Black cabbies scramble for motor cover after Alpha insurance goes bust
THOUSANDS based in london taxi and minicab drivers have had their insurance cancelled after Danish firm Alpha announced it had gone bankrupt.
Up to 700 taxi drivers and 10,000 minicab drivers are affected, based on the London Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA).
The company provides insurance through brands for example Cover My Cab and Protector, and it's not just black cab drivers who are affected.
A text message was delivered to drivers to say their insurance had been cancelled.
The Danish company declared bankruptcy yesterday which resulted in all policies were cancelled with immediate affect.
One driver posted a screen grab from the text he'd received which read: "URGENT MESSAGE – your taxi insurance plan with Alpha Insurance coverage is cancelled with immediate affect.
PLEASE RETWEET
Protector insurance just sent me this message
Alpha insurance have gone bust pic.twitter.com/Q1KWYBDmOE
— Musher Man (@themusherman) May 8, 2021
URGENT MESSAGE – your taxi insurance plan with Alpha Insurance coverage is cancelled with immediate effect. Please contact Protector on 020 74467676 where we will be able to arrange alternative cover.
Just received this message
Has alpha gone bust???— Ripon (@blitz_xl) May 8, 2021
Just experienced my email from LTDA informing anyone who is insured with Alpha insurance must take out another insurance policy as there's is null and void.
WTF— John Sitton (@TheRealSitts) May 9, 2021
"Please contact Protector on 02074467676 where we will be in a position to arrange alternative cover."
Cabbies queued up outside London's Protector offices today when they tried to discover what was going on.
It's illegal they are driving without car insurance as well as for a cabby that means they can't earn a living.
Steve McNamara in the LTDA told the sun's rays: "London taxi drivers pride ourselves on high standards of safety and compliance.
"We've notified our members relating to this change, to ensure that no-one is unintentionally driving without insurance. We are supporting any one of our members that may have been affected."
A statement for Alpha Insurance asserted insurance policyholders cover is going to be terminated as of May 8.
It also advised that drivers who require compulsory insurance to get cover from another company.
Earlier this year, more than 200 black cabs brought London Bridge to a standstill inside a protest against Uber.
Drivers parked up and handed out leaflets demanding Transport for London stop “accommodating” the taxi app after officials refused to resume its licence last year.
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