do smart people Budget???

insurancenightmare

First time poster and in desperate need of advice.

I took out insurance with Budget insurance last months and had 9 years no claim so got quiet a good price.

I then recieved all the documentation and posted them back to budget and a few days later recieved another letter stating they hadnt recieved my no claims discounts so my premium would rise to £100 per months from £30

I called budget and gave them my previous insurance companies details and they would contact to get no claims details.

I then recieved another letter a few days later stating that my previous insurance company said I only had 3 years rather than 9 that I had applied with. Therefore my insurance would be reduced to £75 a months. I then called my previous insurance (Swift) who advised that they didnt recieve any prior insurance details from our previous insurance company. I explained that when I logged online it states that swift recieved my no claims from my previous insurance company who were Budget but they advised that all accounts state that!

I called budget back and explained and they couldnt find any of my details from when I was previously their customer and I have no correspondance from when I was with Budget previously.

I spoke to budget on the 7th February and explained that I couldnt afford to pay £75 per months for my insurance and that I need to try to speak with swift to resolve this and the advisor explained that they would stop the payment from going out on the 10th and hold it till the 14th February to try to resolve.

After numerous calls between swift and budget I wasnt getting no further forward so called budget and explained that I just completed a check on a comparison website and the payments even with budget were less than what they quoted but they were just not interested so I said I had no option but to cancel so called them on the 10th to cancel.

To cancel I was advised would cost me £360 ish. I said I didnt have that money to pay and the advisor said thats fine they will make an arrange payment plan if the funds are not in my account. I asked who Direct Debit detail they had but he advised that they just had my long card number and that I have give them authority to take payment at anytime in line with their terms and conditions.

I advised I couldnt afford to pay the balance etc and he just wasnt interested. So I went to cash point and ttook what money I had remaining and thought cancelling my card would stop them from being able to just help themselves in my account.

When I went to the bank they had already taken £75.26 premium (yes the lady did advise that she would put it on hold until 14th) and £15 for me not sending them back the document (sent first class but they never recieved it, never advised me they didnt recieve it).

speaking to the bank they said I could arrange a chargeback once the payments had left my account however I couldnt stop the payments, block them from taking anymore or nothing.

I spoke to a manager at Budget who advised that it is my responsibility to check they had recieved the document and that they were correct in taking the £75.26 even though their advisor was putting it on hold. After spending an hour on the phone the manager advised she would refund the £15 and I had to process an indemnity claim for the £75 however when I explained that the indemnity claim was only for direct debits and they took a card payment she explained that she has worked there for 5 years and knew the difference and if the bank wouldnt do the indemnity then I could ring them and ask them to stop the payment going out (again another thing that we cant do once authority has been given by bank)

I checked my account today and was overdrawn and when I looked into this further Budget have taken another £75 out for the cancellation fee. I spoke to the bank and explained that I have a new card and how can they authorise this even though I have not got the funds in the account but the bank explained that the insurance company have my permission to take the payments and not much I can do except a chargeback.

Spoke to Budget again who advised that I still owe them another £280 for cancellation fees that they will keep trying to debit from my debit card. I cant tell them not to authorise it because I agreed to their terms and conditions when I signed up.

I have spent now around 2 hours on the phone to budget and a manager is calling me back before 5.

My questions really are

Do i have a leg to stand on in regards to getting the money back or am i wasting my time?

How do I stop them from taking yet more money out when and if the please?

Why do the banks not do more to stop this kind of payment authority and put a bit of power back to the customers?

sorry for it being a bit long winded but any advise would be much appreciated