Insurance auto renewal and Debt collection

Aquatronixjenny

Hiya, after some advice please...

A couple of years back I owned a little Mitsubishi Colt. Got it insured through Bell Insurance and paid for the policy in full with my Debit Card.

I sold the car with about 5 months remaining on my policy (part exhanged it for a new Citreon).

I phoned to cancel the policy and request the refund that I was entitled to. I sent the certificate back but never received my refund which I believe was about £80.

I forgot about it in the end, and in the meantime we moved house. Anyway, about 3 weeks ago I got a cryptic phone call from a debt collection agency called 'Scot call". They were acting on behalf of Bell insurance chasing me for over £100 of debt?

I phoned Bell insurance to find out what was going on... apparently they never actioned the cancellation of my insurance and tried to automatically renew using my debit card (which was rejected as I had a new card). They then charged me the first months insurance plus a fee for card rejection? Apparently they had written to me several times (I had moved house so didn't get any letters). I told them that there was no need for me to give them my new address as I had cancelled my policy months before we had moved.

I have documentation to prove that I sold the car months before the attempted renewal, and I never agreed to them attempting to debit my card for over £400.

Where do I stand with this? I have sent proof of selling the car to the insurers but I would like to avoid having debt collectors chasing me as I have a perfect credit file and I feel really strongly that I do not owe this money to anyone!

Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for any advice.

unholyangel

Do you still have any of your policy documents?

You say a few years back, how many to be precise?

Aquatronixjenny

Sorry, I was a bit vague with the details...

I took the policy out in Aug 2008 and sold the car in April 2009. Phoned them to cancel as soon as I sold the car and I sent the certificate back. Unfortunately I haven't kept the documents. I binned them all when we moved which was in July 2009.

They attempted to renew the policy and charge my old debit card without me knowing in August 2009. Got rejected as I didn't have that particular card any more so they have charged me one months insurance plus a card rejection fee.

First contact since then was from 'Scot call' in November 2010 so 15 months later. The insurance company were sending letters to my old address but I kept the same phone number and at no point did they attempt to phone me.

I called Bell Insurance as soon as I found out what the debt was for. I told them I sold the car in April, and the insurance for my new car was taken through Admiral (Bell are a part of Admiral). They asked me to send a copy of the part ex document showing that I sold the car (which I did) but I haven't heard anything since. I called them yesterday and they are still adamant that I owe them the money.

fluffnutter

Tell the debt company that you deny the debt and that they must return it to the originating company. This should stop them pursuing you. You then need to convince Bell Insurance that you don't owe them any money. Stick to your guns. You've complied with their requests so far. Let them take you to court if necessary. Once it's sorted make sure they make good any adverse notices they might have added to your credit file.