Morris Minor Owners Club

Dave@FJ wrote:

Matt wrote:Okay,

So when the insurer asks you to ask us "was the modification carried out professionally" it would be more appropriate to say "I did it, but I have..... (insert appropriate qualifications experience here) " rather than just "No, I did it myself!" its then up to you to pass the information supplied on to the insurer who will make the final decsion?

If there is additional information that you believe will assist you then it makes perfect sense to pass that on! We want the business so anything you give us which helps you will certainly be passed on.

Matt wrote: and its probably down to the interpretation and mood of the person you are talking too at the insurer

I'd grant them a little more professionalism than that.

do what I did and go to Lancaster no fuss no stupid questions just tell them the truth and hey presto because you are talking to a professional on the phone to begin with

Hi got back from holiday in my pickup to find Footman James had a change of policy over my insurance. Unfortunately it came to late, I had to shop around and get new valuations in a short space of time. I am now with RH Insurance with similar cover and £160 cheaper ! Didnt expect Quite so much reaction When I posted the subject but at least it will go to help others John

Just got my renewal notice from Peter James ,and unlike FJ, instead of going up year on year ,this years quote has gone down with unlimited milage With this weather I could drive my moggie for ever

well this will be my last year with FJames

RH insurance all the way....

Oh and Footman James wanted to know if we were qualified engineers?

It frustrates me that the term 'engineer' is used and abused so much by people who don't actually know what it means. e.g. DVLA, insurance companies, British Gas marketing department etc..

In my day job I work with thousands of qualified engineers* - where I work they are absolutely NOT allowed to do any modifications to vehicles. We employ technicians to do that in the vehicle workshops. The engineers can design and analyse the parts but when it comes to making or fitting parts, that's the job of a technician (e.g. a motor vehicle technician).

* in the UK anything less than HNC doesn't really count as a qualified engineer. The guys I work with are mostly degree qualified mechanical & electrical engineers, some chartered, some certified, others are members of INCOSE etc..
A "qualified engineer" has no meaning in law anyway - In law (e.g. liability cases), even the BEng qualification is not enough to class an engineer as 'responsible' - this needs also a membership of a professional body (e.g. I.Mech.E, IEE etc..) The membership of an engineering professional body has already moved so that you need a masters, not just a bachelors degree.

rayofleamington wrote:The membership of an engineering professional body has already moved so that you need a masters, not just a bachelors degree.

Sorry Ray, but thats not true at all. You can be a member of a professional body (e.g. IET) with qualiftications that are less than a degree. Also, if you do a degree and get a Batchelors after a period of working within the industry that counts for a lot.

And, yes, techs do the work - but engineers have to substantiate that what they are doing is safe (e.g. load bearing capability)

Sorry Ray, but thats not true at all. You can be a member of a professional body (e.g. IET) with qualiftications that are less than a degree. Also, if you do a degree and get a Batchelors after a period of working within the industry that counts for a lot.

Well, yes you can join at lower levels, but for full chartered status the I.Mech.E is asking for masters now.
If your degree pre-dates the change (i.e. it was one they used to accept) then it's still ok subject to professional experience. Getting full chartered without a degree - not something I've ever known anyone actually do....

There was no mention of chartership before Ray?

But yes you do need a degree to get chartered, but as far as I am aware (and I may be wrong) it is up to individual companies to define what qualifications are required to be considered as a responsible engineer.

Anyway... its all getting a bit off topic now

Hi Guys

just insured our new Moggie with Peter James full comp for £88 a year!
fab price, would recommend

regards
Steve

Hi
It Looks to like to me that the insurance company's are adopting the European attitude to customizing and modifying cars.
Where I think you if decide to squeeze a V8 in to your Moggie you have a report written by a TUV tec at great expense and then try and find insurance.
Perhaps some of our European members could reply

Regards Dave

It varies massively accross the rest of Europe as well and the requirements come from the licensing authoraties not insurers, even in Germany which is supposed to be the most strict guys find a way around it, there is a gogomobil with 20 odd litre aero rotary engine in Eastern Germany.

In Mainland Europe you do have defined requirements for engineers, typically it is equivalent to chartered status here, I Have be an IMechE mentor in the past, the requirements are a masters degree and a minimum of 2 years experience.

Interestingly when I Converted my TR7 to V8 motive power, the DVLA would not accept a chartered engineers report , they insisted on a one form a Garage mechanic !

It seems to me that FJ are trying to pull out the modified vehicle market for some reason, plenty of others out there though, with the TR the insurers (Peter Best) didn't want anything report at all and the cost increase was tiny.

kevin s wrote: It seems to me that FJ are trying to pull out the modified vehicle market for some reason, plenty of others out there though, with the TR the insurers (Peter Best) didn't want anything report at all and the cost increase was tiny.

Let me assure you this certainly isn't the case.

Firstly, FJ are a broker and we adhere to guidelines laid down by our insurers. It is simply not in our interests to withdraw from large sections of the classic market

Secondly, I have had extensive discussions with our insurers regarding modifications, particularly for Morris Minors and many of the modifications which were being declined a few months ago are now perfectly acceptable.

In such a competitive market where premiums are very low, much of the insurance market is becoming increasingly risk averse in order to minimise the number of claims. Our insurers now have a much better understanding of modded Minors - I haven't had a single case referred to me since the changes were made a few weeks back.

that sounds like good news