?

I have the GTI front anni badge on mine, but I took the lettering off and put a 16v badge on as mine is a 1.4 16v, I wonder if they would try and female dog about that? Hmmm… me get's worried.

 

[tdi_man]

they are trying to cancel my policy because of upgraded suspension. it was on the car when I bought it 2nd hand from a garage. I was unaware genuinely that it had been upgraded. where do I stand ??

 

[terminator]

Quote: posted by tdi_man on 12/02/2004 22:16:06

they are trying to cancel my policy because of upgraded suspension. it was on the car when I bought it 2nd hand from a garage. I was unaware genuinely that it had been upgraded. where do I stand ??

If your insurance company has a policy of not accepting mods then there is not much you can do, other than transferring to a mod friendly insurer. If its because you didn't declare, ask to speak to the underwiter and plead ignorance and also argue the positive effects of uprated suspension. They may agree to cover you on the basis that if they have to replace suspension following an accident, they will use OEM rather than like for like parts.