Saga took my payment too early?

renegade

Took out a new contents only Insurance ,paid for a year upfront by debit card, however, I see from my bank statment that they have taken the money already and the policy doesn't start until 3rd Nov.
I have telephoned them and they tell me that this is normal procedure and should have been explained to me at the time, it was not and I have not budgeted for this payment this month, they say they cannot refund the money.

Whilst she did apologise, am still not happy and I am sure this is not legal?

Faith177

As far as I knew as soon as you accepted the policy the money would be taken. The same as when you pay by anything by card.

If you buy a concert ticket for a month in advance they take the money there and then not on the day. Why would insurance be any different?

Quentin

Presumably they will have to reimburse you if you cancel? This may be the quickest way to get your money back.

Check there is no admin charge for cancelling before the policy starts.

Presumably you no longer want to do business with them.

renegade

Faith177 wrote: »

As far as I knew as soon as you accepted the policy the money would be taken. The same as when you pay by anything by card.

If you buy a concert ticket for a month in advance they take the money there and then not on the day. Why would insurance be any different?

Not always the case, when I buy something from the shops on line the money is not taken until the goods are despatched, I have goods on order from Amazon for 3 months now and they have not taken any money and wont, not until they are despatched.

renegade

Faith177 wrote: »

As far as I knew as soon as you accepted the policy the money would be taken. The same as when you pay by anything by card.

If you buy a concert ticket for a month in advance they take the money there and then not on the day. Why would insurance be any different?

Because if I had been aware of that I would have used my Credit card and got 56 days to pay!

Faith177

renegade wrote: »

Because if I had been aware of that I would have used my Credit card and got 56 days to pay!

But the date that it would have been applied to your account would have been the transaction date or a few days after so the money would still have been taken at the same time as on a debit

Faith177

renegade wrote: »

Not always the case, when I buy something from the shops on line the money is not taken until the goods are despatched, I have goods on order from Amazon for 3 months now and they have not taken any money and wont, not until they are despatched.

That's because they haven't got the item in stock or it possibly a pre-order so it is easier for them to take the money when they have the item in stock rather than refunding it at a later date if unable to do this.

With insurance your policy would have been loaded straight away and your documents sent out