How long one should notify insurance company before cancelling renewal?

gilbutre

Hi everyone,

I'm with BrokerKing/Haven insurance, a !!!!!-like insurance company who charges you £25 extra when one monthly instalment doesn't go through.

In the contract there's nothing about cancellation from the client. On the phone they told me I can cancel auto renewal even one day before it takes place. But that's just words over the phone.

My question is: how is it with insurance companies in general? Do you usually have to notify 1 month before the end of premium that you don't want to continue with them? 2 months? More?

Quentin

Each company sets out its cancellation policy in the policy docs.

Usually (to be on the safe side) give instructions in writing in good time (say at least a week's notice), ask them to confirm receipt and use recorded delivery.

forgotmyname

I would phone at least 2 weeks before the renewal. Recording the call and then back it up by letter.

I think you will find most if not all insurers are going to charge you for missing payments.

Could have been worse. Some of the worse ones will have just cancelled your cover instantly for a missed payment.

InsideInsurance

Normally its any time before the renewal date if you want it to lapse rather than renew. This is different to cancelling!

Obviously if you know before that then its sensible to do it as soon as you know because then you avoid the risk of forgetting or the phones being down or anything else

Building_Surveyor

Mines 3 days notice over the phone. I've never sent any letters in the past and never had any issues. They normally send you a confirmation letter a few days after once it's done.

Quentin

Building_Surveyor wrote: »

Mines 3 days notice over the phone. I've never sent any letters in the past and never had any issues. They normally send you a confirmation letter a few days after once it's done.

You have been fortunate. There have been a number of posts about unscrupulous companies who deny receiving telephone instructions.

The cost of being involved in the hassle and cost of ending up with an unwanted autorenewal is far more than putting your instructions in writing and getting proof of posting or using recorded delivery.

Gloomendoom

I sent an email to Admiral advising them that I didn't wish to (auto) renew 7 minutes before the policy was due to start again.

Ronneh

To be safe, do it as soon as you get the letter saying it's due for renewal soon. Leave it last minute and you could get yourself stung

gilbutre

Sent a recorded delivery couple days before renewal day. Thanks all for the input !