iirc The tyre/insurance issue has been discussed at length in a previous post…
We do not know how he has phrased it to them. But even a 2 minute google search would see them classed as an uprated pad more so with the words fast road/sport pad as opposed to an equivalent non-oem pad.
In relation to modifications it is all dependent on who is the insurer. Case in point anybody insured with UKI Limited (known by many as Direct Line and it’s other brands) see manufacturer factory fitted options as a modification, LV and some others do not. All insurers have their own particular set of requirements and views when it comes to options/mods and that is directly influenced by the types of risk they take on.
In relation to failure to disclose modifications it depends how far you take it but if you end up with the Ombudsmen (having already expired all of the insurer’s complaints options) then it falls into essentially a few categories of whether it was pertinent to the incident/theft etc. and whether it was careless/reckless or intentional as to failing to disclose the modification.
The tyre and insurance issue was debated between myself and Nick at great length. But simply it falls down to specifications for the tyre [and obviously whether your insurer classifies specific elements of changing that specification as a modification].
So does this mean any non oem parts (eg air filters oil filters light bulbs) are " modifications" In the eyes of mr flux?
How ridiculous is that. did they specify what is the increase in premium and how much is admin?
Is it forum mentality, or do people really think in little tiny boxes?
If you call a plumber out because your washing machine does not work. If it turns out just to be that you unplugged it, he (or she) is still going to charge you for the call out.
Now I don’t profess to know all about insurance, however I am pretty certain it is not Mr Flux sitting on the other end of the phone when you call. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if it is an out source call centre that may well be selling other brands and even other products depending on just which phone number is called and patched through. However, even if it is a dedicated, employed office, I do understand there is a cost to those people sitting there. They sit there because people phone up with questions and expect them answering. Now if I phone up and tell my insurance company I have fitted “uprated” parts, I would not expect my insurance company to have an exhaustive list of brake pad specifications, light bulbs, oil filters, ECU maps, air filters, spark plugs, turbo’s, fluffy dice and OC National Rally Plaques. It is not their job to know. You have simply told them you have up rated your car. Job done.
I also find it quite depressing how people the internet seems to want to bring the worst out in people, it is like everyone wants to crowd round and kick the little kid while they are down. I wonder what many people did or do in their professional lives because just on this thread, a representative from the company in question is asking for details so they can see if an error has been made and the response is, they are only doing it because they are being moaned at. Is that how you all work, do you only put things right because you are being complained about? Do you not give a toss if it is wrong but no one complains?
Little Boxes. Someone posting on this thread has made a recent post about how poor a certain insurance company is and that their prices are too high and how rubbish they are. The same person also launched an attack on a certain car manufacturer for daring to be late with their initial deliveries and that said manufacture should compensate said victims by sending their first born through college (OK I am slightly exaggerating, but only slightly). Does one not fuel the other? Is the connection not seen that demanding compensation for everything and anything drives the cost of the insurance covering those claims up and up? Apparently I have £3,780 actually sat in a bank account waiting for me to claim for the accident that I have not had in the last 3 years. Trouble is, it is not in their bank account, but the account of the people you use for insurance.
Anything that improves performance or handling (over standard spec) needs to be declared.
So called “patent” parts which match OEM specifications should be fine.
The more annoying insurers are those that want you to tell them about every minor cosmetic change (my insurer MoreThan doesn’t).
When I drove to LeMans I was advised that the stickers I had applied to my car could constitute a modification and incur additional premium. I,m not sure how they improved performance or handling. I think the world has gone mad. Obviously I declared them all and paid the additional money .
So watch out if you have that “baby on board sticker” you may not be insured.