Automatic Renewal from ProtectMyBubble Travel Insurance

konradvg

Hi all, I received a 'confirmation' email from Protectmybubble travel insurance to say they had automatically renewed my travel insurance from last year and taken the money from my credit card. As I've already purchased (better) travel insurance elsewhere I don't need it.

Does anyone know:

If this is legal?
If I can undo this directly with protectmybubble?
Or if I can undo this via my credit card provider?

Thanks for your replies!

Konrad

InsideInsurance

konradvg wrote: »

If this is legal?
If I can undo this directly with protectmybubble?
Or if I can undo this via my credit card provider?

Yes, if they have provided you with a renewal quote with reasonable notice and instructions of how to advise them if you dont want to accept it.

You should undo it with ProtectMyBubble however there may be a cancellation fee to terminate the policy given you've allowed it to renew. Presumably you are going to say you didnt receive the renewal notice so if you arent happy with their response then register a complaint and be very clear that you had already bought the same cover elsewhere

Your card issuer may be willing to do a chargeback but that doesnt solve the problem, it just means you then have a policy that you havent paid for. They will then void the policy for non-payment and you must then declare this voiding for life to all your other insurers.

konradvg

Hi InsideInsurance, thanks for your comprehensive answer. The thing is, they never did send me anything before I just got the 'confirmation' email and seperate email payment receipt. If they would have sent me a renewal quote with reasonable notice I would have declined it.

Is this standard practice?

RE: using my credit card provider to cancel, okay this doesn't sound like an option, especially as the amount is relatively low.

I'm not happy with the principle though that they never got in touch but then just renewed it. Anyone else had the same experience?

Thanks,

Konrad

Quentin

Check the policy wording over renewals - many insurers do it automatically, though not without putting this in as a condition of the policy

InsideInsurance

konradvg wrote: »

Is this standard practice?

Auto renewal is standard practice but they legally must provide notice. It used to be specified what notice must be given but the Insurance Code of Business (ICoB) rules were changed to be simply "reasonable". Rule of thumb is generally a minimum 14 days.

Registering a complaint with them they will undoubtably advise what date and how they sent the renewal notice to you and probably send you a duplicate.

konradvg

Okay I'll try to get in touch with them and see what they say.

Thanks again!

Konrad