Elephant Car Insurance - Cancellation charges

Meeker

Hello,

I had an insurance car policy with Elephant Car Insurance which has now ended. I went with someone else.

Since then, I have had a £72 charge for cancellation. Is this legitmate? Can they do this legally?

newbie007_2

Another one that does automatic renewal then. Did you read the renewal quotation letter, in there it should tell you if they automatically renew and take money from your card if you dont phone to cancel. If the letter state automatic renewal then probably they are within their rights to charge you, I'm not so clued up on this, others will be able to tell you.

Gloomendoom

You can decide not renew without charge as long as you give them notice. I find it is best to do that as soon as you get the renewal notice as it gives you more time to find a better quote.

Elephant once managed to renew mine despite the fact that my credit card had expired.

I threatened them with the FSA and they refunded the money.

skiddlydiddly

Did you cancel it yourself(maybe due to vehicle change?) or was it auto renewed?They usually make it pretty clear about cancellation charges in their T&C.Have had an auto renew once and they refunded it once I contacted them.

Meeker

The documentation does mention auto-renewing which I did not know about.

My card expired, so they were not able to take the money, now they are threatening me with debt collection agencies.

newbie007_2

Well it's either pay up or get a bad credit rating store on your file. If you're not the house owner at that address then they cannot enforce removal of property if you choose the latter option, although you might want to change ownership of your current car so they cannot take that away....

dacouch

Send them a copy of your new insurance along with a polite letter, providing it runs concurrently a lost of companies will waive the charge as they will realise you would not have claimed on their policy

rev_henry

I don't understand exactly what's happened here. Did you let it auto renew and not call to cancel? If so, they will usually refund the premium they've already taken if you contact them. Cancellation charged usually apply only if you cancel half way through a year's policy.

Meeker

Thanks for your advice folks. I would rather pay than get a bad credit rating.

Quentin

Before paying them, try dacouch's advice first. If you do it quickly and this £72 charge has only recently been advised to you they won't have blackened your credit record.

pennypincher61

My daughter is travelling in Africa and has left her car in our driveway.
She emailed me today to say that Elephant have automatically taken her premium, as it was due for renewal on 16th November.

Ive just called them and explained she wanted to renew on 16th December when she gets back as no point having it when shes not here.

I asked if they could just defer the date and they said no.
After much hoo ha and being left on hold while they tried to find a supervisor and failed miserably they said if she rings them from Africa and authorises cancellation they will give a full refund.

So we could then take out a new policy in a couple of weeks with someone else.

I wouldnt re insure with them now on principle.

I cant believe they would rather lose a customer completely than defer the renewal date by 2 weeks.