Vent - RAC covered me twice and wont budge

camlo

I am gutted! I have had breakdown cover on automatic (direct debit) renew since 2007 but always call each year when i receive the reminder letter to discuss price and get a reduction.
In the summer I switched my car insurance to RAC as they were offering free breakdown and although it wasnt the cheapest insurance quote I knew it would save me overall.
This morning I opened my bank statement and saw a payment to RAC, a quick call established that the companies are not linked in any way and breakdown had automatically renewed on the 20th november. i explained i had not received any reminder letter which she assured me was sent and although she sympathised there is nothing i can do. They cannot (cannot not will not) overide the system in anyway as 14 days has passed and basically I have now paid £165 for cover I do not require.
Apparently there is no-one who can allow even a partial refund of the policy.
Does anyone know if it is ok to drown:mad::( my sorrows or is that a case of throwing good money after bad!?

wealdroam

camlo wrote: »

Does anyone know if it is ok to drown:mad::( my sorrows...

Yes, that is perfectly acceptable.

camlo wrote: »

...or is that a case of throwing good money after bad!?

Probably, but carry on.

fluffnutter

That's an interesting one. If you're adamant you weren't informed that it was about to automatically renew, take it further. Payments taken via continuous payment authorities have been successfully refunded in instances where people weren't informed. Write to their head office or customer complaints department.

The fact that you signed up with RAC for your car insurance is actually an irrelevancy in terms of your argument and might confuse matters, i.e. they'll get distracted arguing that the two branches are separate organisations. Your argument is more straightforward - you have a paid for a service via CPA. You weren't informed that this was about to be renewed nor told of your rights to cancel, therefore they're not acting in accordance with the T&Cs of CPAs. Good luck.

worried_jim

You need to write to-

Chris Woodhouse (CEO)
RAC Motoring Services
RAC House
Brockhurst Crescent
Walsall
WS5 4AW

Job done.

camlo

Thanks folks, will write the letter after I have calmed down so i keep it factual and not so emotive. Felt like crying when i was discussing it with the lady because she just wouldnt budge on the fact that they told me and i had not responded within a 'reasonable time' of 14 days. I tried to explain that i had just noticed today hence my call was the soonest i could but it seemed totally fruitless.

I asked about exceptional circs and was basically told.... Errr computer says no, only refund as a gesture of goodwill if you are dead....how kind.

camlo

Oh great, renewal notice arrived this morning. Have written to them and await a reply (hopefully with appropriate refund).

camlo

Had a wishy washy reply with no acknowledgement that I should have received a renewal notice. I called and was told the relevant department 'do not take calls' but was eventually given an email address to use.
Email sent last week but the silence is deafening..... Pity that rac dont seem to value customer service.

cat1978

I had this with RAC last year. They took a payment from credit card, even though I'd paid on my debit card and they refused to refund it. I rung the credit card company who said RAC are well known for doing this, they then refunded the money and said they would claim it back from RAC. I have also previously had this happen through my current account and again the bank refunded the money. Good luck in getting it sorted

bod1467

I have posted about this before ... my wife is treasurer of the local high school PTA. TWICE the RAC have erroneously debited the PTA account for motoring cover (2 years apart, so 2010 then 2012, will it happen again this year?). The RAC wouldn't refund (either time) so my wife invoked the DD guarantee (each time) and got the money back (eventually the second time - the bank were playing silly beggars). She has also advised the bank (again) that ANY debit by the RAC is unauthorised.

camlo

I have not approached the bank about it as thought rac should refund but having emailed again today (requesting receipt of the email at the very least but not getting a reply) - i think i will visit the bank and ask them about it.
Funny that the lady i spoke to before xmas assured me the automatic renew was cancelled by her but the letter i received last week also assured me the renew was now cancelled by a different person. If they had just refunded I would have continued to use them but now??

unholyangel

May be worthwhile checking the level of cover is the same also.

Some breakdown policies only cover the car and not the driver, or dont cover you if you're within 5 miles of your home etc. For £165 you're either getting ripped off or have a very extensive policy. My own was only around £90 renewal for the two of us (and that covers us as drivers, not the cars and also covers homestart among other things).