Automatic Auto-renewal - Opt In or Opt Out?

flamo123

Hi,

Today Autoaid automatically renewed my membership, which I do not need (no car).

Six weeks ago, they sent me an email saying that they had moved my account to auto-renewal.

When I rang them today and told them that I did not want it to be renewed they said that , seeing as I had offered no objection to going onto auto-renewal when they told me six weeks ago, it was my fault and they would charge me £25 to cancel.

Surely, if I am to be moved to auto-renewal, this needs to be "opt-in", not "opt out"? It was six weeks ago and they sent no further reminders.

Is there something I can say to get my full refund rather than pay £25 for the privelege?

Thanks in advance

 

dunstonh

On the renewal letter, it should state what you should do next if you do not wish to renew.   What did it say?

The ombudsman expects to see a what to do next section in the letter and it usually goes by what the letter says. i.e.  If it says you need to contact them if you do not wish to renew then it will side with the insurer.  if its says nothing about what to do next or says you need to contact them if you wish to renew, then it will side with you.

TELLIT01

These systems should be opt-out by default.  With an opt-in default it's virtually a licence to print money for them.

flamo123

Thank you everyone, alas they did tell me I needed to “opt out “. That was 6 weeks ago, I was going to mull it over (due to their cost increase and the fact I was selling my vehicle anyway), and they sent no reminder.

Remarkable that they can do this.

 I did quip with the lady I was speaking to that I had opted them in to owe me £500,  and to let me know in 6 weeks if they did not want to pay me this... The lady laughed, which was a (very) minor bonus.....

Thank you again for your feedback.