not rnewing my car insurance,now reciving threatening letters

hethmar

Well make sure you make both those points youngpab.

dunstonh

feel its a bit of a shabby way to treat customers

Yes. How dare they write to you and tell you what you need to do next and assume that you would read it.

I'll be reading all small print in future

and the large print on renewals as well.

youngpab

I think small print should be banned,anyway I phoned and explained what had happened,and they agreed to write the debt off, thanks to those few who helped and said positive things, but there were a lot on here including so called financial advisers who were no help

raskazz

youngpab wrote: »

I think small print should be banned

Except there was no 'small print'.

The notice presented to you before inception where you have to click a button that states 'YES, I AGREE' is in exactly the same font and point size as the rest of the text used in the quotation and inception process. Indeed, it is prefaced by a warning to "Please ensure that the information provided by you and the statements on this page are correct" which is contained in a big red box to draw it to your attention.

dunstonh

youngpab wrote: »

I think small print should be banned,anyway I phoned and explained what had happened,and they agreed to write the debt off, thanks to those few who helped and said positive things, but there were a lot on here including so called financial advisers who were no help

Are we meant to feel sorry for you because you chose not to read your renewal letter?

You got lucky with the refund but that doesnt change the fact that you only had yourself to blame.

youngpab

people get insurance,then put it in a safe place with all their other documents, I am not the only one who doesn't read everything, my point was that i think auto renewal is out of order,unless i specifically ask for it

youngpab

anyway i wont be calling you for advice about my fixed rate running out soon dunstonh

dunstonh

youngpab wrote: »

anyway i wont be calling you for advice about my fixed rate running out soon dunstonh

Good. I'm an IFA, not a mortgage adviser.

Plus, I like and expect my clients to read their paperwork.

lisyloo

my point was that i think auto renewal is out of order,unless i specifically ask for it

It's a valid opinion and one that you are perfectly entitled to.
However customers do not get to chose their terms and conditions in ANY industry.
Companies get to set their terms and conditions and you get to choose which company you would like to do business with.

If you have a strong feeling about this (and it sounds like you do) then you have two options really.
1) Try to find a company whose terms and conditions more closely align with your requirements (this might mean paying more).
2) Put up with their terms and conditions to get the best price and make yourself aware of the terms and conditions up front. Put a note in your diary, PDA or a spreadsheet for all renewal dates and make sure you proactively deal with it. I find being pro-active works better because occasionally things get lost of companies mess up.

It seems to me that a lot of people go for price without checking out the terms and then complain later.
A typical example was when the cheap airlines started up and people were dissapointed when aircraft broke down and there wasn't a fleet available for back up.
I think in this case people soon got to realise that you can't have a 1p flight and expect to have all mod cons e.g. a fleet of backup aircraft.
So you have to cut your cloth to suit.
If you want to go with the cheapest possible option (as many people do) then you have to expect some compromises in some areas and smart people will try check out what those compromises are (or "Wheres the catch") before signing up to the contract.

Auto-renewal does have some good points.
e.g. some people would drive uninsured without it.

If you really don't like it, then find a policy without it.
If you can't find one or the price hike is too much, then simply put all your dates somewhere. It's becoming common for house insurance as well, so you have to manage ALL your policies.

dave_behave

I guess you'll be keeping your other products with Nationwide as a result of their extremely generous decision to not charge you for the cover you took out with them following the renewal.

That's pretty good customer service by the sounds of it... too generous perhaps!