Non-disclosure (misrepresentation)

When you apply for protection, you have a legal duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation. Non-disclosure means failing to give accurate, complete answers to the insurer's questions, whether by leaving something out or getting it wrong.

Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, careless or deliberate misrepresentation can result in a claim being reduced or declined, or the policy being cancelled. An honest mistake is treated differently from a deliberate one, but accuracy protects you either way.

The safest approach is simple: answer every question fully, do not guess dates or details, disclose anything you are unsure about and let the underwriter decide, and tell the insurer if anything changes before cover starts. Insurers pay the large majority of claims, and accurate disclosure is the best way to keep a future claim straightforward.