Natwest Mortgage / AVIVA - Decreasing Term Assurance Policy

YellowOstrich

Hi,
I'm not sure if there is anything I can do about this.

I have been paying £14.37 direct debit to AVIVA for as long as I can remember. In the pas I have cancelled the dd but it came back.

I contacted AVIVA using the "Contact Us" pages on a couple of occasions and had no reply. Recently I issued a complaint on their site online. Basically saying that I have not ever knowingly bought a policy from Aviva.

They posted the information to me: It was a Life Assurance Policy which I had taken out when I started a mortgage in 1997. (I don't actually remember this but the dates match). The property was sold in the year 2000 and the mortgage paid off.

For the past 17 years I have been paying 14.37 for Decreasing Term Assurance. Unfortunately I was never able to get back onto the proper ladder, so have had no other mortgages. I'm assuming at some point this Natwest Policy was transferred over to AVIVA. Again I have no recollection of this.

Is it right that I have paid this amount for so long? Or should have been more astute??

I am waiting for a reply from AVIVA as to what they can do about it.

Many Thanks,

YO.

[Deleted User]

YellowOstrich wrote: »

I have not ever knowingly bought a policy from Aviva.

They posted the information to me: It was a Life Assurance Policy which I had taken out when I started a mortgage in 1997.

All you are saying by complaining that you didn't knowingly have Life Assurance is that you never read (or have forgotten) the mortgage documentation you signed your agreement to twenty years ago. Contrary to the myth sponsored by claim companies, such insurance was not just added to Mortgages without your full knowledge and permission. Do you not think it likely that you've simply forgotten two decades on?

How would Life Assurance have been mis-sold to you otherwise? Are you single with no dependants? Immortal?

YellowOstrich wrote: »

In the past I have cancelled the DD but it came back.

Did you at any time attempt to cancel the insurance first? If not, it's not surprising that the Direct Debit was re-instated. You are lucky it didn't put you in arrears with payment.

YellowOstrich

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

It's difficult to cancel a policy that I didn't know existed.

Now I have the full information I will just cancel.

Thanks,

YO>

[Deleted User]

YellowOstrich wrote: »

It's difficult to cancel a policy that I didn't know existed.

But you said you earlier cancelled the Direct Debit which paid it?

YellowOstrich wrote: »

Now I have the full information I will just cancel.

Are you certain you want to cancel this Life Assurance? Does it cover just your old mortgage?

-taff

You can ask them very nicely to refund what you have ben paying since 2000 explaining that you sold your house nd you forgot to cancel the policy.

They may refund, they may not, but if you ask nicely he chances are that they will.

dunstonh

or the past 17 years I have been paying 14.37 for Decreasing Term Assurance. Unfortunately I was never able to get back onto the proper ladder, so have had no other mortgages. I'm assuming at some point this Natwest Policy

Natwest used to sell Norwich Union policies back then. Norwich Union rebranded to Aviva many years ago.

Is it right that I have paid this amount for so long? Or should have been more astute??

You are in control of your spending. You decide if you still need it or not. Many people keep their life assurance going if they repay the mortgage early. The two things are not directly linked. So the insurer would never know if you had repaid the mortgage or not and wouldnt know your intentions unless you told them.

[Deleted User]

YellowOstrich wrote: »

Recently I issued a complaint on their site online. Basically saying that I have not ever knowingly bought a policy from Aviva.

They posted the information to me: It was a Life Assurance Policy which I had taken out when I started a mortgage in 1997.

-taff wrote: »

You can ask them very nicely to refund what you have ben paying since 2000

The OP's post I've quoted above indicates he has already made a complaint and the response reported doesn't indicate that he had any success (or that he can now request a refund).

If the policy was general Life insurance and not solely linked to the old mortgage then the OP has no right to a refund.

-taff

He made a complaint but I very much doubt he explained the circumstances.
Decreasing term assurance means it was linked to his mortgage.

He may find someone sympathetic to his forgetfullness so there;s no reason not to ask nicely is there?