Car Insurer "lost" My Protected No Claims - Do I Have A Legal Standing?

[UnderCeej]

My car insurance lapsed from my policy on 5th March 2012 due to me not realising my insurer didn't auto-enroll me into a continued policy. So I called them up on the 8th March and enrolled for a new year. According to them, "neither party mentioned" the 15years protected no-claims bonus I had built up, so when I have now switched insurer to a cheaper premium, they "cannot" offer me the 15yrs as I claimed last year for a small bump and they said it was not protected.

Do I have any legal standing to get my no claims back? Who's responsibility is it to check the details on the policy?

[DangerUXD]

Like the main policy, the protection of the NCB also lapsed from what I can see. Usually one small claim will not revert the whole NCB back to 0. I'm a bit confused as to why you claimed for a "small bump" surely that's going to cost you much more in premiums almost immediately. Sorry if I've missed something here.

[UnderCeej]

It was my neighbours car, and I was under the impression I had protected no claims on my insurance so wasnt that bothered about claiming it. Until I was informed they're only willing to offer me 3years no claims. They didnt ask me any other details, which is why I can't understand why they haven't continued the protected NCB as this would've stayed the same too surely??

[DangerUXD]

Check the paper work but it seems that by default they haven't re enrolled you in the protected NCB scheme. For what it's worth and also for future reference NCB protected or otherwise does not work how you think. For the sake of this explanation let's assume your base premium is £100 and you get full NCB of 70% so you pay £30 yes? ok let's assume for another £5 you can protect that NCB, so you are paying £35. Now the £5 is what is known as re-insurance basically you are paying £5 to cover the difference between the £100 and the £30, still with me? Right so if there is a claim, they will reduce your NCB let's say by £30 so now you have to pay £70 rather than £30. The £5 reinsurance will cover the difference between £30 and £70 so now you pay £30 premium still, yes......that's where most stop listening! Now you have claimed you premium has gone up by £10 and now your NCB premium has gone up top because you have claimed so now the total premium is £117. So you'll have to pay £47 now even with NCB protection. Believe me unless it's a lot never claim, they get it back in the end.