Direct Choice - Cancelled Inusrance

runnerrunner

Hi all, just wanted some advice....

I've held a clean driving license for 9 years, 7 years no claims and a pretty good payment history too. I'm a law abiding citizen who works for the Civil Service too.

Now, I was working away for the first 3 months of the year, and had to change my insurance over to Business Insurance which is when the trouble started. So I did this a few days for my monthly payment was due, so instead of taking the monthly premium as usual, they decided to say that they'll take it within 15 days.... They attempted to take it about 18-19 days later, and it bounced. My next monthly premium went out without a hitch and I phoned the insurance company to pay the bounced payment by debit card, only to be informed that they didn't have the facility to do this, and they would try to retake it in 15 days time. Now, 18 days later the payment tries to come out of my account and it bounces, because I don't have the money in my account again, now the reasons behind this is due to not being paid from work in the appropriate time (ad hoc payment not wages due to being away), and I was away at the time this happened again.

So I return home to two letters, and a missed special delivery card (which I have still been physically unable to collect due to working overtime), I keep an eye on my bank to make sure the next payment has gone out, and notice that it hasn't and realise that the bank have cancelled the direct debit, so I phone the insurance company to resolve it... Only to be told, we cancelled your insurance yesterday, there's nothing you can do about it, you owe us £80. The thing is, my insurance agreement with them had less than a month to run, and it's over the £53 that I tried to pay by card, and through circumstances, partly myself and partly other factors went unpaid. The rest of the insurance was paid and it was just this payment.

I know they have the right to do this, but the whole situation seems bloomin' harsh and looking at the other insurance companies after having to declare I've had insurance cancelled, it's just all boomin' ridiculous. Feel pretty sick about the whole situation.

I have appealed this though and await a response, and I will go as far as the Ombudsman if need be. Any other advice anyone can give me on this? I do acknowledge it's my fault mind...

csgohan4

runnerrunner wrote: »

Hi all, just wanted some advice....

I've held a clean driving license for 9 years, 7 years no claims and a pretty good payment history too. I'm a law abiding citizen who works for the Civil Service too.

Now, I was working away for the first 3 months of the year, and had to change my insurance over to Business Insurance which is when the trouble started. So I did this a few days for my monthly payment was due, so instead of taking the monthly premium as usual, they decided to say that they'll take it within 15 days.... They attempted to take it about 18-19 days later, and it bounced. My next monthly premium went out without a hitch and I phoned the insurance company to pay the bounced payment by debit card, only to be informed that they didn't have the facility to do this, and they would try to retake it in 15 days time.
- So you knew but didn't do anything about it?


Now, 18 days later the payment tries to come out of my account and it bounces, because I don't have the money in my account again, now the reasons behind this is due to not being paid from work in the appropriate time (ad hoc payment not wages due to being away), and I was away at the time this happened again.
- Reasons are irrelevant for the insurer, they gave you ample notice

So I return home to two letters, and a missed special delivery card (which I have still been physically unable to collect due to working overtime), I keep an eye on my bank to make sure the next payment has gone out, and notice that it hasn't and realise that the bank have cancelled the direct debit, so I phone the insurance company to resolve it... Only to be told, we cancelled your insurance yesterday, there's nothing you can do about it, you owe us £80. The thing is, my insurance agreement with them had less than a month to run, and it's over the £53 that I tried to pay by card, and through circumstances, partly myself and partly other factors went unpaid. The rest of the insurance was paid and it was just this payment.

I know they have the right to do this, but the whole situation seems bloomin' harsh and looking at the other insurance companies after having to declare I've had insurance cancelled, it's just all boomin' ridiculous. Feel pretty sick about the whole situation.
-I'm afraid it's nothing personal but business, they have a duty to ensure they get paid for their services, they are not a charity. Your circumstances are of no concern to the insurers

I have appealed this though and await a response, and I will go as far as the Ombudsman if need be. Any other advice anyone can give me on this? I do acknowledge it's my fault mind...

What do you hope the Ombudsman will do ? You failed to pay the premium on time and they are within their rights to cancel.


It may seem your living on the edge every month, consider looking at your own budget and note that insurance paid every month is very expensive, compared to one off annually.


The debt free wannabe forums are quite good at helping you budget

runnerrunner

I do live too much on the edge every month, and realise this is a massive problem and am downsizing from renting a house on my own to renting a room. I will save a ridiculous amount of money doing this too. I was late speaking to them by one day, and the combination of splitting up with my girlfriend and doing ridiculous amounts of overtime at work, I just wasn't with it. My own issues not the insurance companies, I know, but a bit of help rather than kicking a dog whilst he's down would be appreciated.

csgohan4

I am sorry if my post came across as being harsh, however this is more of the reality in some sense and I don't think sugar coating this will do you any good other than make things worse. By all means await the complaints procedure and good luck with getting the outcome you want.

Perhaps others will be able to give you some hope

runnerrunner

No worries, I appreciate the input! It has now been escalated in the insurance company to beyond the first line of customer service, so I suppose the absence of a flat "jog on" gives me a tiny bit of hope.

I'm just sick as a dog as I sold a tablet (iPad type thing) for about £150 to cover the cost (and some others), rang up to pay it to the end, only to be informed they cancelled it the day before, and basically got told no by someone who sounded like they couldn't wait to get off the phone.

runnerrunner

Just a wee update, received a letter from the insurance company stating that I don't have to declare this as a cancellation, and that those are only meant to be declared when a policy is cancelled or refused due to policy terms and conditions, not in relation to payment. That's all I wanted, and will keep the letter in safekeeping, just in case.

Quentin

That letter only covers you if you remain with the insurer who cancelled your policy

You do need to explain this to any new insurer you approach and if they agree that you can answer 'no' to their questions regarding having a policy cancellation then get that confirmed in writing and keep that on file, and repeat each time you take out any new policy