Currys Whatever Happens multi-cover

coops768

Just after a bit of advice...

I have many electrical appliances from Currys (eg laptops/tv's/kitchen appliances etc). When I purchased these appliances, I also got the Whatever Happens insurance policy with each of them. The insurance amount kept adding up as each appliance was on its own individual policy (around £6.00 each a month). This added up to about £60+ a month, and a member of the Currys KnowHow whatever happens team contacted me telling me I would be better off on the 'multi-care policy' which would give me exactly the same cover terms and conditions but be saving me about £10 a month. So, I agreed to take this multi-care plan over the phone.

That was 3 years ago now. I have recently had to make a claim on my broken laptop (first claim ever had), and I sent the laptop off to them to repair, and they sent it back to me, supposedly repaired, which it wasn't. It now had a new fault which was down to them. So, I contacted them, they collected the laptop again and sent it off for repair. When I got it back, I then noticed that fault was gone, but another new fault had occurred. As I had no use of this laptop in 21 days, I requested a write off on it (In the policy it says they repair within 21 days or they replace the laptop). When requesting this write off, I was told that because I am on this multi-care policy, the same terms and conditions do not apply to me and I cannot request a write off for at least after 42 days and after many repairs.

It has now passed 42 days, and has had many repairs and on the phone they told me they do not have to give me the write off its up to them, they might never choose to give me one.

Had I had known at the time 3 years ago that the policy was so different, I would never have took it out and I would of stuck with the individual policies I had. But, I wasn't told anything would change, and I was benefiting by saving money on the same terms because I had so many appliances.

I have paid thousands in insurance since this policy was taken out, and I was lied to and mislead into taking it out. Have Currys mis-sold me this policy? Where do I stand now?

dacouch

Currys cover is normally not an Insurance policy but a "service plan" constructed in a highly tax efficient way to avoid paying Insurance Premium Tax and also so they and their staff are not regulated by the FSA / FCA who highly regulate the sales of proper Insurance policies.

Paying £60 a month for warranties is a complete waste of money as you've discovered.

*Scarlett

As you took this policy out over the phone it could be that the call was recorded. I don't know if Currys do this, but many companies do (usually related to insurance / financial services).

As stated above if they are not FSA /FCA regulated for these products then there may not be any record of the call.

If they do record the calls you can ask for a copy. There may be a charge - poss £10?

If the sales person has mislead you then you would have proof.

Escalate your complaint to a manager or complaints dept rather than just talking to someone in a call centre.