Budget (at a price) Car Insurance

pineapple

Ok I am INCANDESCENT!
I signed up for last years policy online. I specifically asked not for automatic renewal but when the documents came, guess what ... So I phoned up and got this changed.
Then I got the renewal quote - which I would have to accept to renew. Fair enough. But I noticed an error. Fairly typical of them in my experience. I phoned up and they agreed the changes would affect the quote. They gave me a new quote over the phone which they said they would hold for so many days while I made up my mind.
But I renewed via another insurer (largely on account of their various mistakes) so imagine my shock when I got an email 'Thank you for renewing with Budget'. At the original 'wrong' quote too!
Cue lengthy calls to Budget and my bank. Policy being cancelled but the card payment is too late to stop. So I will have to wait for a refund. Meanwhile because of this unexpected debit I don't even know if my standing orders will be met. Ghrrr.....

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

If you kept records of the dates and times of the calls, you can write a letter of complaint to Budget. Explain the situation to them, but follow the advice from the Financial Ombudsman: KEEP TO THE FACTS AND AVOID EMOTION!!

What you want from them is their agreement that they are going to:
a. refund any money they have taken from you
b. meet any costs that you incurr because of their incorrect renewal of your policy (ie, pay any charges from your bank)
c. compensate you for the time, effort and inconvenience.

I know you will be upset by the lack of service, but keep calm and objective; they are in the wrong and if they do not do as you have asked, you can involve the FOS.

My final point (and this is my own personal opinion): the clue over the service you were likely to receive is in the name - you get what you pay for.