Cancelling Car insurance within a month

ChrisCharles_2

Dear Money Saving Expert Forums,

I have recently received my bank statement within the post which has been delayed due to the postal strikes within my area and have noticed that I have been charged by a Car Insurer (not sure if I should name) for an annual premium that I do not require since I have already taken out a policy with another insurer. I believe the error may have happened due to problems with the internet in payment and subsequently was charge without my knowledge (no confirmation email, phone call at all to date and no letters other than the policy documents I had only received in the post along with my statement which has clearly been delayed). I am obviously now over the 14 day cancellation/cooling off period and after speaking to a ‘helpful’ member of their cancellations department I am to pay up to an unjustified £90 pounds from the full amount refund.

I believe this to be unjust and an unfair amount for 3 weeks cover without my knowledge. Obviously had I known that the transaction had actually taken place then I would have subsequently not followed up a competitor’s offer.

Please can anyone advise how I could actually go about gaining the full amount back and where do I stand legally etc?

dunstonh

Please can anyone advise how I could actually go about gaining the full amount back and where do I stand legally etc?

You have no legal standing. You took out an annually automatic renewing policy that requires you to tell them when you want to cancel. You didnt tell them so they didnt know you wanted to cancel.

Your renewal letter states what you should do if you want to cancel. Your only hope is if the renewal letter wasnt clear with this. Although nowadays you wouldnt expect a renewal letter to not make it clear.

Obviously had I known that the transaction had actually taken place then I would have subsequently not followed up a competitor’s offer.

Clearly you had the renewal notice in time to know what the price was to compare. So, the problem is that you didnt read your renewal notice and didnt do what was required to cancel it. So, the fault lies with you. In which case you are totally reliant on the goodwill of the broker/insurer unless there is some other reason/loophole you can exploit.

Mr_K

Here we go again, the same story with autorenewal, its like a recurring dream. If you search the this forum Chris you'll find many similar stories. The postal strikes highlight the falability of this form of payment. I would have thought, given the current situtation with the post, the insurer should give you some leeway, don't hold your breath though...

dunstonh

The postal strikes highlight the falability of this form of payment.

Most renewals go out 2-4 weeks in advance. A few days in the postal strike shouldnt be an issue.

Biggest issue is that people dont read the letter telling them what they have to do next.

I would have thought, given the current situtation with the post, the insurer should give you some leeway, don't hold your breath though...

I wouldnt in their shoes. If he is already past the 14 day cancellation rights period and the renewal was posted 2 weeks before that then the post strike is hardly a valid excuse.

ChrisCharles_2

dunstonh, what you are saying is basically if they send a letter out say on the 3rd of the month, dating the 14 day period from this date then they could have the letter delivered after the 14 day period; abusing the 14 day period. What I am concerned about is that I had no notification within the 14 days that you would expect from a phone call or an email. The first I had known about the whole policy was when the documents had arrived, after the 14 day period. How is that fair?

dacouch

Try speaking in a polite and friendly way to one of the staff, get their name and advise them you can send a copy of the alternative cover you arranged so that they can see you had other cover and no claim would be made on their policy. In a lot of cases this will result in the charge being waived or reduced.

Have a look at your policy under how to cancel, the 14 day cooling off period often starts from the date you RECEIVE the policy documents. It often includes the relevant wording in this section of the policy.

dunstonh

dunstonh, what you are saying is basically if they send a letter out say on the 3rd of the month, dating the 14 day period from this date then they could have the letter delivered after the 14 day period; abusing the 14 day period.

No I am not. Typically the cancellation rights period is from when you receive the certificate. Not the renewal notice.

What I am concerned about is that I had no notification within the 14 days that you would expect from a phone call or an email.

So, you are saying you had no renewal notice and no policy docs (sent in different posts)? Yet you say in #1 that you got the policy docs. Your 14 days is from that. also, if you say you didnt get the renewal notice, how were you able to shop around and find another one without knowing how it compared to your existing premium?

Why should you get an email or phone call? You got them through the post.

BenL

I read the OP as it was new business on both policies and not renewal.

Chris, did you go through a quote and enter payment details for a policy and then receive an error on your pc and no confirmation. Then did you take out a policy with another company?

ChrisCharles_2

BenL, yes. That is what happened.