Can i reclaim bank account charges after paying for breakdown cover for 2 years

Sandinafir86

Hi I currently have a halifax rewards current account. 2 years ago I decided to take out aa breakdown cover without realising I already had this same cover with my bank account. It wasn't until last week when I called aa to change my vehicle that they informed me that I already have cover with them through halifax. They said they couldn't offer me a refund as I only had 5 months cover left and I had already paid upfront. Can I claim this money back from Halifax or not? Help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[Deleted User]

Sandinafir86 wrote: »

Can I claim this money back from Halifax or not?

You can ask, but any duplication of cover is not mis-selling.

It was your own responsibility to check before purchase...

Mersey_2

True, but it's also the bank's responsibility not to sell unnecessary products.


Sandinafir86 - although in this instance it isn't bank mis-sellling. It may, however, simply be worth reclaiming it from your card provider as you didn't receive the service you paid for. They may not do this - it will depend on what you fill in on the form they send you.

Bogalot

Mersey wrote: »

True, but it's also the bank's responsibility not to sell unnecessary products.


Sandinafir86 - although in this instance it isn't bank mis-sellling. It may, however, simply be worth reclaiming it from your card provider as you didn't receive the service you paid for. They may not do this - it will depend on what you fill in on the form they send you.

The standalone AA cover was purchased after the current account was in place. How do you suggest the bank were at fault for this? I doubt they have a crystal ball.

dunstonh

True, but it's also the bank's responsibility not to sell unnecessary products.

The bank is not at fault and has no responsibility for the purchase of breakdown cover with the AA years later.

It may, however, simply be worth reclaiming it from your card provider as you didn't receive the service you paid for. They may not do this - it will depend on what you fill in on the form they send you.

Interesting approach and may work seeing as AA was the company in both policies.

Mersey_2

Bogalot wrote: »

The standalone AA cover was purchased after the current account was in place. How do you suggest the bank were at fault for this?

I did not - if you read my post.


I was merely responding to the sweeping statement in post 2.

Nasqueron

Mersey wrote: »

True, but it's also the bank's responsibility not to sell unnecessary products.


Sandinafir86 - although in this instance it isn't bank mis-sellling. It may, however, simply be worth reclaiming it from your card provider as you didn't receive the service you paid for. They may not do this - it will depend on what you fill in on the form they send you.

The way the OP's post reads is that they had the current account with AA cover and THEN got the AA cover separately so the bank weren't really selling unnecessary products.

Having personally had the same account as the OP I can 100% guarantee you that OP would have received the following:

1) All the info on the packaged account on the phone/online when upgrading
2) All the info on the benefits provided in a welcome pack
3) An annual letter/package detailing the benefits

If OP didn't read any of those documents then yes they could be unaware of the AA cover but then they'd be looking for a goodwill gesture from the bank or the AA on the basis they don't read what they signed up for which is a very weak complaint, not least as they can't prove it

[Deleted User]

Mersey wrote: »

I was merely responding to the sweeping statement in post 2.

That's why it's generally a wise practice to quote the post you are responding to.

Mersey_2

Yours was the only reply, moneyineptitude, so it was fairly obvious at the time of the post and still is.


Nasqueron - fair points. It's the bank that issued the card who refunds disputed payments, of course, not the AA.


But yes, AA could then seek to have it refunded back to them again.


The form doesn't require any complaint or proof - merely a signature that the customer didn't receive the service they paid for with the card (which the company can dispute at a later date).

Nasqueron

Mersey wrote: »

Nasqueron - fair points. It's the bank that issued the card who refunds disputed payments, of course, not the AA.


But yes, AA could then seek to have it refunded back to them again.


The form doesn't require any complaint or proof - merely a signature that the customer didn't receive the service they paid for with the card (which the company can dispute at a later date).

The problem with S75 is that the AA will (rightly) argue that the service provided on the Halifax account is not as good as the full fat AA cover and they took out the policy in good faith (they would of course not know that the OP had cover through the bank unless the Halifax told them as soon as the account came out and would require them to check if the OP has cover already - maybe they do this automatically, maybe only if the call centre staff checks).

On the occasion I needed to use the AA through my account they needed the account number before they would offer any help. As above though, OP has had to consciously ignore all the documentation on the web and the bank benefits statements to not know they already had cover so it would be a goodwill gesture rather than trying to force through S75 (and given the AA membership price is not over £100 it would be rejected)