Auto Renew Travel Insurance

lorrainer58

Hi - I am so anti auto renew that I make sure on all subscription services i cancel as soon as I subscribe. for house and car insurance as soon as the auto renew letter drops on the mat I use the compare sites and buy new, they always offer me a better deal. There is no loyalty deal with auto renew.
I purchased last year a single year insurance policy for a trip to the caribbean. I definitely chose a single year policy. Today I received in the post my new policy and credit type card for making claims.
I rang to ask why they had set this up as auto renew. They told me that even though I had selected single year policy that the small print would have shown this as auto renew !! I cannot believe they can get away with this.
I then asked if it was auto renew why they didn't write or email me ? They said they did - hmm funny how that letter didn't arrive but the renew letter did.
Anyway they agreed to refund in full within 7 days as it was in the 14 day cooling off period.
I am with Martin on the opposition to auto renew - what else can we do to try and stop this action ?
Lorraine

dunstonh

I rang to ask why they had set this up as auto renew. They told me that even though I had selected single year policy that the small print would have shown this as auto renew !! I cannot believe they can get away with this.

Auto-renewal can be in the small print but they are still required to notify you in advance of the renewal as to what the premium is and the letter must state what you need to do if you do not wish to renew. That must not be in the small print but part of the cover letter.

I am with Martin on the opposition to auto renew - what else can we do to try and stop this action ?

Most people renew their policies with the same provider. So, the majority of people benefit from it. It is believed the regulator doesnt have a problem with it and this site has seen people suffer because they had policies that didnt renew when they thought they would. So, its not all one sided.

lorrainer58

Thanks for your comments. I guess auto renew would seem ok ig the companies were fair with the increases. I have stayed with the same provider but challenged the auto renew on my car insurance and home insurance each year. They always match the online price, I just can't understand why they don't offer it in the first place thats my main beef. Stay and be loyal and pay more for the service

Lorraine

dunstonh

They always match the online price, I just can't understand why they don't offer it in the first place thats my main beef.

If they did that, then the premium would go up. They need x% of the people to be paying the higher amount to allow the year one discount to work.

Stay and be loyal and pay more for the service

Not all companies use the year one discount model. However, its no different to many other areas of retail. Broadband, paytv, utility bills etc.