Swinton home insurance - s

Mharkins

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Hi there,

Firstly, apologies if this is posted in the wrong place. The title is supposed to read "I think I'm entitled to my money back!"

I was looking for some help and advice from more seasoned hands here at MSE .

Swinton may be wrongly charging me for insurance I feel I rightly cancelled before my renewal date. (Swinton have gone ahead and renewed the policy).

My home insurance policy with Swinton ran out on the 19th Aug. Before this, I had received 3 letters asking me to contact them so they could amend my details in order to continue the policy for another year. I ignored these.

A couple of days before the renewal date I received a call from Josh at my local branch. He gave me a quote, which I thought was quite high and I told him words to the effect of "No thanks, I'll look elsewhere".

I look elsewhere and get cheaper home insurance from another provider. A few days later I get a letter from Swinton thanking me for renewing my cover for another year. I phone Swinton and tell them I have found cheaper insurance elsewhere and already told them I didn't want to renew as per my phone call with 'Josh'. Fine, he said, he said the policy was now cancelled.

Today I receive a bill from Swinton for £83! A £50 cancellation charge and the price of one months cover.

I have phoned Swinton again where I was told that Josh logged our phone call as 'I was going to look elsewhere for quotes and call Swinton back'. I never did call them back and so I've been told Swinton have an obligation to renew if they don't hear from me.

I suppose that is the heart of the matter: I told Josh 'no thank you' to his quote but it has been recorded as 'customer will phone back' on Swinton systems.

I'm aware that Swinton will renew if I don't tell them to cancel (which is their argument - indeed its in the terms and conditions I signed) but I clearly stated in the call from Josh that I didn't want to go ahead with Swintons new quote!

I know Swinton act as a broker and they claim they are entitled to claim admin costs, but I feel that is void because I told Josh I didnt want to proceed and I'd look elsewhere.

I also know Swinton aren't regulated by distance selling regulations.

Also; I am well within the 14 days cancellation window; charging one months cover for 3 days is a bit excessive I feel.

Is anyone available to give me any advice on what to do next? I feel particularly aggrieved at the thought of paying so much when I specifically stated I didn't want to go ahead with the policy before the renewal date!

Especially with the scare stories of companies just passing this kind of thing off to debt collection agencies, I almost feel like I should pay to stop any hassle.

Thank you all for any help.

Mike