Collingwood Learner Driver's Insurance

Jenna1357

I've posted a review about my personal experience with this company, and also want to share it here to make sure people avoid making the same mistakes I made when buying learner driver insurance with this company!

While what they do is not breaking any laws, and they are legally allowed to do this I feel that I was wrongfully lead into buying a policy that wasn't what it appeared to be.

Like many people learning to drive, cost was a big issue, and finding an insurance company that will insure you as a learner driver in your OWN car is extremely difficult. This company offers very competitive prices for learner driver insurance cover, which is what drew me to them, in addition to offering policies on a car you own as a learner driver. I was taking a semi-intensive course over three weeks, and wanted to practice in my own car during the third week and came across these insurers. I was only initially wanting a weeks work of cover, but because of problems I ran into when trying to get a quote that wasn't possible.

Their website wouldn't let me take out a 7 day policy, an error message just kept coming up telling me to select another time. The four week was the next one available, and with little information present this appeared to be their month long policy, as they don't sell 30 day policies (only 1 week, 4, 8 etc.) They have some vague terms and conditions in their FAQ's, but you're lead to believe (I certainly was) that you would have a 14 day cooling off period, and if you cancelled before this you would receive a refund minus the days you were covered. And I always believed any contract had some kind of 'cooling off' period wherein you are entitled to a refund. Perfect! Not so much. They use a lot of misleading wording in their policies it seems, and other people have also fallen into the same trap I have, as well as having other issues with them.

The policy I bought was not in fact a month long policy, and they get away with not issuing refunds by stating in the full T&C's AFTER you buy the policy that to be entitled to a refund your policy has to be of at least 30 days in length. As they don't sell 30 day policies, and you are lead to believe that the four week policy is the month policy when buying, they've very craftily found a way to make a lot of money from unaware customers. With what appears to be the month policy only being 28 days long, the two days difference can be very costly, as I've found out. Sadly there is nothing I can do to argue with them or attempt to get a refund as they've very craftily covered themselves in the small print. I regret not triple checking everything, but how everything is set up on the website I felt I was lead to believe I was indeed buying their "month" policy, especially since they don't even sell 30 day policies. Also in believing that all contracts had a cooling off period by legal requirement, I thought I would be covered.

So I've ended up paying £108 for six days of insurance...

Again, while they are not breaking any laws, they should make their complete terms and conditions MUCH clearer, and not mislead you into thinking your buying policies that are not what you think they are. I didn't actually deal with the company themselves in regards to any claims etc, with only having six days of being covered before I passed my test.

I wanted to write this review in hopes that other learner drivers considering using this company read this, and double check every bit of small print before making the costly mistake I did.

rs65

Their FAQs have a question about cancellation


Would you expect a 14 day cooling off period on a 7 or 14 day policy?


You assumed all contracts had a cooling off period?



If your policy is at least one Calendar Month (30 days), and you cancel within the 14 day cooling-off period you will receive a refund of the premium you have paid less the days you have been on cover.

magpiecottage

If you feel their product was not presented in a way that was clear, fair and not misleading then you can make a complaint and, if you are dissatisfied with the outcome, as the Financial Ombudsman Service to consider it.

That is not to say it will be upheld, though.

takman

Personally i think the £108 is a good price even if you only used it for 6 days. When i was around 19 a friend of mine wanted me to pick up a car for him and he paid £60 for just ONE DAY's insurance. Short term insurance always works out more expensive.

I think your complaint is unfair because i don't think you can expect to have a cooling off period for such a short length of insurance?. You also said it clearly states the policy needs to be 30 days in length to be able to cancel early. I think most people know that 4 x 7 = 28 and not 30 so i can't see that being misleading.

rudekid48

Cooling off period does not mean free insurance. You still pay for the time that you are on cover.