Rights for cancelling an auto-renewed insurance policy

Johnmcl7

I've made a stupid mistake and got mixed up with my dates so as of midnight tonight my Admiral insurance policy will auto-renew for a substantially higher price than it should be and with the wrong policy. I've been looking through the documents and online to see what my cancellation rights but I can't seem to find anything clearcut, is there still a 14 day cooldown period after the policy starting date?

Thanks,
John

Gloomendoom

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

I've made a stupid mistake and got mixed up with my dates so as of midnight tonight my Admiral insurance policy will auto-renew for a substantially higher price than it should be and with the wrong policy. I've been looking through the documents and online to see what my cancellation rights but I can't seem to find anything clearcut, is there still a 14 day cooldown period after the policy starting date?

Thanks,
John

I did this too and realised at half eleven at night. What you need to do is quickly send an email to their customer services saying that you don't want to renew. Do it before midnight.

Don't forget to include your policy number in the email.

customerservices@admiral.com

Johnmcl7

Thanks for the prompt reply, I've given it a go anyway as it only takes a couple of minutes to send a mail. Did you have any luck cancelling the auto-renewal?

Thanks,
John

Gloomendoom

Yes. I did exactly the same thing as you and was frantically trying to think of a way out when I realised the T&Cs just said I had to inform them that I didn't want to renew before the renewal date. I did, ten minutes before.

It worked.

You will probably get an automated reply early tomorrow morning confirming receipt. Then a phone call later asking you why you aren't renewing etc.

BlueC

Have you ever heard of google?

Your answer is here: http://www.confused.com/car-insurance/articles/car-insurance-auto-renewals-your-rights

Or if you're really lazy:

Customers have a 14-day ‘cooling off’ period following the start of a new policy or renewal of an existing one, during which time they are legally entitled to cancel it. If you realise the error within this period, then you should be able to cancel your policy, although you may incur some pro-rata costs for the time and reasonable administration charges. Your insurance provider's exact terms should be easy to find within their policy document.

Johnmcl7

BlueC wrote: »

Have you ever heard of google?

Yes I did search which is why I said as much in my opening post, I guess you haven't heard of reading a post before replying to it though. I asked for definitive proof which your post did not provide

Thanks for the help Gloomendoom, fingers crossed that's it cancelled in time.

John

Gloomendoom

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

Yes I did search which is why I said as much in my opening post, I guess you haven't heard of reading a post before replying to it though. I asked for definitive proof which your post did not provide

Thanks for the help Gloomendoom, fingers crossed that's it cancelled in time.

John

If they do give you any trouble, remind them of their T&Cs

Page 33 Terms and Conditions.

Section 3 of Privacy and Security Statement

You may inform us of any changes or opt out of automatic renewal at any time by contacting our Customer Service department.

Johnmcl7

Just to follow this up I didn't hear from them on Monday so phoned when I had a chance and no problem to get the renewal price knocked down unsurprisingly. Also quite a bit quicker than usual and not too long a push on the personal injury cover, they did mail me back this morning saying they couldn't accept the cancellation as it lacked my date of birth and personal address although may have been able to push the point. Easier to sort it out over the phone though.

Next up...time to argue with Vodafone over their renewal price.

John

londonTiger

just out of curiosity when is the earliest you can tell them not to auto renew? my renewal is in jan 20th. Want to phone and ask what the renewal price and cancel auto renew.

Johnmcl7

londonTiger wrote: »

just out of curiosity when is the earliest you can tell them not to auto renew? my renewal is in jan 20th. Want to phone and ask what the renewal price and cancel auto renew.

My auto-renewal policy started on the 26th November and the letter was dated the 2nd November although the letter was a bit slow getting here. I would guess that your auto-renewal would be around the end of December or start of January depending on holidays.

I would be very surprised if their auto-renewal price was any good as every year I have to phone them and slowly go through all the details before they reduce the price. I usually get a quote from Elephant then phone Admiral, give them the details and they drop the price to match the Elephant one as they're the same company.

John