Car Insurance - Fee charged as did not close insurance..

Keensaver

Hi,

I have recently been forwarded a debt collection letter..authorised by direct line for £48 as I did not inform them I did not want to continue with my car insurance with them , as I went with another provider..I find this staggering that they can charge this..as it is my responsibility whether I renew or not etc...

Has anyone else heard of this? taken any action?

Thanks

Quentin

You will have agreed to them renewing your policy when you took it out.

Your responsibility was to tell them you weren't renewing!

keith1950

Why oh why don't people read the terms and conditions before accepting them ?

As above you will also have had a renewal letter telling you to ring if you did not want it to renew.

It is your own apathy and lack of attention to detail that has caused this.......blame yourself !

Davidvgoliath

Keensaver wrote: »

Hi,

I have recently been forwarded a debt collection letter..authorised by direct line for £48 as I did not inform them I did not want to continue with my car insurance with them , as I went with another provider..I find this staggering that they can charge this..as it is my responsibility whether I renew or not etc...

Has anyone else heard of this? taken any action?

Thanks

I disgree with others responses here. I am an underwriter (commercial not personal insurances), so I know the insurance industry well.

This is a try on in my view. When you take out an annual policy you are not agreeing to renew with them ad infinitum, unless you specifically instruct them and pay the premium!

I would write to them, enclose a copy of your new insurance schedule, and tell if they continue to harass you you will report them to the police under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and stating that if they want to sue you for breach of contract, they must first of all prove that a contract existed. In court, any judge would see that you have behaved reasonably.

That should shut them up.

rs65

Davidvgoliath wrote: »

I disgree with others responses here. I am an underwriter (commercial not personal insurances), so I know the insurance industry well.

This is a try on in my view. When you take out an annual policy you are not agreeing to renew with them ad infinitum, unless you specifically instruct them and pay the premium!

I think you need to research the personal lines market a bit. Auto renewal has been around for a while.

*Scarlett

Whilst you will probably find that you have signed up to auto renewal when you took the policy out, you may find the the old insurer could waive the fee if you can prove that you are dual insured. You (or the new insurer) may have to to complete a form to send back.

dunstonh

.I find this staggering that they can charge this

Why?

They tell you about it in the policy documentation. The remind you in the renewal what you should do next.

as it is my responsibility whether I renew or not

It is your responsibility to read letters and terms sent to you. Failure to do so leads to things like this as the consequences of your inaction.

HOWMUCH

When I have change insurance companies I've always been asked for proof of no claims to forward onto my new insurer and this in turn has been my notice that I've cancelled what did you use,

dacouch

HOWMUCH wrote: »

When I have change insurance companies I've always been asked for proof of no claims to forward onto my new insurer and this in turn has been my notice that I've cancelled what did you use,

The renewal notice