Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi All,

My fingers recently 'slipped' whilst using ebay and a new restoration project now sits in our drive (Spitfire). I'll need to park my Morris Convt. outside under a cover whilst working on the Spit but Footman James won't let me. Has anyone else found a way around this without risking no theft and malicious damage cover?

Thanks
Alan

You probably need to try some other insurance companies

Unfortunately, whilst some people still get good service from FJ, tales like this crop up time and time again. After a huge increase in my premium for no apparent reason, I looked elsewhere. Despite having been with FJ and Bain Hogg before them for years, they weren't bothered in the slightest when I said I'd found a better deal elsewhere, so I left and have received very good service from another company since then. You may well find, unfortunately, that it would pay to shop around.

I park on my drive and peter james have been FAB

I was told by Footman James that as I have the car garaged, it needs to be in it! If I leave it on the drive, or outside the house for any reason it will not be insured, unless I tell them prior to doing this, so phone them up and tell them it is no longer garaged and you will be covered, but you will pay more premium.

A convertible under a 'cover' will be the death of it - don't do it!

Bmc is right ,let the air circulate around it out side,this is much much better,there is evidence that cars rust more quickly in garages than out side

Good luck

I've moved both of my Moggies to FJ and they are insured for "parked on drive" (off road) - one is on the drive (under a cover), the other is currently in a polytunnel in the front garden. Detached garage build project not yet taken off.
It will be a slightly higher premium. Make sure you tell them of any anti-theft "immobilisers" that have been added.

AJT wrote:Hi All,

My fingers recently 'slipped' whilst using ebay and a new restoration project now sits in our drive (Spitfire). I'll need to park my Morris Convt. outside under a cover whilst working on the Spit but Footman James won't let me. Has anyone else found a way around this without risking no theft and malicious damage cover?

Thanks
Alan

Hi Alan

It's possible that Footman James WILL insure the vehicle whilst not being stored in the garage BUT not with your current insurer. When you took out the policy with us you were able to store the car in the garage so we will have offered you a policy which suited your requirements at the time. If your needs have now changed and the policy that you have bought may no longer be suitable. Footman James are a broker and we work with a number of different insurers.

I'm assuming you have phoned FJ to see if you can change your overnight parking rules and have been told that you can't. We MAY be able to cancel your current policy and place insurance with a different insurer for you. Certain insurers will require the car to be garaged overnight in certain postcodes. Obviously by cancelling the policy mid-term you will only be refunded subject to the terms shown in your policy booklet.

If you'd like me to have a look at alternative options then drop me a PM with your full name and postcode or email me direct at david.youngs@footmanjames.co.uk

liammonty wrote:Unfortunately, whilst some people still get good service from FJ, tales like this crop up time and time again.

How is it bad service? We offered a product which suited the needs of policyholder based on his requirements at the inception of the policy. Maybe I should supply all of the front line staff with crystal balls so they can anticipate any future change of use?
I've been reviewing rates and have got some exciting new rates being launched very soon so please give us a try again next year, you might be pleasantly surprised. Feel free to contact me directly if you'd like me to look at it for you

And don't forget Dave's kind invitation to their open day - you can meet the people that you talk to on the phone, and there's probably no better way of making sure that they understand your car and your needs. Besides, they offered refreshments

Dave, the "bad service" is probably a mis-understanding based in being told that he's got to garage the car, rather than your much better answer of looking for a solution.

Never mind all that, is the spitty a 69 mk111?
In valencia blue?
My first car.

I've had my van for just over two and half years and i'm with Footman James and mine is parked on the drive and I told them when I took the policy out and there is always another car parked behind it on the drive when i'm not using it.

How do I stand when we take our traveller to shows and she is parked in an hotel's car park at nights
Because I stated on my insurance that she was garaged every night
Which she is
But when I am on holiday or at shows how do I stand as regards telling the truth as to where she is parked

You need to read your policy information or contact your broker to be sure. Usually they allow you to park outside whilst away from your home address.

alexandermclaren wrote:How do I stand when we take our traveller to shows and she is parked in an hotel's car park at nights
Because I stated on my insurance that she was garaged every night
Which she is
But when I am on holiday or at shows how do I stand as regards telling the truth as to where she is parked

What you've actually stated is that the vehicle will be garaged overnight when parked at the home address

When you're at shows and events or on holiday we couldn't reasonably expect you to garage it so the garaging clause only applies when at home.

Thanks all. Particularly to FJ for picking up the thread. You're right, I was given a straight 'no' rather than offered options so I'll ping you a note.

Am also looking at a carport....The Spit is a '74 and will be sold when restored (better than watching TV!) whilst the Mog is long-term so don't want it to deteriorate.

Alan

Thanks for your note, have replied with a solution

thats good service

Well done Dave for finding a solution.

You've pricked up my ears though, about driveway -v- garage. My Traveller is garaged, but I'll not ever put it away unless its completely dry - if I get home from a show and it's raining, the car will spend the night on the driveway, and possibly the next night too, until its thoroughly dry on top and underneath. I had thought that 'garaged at home' cover meant *usually* garaged at home, i.e. it may be on the driveway but only occasionally, and that the large majority of nights at home would be in the garage?

It's the chance you take Mike.....but the chance is yours, not your insurers. If you've told us the car is garaged, you've very probably been given a discount on that basis as the chance of the vehicle being stolen or vandalised overnight is pretty much eliminated. If you then decide to leave it out overnight (either for genuine reasons as you've stated or just idleness) is it really fair for your insurer to be covering a risk you've specifically told them they don't have to cover?