Disclosure of Speed Awareness Course Attendance

[StevenH72]

So it appears that Admiral (who so often come out as the best value insurers for many of us on here) are taking speed awareness courses into consideration and will treat them the same as a speeding conviction with regards to setting premiums.

Has anybody had any experience with this? I took a SAC some 8 years ago, so it doesn't apply to me at present. However, my general understanding was that the purpose of a SAC was to save you having points on your license and therefore pushing up your premium etc.

Any views/ more informed opinions out there? Is it just Admiral?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2235261/Car-insurers-Admiral-penalising-drivers-speed-awareness-courses-instead-taking-points-licence.html

 

[Darren Slone]

We have just insured my wife's car again to include our daughter with a company called Diamond and they took her speed awareness course into consideration.

 

[StevenH72]

Almost raises the question as to the courses general purpose......unless you already have 9 points.

 

[Darren Slone]

Almost raises the question as to the courses general purpose......unless you already have 9 points.

I haven't been on one but my wife said it opened her eyes, however I don't know if its slowed her down

 

[slick]

I see it as nothing more than another reason to fleece the motorist, yes disclose all mods and any points, accidents etc but just where do we draw the line ? When useing Bisto gravy granules instead of Oxo cubes result in a 25% loading? :?

 

[Adamski]

I think the Association of British Insurers needs to get its finger our and issue guidance on this ASAP. If Admiral are doing, but others aren't - it will create a minefield under "disclosure of material information".

I suppose if Admiral ask you directly, you'll be duty bound to disclose it

 

[ben g]

We have just insured my wife's car again to include our daughter with a company called Diamond and they took her speed awareness course into consideration.

admiral are a partner company along with elephant, admiral and bell.

 

[sam1832]

A supossedly unrecorded course - how do they know if you have or haven't unless you tell them?

Stupid to tell them in my opinion

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[GregZ4]

Almost raises the question as to the courses general purpose......unless you already have 9 points.

I haven't been on one but my wife said it opened her eyes, however I don't know if its slowed her down

Definitely didn't make any difference to my wife. She still drives like Vettel. However she now checks the mobile camera location website and is very sensible wherever camera signs abound.
Our insurers have never asked.

Sent from my BlackBerry Thingy using Tapatalk

 

[TopDMC]

Never been on one, bound to happen one day
I didn't think a record was kept so how would the insurance company find out?

 

[jonnyfive]

i went on one a good few years ago and was told that if you attended the coarse than there would be no record of it kept and there for no one could find out that you have attended, maybe things have changed now i hope not as iam on one this friday .

 

[Ste]

I think the Association of British Insurers needs to get its finger our and issue guidance on this ASAP.

+1. Especially considering i'm pretty sure the plod market the SAC on the fact you don't need to tell your insurer and there is no rise in premiums, clear false advertising/misrepresentation there, when you've technically paid for a product/service by paying for the course?

How would the insurers even find out you'd been on a course?

 

[DR-Z]

Never been on one, bound to happen one day
I didn't think a record was kept so how would the insurance company find out?

Of course a record is kept - that's how they know if you've had a SAC in the previous 3 years, which would mean you don't get the option of doing it next time. Whether there's any disclosure to insurance companies is a separate issue.

 

[StevenH72]

It seems not all insurers are of the same opinion.

http://www.theaa.com/newsroom/news-2012/car-insurance-and-speed-awareness-courses.html

Although, a lot of these sources are dated last November, things may be changing now.

It seems that if you are asked you must tell, as insurers don't need much in an attempt to invalidate cover.

As Dirty Harry would say: "You've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?

 

[StevenH72]

The following guidance comes from the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS), who are responsible for developing the National Speed Awareness Course.

The insurance industry is becoming increasingly interested in NDORS attendance and completion. A frequently asked question from people being offered and attending courses is whether or not an NDORS course offer and attendance should be notified to their insurers. Legal advice is that attendance on an NDORS course is not a conviction, nor should it be treated as a conviction, unlike a fixed penalty. However, as always, the detail is in the small print.
There appears to be a very inconsistent approach by the industry to NDORS, with some insurers adjusting premiums once notified and others displaying no interest whatsoever. If an insurance company has asked, on its proposal form, at the time the insurance policy is first taken out, whether a driver has attended or is about to attend an NDORS course, then an honest answer must be given. Failure to do so would render the policy void. Similarly if, having answered “no” to such a question, the driver subsequently accepts an offer of a course, it is advisable to notify the insurance company as, by asking the question at the time the policy began, the insurance company has shown that they consider the answer to be material. Conversely if the insurance company has asked no questions about a course and has limited their questions purely to accidents and convictions within specified periods, then it is difficult to see how they could later suggest that attendance at a course designed to improve driver skills represents a material change.

This situation is currently being looked at on a national level between the Course providers (NDORS) and the insurance industry governing body.
Until a satisfactory resolution is developed, we recommend that you keep your insurance company appraised of any re-education courses that you’ve attended. Failure to do so could invalidate your policy with some companies

http://www.sussexsaferroads.gov.uk/the-speed-awareness-course/speed-awareness-faqs.html

 

[Anonymous]

I did one a few years back as an alternative to points and a fine. I think I had to pay £60 or £70 for the course, and it was half a days annual leave, for financially it was similar to a fine and points, apart from the subsequent insurance hike due to points etc, and that is where any money is saved.

I have a letter from the constabulary confirming completion of the course and stating that no further action will be taken, so legally, I haven't got a "record" etc....or been prosecuted for a driving offence.

My insurance just asks for details of motoring convictions. I was never convicted of speeding, so don't need to tell them. If they asked specifically, then I would tell them.

I guess Admiral now ask specifically about the course?

Is it dodging points? Well, it is effectively a driver training course, and so any driver education has to be a good thing.

It has slowed me down, honestly, but more through fear of being caught again, not due to fear of causing an accident through speeding.

I was told I wouldn't be offered it again within 3 years, so yes, a record is kept, although who has access to this I don't know.

The insurance question is interesting....they are saying because you've been caught speeding then regardless of the outcome, you are now more dangerous. when in reality, if you get on one of these courses, you are actually a better informed driver (allegedly). You are not a more capable driver, but better educated and hopefully less likely to speed again. Therefore I think it is just money grabbing.

 

[original guvnor]

It will be interesting to see what the Office of Fair Trading recommends when they complete their review of Car Insurance.

Did anyone see the recent Dispatches programme on insurance companies? Made interesting viewing, particularly if you happen to be with Direct Line or any other of the RBS owned insurance companies.

 

[Anonymous]

just another excuse for insurers to rape people.

I heard that after a haircut you are more at risk of having an accident by looking longer in the mirror. So the insurers should be notified of each haircut and this will generate a £37 admin fee..

By the way have you noticed how the admin charge to cancel your insurance is rocketing, so that if you do not like what they do, it costs you more to cancel

 

[StevenH72]

It will be interesting to see what the Office of Fair Trading recommends when they complete their review of Car Insurance.

Did anyone see the recent Dispatches programme on insurance companies? Made interesting viewing, particularly if you happen to be with Direct Line or any other of the RBS owned insurance companies.

I didn't catch it, can you give a brief synopsis?

When is the car insurance review due? any ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

they will do nothing.
Look how womens premiums rocketed in december due to the European ruling that you cannot discriminate policies by gender.
Did the insurers lower the men's premiums or even split the difference, or did they just put the women's up with absolutely no risk increase.
What do you reckon they did?

I have an ever increasing list of Insurers that charge for additional items like putting the premium up and charging an admin fee when you move house even though the area risk rating is the same.
And if you don't agree, they charge you as much to cancel....
Robbing B*stards all of them.