£25 to change my address on my car insurance

philippahunt

This can't be right - Marks & Spencer have just charged me £25 to change my address on my car insurance when it had just four days to run on the policy and I'd already told them that I wouldn't be renewing because I was emigrating! Cheeky so and so's.
Apparently this charge is covered in the policy documents, but as they're on a container halfway to NZ by now, I was none the wiser.

I didn't volunteer the change of address when when I called to cancel the policy at renewal and request proof of my No Claims Bonus, ( As the car was off the road). I was asked if my details were still the same, but I had to tell them that I'd moved to a temporary address to receive the documents. By making this amendment, I received the £25 charge!
Has anyone contested anything like this before?

Poppycat

Sadly this isnt unique to MS unfortunately but I bet had you known you wouldnt let them know given your off to NZ soon.

Good luck with the new life

dacouch

You can normally avoid the charge in these circumstances if you advise them to lapse cover (Preferably by recorded delivery post as well as a call) and then simply calling them after the renewal date and asking them to send the no claims bonus out to your new address. This avoids amending your policy

DCFC79

Its normal to get a fee for changing your address

ladypinkof66

DCFC79 wrote: »

Its normal to get a fee for changing your address

I have to change my surname on mine due to getting married I hope my insurane company doesnt charge me £25 !!! :eek:

lisyloo

I have to change my surname on mine due to getting married I hope my insurane company doesnt charge me £25 !!!

Legally you can call yourself whatever you like as long as there is no "intention to deceive".
So it's quite legal to check into a hotel as "Mr & Mrs Smith" when you aren't provided you're not trying to get out of paying.

How long is it until your renewal?
Could you just wait?

dunstonh

This can't be right - Marks & Spencer have just charged me £25 to change my address on my car insurance when it had just four days to run on the policy and I'd already told them that I wouldn't be renewing because I was emigrating! Cheeky so and so's.

The cheeky so and sos have not done anything wrong and have applied the fee in accordance with their published tariff and consistent with many other providers.

Has anyone contested anything like this before?

Why would they?

The FSA are increasingly encouraging companies to have explicit charges and not implicit hidden within other areas. Indeed, they are now forcing many companies to do it this way. So, many companies have moved to lowering the premiums but charging for ancillary services and administration.

olly300

I wish Martin would put up something that states what insurance companies will charge for in the normal part of the forum, and tell people to have a look at this when they are considering buying insurance.

Then we won't keep getting the same questions again and again about insurance companies charging for change of address, change of name etc.

dacouch

The stupid thing is the charges / fees are all available to read when you take the policy out, people have a habit of just clicking to confirm they have read and understood them

luci

dacouch wrote: »

The stupid thing is the charges / fees are all available to read when you take the policy out, people have a habit of just clicking to confirm they have read and understood them

Very true. I read the T&C's when I took out motor insurance with Aviva and it clearly stated there was an admin fee for changes and the cost.

bob_a_builder

The cheeky so and sos have not done anything wrong and have applied the fee in accordance with their published tariff and consistent with many other providers

Yes maybe, but to take the lead from the bank charge issue, shouldn't the charge actually reflect the cost involved to perform the function and not be some number plucked from the air
and in this case they haven't had to pay out any funds to cover your overspending or sent you a letter informing you of the fact.
merely re-enter 4 or 5 lines of text
Some might consider the cheeky so and sos were overcharging
(shouldn't there be a template letter somewhere .....)