Car Insurance Canceled

Ricwin

Hello

I received a letter yesterday stating that my car insurance has been canceled according to a recorded delivery letter dated 31st August.

I have not received or signed for any recorded letter in the last few weeks, and Brentacre have not checked with the Royal Mail that I have received the letter.
According to Brentacre, because the letter was not returned to them, I have signed for and received it.
The Royal Mail state that any recorded item which ha not been delivered will be returned to the sender after 18 days. A considerably longer period than the 7 days I was apparently given to rectify an issue I was unaware of.

Has my insurance company acted too hastily? Ruthlessly even?
Do they have any obligation to ensure a recorded letter has been signed for and delivered?

The reason for cancellation is due to a direct debit error. I changed bank account and gave them my new direct debit details. They have not actually attempted to charge my new bank account. This is surely an error on their part?
In the mean time, they are demanding the missing payment. And are attempting to make me sign up for a new 10 month policy, and pay another substantial deposit. My 'current' 12 month policy is due to end in February.

Is there anything I can do now? What choices do I have?
Any help will be much appreciated.

Regards
Ric

Quentin

Try and sort it out with them to reinstate your original policy as having a cancelled policy on your record has to be declared for evermore to other insurers and will mean most won't want you.

InsideInsurance

The law fairly blindly trusts Royal Mail and generally speaking simply having proof of sending is considered sufficient - rarely is there strictly needed a proof of receipt though evidently the more evidence someone has the better.

If you are saying they havent followed your instructions then you need to raise an urgent formal complaint with them to get them to reinstate your old policy. As Quentin says, a voided policy will mean you will have difficulty getting any future insurance at anything close to what you can at the moment

jellie

As Quentin said, you don't want a cancelled policy on your records. The company will probably argue it is your responsibility to ensure your DDs are paid.

Speak to them and explain what happened, hopefully they will reinstate your original policy.