Post Office free month insurance offer misleading

Huddsgirl_2

As I have had my car from new my insurance, MOT and tax all arrive in May. The Post Office are advertising one months free insurance and I thought it would be good to move my insurance renewal to June so I don't have to pay everything in the same month. Their quote came in about £20 more than a few other companies but I thought it was worth it. When my insurance policy arrived I noticed they had only insured me for 12 months, I rang them to inform them they had made a mistake and where was my free month; and they informed me that they had only charged me for 11 months, and that the free month made it up to 12!! I feel their advertising is VERY misleading and had I known I would have used one of the cheaper companies.

Also beware of autorenewal, when you give your credit card details to the insurance company they have a right to automatically take the money from your credit card the year after without asking your permission and it is up to you to then cancel the policy. They can take the money from your credit card even if you have cancelled the card. YES car insurance quoted me more than £100 than the previous year, sent me a letter when I was away on holiday, and it cost me £20 to cancel the policy with them.

I feel I have been swizzed twice in the same month :mad:

dmg24

Hi Huddsgirl,

Welcome to MSE.

I think that, in the case of the Post Office insurance, it is a case that you should have read the terms and conditions of the offer. I have just had a quick read through, and it does make sense that the offer is in effect '12 months for the price of 11'.

uktim29

dmg24 wrote: »

Hi Huddsgirl,

Welcome to MSE.

I think that, in the case of the Post Office insurance, it is a case that you should have read the terms and conditions of the offer. I have just had a quick read through, and it does make sense that the offer is in effect '12 months for the price of 11'.

Hmm, that's what I would have assumed without checking the offer to be. Not pay for 12 and get 13.

MercilessKiller

Hi huddsgirl

My girlfriend works in the post office and talks to me about these things

It seems that she has to say "12 months for the price of 11" when selling it! But thats the offer there!!! Not 13 for 12 HTH

mpython

Whilst I agree that you should check T&Cs before agreeing contracts, doesn't it make it more difficult to compare prices if they are only quoting for 11 months?

Putting aside NCD, that means you'll have a 9.1% increase when you pay for a full year next year.

RadoJo

I am confused - didn't you get a free month of insurance? If they were not cheapest, even with a free month, I don't understand why you took out the insurance?

brazilianwax

mpython wrote: »

Whilst I agree that you should check T&Cs before agreeing contracts, doesn't it make it more difficult to compare prices if they are only quoting for 11 months?

No, because they are covering you for 12 months, not 11. So the annual premium is the same as the (supposed) 11 month premium.

These things are all gimmicks anyway.

fudgeukraine

Radojo, she got a fre month as the charge was for 11 months cover, but there has been a month added to it. The OP just didn't read the terms and conditions and thought she'd get 13 months for the price of 12 (and not 12 months for 11)

RadoJo

Ah I get it - so the intention was that the anticipated 13 months' cover would mean that the renewal date would be a month later as Huddsgirl wanted to do anyway - phew, thought I was going mental then!

It seems like a simple misunderstanding rather than actively misleading - I can see what you mean, but unless it specifically stated that it was 13 for teh price of 12 I think most people would expect a year for the price of 11 months.

fudgeukraine

Yea, it's the power of advertising and the belief that people get something for nothing/one-over on the company! Always read the T & Cs!!!

grannybroon

I have a degree of sympathy with original poster as sometimes the wording of these offers can be confusing. However, I must say I would expect one month free would be 11 months + 1 = current 12 month cover. However, my DH is very astute and has coached me over many years to ask pertinent questions and research thoroughly. It is sometimes very difficult to read the small print. Yes, even after all that once or twice we have had our fingers burnt but fortunately not to too much financial detriment!

GB