Churchill Automatic Renewal Con

Wutang_2

Take a look on the DFW board if you need the cash that badly.

Or maybe take in a tenant.

Bobbyblue_2

pete_ wrote: »

:mad: Churchill have just charged me £26.25 to cancel my car insurance policy 2 days after the policy renewal date which had been automatically renewed.

I am genuinely in the process of moving house and neglected to read their renewal advice which arrived some days beforehand.

Fair enough, I should have read the renewal notice more carefully however I don't remember ever agreeing to a continuous renewal in the first place.

Has anyone else been caught out like this? Seems like an "a la bank charges" rip off to me.

I intend to complain for what its worth.

I have just posted a similar thing, I also had my insurance renewed without my permission by 'A' Quote, I am getting not much response to my letter of complaint asking for a refund six weeks ago. I intent to take the matter up with the Financial Services Ombudsman if nothing is settled within the next two weeks, you have to go through the correct complaint procedure with the offending company first and allow at least 8 weeks for them to resolve the problem befor the ombudsman service will be interested. Hope you get sorted. Bobbyblue

MarkyMarkD

Bobbyblue

Whilst you may see it that way, 'A' Quote almost definitely did NOT renew your insurance without your permission, because you almost definitely agreed to auto-renewal when you took out the original policy and were then told AGAIN that the policy would auto-renew when the renewal quote was issued.

CFC

Speaking for Churchill, I can comment that you don't *agree* to autorenewal. You don't get told or asked on the phone. They tell you in their small print with the policy letter (very small print) that they will auto renew - you have to contact them to prevent it. Yes, it's all sneaky sales!

dunstonh

Yes, it's all sneaky sales!

No its not. If it wasnt mentioned in the renewal letter then it would be but the fact they tell you what you should do next means its not hidden and its not sneaky.

I intent to take the matter up with the Financial Services Ombudsman

The FOS have ruled in cases like this in the past. Where the disclosure of what happens next is clear on the letter then the FOS generally side with the insurer. Where the text is not clear or doesnt mention it, they generally side with the consumer.

kaya

its a new word job, TACIT, by not phoning them and letting them know you don't want to renew you are tacitly consenting to your policy being renewed

MarkyMarkD

CFC wrote: »

Speaking for Churchill, I can comment that you don't *agree* to autorenewal. You don't get told or asked on the phone. They tell you in their small print with the policy letter (very small print) that they will auto renew - you have to contact them to prevent it. Yes, it's all sneaky sales!

You don't have to be told everything on the phone for it to be a valid part of the contract. You are sent the full terms once you've agreed the deal, and you could cancel during the cooling-off period if you don't like the terms once you read them.

roses

I thought there is a 14 day cooling off period with insurance and you can get a refund at any point during those 14 days?

olly300

roses wrote: »

I thought there is a 14 day cooling off period with insurance and you can get a refund at any point during those 14 days?

There is but if the policy has started then they can deduct their costs which includes the admin fee.

Anyway key facts in insurance policies should state if they are auto renewal policies. I strongly suspect most of the complaints on this are due to people not even reading the key facts.

If the key facts do not state this, then you have a right to make a formal complaint to the company and inform them that you are going to take your complaint to the FSA, whether they agree to do what you want or not.

Remember what you want may not be legal/reasonable to do regardless of whether the policy has clear wording or not.

Also if the company agrees to do what you want without you having to go to the FOS they may be ripping off other people who won't complain including people related to you.

lisyloo

Legally I may be wrong but morally there must be a case.

Hi Pete,

Morally I'd say there is a case for auto renewal.
There are lots of people who forget or don't read things.
Shouldn't the public - pedestrian, cyclists etc. have some protection?
People get a renewal letter and mine always say on big bold print "WHAT TO DO NEXT". Some people forget to chase it up, renew their mail or don't read the letters.

Who should be protected, the forgetful who want to save a few pounds by not using an advisor?
Or innocent citizens using the roads and sometimes pavements?

If you had used an advisor then they would have reminded you also.
The problem is that people go DIY to save a few pounds but don't take responsibility for doing the complete job.