direct debit

suziedow

Can anyone advise please... I moved house in 2007 and had my post redirected. Before I left I had a direct debit for cover for a home appliance (a hoover!) which had been running since 2004. Sadly the new resident did not redirect my post or return to sender. I have only just noticed that I had a direct debit which I was not sure about. The policy was renewed every year and a letter was sent to my old address each year. I had no idea that the hoover was covered by this policy. I'm horrified that the direct debit has been running until now - the amount paid would have bought a dozen new hoovers. Can I claim anything back?

unholyangel

In short? No.

In long......there's a remote possibility the contract you agreed to has a unfair contract term - but then that doesn't necessarily invalidate the rest of the contract. Plus you would also have a duty to mitigate any losses and since its taken you years to notice.....well....lets just say in my opinion.....you'll struggle even in the best case scenario.

suziedow

I know - I should have noticed before now. But in my defense, I had cover for appliances and plumbing, water supply pipes, etc, etc. It just seems unfair that I never got the letters about renewal and the policy would have run for ever - for a hoover!!!!

Labmanager

You didn't get the letters because you didn't tell them you had moved elsewhere.

aldredd

Yikes, how did you not realise you had a DD going out for 5 years? A few months, maybe - but 5 years? I account for every penny leaving my account (especially my billing account) and check several times a month - and I wouldn't say I was particularly hard up either - just makes good sense

fluffnutter

suziedow wrote: »

It just seems unfair that I never got the letters about renewal and the policy would have run for ever - for a hoover!!!!

Why is it unfair? Post redirection doesn't last forever. Once it expires you're at the mercy of the new owner and they're under no obligation to redirect your post for you. Basically, you didn't get the letters because you didn't tell them your new address.

And why wouldn't it have run forever? You haven't cancelled it. What do you expect them to do? Do you expect them to think 'Oh, she probably doesn't want this policy any more - it's only for a hoover after all. Let's do her a favour and cancel it for her'. :cool: