Auto Insurance

Star · 04-27-2005, 11:05 AM

I have been trying to get auto insurance for the past 2 weeks now. I am at my witts end and really disgusted with the way insurance works here in ontario.

We haven't had a vehicle in the past 2 years so we had no isurance. The car I was driving wasn't insured (I don't drive it anymore) and was lucky to get away with that for a few months.

I was with State Farm for 15 years and have a clean record. I have never been in an at-fault accident, didn't put in any claims and no speeding tickets. Clean driving for the past 22 years that I've had a licence to drive. One who wonder why it's so hard for me to get auto insurance then right?

Well, because I wasn't aware that you must cancel your insurance policy if you don't need it anymore, I'm paying the price. I had no idea that this would affect getting any future auto insurance but it does. They mark it down as an unpaid so now I'm a high risk!! That's not all of it.

I find out today that I have 2 at-fault accidents on my drivers record!!!! I have NEVER had an accident that was my fault. These were apparently done 3rd party which makes no sense to me at all. One of those I didn't have a car and I was driving! The date is march 31, 2004. well, I had no car then so how is that possible? the other one was when we were in quebec and it was gerry's new truck that got vandalized and needed a new front grill. it was parked, unoccupied in the parking lot of a motel. how is that MY fault since the truck was registered in gerry's name, not mine and we didn't hit anything?!?

so now, before i can get any insurance, i have to fax a letter of request of investigation to auto plus so they can correct their stupid mistakes. How long will that take I wonder? They better get right on that and fix that if they don't, i'll be calling and nagging them to the point where they will WANT to hurry and do that.

I'm so pissed! I can't believe that these idiots will give insurance to people who are really at high risk to be driving over someone who's had an unpaid and a clean record. I'm so mad! I wish the government would step in and regulate these companies a little better then they are now. it's disgusting!

Duke · 04-27-2005, 04:44 PM

That's ridiculous, here in BC if you don't renew your insurance then you're not insured, simple. I can't say I've really ever had a problem with ICBC when it comes to insurance.

Star · 04-27-2005, 05:51 PM

I have never had this problem in my life. I was insured for almost 15 years with state farm so I wasn't aware of the "new policies" that came into affect about 3 to 5 years ago.

The way I'm being treated, I might as well of rolled a couple cars, got a few DUI's and had my licence suspended. I'ts gross!

I told the one company that it isn't fair that they will insure a REAL high risk driver and give me, someone with a clean record and a non-payment because i failed to cancel my insurance no coverage.

It's illegal to drive without insurance but I can't get any without a huge hassle and I'm going to have to pay out of my a$$ for it. I was quoted yesterday anywhere from 3 to 4 thousand dollars for one year! I've had my licence for 22 years and no tickets or accidents, nothing. it's disgusting!

Gerry says we'll pay it because I do have to drive. I need a vehicle especially now that we have a baby here. it's a necessity. I'll have to pay 1/2 of it up front and the other half in six months. I'm kind of insulted over the whole thing really.

Duke · 04-27-2005, 05:57 PM

Can a lawyer help, the consulation is free usually. The best lawyer you can find is one who used to work for State Farm, it's likely they even advertise it in the Yellow Pages. ICBC lawyers here make a killing because they know all the loopholes.

I would at least consider it, because it's likely your not the only one dissatisfied with the way they do business.

Star · 04-27-2005, 06:06 PM

I know i'm not the only one. The one lady told me yesterday that there are a lot of people that this happens to because of cancellations from non-payment. She also thinks it's unfair but the trick is that this is their policy. all insurance companies have this policy and since it's not completely government regulated, they get away with it legally.

I was thinking about putting an editorial in the local paper about it though. I'll wait until after I get insurance to do that. Something has to change here because it's retarded.

Duke · 04-27-2005, 10:52 PM

I don't see how that's legal, especially if they never send you any billing information or some type of warning.

Can you not go with another insurance carrier?

Star · 04-28-2005, 06:36 AM

I've called pretty near every insurance broker in this city. they all have that same policy.

Is your insurance regulated by the government in BC?

Duke · 04-28-2005, 06:57 AM

Yes and that's the big difference. There has been an attempt to privatize it here for some time now but I'm not sure that would be entirely beneficial.

Star · 04-28-2005, 07:12 AM

Hope to god they never privatize it! I wish the government would step in here so that all this stupidity would stop. These companies are way out of control with their stupid policies. You're lucky.

Duke · 04-28-2005, 07:16 AM

Well you can always cheat and insure your car from another province ;-)

Star · 04-28-2005, 07:22 AM

can't do that since my address is here on my drivers licence and everything else. they check everything! would be nice if i could though. LOL!

Duke · 04-28-2005, 07:24 AM

Then get your hubby to insure it under his name.

Star · 04-28-2005, 07:34 AM

makes no difference here duke. we're married. it's all the same thing to them. We'd be paying the same thing.

the insurance policy that we didn't cancel, that we just let go, was under his name. so, they don't care. we're paying out of our arses and we have no choice. there's nothing we can do about it.