Car insurance company's stitch up

Just_landed

This has happened to me and I am not happy about it, What I would like is the your views on :-

Money supermarket, I tend to buy my car insurance via them. I pick one that suits me then move over to the car insurances own website & buy their product as some would say Simples but wait a minute if you buy your car insurance from them, when renewal time comes they Tell not ask if you want to renew with them and that they will take the money from you automatically. Not only is the renewal premium more, they do not give you a choice. I have twice had this problem with insurance company’s most of them are ripping the customers off and as the salesman I spoke to today says 65% of policy holders like this arrangement (lambs to the slaughter)
It turns out they hold onto your credit card details from the first year. When I query this with them it turns out when you accept the insurance the first year they hang on to your credit card details and use them again the next year it’s in the small print, SO be warned or you to could be stitched up.
I think this is grossly unfair. As always if you go to the say money supermarket you will always get a cheaper quote. This year I got six quotes £50 cheaper.

What do you think about this ?

:(:(

lovinituk

I always do the same and have never had car insurance renewed without receiving a letter first. This gives you at least a month to cancel (which I always do and then go and get it cheaper elsewhere). If you don't cancel then yes it renews automatically - nothing strange about that.

keith1950

As above...

You receive a renewal letter that gives you the option of doing nothing and letting it renew or the option of ringing to tell them to let the policy lapse......simples !!

happy_with_my_lot!!

As above - and don't forget to haggle about your renewal premium with your current insurers - I saved almost £300 on the family's multicar policy by staying with the same company :j

rs65

Just_landed wrote: »

when renewal time comes they Tell not ask if you want to renew with them and that they will take the money from you automatically. Not only is the renewal premium more, they do not give you a choice.

They do give you a choice. They tell you what to do if you do not wish to renew.

You can also opt out of auto-renew when you take the policy out.

Hasbeen

As all above, you decide! renew or cancel and move to alternative insurer that meets you needs. "SIMPLES":T

dunstonh

Not only is the renewal premium more, they do not give you a choice.

There is a choice. You either do nothing and let it renew or you do as the renewal letter says and phone them to say you do not wish to renew.

Also, the premium is not always more. Not all companies operate a year one discount.

I have twice had this problem with insurance company’s most of them are ripping the customers off and as the salesman I spoke to today says 65% of policy holders like this arrangement (lambs to the slaughter)

the "salesman" is correct. Most people will renew the existing policy. So, auto renewal benefits the majority. Have you not considered that as you have twice had this "problem" that it is you that is the issue and not the process?

What do you think about this ?

I don't particularly like auto-renewal. However, we have seen posts on this site where people have become uninsured because they didnt have auto renewal and have been caught and prosecuted. For everyone that doesnt like it, there are those that benefit from it. Also, we shouldnt ignore the cost benefit. We have lower premiums because of it.

Slowhand

Just landed? From what planet?

trailingspouse

Driving a car whilst accidentally uninsured is a much greater problem - for the uninsured driver, the insurance company that they thought they were with, and for the person they hit. OK, so some people forget to cancel their insurance - but you can still cancel, even if it's a bit late, and get most of your premium back. And at least you're not breaking the law.

Just_landed

Janice Long just been talking about this same situation with Alex Lester on the radio 2, saying the same as what I say about this subject, I will not say what she said to the insurance company, but it wasn't polite. Martin was talking about this kind of thing a couple of weeks ago. This story will gain momentum when people realise what is happening. It's a con !

:mad: :mad:

keith1950

Simples.....or maybe your plain simple.