Question re car insurance query.

bowz25

Hi all
I recently took out new car insurance end of last month and for taking policy i am to received £50 back.
I set up dd for monthly payments to come out of my bank and first one due 28/5/07.
Due to setting up dmp with cccs i have had to change bank accounts so i have rang all companies and set up new direct debits with them.
When i called car insurance they changed this over the telephone and then told me it would cost £20 for admin charge(what for to input some details ) the lady said any change to to policy incurs a charge. (it does say on paperwork any change to policy incurs this charge) I am only changing the payment bank details none of the other companies have charged me.

As the first payment has not been taken yet do you think it is worth sending a letter to insurance company or will they just say terms and conditions and refer to them.

I had the lady on the phone laughing as she said will send paperwork out and it costs to do that, i said i already have certificate of insurance etc but if she has do send it could it be edged in 9ct gold for the £20.00 charge incurred.
anyone feel it is worth writing to them?

thanks for any replies

immoral_angeluk

That's ridiculous!! I'm with churchill and I've changed details numerous times and had copies of x, y and z for whatever reason and have never been charged. They're taking you for a mug and personally if I was laughed down the phone by someone I'd cancel the policy and go with someone else as that's bang out of order.

HardleyLisa

Hi, I agree with Immoral Angel. I have my car insurance with Direct Line and house contents insurance with AA Insurance and they didn't charge me when I changed bank details. It probably states about charges in the small print but I think this is unfair. It's probably their way of getting some of their £50 back!! I would definitely write to them. Also I would complain about the member of staff who laughed at you.

bowz25

Hi
Thanks for the quick replies i will def write to them.

sorry the staff member did not laugh at me she laughed at what i was saying about the policy and how ridiculous i thought it was, i think she more or less agreed with me in a way.
Thanks anyway i will definately write to them, i will have to keep policy for now as already paid deposit and they charge for cancellation as well now.

still worth stamp though will write to them.

crawley_girl

Yeah, write and complain. In the past I have changed bank details, added drivers and taken drivers off the policy and have never been charged an 'admin fee'.

oscar52

I have never changed details like that, but I hace been charged "admin fees" for swapping insured vehicles - I had something like 7 cars in three years - some I just got bored, others went to the scrap yard (in the sky) - but cant say I have heard of admin fees for changing bank details. They dont need to send anything really - maybe a dd mandate with it being a different bank, but thats all.

Hermione54

These charges are a way of keeping their quotations down. It is fairly common now to charge around £20 or so to change details on a policy while it is in force. No one pretends it really cost them that much; it's just another way to make money.

misspoppy

This was highlighted on the telly a few weeks ago, who is the insurer so we can avoid them!