Life Insurance/Critical Illness paid twice!

countrybum

I'm pretty sure the answer is going to be tough luck, your mistake, but here goes...
I did my SOA this weekend, and on checking my bank statements have seen we have been paying twice for our life insurance/critical illness cover. Our mortgage was due for renewal last May which we sorted and got a good deal. Our life insurance was sorted through the same broker and provided by Norwich Union. He told us the premiums had gone down so ours was
re-calculated from £33.75 to £22.92. I presumed the direct debit would be automatically changed to reflect this new price...it wasn't, I should have cancelled it! We now have a DD coming out for £33.75 and another a few days later for £22.92
So...what are the chances of me getting the £33.75 refuneded (approx 8 months payments)!
I feel if I write to them I would have more chance - could anyone point me in the right direction of a letter template?
Any other advice welcomed.
Thanks

dunstonh

I'm pretty sure the answer is going to be tough luck, your mistake, but here goes...

Actually no. Possibly not.

You say you used a broker. In which case you purchased with advice and that gives you some consumer protection that you dont get if you buy direct.

When an adviser recommends cancellation of a product, it has to be documented on the recommendation report and you have to be told what to do next. If that didnt happen, then the adviser is potentially liable.

The provider has no liability for this whatsoever.

On a slightly different note, NU havent reduced their premiums by much over the last few years so a drop of that size suggests that the cover or terms were different. I would suggest you compare like for like to see what the differences are. Its possible the first policy is the better one and the second one is a mis-sale.

countrybum

Just thought I'd let you know I wrote Norwich Union a letter of complaint and I received a letter today saying the overpayments have been credited back in to my bank account - result!!

dunstonh

That is a result. There was absolutely no liability on the part of NU to do that unless it was one of their own sales reps that sold it. NU get a lot of flack on here. So on this occassion, they deserve a well done (assuming it wasnt one of their sales reps).