Car insurance advice needed asap pretty please

Quentin

There is a "catch" to the cooling off period wheeze you should be aware of:

If you are involved in any claim against the policy (by you or against you) during the cooling off period, then you will have to pay the full 12 months premium.

Nanny2Nurse

mikey72 wrote: »

Don't cancel your current policy, just let it run out as normal, and don't renew.

(If you can't find any t&c's on cancellation, ask before you take out the policy, or they may arrive with it)

My current insurers sent a renewal letter and I think I was assuming my renewal would take place automatically (as once happened with home insurance). Are you saying that I must contact them to renew, otherwise it will end ? Is there any way they're allowed to simply renew without me telling them I wish them to?

Quentin wrote: »

There is a "catch" to the cooling off period wheeze you should be aware of:

If you are involved in any claim against the policy (by you or against you) during the cooling off period, then you will have to pay the full 12 months premium.

Yes I read this too, but guess I will have to take that chance, thank you though.

Nanny2Nurse

OK, I've just found some small print on the back of the letter which basically says it is important that I call them to renew (or do so online) as my policy will automatically lapse on the date it is due. So it does indeed look like I do not have to cal them to cancel.

Thanks for making me aware of this Mikey.

mikey72

You need to let your current policy lapse.
Then it will not be renewed.
If you call to cancel, they may mix that up with actually cancelling early.
It's always best to phone though to ensure the insurers don't try to renew automatically in any case.

Nanny2Nurse

OK, so you suggest calling them to confirm I wish it to lapse.
Will do.

Can you tell I've renewed year after year with the same company to save myself hassle, lol.

Thank you.

lisyloo

I would take note of the time, date and name of the person you spoke to.
This might enable you to get a recording if the call gets "lost" but my personal experience is that if someone knows they have your name then your instructions don't tend to get lost of be forgotten as they know they will be held accountable.
Some comapnies (both gyms and car insurers) tend to "lose" quite a few lapse instructions about which I'm quite cynical.

Nanny2Nurse

Thanks lisyloo, I completely agree. Although my mind has been put at rest a little regarding automatic renewal since I remembered that I originally paid for the years insurance in one go using a card, the account for which I have now closed. So, they couldn't take payment even if they tried

mikey72

Nanny2Nurse wrote: »

Thanks lisyloo, I completely agree. Although my mind has been put at rest a little regarding automatic renewal since I remembered that I originally paid for the years insurance in one go using a card, the account for which I have now closed. So, they couldn't take payment even if they tried

They try, then they sell the "debt" to a debt collection agency, and further harress you.

Nanny2Nurse

I'm sure they do, sounds about right.

I called them today to advise them I am happy for my insurance to lapse (told them I was selling my car) and they said there was no real need to call (yer, right) and that they would send proof of my no clams (we'll see).

Nanny2Nurse

Never easy is it !!!!

OK, so I've gone ahead and bought my policy with Endsleigh as theirs was the second best quote and their policy clearly stated, prior to purchase, that if you cancel during the 30 day cooling off period, you will not be charged an administration fee.



Now, after purchasing, my policy says if I cancel during the 14 day cooling off period I will be charged a £25.00 administration fee:



This is so frustrating.