We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

Unwanted personal insurance added to car insurance

Hi, Is there anything I can do???

I always go thought compare sites when doing my car insurance, and always swap companies every year for a better price. Last year I was insuranced by ibuyeco, I applied online as usual, and set up a DD, job done!! Then this year I insuranced my car with swift.com, again no issues.
Until today where I noticed a DEB from my bank account for £4 from ibuyeco? After investigating further I was inform that i agreed to this when i applied online for my car insurance 18 mths ago, and as I sign my car insurance policy I had signed for personal insurance too. So it seems I have been paying for a year and a half for something I didn't want, need or either know I had, a total of £72. Apart from cancelling it now, and informing my bank, is there anything I can do? Do I have any rights?

Comments

  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 121,385 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Apart from cancelling it now, and informing my bank, is there anything I can do? Do I have any rights?

    When you DIY and bypass the broker you have less consumer rights. You are responsible for knowing what you buy and choosing what you buy. You cannot blame anyone else unless they make an error in disclosure or processing.
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • huckster
    huckster Posts: 5,599 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yes you have rights. They had to tell you about this at the time you bought the original policy. If it was a sneeky add on extra with a separate payment, then if there was not adequate info given about this, then you may be entitled to a full backdated refund. Check your documents and make a complaint. If you threatened to take this to the FOS, after the 8 weeks Ibuyeco have to deal with a complaint, they might just issue a refund.
    The comments I post are personal opinion. Always refer to official information sources before relying on internet forums. If you have a problem with any organisation, enter into their official complaints process at the earliest opportunity, as sometimes complaints have to be started within a certain time frame.
  • mikey72
    mikey72 Posts: 14,680 Forumite
    It is common for insurance like this to be added on without any notification, despite you not requesting it.
    As Huckster said, make a formal written complaint, and if they don't refund it, complain to the FOS.
  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 121,385 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Despite what has been said above, if you choose to have it, even in error, they do not have to refund it. You have no rights for it to be refunded and the FOS cannot tell them to refund it.

    If they have added it and you didn't that is where you win your case and that is when you get a whole load more rights and the FOS would tell them to refund it.
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • I know you're right......but its just so deceiving, and they know it!
  • mikey72
    mikey72 Posts: 14,680 Forumite
    If they can prove the op actually chose to have it, and not just stuck it in later, he won't be any worse off.
    If they can't prove he chose it, but merely claim it was an opt out that they hid in a back screen, the FOS can make their view on it.
  • rs65
    rs65 Posts: 5,682 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Has this been a separate payment of £4 a month coming out your account for the last 18 months?
  • Yes it was! For the first year I must of just thought it was my car insurance payments, then the past 6 months I just didn't spot it!! More fool me!
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 354.6K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 247.5K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 604.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.5K Life & Family
  • 261.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.