Automatic insurance renewals- end this scam now!

JCB2020

I was in the same position this year re auto renewal. I didnt realise that I had signed up to this when I accepted the quote last year.

However the renewal notice clearly states that I you wish to renew do nothing esle there was a number to ring to cancel, which I did.

They obviously wanted to know why so just told them I had a better quote.
No hassle they just cancelled the renewal.

I can see that if you dont read the documents you can get caught!
Like a number of other posters the renewal was higher than a new quote, I suspect they rely on apathy!

Oscar_The_Grouch

dacouch wrote: »

Bravo for the Unfair Contracts Law which is a fairly new law and gives customers a bit of clout. About the only decent law the government has brought in recent times.

Wash your mouth out dacouch!! There has been another valuable law; the Road Safety Act 2006!

This fabulous piece of legislation has kept many printing firms in business, because the insurance companies have had to replace the words "death by dangerous driving" with "death by dangerous, careless or inconsiderate driving" in all their motor policy booklets. Now that's got to be good for the economy!!!

Auto renew is a good thing for most people. Post does go missing and when I first stated in the industry over 20 years ago, the most common excuse for not being insured was "I didn't receive my renewal notice". That simply does not happen now; even if the notice is not received, the policy renews.

In 2007, the Department for Transport advised the ABI that they were looking into the possibility of "electronic" certificates. This will then allow insurers to send you your renewal notice and certificate by e-mail (although for those that do not use the internet I am sure that there will still be the option to receive paper copies of everything).

I know that this only applies to motor insurance, but insurers and brokers will not invest in a new form of policy renewal and communication until they can use it for 90% of their business; home, motor, travel, ppi; the lot.

I look forward to that time, as it should mean that people will be able to cancel their policies by e-mail too and we can see what effect that has on the renewal stats.

My 2p; I think that most policies will still renew.

grovenorceltic

dunstonh wrote: »

It is not illegal and in any case they have your permission.



If you have a complaint against the company you complain to the company. However, they have done nothing wrong so expect to told as such.

Cancelling a direct debit does not remove your liaiblity to pay and does not tell the insurer that you do not plan to renew. You must tell them.

I did inform them by telephone and letter that i did not wish to renew insurance with them but they still set up a direct debit after informing them therefore without my permission.

grovenorceltic

Harray, finally got through to the insurance company that i was declining a renewal policy and not cancelling one.
I rang them today and they confirmed that they had received my letter of complaint and were investigating the matter.
Three hours later they phoned me back and apologised for their error and confirmed that I had declined an insurance renewal and not cancelled a policy, so therefore do not owe any penalty payment.
I've asked them to confirm this in writing to avoid any conflict later on so hopefully this is the end of the matter.
That's to advice given with this matter to all.