automatic renewal

lisyloo

No, you will have agreed in the initial agreement.
Unfortunately this isn't made very clear and it's probably in the small print somewhere.
You could ask them where you agreed to it, in the hope that they have slipped up somewhere.
If you have your original paperwork that's better because if they did slip up at the time they may well not provide the evidence now, so you're reliant on your copies.

But they did make it clear in your renewal letter, that they would renew your cover unless you told them.
Not paying does not constitute cancellation and most companies will pursue you.

So I would definnitely ask them to explain where you agreed to this e.g. which page/section/paragragh is it in.

shays_mum

I would call up your card provider & dispute the charge, say you never gave permission to take continuous payment, just a one off payment - Homeserve tried this on me & i got all my money back!. HTH . Also you can dispute that you ever got the letter in the first place.........;)

premtwinmum

Thanks have sorted it.
Asked as a goodwill gesture if I took a new policy would they offset it against the original debt. They have done that. I have asked repeatedly if this goes against my name as a black mark, and it would appear it doesn't.Although I would have liked that part signed in blood! I have paid slightly more but have a full 12 months travel insurance for it. I have asked them to take auto renew off the policy.

lisyloo

I have asked repeatedly if this goes against my name as a black mark, and it would appear it doesn't

It's not up to them.
It's up to future insurers, whether they want to charge your more due to cancellation through non-payment.
If an insurer asks whether you have had insurance cancelled in the past you MUST declare it (you could make things a lot worse by not declaring it and them finding out later).
The only exception would be if they re-instated the policy, but it sounds like they have just cleared the debt but the policy remains cancelled due to non-payment.
Insurers do share information.

premtwinmum

I am sure you are right. He said they don't ask that question themselves. I am just hoping this was the right thing to do, as I think I didn't have a whole heap of options!

dunstonh

Now that you have paid the policy and they have transferred the money to a new plan, you are pretty much safe to assume that the "cancelled by insurer" question no longer applies.