On Mon, 20 Jan 1997 17:57:57 -0500 ckr <ragthyme@fls.infi.net>
writes:(snippets)
>Friends:
>
>Now that Barney's opened the insurance can again, I'll throw in my
>tuppence worth for your general information.
>
>After 19 years with Nationwide insurance, with the same bloody agent,
>the company cancelled my policy, without notice, by the simple
>expedient
>of returning my premium cheque. Not realising this is what had
>happened
>for a few days, this left me sans insurance for approximately 10 days
>(illegal in VA) although, under our insurance laws, they would have
>technically had to cover me had something occurred. I sent them a
>very
>nice letter (snick) asking them why they'd done this. Bear in mind,
>I've
>owned the MG for about three years now, with no accidents, tickets, or
>
>claims. They reported to me that they reviewed their records, and upon
>
>discovering that the MG was listed as my 'primary' car, they cancelled
>
>the policy automatically. Apparently, they no longer insure primary
>sports car drivers. New rules, it would seem. Despite pointing out to
>
>them that I have three other cars that are NOT sports cars, and that I
>
>had had sports cars with them for 12 years or so, and that my 'sports'
>
>car would make a very poor showing against, say, a 5-litre Mustang or
>even a well-tuned Dodge Caravan in a dead heat, I got the usual 'those
>
>are the rules, sir, have a nice day, sir, I don't make the rules, sir'
>
>speech when I called them back.
>
>So much for Nationwide. Apparently, had I listed the 63 Ford as my
>primary car, this wouldn't have happened. Good call by my loyal agent,
>
>there. When he asked if I wanted my coverage restored with the new
>classification, I told him I'd never do business with his company
>again
>and seriously hoped that they had to underwrite the next major
>national
>disaster, alone.
>
>Then I got a friend of mine to quickly write me some insurance with
>Erie. All went very well the first week, although I had to get a
>special
>dispensation from the Papal Underwriters to have the MG insured with
>them atall. The next week, I got a very nicely worded letter from
>their
>underwriting department, informing me that they 'don't normally insure
>
>sports cars' but that 'given my excellent driving record' they'd make
>an
>exception; they helpfully pointed out that statistically 'more sports
>cars have accidents than any other sort of vehicle' and that they
>hoped
>I'd keep that in mind, and of course, continue to drive safely.
>
>My translation of this rather long (two page) letter amounted to: have
>
>an accident, we'll cancel your insurance. Have a nice day.
>
>Somewhere along the line, they've never gotten the idea that a 22 year
>
>old roadster has almost no relation whatsoever to a fuel-injected
>variable valve rice-burning demon, or even perhaps a Miata. I don't
>wish to get 'classic' car insurance on my vehicle, because truthfully,
>
>Rags is a daily driver for about 80% of the year. I don't usually
>drive
>her just to shows or club meetings; there is no club in Fredericksburg
>
>and I manage to get to a show about twice a year in a good year. I get
>
>groceries, pick up the offspring, and show property in her. What's a
>fella to do, and are there any sane insurers out there who realise
>that
>I'm not out every weekend at the local drag strip with this car?
>
>Here's hoping the same sort of thing doesn't happen to you.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Corey
>
Corey - sorry to hear of these woes - insurance cos are almost as close
to the total sphyncter as lawyers - I had my entire policy for two cars
and my house cancelled about six years ago because i had the temerity to
claim for a well-pump that was hit by lightning in the same year as
getting a speeding ticket (in a H***A CRX too - for shame)
My wifes father was in the navy from ww2 until 1965 - he got us insurance
(in 1991)with USAA
it was cheaper and easier to place than i was used to and over the years
they have never asked a single question about my MGs except for how much
i will drive them - i always say 7500 pa tho how theyd ever know beats me
- the premia are about $300pa but thats collision only, im waiting to
hear what comp is for the 70GT and the 72 since its now a car and not a
hulk(!) in the next day or so(I didnt ask when i placed it)
If you have any connection, however tenuous with the military it may be
worth looking into - I say tenuous since being "True Brit" I hardly fit
the mould and my wife certainly isnt a "Vet" but even though my father in
law passed away four years ago but we still appear to be eligible
godd luck, beaurocracy sucks!
mike robson
69 roadster
70 BGT
72 roadster
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