Insurance Renewal

RSA99

Recently my car insurance expired while I was away (luckily not using my car).

I had lost track of exactly when it was due to expire this year as my wife is imminently due to give birth to twins and I was relying on the reminder and re-quote from the Insurance company of when it was due to expire.
My wife was at home during the period that the insurance expired and the renewal letter arrived the day of the expiry.
When I got back the day after the expiry I was very annoyed that the insurance company had sent the renewal so late, almost as if it was forcing me into a quick decision to renew with them as I had little time to do anything else.
The renewal form was a quick tick box and credit card number affair, and in my panic to make sure I was insured I ticked the renew box (no signature) filled in my CC details, and sent it back straight away, all the time feeling that I had had enough of this company and would rather go with someone else (they had consistently sent the renewal quotes late over previous years).

As it turns out, I had filled in my CC details incorrectly and received a letter back from them to that effect.
Having thought about it some more, I phoned up the company and expressed my disappointment to them that their reminder had been so late, and told them I would be insuring with someone else (now done).

My question is this : Am I libel for any days they chose to cover me during the return of my renewal tick box letter and the phone call? (I think this would be of the order of 1-2days)
I have signed no agreement or given any verbal notice that I would be renewing with them.
They do not have my CC details on file.

Any guidance about my liability would be appreciated...
thanks
Richard.

Quentin

RSA99 wrote: »

....My question is this : Am I libel for any days they chose to cover me during the return of my renewal tick box letter and the phone call? (I think this would be of the order of 1-2days)....

Yes.

You may have an admin charge too.

Check the policy on what happens when you cancel. (Also make sure they know you have cancelled!)

RSA99

Quentin, thanks for your reply

I've been told that I am covered by the Distance Selling Regulations and that I have a 14-day right to cancel (without loss?).

In the circumstances I would be willing to pay the admin fee (though bearing in mind, their poor admin is specifically why I wanted to change, this seems inappropriate) but, I wouldn't be happy paying some extortionate rate for the day(s) covered under the unwanted policy.

I am assuming I have to let them know in writing and email isn't sufficient?

dunstonh

I've been told that I am covered by the Distance Selling Regulations and that I have a 14-day right to cancel (without loss?).

That is not correct. Financial services do not fall under those rules. They fall under FSA rules (which largely incorporates distance selling requirements other than the fact they can charge an admin fee and for days covered)

In the circumstances I would be willing to pay the admin fee (though bearing in mind, their poor admin is specifically why I wanted to change, this seems inappropriate) but, I wouldn't be happy paying some extortionate rate for the day(s) covered under the unwanted policy.

Problem is that you cannot say it was not wanted. You had no alternative cover in place. Had your vehicle suffered a claimable event in those days no doubt you would have claimed on the policy.

Quentin

RSA99 wrote: »

Quentin, thanks for your reply

I've been told that I am covered by the Distance Selling Regulations and that I have a 14-day right to cancel (without loss?).

In the circumstances I would be willing to pay the admin fee (though bearing in mind, their poor admin is specifically why I wanted to change, this seems inappropriate) but, I wouldn't be happy paying some extortionate rate for the day(s) covered under the unwanted policy.

I am assuming I have to let them know in writing and email isn't sufficient?

Whoever told you that has mislead you. DSR don't apply.

As previously posted, check what the policy says regarding cancelling - (the "admin" fee you may have possibly have to pay is actually a "cancellation" charge as opposed to paying for their poor admin, if that makes it any better to swallow)

Usually it's better by post (use recorded delivery) as you have a paper trail should problems arise, and return the certificate - some won't agree a cancellation till the cert is returned.

RSA99

Thanks very much to both of you for the very helpful advice :-)

It seems on this occasion it will be better to swallow my pride (and dissatisfaction at their service) and cancel by post asap.

I would only take exception to one observation...

Problem is that you cannot say it was not wanted. You had no alternative cover in place. Had your vehicle suffered a claimable event in those days no doubt you would have claimed on the policy.

The proposal they sent back didn't even cover me for the period between the expiry and reception of the tick-box form I sent back.
Also, I can't help thinking they would have been using exactly the same argument that I have been trying to use, that no signed agreement was in place, to refuse to pay out on any theoretical claim.

Thanks
Richard.