Swinton Home Insurance, £50 Cancellation - I owe you nothing!

Quentin

principlecounts wrote: »

......They only say they 'may' renew but don't actually say they will definitely do it.

You are (wrongly) interpreting the use of the word "may" in the ts&& cs to mean "might".

"May" means that when you accept the conditions that allows them to do it.

Faith177

principlecounts wrote: »

@forgotmyname - I will need to check that, but it'll be something along what it already says on their website:

Shortly before renewal, we will try to speak to you by phone about your renewal requirements. If we do not manage to contact you or you do not proceed at that time, then we will send you a letter setting out our renewal quote. We will ask you at that time to contact us.
If you are paying for your policy by direct debit, and you are happy with your quote to renew with your current insurer, there will be nothing further for you to arrange. Your direct debit payments will continue automatically and your new payments will be debited on your usual collection date.
Also, if you are paying by direct debit, Swinton may (but accepts no responsibility to) arrange to renew your policy automatically if, prior to your renewal date, contact between us has not been successful or you have failed to confirm whether or not you wish to proceed. We would do this for your protection. If you do not wish us to take this action, please tell us at any time up to 7 days before your renewal date. If we do not hear from you to the contrary, we will treat it that you agree to this.
If you have paid by debit or credit card we may charge payment for subsequent renewals of your policies to the debit or credit card details provided. We will write to you in advance of doing so. If you do not want us to do this you can let us know at any time.


This is pure ambiguity at it's best. They only say they 'may' renew but don't actually say they will definitely do it.

It does quite clearly state though that if you don't want to renew you must contact them before the renewal you didn't do this so that's why they are charging you.

It's not a trick it isn't a con you just haven't read your documents properly

OshayAway

You agreed to it when you entered into the contract. Their T&Cs form part of that contract and are outlined atr outset.

This is common practice. Is it underhand? There is an obvious advantage to the insurer in improving business retention. If they hadn't auto renewed and your policy lapsed without your knowledge, then subsequently you suffered a claimable event, you would justifiably feel aggrieved.

Just playing devil's advocate (and throwing pedro a bone ).

lippy1923

I agree with most on here. It does very clearly state you need to cancel 1 week before it expires. You did not do this. Hense you get charged. The "MAY" part of the statement comes into affect if you agree to the terms (which you did because you did not cancel when specified)

What stopped you cancelling when you were required to do so?

TBH if you continue complaining they will most likely refund your charge to shut you up as you are leaving them anyway.

carlos100

Another Swinton thread.
Again slagging off Swinton who have done no wrong yet when people search will be put off unfounded...sheesh!

A happy Swinton customer ....not associated with Swintons whatsoever.

pedro123456

"Just playing devil's advocate" no your not Oshayaway, your just supporting the bent IC's because you are part of their system.

ps thanks for the bone, have a rabbit in return :EasterBun

olly300

Principlecounts due to the fact Swinton's used the word "may" in their terms and conditions then you need to put in a formal complaint to them over the charge and threaten to take it to the financial ombudsman service if they refuse to cancel the charge.

If they refuse to cancel the charge then take them to the financial ombudsman service and make it clear that your argument is over the fact that Swintons didn't say they would definitely renew your insurance as they used the word "may".

I took a car insurer to task over the same thing years ago so they had to change their t&cs.

principlecounts

I'll reply to everyone's comments soon. Interestingly doing another search on home insurance's, no surprise Swinton being the cheapest, I looked at the next cheapest who were the AA, they actually state they will just renew. This is different to considering to renew.

Automatic Renewal
If you’re paying through our instalment account over 12 months, at the end of each 12-month period we
will write to confirm if we can automatically renew your cover. If we are able to do this, unless we hear
from you, your cover will automatically be renewed to the authorised insurer as specified in our letter. We
will send you an important notice of any changes that apply to your policy booklet.

Interesting observation.

dunstonh

I still think they are unreasonable in charging people for a service someone hasn't agreed to and/or doesn't want anymore.

If you didnt want it then why did you let them renew it? Their letter clearly states what you need to do if you dont want to renew. So, why did you not follow those instructions?

BertTheRaccoon

You are misinterpreting the "may" in the T&C's in my opinion.

You are interpreting "we may" as we might.

The correct interpretation is "we will" as you have given consent by accepting their original terms and conditions and not contacting them before 7 days from the original policy expiring.

Put it another way, the T&C is saying if you don't contact us by 7 days before expiry that means we may (read can) proceed to renew unless you tell us otherwise before the date of the proposed renewal.

You have chimed in too late and you lose.

You're flogging a dead horse in my opinion.

Forget principles, your interpretation is wrong and you'll get hosed down, all for the sake of £50.