I've recently insured my Coop with Noel Dazely, and i've been waiting ages for my one years No Claims Bonus to come through from my old insurance company. Finally it came through when i got home from work tonight. Instead of saying that i had one year's NCB, it actually states that i have 7 years NCB. When i had originaly taken my insurance out with them they said they would take my old NCB's into account even though i couldn't prove it. I'm 28 and i've been driving since i've been 17 with spells of going without a car for a while, and therefore lost my NCB.

Do you think i would be able to get a reduction in my policy with Noel Dazeley? Any advice, has this happend to anyone else on here. How do you think i should approach Noel Dazeley about this? Any advice?

I think you keep your ncb for a couple of years if you don't have a car ... no harm in discussing I would say...

As I recall you get 2yrs from the expiry date of your last policy in which to use your ncb. Some insurers may be flexible on this though.

Jonny - What did they say exactly? What do you think i should say to ND about this?

I asked if I would lose my NCD, as I sold my S2000 just before the end of my current policy and was not going to buy my 182 until quite a few weeks later. They said it would be fine as your NCD runs for 2 years from your policy expiration date.

I don't know your exact circumstances but if you had less than 2 year gaps between your various insurance policies and had no accidents then you should have more than 1 year no claims. Noel D are quite approachable. I would explain it to them and see what they'll do for you

As long as there are no gaps longer than 2yrs between your previous private car policies and you have not reported any claims history then you should be entitled to the 7 years.

When you are sure that this is the case, speak to ND and explain that your ncb proof has come through showing 7 years and that you will forward this to them and ask them to quote you the revised premium incl the 7yrs equiv discount and ask what return you will be entitled to.

However, alot of brokers and agents (ND, AFLUX etc) have delegated authority with certain insurers - this means that they can write a premium at, for example £500.00, when it really warrants a premium of £1000.00, at their discretion. Normally on higher risk cases.

This means that although you told them you had 1yr (30%) they may have allowed you 60% discount - equiv of max ncb. You in this case will not be entitled to any refund, however you should still produce the 7 yrs ncb to them in order to obtain the same at renewal as you may wish to use it elsewhere. You will only know when you speak to them.

Hope this makes some sense ?

Your PREVIOUS insurer has told you that they had taken your ncb into consideration even though you didnt produce it to them (i think thats what you are saying?) - they may however have checked with the insurer PRIOR TO THEM that you were entitled to it and that was good enough as proof for them - hence they have given you proof of 7yrs when their policy expired - exactly what you are entitled to.

Thanks Mark, i'll get onto them tomorrow. I was just a bit worried that they might dismiss the 7 years NCB and so when my policy is up next year they will only give me 2 years when really i could be getting 8.

Spoke to ND, they asked me to write a letter explaining why i had 7 years NCB. They didn't seem too happy about it and seemed to think that the insurers that they have gone through might not accept the NCB letter.

Where do i stand on this?

They cant not accept it if it is genuine as outlined above.

They are probably suspicious because you only claimed one year. Its difficult to answer not knowing the dates of your previous policies etc... but your letter should simply state that 'you enclose proof of ncb' asking them to 'note that it is 7yrs not the 1yr you thought had' and the reason that you claimed 1yr instead of 7yrs (providing it is the case!) is that 'because you had a break in cover when you were without a car or policy and you thought that you lost the ncb entitlement' - explain that it was your 'misunderstanding of how the ncb system works and that you look forward to receiving the relevant return premium the additional ncb generates'.

The above is only advice - Im assuming that you had a policy for a year prior to the coupe where you earned the 1yr ncb? Provided the policy prior to that one had 6yrs ncb and that the time period you were without a policy (between the 2) was less than 2yrs then all should be well.

Thanks Mark. I typed out a letter from what you said, and i'll post in the morning. Am keeping my fingers crossed on this one.

Thanks for all your help mate.

Good luck

I got a reply tonight from ND. They have accepted my 7 years NCB and have given me a refund which means that my monthly repayments have gone down by a third.

Happy days!

Beautiful

I can't thank you enough Mark, without your advice for what to write in the letter i'd have been really stuck.

Thanks once again.

Meado

The rule on NCD is simple. If another insurance company is willing to show that you have 7 years NCD on their company headed paper, the other company is obiliged to accept it. Its like a gentlemans agreement within the insurance business.

Ross

Very true - Direct Line are normally good on this, I've found.

When I went back to private car ownership after 5 years of company car driving they were even willing to accept my motorbike NCB.

I lived in France for a few years. When I came back to the UK, I managed to find an insurance company that would accept NCB from up to 5 years previously. They were more expensive for the first year than those that gave me only an introductory 1 year NCB, but I saved for several years after that.

You should get a refund for the increased NCB.