Automatic insurance renewals- end this scam now!

DCFC79

I dont understand why theres a problem, with 1 month to run o the policy you call up and either cancel it or you get it cheaper if you have used price comparison sites

dunstonh

Surely they can only do this if youve arranged a DD or Standing order....not from a Credit Card or Bank Card?

They have no control on a standing order. They do on a direct debit and credit/debit card.

roddydogs

Time for a "Name and Shame".......what companies are doing this? (ive never had this happen)

stugib

roddydogs wrote: »

Time for a "Name and Shame".......what companies are doing this? (ive never had this happen)

You start with yours on a list of companies that don't do this, probably find it's a shorter list!

lisyloo

maybe that was the behaviour pattern "decades ago", but if you think that customer behaviour has stayed the same in that time then you're taking the naievity to another level

I do agree with you actually that with the advent of the interenet, things have changed.
But there are also plenty of people who for one reason or another will never be inclined to shop around.
One example is my parents in their 80s, they will NEVER use the internet.
I also know plenty of people who just REALLY hate financial stuff and stick their head in the sand or are simply too busy caring for ill relatives or a family.
So I do partiaally agree with but not entirely because I think there are plenty of people who won't bother.

In some ways i don't have a problem with "auto renewing" - i wouldn't think anything at all wrong with it if the price wasn't sneakily hiked up

I don't agree, and I think your wording is quite emotive (maybe not deliberate).
They don't hike things up, you simply don't get all the discount if you don't shop around.

I recently bought an excellent pair of walking boots for £25 because I shopped around on hotukdeals.
That doesn't mean that every shop that charges full price is "hiking up" the price (no pun intended :T).
It's simply a choice of whether to shop around or not.
Sometimes shopping around is not worth it, for example I've spent hours shopping around on ebay before to save £2 and I also value my time.
Some people do actually place a value on their time and it isn't ALWAYS worth it.

worried_jim

My car renewal came thru and it has automatic renawal on it, however have shopped around and no one comes close- this is the first time in 20 years of motoring I will be renawing a policy, however still have to call them as need to change payment method.

hungrynurse_2

I had this problem, I did say that I wanted to cancel my esure policy, but never wrote in, but then took out policy with new company (debenhams) as cheaper. I pay annually, so esure renewed then started sending threatening letters & debt collection agencies started to contact me.
Esure 'lost' the phone call they recorded when I cancelled, so insisted that they continued to insure me. The arrangement we eventually came to was that debenhams payed half my premium for that period, and esure the other half, as I was dual insured. Worked out OK as I payed no more, but not sure what would have happened had I made a claim in that period. Ive learnt my lesson now, as this was an awful lot of stress

lisyloo

Esure 'lost' the phone call

For this sort of things (where money is at stake) I always get some form of proof

Either

1) recorded delivery receipt for letter (about 70p)
2) email response or receipts
3) written acknowledgment
4) time, date and name of phone call plus request for it to be put on notes.
Call back next day, speak to someone else (get date, name & time) to check notes.

DGJsaver

I like admiral , problem is you always have to barter on the renewal , give me the best price straight off , save me the call !!!

dunstonh

I was an insurance broker nearly 20 years ago and people just didnt shop round hardly at all. We would send out the renewals and they virtually all came back to renew. So, whilst its around 2/3rds renewing now, it was even higher in the past.