Change of address payment

DYNAMICPINK

Does anyone or has anyone come across a payment because you have changed address?
I was told by my Insurers that the premium may go up or down, which is to be expected, fair enough!
I informed them that I had moved, and they got back to me to say the address had been changed and a fee of £55 was due by me for this change (small admin fee!!) I phoned them and they said they cant tell you this as they don't know how much changes will cost but then they said its an admin fee, so surely they must know! Pretty big admin fee...

DYNAMICPINK

The premium is not going up or down. Its only because I changed address they charged for the change not the location of where I am.

lisyloo

It sounds like there are two elements here.
Firstly an increase for the new area and secondly a small admin fee.
You could ask for a breakdown.
They should be able to tell you the amountof the admin fee (or you could read your policy or check on line), but until they know the postcode they cannot tell you what the loading will be because it's dependent on the postcode. Also prices can change any day, so they can't tell you in advance of doing the change (although they could give you todays prices to give you a ball park).

If £55 is for both the premium and the fee, then that doesn't sound too bad.

DYNAMICPINK

There is no increase for the new area. £55 just the admi fee to change address on policy. Thank for the reply

thegirlintheattic

I moved one street away (no change of premium) but got charged a £25 admin fee which covered that and an admin change. It's a way for them to make money and is usually mentioned in the small print of the policy somewhere. I'm not sure what you mean by they can't tell you what it is?! Surely they have said it's a £55 admin fee. I would call them up and clarify their policy on admin fees.

dunstonh

£55 admin charge sounds within range.

Remember that these charges exist because of consumer demand. So, if you dont like admin charges then dont buy a policy that has them but instead factors it into the main insurance premium. You get consumer choice. Although for most people, having the admin charges removed out of the premium and charged explicitly when needed works out cheaper in the long run.

lisyloo

Yes they should know up ahead and so should you because you would have been sent a policy.
£55 is at the upper end, but you would have had this information up front.
Like everything else it's down to consumer choice and it's up to you to do the research about what you buy.

olly300

In the past 2 years when I taken out insurance the insurance company have told me up front what the fees are for changes including changing address.

Prior to that I had to ask what the fee was, which I always did before they began their spreel about breakdown cover.

chanz4

It should say in your policy docs

mikey72

It's just out of the top of the range that has been allowed.
So far the highest has been £50, so they are trying to raise the ceiling.

It's worth the price of a stamp to make an official complaint, and if they don't reduce it refer it to the FOS, and see if they agree if it's fair or not.
If it's not been advised up front that they will make a charge, or it's not been specified, that is cause for complaint as well.

dunstonh

It's just out of the top of the range that has been allowed.
So far the highest has been £50, so they are trying to raise the ceiling.

Its just out of the top of the range of the cases that the FOS has published. However, it doesnt mean its their top ceiling. Plus, with inflation, it may well be higher now.

It's worth the price of a stamp to make an official complaint, and if they don't reduce it refer it to the FOS, and see if they agree if it's fair or not.

This is where I totally disagree with you. The fee is published and supplied in advance. What has the company done wrong in this case that deserves a complaint to be made?

The complaints process is about [perceived] wrong doing by the firm. Not about someone not reading their documents.

If the complaints process to the FOS didnt cost what it does, then it would not be an issue. However, pointless complaints like that increase the costs to all policyholders.