Hastings Direct Car insurance - didn't take Direct Debit payments now demanding £

jojooneill

Hi All,

A friend took out a policy with Hastings Direct in October 2010 and gave bank details etc for the direct debit. She has just received a letter to say that unfortunately no payments have been taken from her account since October and therefore they have to double her direct debit payments.
She admitted she didn't realise that the direct debits weren't taken (she is currently pregnant, due today, and obviously overlooked this). Unfortunately she does not have the £60 a month the company are demanding from April. The company have admitted the situation is their fault.
I have a feeling that it is the customer's responsibility to check their statements to ensure the correct money has been taken. However, the person in question would appreciate any advice that can be given.
Many thanks!

Quentin

She does owe the money, so no mileage in trying to get out of paying, irrespective of who is to blame.

But she should try and speak to a manager to explain the financial difficulties she is in, and see if they can do anything about collecting the arrears by way of smaller instalments.

Do this now (before a dd fails, as they will quickly move on to their enforcement procedure for unpaid premiums which could mean big problems such as the insurance being cancelled, debt collectors getting involved, black marks on her credit record etc).

no-oneknowsme

Hi OP.

As you say yourself , it is the responsibility of the person insured to make sure the direct debits are being taken from the bank account correctly.

Because of this , I honestly cant see the insurance Co NOT charging her for the 5/6 months cover she has already had with them.

Put it this way....if she had an accident within this 5/6 months when her premiums were not being paid would she have been happy if the insurance Co hadnt paid out on any claim?

I think the answer to this would be NO !

My opinion is that she has benefitted from the insurance cover and the Company are well within their rights to make her pay for it.

ps - im not convinced that people wouldnt notice that direct debits wernt being taken from their account (not saying that I doubt what you are saying about your Friend not noticing) . I personally always check to make sure my payments have come out.

jojooneill

Thanks for this advice. She honestly did not notice - there are many things happening aside from the pregnancy so it truly was a case of a lack of checking. This aside, I have constructed a letter which states her difficulties and hope this can be resolved. It's getting the balance between paying for what was agreed at the beginning but not being left with a financial loss due to a joint mistake!