Age Related Problems

Thank you all for your support, the company is General Accident,
they are based in Perth, Scotland, but are owned by Aviva who
bought them a few years ago.

I tried to contact them today, but they have no telephone number
for anybody to call, all you can do is send a message via their site,
but to make sure that it was read, I lodged a complaint, complaints
always get prompt attention if the think that they are a good company.

Here is the reply I got within 2 hours!

Hello Mike,

Thanks for getting in touch.

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer cover as you fall outside of our underwriting criteria. This is because of the main drivers age being above our upper age limits that we cover.

Should you require assistance to find an alternative provider that can meet your needs, you may wish to contact the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA). They will offer a dedicated ‘Find-Insurance’ service and can be contacted by telephone on 0370 950 1790 or via www.biba.org.uk.

I hope this resolves your query, should you need anything else, please log in to your My account or visit our Need Help pages.


Thank you,


Christopher
General Accident team

I have also spent hours filling in forms at various comparison sites, also
on single sites of companies that don't have an age limit, I have had 3
replies so far, all over £400, but I have till 21st August to get something.

Having been an international lorry/truck driver, I need to get a medical
check every time I renew my licence, after 70 years, it is valid for 3 years,
then it needs renewing, so I reckon that I am a fair driver, though I don't
do many long distances now.

So seeing the figures of the number of companies that will insure an old
person, I should be OK, hopefully I will recognise at least one company,
I don't want a dodgy one that is selling from a P.O. Box number, we don't
seem to have insurance agents these days.

Thank you all once more for the Moral Support, you have really helped me
to cheer up.

Stay safe.

Mike.
 

Jules said:
@Mike, I’d be on the phone to the company demanding a reason for the cancellation. I’d also send an email to demand the reason it in writing. It may have been done by mistake - your name and someone with the same being confused.
Click to expand...
Just a guess, but I suspect that they will contend that they have already given the reason -- "you no longer meet our underwriting criteria".
Oops on further perusal I see they admit it's an age issue.
 
Last edited:
Lavinia said:
It would be a good policy for everyone to take a test every year. If you are passed as still fit to drive, then the insurance companies will have no excuse to refuse you.
Click to expand...
Sorry, but I see more young drivers that are speeding or driving erratically, many because of their phones. Maybe it would be a good policy for you to take a test every year, but many older drivers I see are more capable than younger drivers.
 

Here there is supposed to be no Ageism, old age as a barrier
to employment is a no-no.

Why then, can it be applied to insurance, if I needed to drive for
my job they would be in trouble I think, or they should be, as they
would be denying me the possibility of working, we have offices
that protect us from wrongs, in this case it will be, "The Insurance
Ombudsman", they have an Ombudsman for all sorts of grievances,
I might just call them and see what they think, I will still find another
insurer though.

Mike.
 
dseag2 said:
Sorry, but I see more young drivers that are speeding or driving erratically, many because of their phones. Maybe it would be a good policy for you to take a test every year, but many older drivers I see are more capable than younger drivers.
Click to expand...
True.... age brings experience, although it is not a guarantee of sensible driving. It used be that 'new' drivers were on probation to start with and only allowed to drive at a certain speed. Like many laws, that has probably been relaxed now.
By the way, I don't know if the 'you' you used was a general one or directed at me personally, but I have never learned to drive. I'm happy to let others do that.
 
Mike said:
Thank you all for your support, the company is General Accident,
they are based in Perth, Scotland, but are owned by Aviva who
bought them a few years ago.

I tried to contact them today, but they have no telephone number
for anybody to call, all you can do is send a message via their site,
but to make sure that it was read, I lodged a complaint, complaints
always get prompt attention if the think that they are a good company.

Here is the reply I got within 2 hours!

Hello Mike,

Thanks for getting in touch.

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer cover as you fall outside of our underwriting criteria. This is because of the main drivers age being above our upper age limits that we cover.

Should you require assistance to find an alternative provider that can meet your needs, you may wish to contact the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA). They will offer a dedicated ‘Find-Insurance’ service and can be contacted by telephone on 0370 950 1790 or via www.biba.org.uk.

I hope this resolves your query, should you need anything else, please log in to your My account or visit our Need Help pages.


Thank you,


Christopher
General Accident team

I have also spent hours filling in forms at various comparison sites, also
on single sites of companies that don't have an age limit, I have had 3
replies so far, all over £400, but I have till 21st August to get something.

Having been an international lorry/truck driver, I need to get a medical
check every time I renew my licence, after 70 years, it is valid for 3 years,
then it needs renewing, so I reckon that I am a fair driver, though I don't
do many long distances now.

So seeing the figures of the number of companies that will insure an old
person, I should be OK, hopefully I will recognise at least one company,
I don't want a dodgy one that is selling from a P.O. Box number, we don't
seem to have insurance agents these days.

Thank you all once more for the Moral Support, you have really helped me
to cheer up.

Stay safe.

Mike.
Click to expand...
flippin' Aviva.. they are such cowboys I hate them... Mike do try RAC.. I was with Direct line for years, then I got a quote which was just ridiculous one year given I had no claims, and had over 9 years NCD so I searched for a different and cheaper company which would give me the same coverage as DL... ( fully comp).. and I was sceptical about AC.. given that I was an AA member.. but they Halved DL's quote, and added extras such as free replacement of keys ( car and house keys)... and this year even with everything going up sky high in price, RAC barely put my premiums up... so my annual premium now is just around £210.. fully comp with several added extras..
 
Last edited:
dseag2 said:
Sorry, but I see more young drivers that are speeding or driving erratically, many because of their phones. Maybe it would be a good policy for you to take a test every year, but many older drivers I see are more capable than younger drivers.
Click to expand...
yes Insurance companies agree that the young are more likely to be involved in accidents, and premiums for the under 25's here are sky high.... however they get around this, by having themselves added to their parents policies to get a reduced rate
 
IMO it all comes down to claim experience and rates.

The higher the perceived risk the more reluctant an insurer will be to provide coverage and the higher the rates will be.

I would find another insurer, but also take this as a serious warning of things to come.

It’s time to start exploring transportation and delivery options that will allow you to remain independent without an automobile.
 
Aunt Bea said:
IMO it all comes down to claim experience and rates.

The higher the perceived risk the more reluctant an insurer will be to provide coverage and the higher the rates will be.

I would find another insurer, but also take this as a serious warning of things to come.

It’s time to start exploring transportation and delivery options that will allow you to remain independent without an automobile.
Click to expand...
More and more older people in Britain are using small electric vehicles for short journeys. They are causing problems of their own but it just needs councils and government to get the roads better organised to accommodate them.
 
I'm glad you pursued this and made them give you a reason for dropping your coverage. However, I still can't believe they just sent an email to you regarding this. Some people (like my sister, for one) rarely check their email. Sometimes an email ends up in the junk folder and gets deleted. I think it shows total disregard and lack of respect for it's customers. They know this will cause an upheaval in a person's life and they can't be bothered to send a proper notice in the mail! That's cold.
 
Mike said:
Getting old is hard enough and I was managing well I thought,
until today, when I received an email from my car insurer, they
are declining to renew my insurance cover, they gave no reason,
just said that it against their policy!

We're sorry, but we're unable to invite you to renew your car
insurance this year as you no longer meet our underwriting criteria.

Our inability to invite your renewal should not be considered as a
insurance refusal or cancellation and does not need to be disclosed
to any other current or future insurers.

So now I have to find somebody who will insure a getting older man.

They are quick to take the money, now I suppose they think that I am
"gaga" and will start driving like an idiot.

Mike.
Click to expand...

So they have been willing to take your money all these years on your good driving record ? But now they cancel you on concerns of what you might do ! Dispicable.
 
My mother was an excellent driver...even at 90. But at 90 it was her turn to drive her church friends to Line-Dancing out in the country and they told her that it was time for her to let them do the driving. She got all in a snit about it...but they won🤭 My point though is that it's not the age, it's the driver. Some are excellent drivers throughout their 80's.
 
The Age UK are for elderly people, they support any grievance
and start petitions for the Government about all sorts of things,
so I gave them a chance and did a quote request on the phone,
boy was I shocked at that, they quoted £1161.33, I told him that
I can't afford insurance at that price, in the end the best offer I
got was from AXA, they quoted me £434.09 that includes legal
protection, no claims bonus and breakdown, I have reserved that
quote for use in a couple of weeks, they won't give a discount
for early payment.

Hollydolly, the RAC were too dear, like most, even the one I got
is fairly high.

Mike.
 
Your first quote is not much higher than our national average in the US for full coverage at about $1,475 for 60yrs and older.
 
Last edited:
I wonder why Lara, maybe because your cars are bigger
and perhaps more expensive to repair, or there are more
accidents in America, you could of course be getting duped,
the insurance companies might have a pact/cartel, that fix
the prices, that is against the law here, so we hope that they
are honest with their pricing, some are blatant with overcharging,
while the cheaper ones might be risky as they are unknown, so
they won't get a lot of business, without heavy advertising.

I am not prepared to pay such high figures, if I lived in America
then I would pay because that is the accepted norm, not here though.

Mike.
 
My younger daughter works in risk assessment for an insurance company that Hollydolly hates. Although not in motor insurance, I'm sure she could explain the process for determining risk and therefore premiums.
I'm not really surprised that some companies draw the line at 80 and leave insurance for older drivers to companies such as SAGA. I also note that you live in Croydon and I would have thought that would attract a higher premium than a rural location.

It's a pity that you weren't advised up front that they only catered for drivers up to age 80. Hope you get sorted OK.
 
Mike said:
The Age UK are for elderly people, they support any grievance
and start petitions for the Government about all sorts of things,
so I gave them a chance and did a quote request on the phone,
boy was I shocked at that, they quoted £1161.33, I told him that
I can't afford insurance at that price, in the end the best offer I
got was from AXA, they quoted me £434.09 that includes legal
protection, no claims bonus and breakdown, I have reserved that
quote for use in a couple of weeks, they won't give a discount
for early payment.

Hollydolly, the RAC were too dear, like most, even the one I got
is fairly high.

Mike.
Click to expand...
I can hardly believe that, the RAC were too expensive .. my fully Comp.. with 9 years + NCD..including breakdown cover/windscreen.. and free locksmith for my house and car.. is Just £230
 
Mike said:
I wonder why Lara, maybe because your cars are bigger
and perhaps more expensive to repair, or there are more
accidents in America, you could of course be getting duped...
Click to expand...
That post was the average insurance amount in the US that I found online.
I personally have USAA insurance and pay $1200 per year for 2 cars
but unfortunately not everyone can qualify for USAA.
One must be connected to the military. My late husband was in the Navy for 2 years.
 
hollydolly said:
I can hardly believe that, the RAC were too expensive .. my fully Comp.. with 9 years + NCD..including breakdown cover/windscreen.. and free locksmith for my house and car.. is Just £230
Click to expand...
It could be my age, or as Capt Lightning says, the fact that I live
in Croydon/London, but the RAC were over £530, I can't remember
the exact figure, but that is pretty near, they also advertise another
insurance deal, called, RAC Black Box, I think that you have a box
fitted to the car, that monitors your driving, this I expected to cost
less than the first one, but it is quoted to me at £1,500++.

So maybe if I lived in rural England near you, then I would get a lot
better deal.

Mike.
 
Hi Mike, have you had any luck getting insurance at a sensible price ? Mrs. L used SAGA for a couple of years when they offered a good rate, but then it shot up. Seems like offering a good initial rate and then increasing it. but they might be worth a try.
She currently pays less than £200, fully comp, protected NCD etc.. with Direct Line. Curiously, my campervan which is more valuable than her car only cost £175 for the same level of cover.
 
I agree with Carol. It sounds like a scam. I frequently get phony emails telling me my PayPal, Amazon account, etc. have been dropped, which are absolutely phony. Contact your insurance provider and talk to them. They'll probably say, "What email?"
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top