hastings direct

siobhan27

I called to cancel my car insurance on 16th january 2012, due to working abroad, they said I would have to pay £55.00 so I said I'd leave it as the term was up on 31st March. I'm home now and arranged new insurance cover with another company, when I contacted Hastings for proof of no claims they said that I'm still insured with them, they took £674.30 from my bank account on April 1st 2012. They now say I'm not entitled to get a refund as I didn't complete a SORN. What do I do next please?

worried_jim

Did you still own the car, if so where was is stored when you were abroad?

Hastings_Direct_company_representative

Hi siobhon27,

Thanks for posting, I am sorry to hear you were unaware that we continued to cover your vehicle for the period of time you were out the country. Most of our policies are on an auto renewal basis, this helps to ensure that vehicles do not become uninsured. Can you please let me know your policy details so that I can help you get this resolved. The question posted above by worried Jim will help to assess what next steps are best to take. [EMAIL="socialmedia@hastingsdirect.com"]socialmedia@hastingsdirect.com[/EMAIL]

Many Thanks,
Jamie

KTF

Looks like the auto renew got you. Did you not get any letters from them with the renewal premium and/or post forwarded when you were working overseas?

GiveMeMyCashback

Atleast Hastings have the decency to try and sort the issue out.
Great customer service.

Btw, its my first time ever that i have insured with Hastings.
Hope it goes well.

Peter999_2

My parents got a letter from Hastings at the end of their policy specifically stating that if they wanted to renew they needed to phone Hastings. They decided to go elsewhere, and surprise surprise Hastings auto-renewed and took the money from their account. :mad:

Why state in the letter that they needed to phone if they were going to auto-renew anyway?

Hastings_Direct_company_representative

Peter999 wrote: »

My parents got a letter from Hastings at the end of their policy specifically stating that if they wanted to renew they needed to phone Hastings. They decided to go elsewhere, and surprise surprise Hastings auto-renewed and took the money from their account. :mad:

Why state in the letter that they needed to phone if they were going to auto-renew anyway?

Hi Peter999,

Thanks for posting, this sounds like an error to me. Can you please ask your parents to forward me the details as I would like to investigate? [EMAIL="socialmedia@hastingsdirect.com"]socialmedia@hastingsdirect.com[/EMAIL]

Many Thanks,
Jamie

Hastings_Direct_company_representative

GiveMeMyCashback wrote: »

Atleast Hastings have the decency to try and sort the issue out.
Great customer service.

Btw, its my first time ever that i have insured with Hastings.
Hope it goes well.

Hi GiveMeMyCashback,

Thanks for letting me know your feedback, I really appreciate it. If you need anything during your policy with us please feel free to get in contact with me. [EMAIL="socialmedia@hastingsdirect.com"]socialmedia@hastingsdirect.com[/EMAIL]

Many Thanks,
Jamie

dacouch

GiveMeMyCashback wrote: »

Atleast Hastings have the decency to try and sort the issue out.
Great customer service.

Btw, its my first time ever that i have insured with Hastings.
Hope it goes well.

Do a search of MSE for "Hastings" to see how uneffecient they are.

If the OP did not post on MSE they would be up against a brick wall with Hastings

siobhan27

Customer service has been terrible with Hastings, yesterday they were arguing with me saying it was my fault. The car was being kept in a garage while I was away, but they say it still had to be insured, I'm waiting to speak with my father in law, a chief super with the police to check this point of law. I didn't get a renewal reminder as I had moved house and as I'd called them to cancel on 16th January thought that would be the end of it, obviously not with Hastings. Can't believe their incompetence and the fact that they are trying to blame me and get out of paying me back

worried_jim

siobhan27 wrote: »

Customer service has been terrible with Hastings, yesterday they were arguing with me saying it was my fault. The car was being kept in a garage while I was away, but they say it still had to be insured, I'm waiting to speak with my father in law, a chief super with the police to check this point of law. I didn't get a renewal reminder as I had moved house and as I'd called them to cancel on 16th January thought that would be the end of it, obviously not with Hastings. Can't believe their incompetence and the fact that they are trying to blame me and get out of paying me back

I think you'll find the law changed a year or so ago and it still needs to be insured, be interesting to find out for sure though. Was your car declared SORN?

This might help-
Exemptions and making a SORN
The only exemption to the CIE rule is if you declare your car off the road by obtaining a SORN (statutory off road notification.)

You can make a SORN from the fifth day of the month in which the existing tax disc or SORN is due to expire.

To do this, you will need to contact the DVLA either by phone on 0300 123 4321 or online at https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app/home/intro.

You will either need your V11 reminder form or logbook to hand. If you make the SORN by phone you will receive a confirmation letter. If this hasn't arrived after four weeks, you should contact DVLA customer enquiries on 0300 790 6802.

You won't be sent a confirmation letter if you apply online, but will be able to either print off the confirmation page, or will receive an email if you have supplied an address.

The SORN will be effective for 12 months and you must make sure that your car won't be driven or kept on a public road during this time. If it is, you could be liable for receiving a maximum penalty of £5,000 and could even face imprisonment.

If you wish to find out when your vehicle's SORN expires, you simply need to go the 'vehicle enquiry' service which can be found online and enter your car's make and registration number.

When the 12 month period is up, you should be sent a reminder to let you know that your SORN is coming to an end. You will then have to either re-tax your vehicle or renew your SORN.