Raw Deal: Motoring woes solved after insurers withdraw No Claims Discount

You can multiply that feeling many times over when the car that is left damaged is not yours but that of a family member.

That was exactly the position Alan Winton, from Keith, found himself in when he got caught up in someone else’s accident while driving daughter Kayleigh’s car at the tail end of last year.

The incident occurred on November 27 and the third party’s insurers accepted full responsibility for the damage caused to Kayleigh’s vehicle.

In fact, her car was swiftly repaired and returned to her.

Normally that would have been the end of the matter.

But not in this case.

The third party’s insurers, Aviva, for some reason hadn’t settled the matter with Kayleigh’s insurance company and, as a result, her insurers withdrew her No Claims Discount.

This meant, with her renewal date rapidly approaching, they were now quoting her an insurance renewal of £230.82 – a MONTH!

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This would mean an increase of almost £110 per month over what she had been paying previously.

As a home carer, on just above the minimum wage, there was no way Kayleigh could afford to pay this.

On contacting her insurers, she was told she’d have to pay the monthly premiums at that higher level until Aviva settled with them.

No matter what Alan or Kayleigh did, they could make no progress with either insurance company in a bid to achieve a positive outcome to the problem.

Unhappy at the way things were going, Alan wrote to Raw Deal on January 8.

He told us that Kayleigh needs to drive for her job. But she just couldn’t afford to renew her policy at the prices being quoted.

In fact, she would have little option other than to SORN (Statutory Off Road Notice) her vehicle, meaning she would also lose her job.

This, in turn, would result in her not being able to pay the finance agreement on her car.

Yet she was the innocent party in all this.

He reiterated that Aviva had accepted full responsibility but the time it was taking would likely mean any resolution would come too late for Kayleigh’s renewal, which was due on January 24.

We contacted Aviva and, thankfully, they were able to get this sorted out very quickly.

A spokesperson told us: “We apologise for the delay in finalising the details on Kayleigh Winton’s claim with her insurance company.

“We have now spoken to the company and they are aware that we had admitted liability.

“This enabled them to settle the claim. Kayleigh should now be able to contact her insurers to adjust her premium accordingly.”

Alan said: “Thanks for your help.”

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