Hastings car insurance took another years payment - grrr

mttylad

Grrr..... vent, vent......

Just discovered that my MBNA visa card, that I had completely paid off in December had been charged £280 ish by Hastings direct in March on the anniversary of my wifes car insurance.

And then because we didn't know about it we have been charged £12 late payment & £4 ish interest.

I have all the web ages from ordering the insurance online, there was nothing about a continuous payment authority, we have received no emails etc about renewal AND we took out a new policy with Hastings again but for £170ish.

Mightily peed off, I'll be on the phone to Hastings at the next opportunity expecting a full refund AND the payment of the of the late fee & interest that occured due to their error. And I'll be onto the card with a section75 if I get any problems.

:mad::mad::mad:

swingaloo

I suspect you haven't read your booklet. It doesn't tell you online when you apply, but, it is in the policy booklet that they 'auto renew' and its down to you to opt out if you don't want them to do this.

dacouch

What did the renewal notice they sent you prior to the renewal say about automatically renewing the policy and taking payment?

The-Truth

mttylad wrote: »

I have all the web ages from ordering the insurance online, there was nothing about a continuous payment authority

The only web page about it is this

hastingsinsuranceuk.epticahosting.com/selfhastingsinsuranceuk/template.do?name=Can+I+opt+out+of+automatic+renewal%3F&id=784

And it states you have to call them to opt out of continuous payment authority.

Rolandtheroadie

Hastings done it with my motorbike insurance last year too, even although I had cancelled the auto renew.
I still had all the details of my cancellation call though, so had no problems getting the money back and it hadn't overdrawn me.

This year? Cancelled again (a new Hastings policy), but they got it right. 3 days after it lapsed, my bike was lost in a fire, uninsured. I was going to insure another bike instead, but hadn't got it in for its MOT yet. So 2 bikes down.

Checked my bank statements, but nope, no payment taken. Bummer.

Damn you Hastings!

pmduk

I suspect you'd have been blaming them if your vehicle had been seized because the insurance had lapsed. Sometimes Insurance companies can't win, You might be organised but there are dozens who aren't.

mttylad

NO, when I bought it there was nothing saying that I had signed upto a continuous payment - nothing.

We had not had any renewal notices - nothing.
We had not had an email explaining the new policy - nothing.

All we had was a charge of £230+ and then more charges from the CC.

Whenever taking out a policy if it states that there is an auto renew I always call them and cancel the auto renewal. I also kept every page of the purchase & took notes about this call. Yes I am organized about it but I should not suffer because of it.

However, rang Hastings today, they are repaying the fee as we have another policy with them, they are also going to pay the charges after looking at the proof of them that I have sent.

The-Truth

mttylad wrote: »

NO, when I bought it there was nothing saying that I had signed upto a continuous payment - nothing.

I think it's more likely you just didn't read any links that then detailed what you signed up to.

mttylad

Are you blind?
I said NO - there was NOTHING, zilch - zero.

I always look for this - every year, and ensure that it's not set for auto renewal.
I have the web pages I went through when I signed up, hastings have also admitted there was nothing on them and paid me back.

It's no good them saying so after someone has signed up and paid etc.

tomtontom

mttylad wrote: »

Are you blind?
I said NO - there was NOTHING, zilch - zero.

I always look for this - every year, and ensure that it's not set for auto renewal.
I have the web pages I went through when I signed up, hastings have also admitted there was nothing on them and paid me back.

It's no good them saying so after someone has signed up and paid etc.

Then you must have different terms and conditions to every other customer. You did read them, didn't you?

The-Truth

mttylad wrote: »

Are you blind? No that's why I was able to find the page stating that it is auto renewal unless you cancel.
I said NO - there was NOTHING, zilch - zero. That's because you didn't read it. Also see Tomtontom's reply

I always look for this - every year, and ensure that it's not set for auto renewal.
I have the web pages I went through when I signed up, hastings have also admitted there was nothing on them and paid me back. How come I found one? This one hastingsinsuranceuk.epticahosting.com/selfhastingsinsuranceuk/template.do?name=Can+I+opt+out+of+automatic+renewa%20l%3F&id=784

You were refunded through goodwill, not because they were wrong.

Your points have been replied to in the red text above.