Car insurance policy renewed without my knowledge

hederahelix_2

Hi all,

Could someone help or put me in the right direction please?

My story briefly;
I had a very good classic car insurance policy for my Mini through Lancaster, which I took out in October 2007. I sold the car in August 2008, but seeing that there was only one more DD payment due, I left it to run to its end.

We have been living abroad since the end of September last year, and I wasn't able to check my UK bank account often. So I had a bit of a shock when I discovered that Lancaster had been taking DD's out again of my bank account! :eek: I emailed them straight away, explaining that although I didn't cancel the insurance (this was the last thing on my mind with the move), I haven't even owned the car for months! They demanded that I return the policy cancellation form and proof that I sold the vehicle. Sod's law that I can't find the letter from the DVLA..

They must've sent me 4 emails (and letters to my old address) since, asking me to pay the balance, and admin fees etc, and seem to be getting more aggressive with their phrasing and not very understanding at all.

I just wanted to know if anyone had similar experience, and managed to get away settling the issue without paying a further penny? They've already taken roughly £50 off me for something I did not need. I certainly don't want to end up with a CCJ, as we will return to England in the future, and I need to keep my credit record clean.

Any suggestions???

dacouch

have a look at this thread...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1466521&highlight=renew

hederahelix_2

dacouch wrote: »

have a look at this thread...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1466521&highlight=renew

Cheers, I'm just reading it now!!!

lisyloo

Very probably the contract you agreed to up front specified that the policy will be auto-renewed.
I understand that people get busy, but it's your responsibility to read what you are sent.

At renewal you would have been sent a renewal notice which would have been probably 2 pages of A4 with a section in bold saying "what you need to do next" i.e. it's not in the small print, it's quite clear.

If you failed to get this because you hadn't changed address, then I sympathise but again this is your responsibility.

So they are entitled to charge you for time on cover, plus an administrative fee for cancelling (which might be the £50 you mention).

If you don't pay this then you risk a CCJ, balliffs, bad credit report etc.
You could try appealling and you might get the fee reduced or waived.

As for the future ways to deal with it.
A lot of policies are on auto renew, so still every relevant date in a spreadsheet.
Use a secure method of cancelling e.g. recorded delivery to avoid hassle.

Wutang_2

hederahelix wrote: »

I haven't even owned the car for months! They demanded that I return the policy cancellation form and proof that I sold the vehicle. Sod's law that I can't find the letter from the DVLA..

Surely this is easily remedied with a phone call to DVLA?

hederahelix_2

lisyloo wrote: »

Very probably the contract you agreed to up front specified that the policy will be auto-renewed.
I understand that people get busy, but it's your responsibility to read what you are sent.

At renewal you would have been sent a renewal notice which would have been probably 2 pages of A4 with a section in bold saying "what you need to do next" i.e. it's not in the small print, it's quite clear.

If you failed to get this because you hadn't changed address, then I sympathise but again this is your responsibility.

So they are entitled to charge you for time on cover, plus an administrative fee for cancelling (which might be the £50 you mention).

If you don't pay this then you risk a CCJ, balliffs, bad credit report etc.
You could try appealling and you might get the fee reduced or waived.

As for the future ways to deal with it.
A lot of policies are on auto renew, so still every relevant date in a spreadsheet.
Use a secure method of cancelling e.g. recorded delivery to avoid hassle.

Thanks lisyloo.

I know I'm very much to blame for what has happened. But as I stated in OP, we actually moved abroad, and I wouldn't have even seen the renewal letter that they've sent to my old address. There was probably something in the T&C's about auto renewal, but it's never happened to me before, and didn't even consider that they can do such a thing! Now reading the earlier thread, I realise it's quite common.

I'll try the complaint department route, that may stall them for a while. I don't mind if they send the bailffs - if they want to travel 1300 miles to get £100 out of me, that is!!! :rotfl:As long as they bring a box of PG tips I might even give it to them!

hederahelix_2

Wutang wrote: »

Surely this is easily remedied with a phone call to DVLA?

Thanks Wutang, great idea.