Insurance setup and amendment charges

kulturschok

I just got a car insurance with Hastings which I found on comparethemarket. Unlike when I got home insurance I didnt get a phone call or anything after I applied for the insurance to confirm all my details. I got a letter and an email to query one detail, which I replied to clarify. I have now had another email a month after initially buying the insurance saying I need to pay an extra amount on my premium and £20 for their amendment fee.

Surely it would be more fair and reasonable to help check these details when setting up the policy, as my home insurance did, rather than setting it up and making me pay for them to change it. Some answers to the questions are not so black and white as the dropdown options are on these websites.

Also, if you wanted to cancel or change your policy during the cooling-off you still have to pay a fee - if returning any other product you wouldn't have to pay a fee for their work, so why with insurance? I also gave them a call within the cooling off period to check they had received the reply to my email clarifying my details, and I was told everything was fine.

lisyloo

Put in a formal complaint.

forgotmyname

Your not returning a product though. Its like paying a decorator to hang some paper or paint a wall and then deciding you dont like it and get him to do it again. You pay him extra because its your change of mind not an issue with his work.

FlameCloud

The onus is on you to make a full, honest and accurate disclosure to the questions that are asked. They have the right to assume this is the case with the answers given and do not have to vet every application.

What was the change following the query?

csgohan4

OP perhaps if you read the T+C it would have been clearer the charges

dunstonh

Also, if you wanted to cancel or change your policy during the cooling-off you still have to pay a fee - if returning any other product you wouldn't have to pay a fee for their work, so why with insurance?

Because it is not a product but a service.

Surely it would be more fair and reasonable to help check these details when setting up the policy, as my home insurance did, rather than setting it up and making me pay for them to change it.

Surely it is reasonable for you to tell the truth at the time you apply?
You applied online and used a comparison site. So, finding ways to reduce your premium is likely to be your reason for doing that. You then created extra work for the company. Who do you propose should pay that if you dont?

Who is going to pay for them to check the details that you have declared as being accurate and truthful?