Old insurers took credit card payment

billieboy_2

I'm fuming. I recently changed my car's insurers saving approx £100. I just happened to check a credit card online (this is a card I haven't used since about May) which I do intermittently just to make sure it's not being abused and the so-and-sos have taken a renewal premium. I don't have a continuous credit card payment agreement with them. When I rang last Tuesday they apologised and told me my credit card account would be credited with the amount within a few days. This morning I checked online again and no repayment. In the meantime, the cut-off date has gone for my statement which means I have to find the £400 odd to pay it off! On ringing them again, I was told they couldn't issue a cheque due to money laundering (?!) but said if I had to pay any interest they would repay me. Having spoken to my credit card company they tell me that as long as the repayment is made by 22 December it will cancel out the money I owe but I then have to cancel the direct debit payment with the credit card company. It's all a load of cafuffle that I could do without! :mad: The ironical thing is that I've taken out my new policy with its sister company. Anyone had a similar experience and do I have any recourse? Or should I just forget about it?

1jacks64

Would this be Admiral by any chance?

billieboy_2

1jacks64 wrote:

Would this be Admiral by any chance?

No actually it's First Alternative a sister company of both Esure and Sheila's Wheels (who I've got my new policy with). Why, you had the same experience with Admiral?

1jacks64

billieboy wrote:

No actually it's First Alternative a sister company of both Esure and Sheila's Wheels (who I've got my new policy with). Why, you had the same experience with Admiral?

No its just that we are with Bell Direct who are part of the Admiral group and they have lots of companies who are part of Admiral. I have noticed that Bell Direct automatically renew the premium on a continuous credit card authority and you have to get them to cancel if you want to switch to another company.

Savvy_Sue

Can the credit card company not put it 'in dispute'? Which would mean you wouldn't have to pay that bit of the bill. I've done this a few times, admittedly sometimes when I haven't been able to work out what a payment is for but have then realised. CC companies (several!) have invariably been very helpful.

billieboy_2

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Can the credit card company not put it 'in dispute'? Which would mean you wouldn't have to pay that bit of the bill. I've done this a few times, admittedly sometimes when I haven't been able to work out what a payment is for but have then realised. CC companies (several!) have invariably been very helpful.

Thanks for that idea. They've now credited my account so I haven't got to find the money but I'll certainly consider that (if there's a) next time! I wondered if I could get some sort of redress though for the inconvenience and also to stop it happening to other people?