Home Insurance - Automatic renewal

thriftyspender

Have any members had experience of an automatic home insurance renewal they did not request? I am being pursued by a company called QuoteMart for payment in renewing my expired 12 month policy. I no longer needed or requested continuation of cover. As my original credit card details have expired they have been unable to get any payment and are requesting payment for 2 weeks pro rata plus 'cancellation charge'. I am now in receipt of a slightly intimidating letter - basically 'pay up or else...'
Is it legal for them to force payment upon me or was it my responsibilty to tell them I no longer needed cover?

dreamypuma

Have you tried a search on the forum?: Here you go.

It was your responsibility to contact them and let them know you wanted the policy to lapse. Moral of the story: Always read the small print.

TSx

Did you purchase insurance from someone else when you thought it had expired?

If you did, there's dual-insurance and they shouldn't charge you for the time you had two lots of insurance. You may, with a lot of complaining, get them to waive the cancellation charge as well.

If you've not got new insurance, you've had the service, and I think you should look upon it as a lesson learned.

dunstonh

Have any members had experience of an automatic home insurance renewal they did not request?

If you bought the insurance then you did request it.

I am being pursued by a company called QuoteMart for payment in renewing my expired 12 month policy. I no longer needed or requested continuation of cover.

On the renewal letter, it would have said what to do next if you do or do not wish to renew. Where automatic renewal exists, it is clearly stated in the main part of the letter that you need to let them know. Did you let them know?

Is it legal for them to force payment upon me or was it my responsibilty to tell them I no longer needed cover?

It is your responsibility to tell them if that is what they asked in the renewal letter and their t&C states they operate automatic renewal.

That said, if you have insured elsewhere, you can provide them evidence of that and they will usually cease to follow up. In future though, read your renewal letter. It always states on there what to do next.

thriftyspender

Thanks for the replies. As you say, I'll consider it a lesson learned. I no longer have the original papers so cannot check the exact wording of the policy. I wont fall for this (not so) cheap trick again!

mikey72

Before you accept the loss of the money, have a read of
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3009092=

Poundnote

I want to share my experience of Quotemart so that other members are aware of their tactics.

End of February I telephoned their premium line to opt out of House Insurance automatic renewal which was done.

This was followed by a letter stating that £4.14 would be charged to my credit card which they had retained on file. No mention was made of any charge, so I wrote and challenged this.

Contacted my credit card company who had "earmarked" a charge of £4.14 and after explaining the situation they declined to pay Quotemart.

Quotemart sent a letter saying unless I paid the £4.14 they would cancel my insurance so not wanting the hassle as renewal time was a couple of weeks away I wrote to them enclosing a cheque for £4.14.

In the meantime I had a telephone call from Quotemart apologising for the charge and could give no reason why the charge was raised and said that they would cancel same.

Then a letter arrived giving notice to cancel my policy and recover cancellation fees etc etc.

As the policy expires end of the month I wrote to them (recorded delivery) holding them responsible should any claims arise and would recover any monies due from them.

In the meantime the cheque for £4.14 has been banked and am waiting for their response as I headed the letter "Complaint" which they are obliged to respond to.

So what you may say??

Today I received my renewal notice from Quotemart £897.05
Current year's premium £377.02
Next year's premium with a reputable insurer £295.42

Moral - Read the small print.

I consider myself extremely fortunate that timing was on my side.