Car insurance charge for changing name!

emmalou78_2

Do I have to pay to change my name (due to marriage) on the policy and documents?

I actually called them for a buildings and contents insurance quote which was expensive anyway compared to other quotes I had.

I'm a bit annoyed as they sent me a letter with a new policy document, which they said they would do on the phone, but in the letter it said I would be charged £18 for the amendment. They never said I would be charged £18 on the phone. They also said in the letter that they are taking the money from the debit card I used when I originally purchased the insurance but that account doesn't have enough money in to pay for it so I will be overdrawn (I do have an overdraft facility luckily)

Basically, can I complain and request my money back or is it something I would have to pay for anyway.

dipsy

Hi

basically, yes they charge, or in my experience they do.

However, if this was not explained to you, I would argue the toss with them

If you have a note of when you made the change over the phone and a rough time, even better if you have a name aswell, then I would ask them to check their phone records as most insurance companies record their calls to protect themselves (oops sorry for training purposes), if you are 100% certain they didn't mention this then I would be straight on the phone and tell them they are not under any circumstances to take this money and if you incur charges you will be looking to them for them.

Good luck !!! & let us know how you get on x

gazza975526570

IMHO if they told you on the phone or not is irrelevant. Your policy is the terms and conditions of your policy and the charge would have been stated in your policy documentation when you took out the policy. As you havent suffered any financial loss as a result of them not telling you again when you called i would imagine they wouldnt waiver the charge

Just one of those things im afraid

EmberJDIns

Did they set out their scale of charges in their Terms of Business or any other accompanying letters sent you since your last renewal date, or the inception date of the policy, which is applicable during this current period of insurance? Might be an idea to check through.

emmalou78_2

Thanks for your comments everyone.

If she had told me about the charge, could I have said don't change my details or is it law to have your insurance documents changed???

I don't mind paying if it is something I really HAVE to pay, it's just the fact that she never said I would be charged £18. Also, if she had told me I was going to be charged I would have given her a different debit card to pay with as I will now be paying interest being overdrawn.

Plus it seems alot just to change my surname, it probably only took 5 mins if that!

I just wondered if anyone had come across it before and got out of paying it.

Garnet_Gem

Did they take your word for it that your name had changed legally or did they request a copy of the marriage certificate? If they took your word for it over the phone it could have been a breach of the Data Protection Act. If you point this out they may waive the charge.

emmalou78_2

No, they never requested a copy of my marriage certificate or anything like that. The only thing they did ask for was the policy number and my DOB.

gazza975526570

Im not convinced that would break the DPA. They will have confirmed DPA at the start of the call.

Im not 100% sure about it being a material fact you needed to advise - having said that now you have told them and they have added the charge i dont feel there is a way round it now

emmalou78_2

QUOTE '....having said that now you have told them and they have added the charge i dont feel there is a way round it now'

I think you're probably right, perhaps I should let it go this time.

Thanks for your help everyone x

EmberJDIns

The charging policy should be set out at the commencement of each insurance year (period). As for debiting a card they already have on their records, not sure FSA would be too happy about that.

raskazz

EmberJDIns wrote: »

The charging policy should be set out at the commencement of each insurance year (period). As for debiting a card they already have on their records, not sure FSA would be too happy about that.

The FSA are perfectly happy with that. The policyholder will have agreed to continuous payment authority when they set the policy up.