I will never buy online again

k12pfc

I bought insurance for my motorcycle back in May and paid in full using a debit card on-line, I sold the bike but because of the ridiculous admin charges never told my insurance company, Hastings direct, they or someone else has cancelled the policy, I didn't, now they want £55 cancellation charge!!! and if I don't pay within 7 days they will take it from the card I used to buy the insurance, and apparently this is in the small print and legal, and is soon to be used everywhere and by many different companies, so for me, it's back to good old cash from now on, and it's the same apparently with direct debits, even if you cancel one the company can reinstate it. A company did with one of mine, I really had to be drastic to stop unauthorised payments being made, all big business seems to be writing anything they want in the small print, and let's face it, who reads it? so difficult to understand anyway. I truly don't like this modern online world anymore, it's becoming a place where companies do exactly as they please. Please be careful and ask questions, insurance companies are jumping on the band wagon against ordinary folk and more are following.

scheming_gypsy

direct debits aren't just from online sales, you can do direct debits in paper form and terms and conditions will still come in paper form.
If you pay cash and then cancel, you'll still pay your cancellation fee as they'll take it out before giving you your cash refund.

dunstonh

and apparently this is in the small print and legal

Or in standard print in the section called: Your Right To Cancel

This section contains important notes about your rights of cancellation. You must read these notes carefully.

You can cancel your policy at any time by sending written notice to the address given below.

We can cancel your policy by sending you a seven-day notice in writing to your last known address.

If your policy is cancelled, we will refund your premium as follows.

If you cancel the policy within the 14-day withdrawal period, whether cover has commenced or not, we will refund the part of the premium you have not used subject to our cancellation fee of £25 and any charge made by the insurer.

(Refer to your Certificate or schedule for details of the insurer's cancellation charges).

If you or we cancel the policy at any other time, we will refund the part of the premium you have not used subject to our cancellation fee of £55 and any charge made by the insurer.

(Refer to your Certificate or schedule for details of the insurer's cancellation charges).

You may not receive a refund of premium if you have made a claim, or if one has been made against you, during the period of insurance. If you are paying by instalments and a claim has been made, you may have to pay the balance of the full annual premium on cancellation charges).

and it's the same apparently with direct debits, even if you cancel one the company can reinstate it.

Cancelling the method of payment does not cancel your liability to pay the bill. Ultimately, with direct debits, they can log a default on your credit file and destroy your ability to get credit in future.

all big business seems to be writing anything they want in the small print, and let's face it, who reads it?

Who reads it? anyone that doesnt want to get caught out by fees they didnt know about.

so difficult to understand anyway

the above quote is a copy and paste of their text. Seems easy and clear to me.

I truly don't like this modern online world anymore, it's becoming a place where companies do exactly as they please.

It does appear that DIY is not a good option for you. DIY means that you bypass the individuals that give the warnings out and it is up to you to read and know about what you are buying. It is like anything you DIY. If you dont know what you are doing, it could end up being a costly mistake. If you do know what you are doing, you can save money.

Please be careful and ask questions, insurance companies are jumping on the band wagon against ordinary folk and more are following.

Or just learn to read and take responsibility yourself.

dunstonh

Was that quote totally necessary mate?

To be honest, yes.

I looked at their site and they dont hide the charge in the small print. It is obvious to see. However, would it have mattered to you? You didnt read any of it. So, it could have been small print or large print or even in Chinese. It wouldnt have made a difference.

If you are not going to read about what you are buying then you should not buy that method. Or instead, you should read it.

emmell

I was told by an insurance company that it is illegal to insure a vehicle that you don't own. I was told this after ringing them to cancel the policy, £35 cancellation charge so I told them not to bother, this is when they said I couldn't legally leave the policy running.
ML.

McKneff

There are so many posts like this on these boards, its unbelievable how many people dont read terms and conditions in depth so
unfortnately some suffer for it.

JuicyJesus

McKneff wrote: »

There are so many posts like this on these boards, its unbelievable how many people dont read terms and conditions in depth so
unfortnately some suffer for it.

Replace "in depth" with "at all" and you've got it.

McKneff

JuicyJesus wrote: »

Replace "in depth" with "at all" and you've got it.

:T:rotfl::rotfl:

yup, youre right of coursel

BigCraigJohn

McKneff wrote: »

There are so many posts like this on these boards, its unbelievable how many people dont read terms and conditions in depth so
unfortnately some suffer for it.

To be fair though online they are usually in those 1cm scroll boxes at the bottom that are pretty tricky to fathom for every day net users and ive even had 1 that wouldnt open in a specific browser. IMO there is no reason for not having them on a whole page so you can read it properly before ticking.

mjm3346

k12pfc wrote: »

I bought insurance for my motorcycle back in May and paid in full using a debit card on-line, I sold the bike but because of the ridiculous admin charges never told my insurance company,

Hastings direct, they or someone else has cancelled the policy, I didn't, now they want £55 cancellation charge!!! a

So you had actually read enough to know there was an admin charge as you were attempting to avoid paying it, you just did not know they would still try to collect money you owed them.

alexgeorge84

Yes i agree, people should take the time to read small print and not moan when there at fault. Its just silly.