Home insured twice direct debit repayment?

Lesli

I recently received a renewal notice from Sainsbury's bank for my home insurance. What's this, I am not insured by them, (I used to be). As it turns out they had been taking a monthly premium by direct debit. I had cancellecd their insurance the previous year as they had not met a claim. I insured with another company, which cost half as much as the Sainsbury's insurance.

I called and compalined that the insurance had been cancelled and I wanted my money back. Their answer was that they would refund half and I should contact my current insurer for half of the premium I paid to them. Industry standard practice.

Why should my chosen insurer be penalised or myself, twice the premium, for a mistake made by sainsbury's bank?

I know what you're thinking, "idiot should have checked his statement". I shop two or three times a week at Sainsbury' paid by debit card. So Sainsbury's is all over my statements so I didn't notice the direct debit.

If Sainsbury's do not give me a 100% refund can I do anything via the "Direct Debit Promise"?

Thanks

Les

Weirdlittleman

No you cannot unless you can prove you cancelled the insurance.
Sainsburys are correct. It is standard practice. You were double insured and both would be liable in terms of a payout.

Lesli

Everything is done on the phone. Whilst most companies record calls, I do not have the facilities. This passive acceptance, do nothing and you agree, is fine for the insurance company. Must I write a letter and send by recorded post to cancel, no, to not renew.

Les

Weirdlittleman

well thats probably the best course of action to take yes.

Lesli

It's all soooo unfair.
Les

kazzah60

I am surprised to learn this too - we had a similar experience when we moved house- we had a mortgage and buildings insurance with Nat West when we moved the mortgage was obviously paid off- us being a bit dim, we didn't think to cancel the annual buildings insurance DD - thinking that as the mortgage had been paid off somehow NAt West would tie up the two transactions and cancel the insurance.
After had been living in our new house for 4 years, hubby FINALLY noticed the DD coming out of his account for the buildings insurance and contacted Nat west - who refunded the whole 4 years worth of payments without any problem what so ever - so i feel we were luckier than the OP in this instance
and yes- hubby now checks his bank statements much more thoroughly !

brokeinyorkshire

Lesli wrote: »

It's all soooo unfair.
Les

Lesli.

Sorry to sound harsh but you are getting your money back so i don't see what your problem is.

After all. YOU are responsible for checking your own bank statements! Saying it has Sainburys all over it is no excuse.

I shop in Tesco all the time but i would definitely notice a direct debit going out of my account if it was taken by Tesco.

The law states that in the case of dual insurance both insurers pay 50%. As a previous poster said, its standard practice. Its not ' unfair ' and is a common occurence, at least it was when i worked in an insurance call centre.

How did you cancel the insurance?

When i worked in cancellations half the people just cancelled their direct debit which as we know does not cancel the policy. Some wrote in and didn't bother to put their policy number or other relevant details on the letter. You get my drift?

You will get 100% of your premium back so there's no harm done.