Paying for a washing machine cover for a machine I do not have

idriskp

Hi, hope you can help and advise. I have always taken insurance for our white goods. I took out washing machine cover in 2014 our washing machine broke down, the insurers said they cannot fix it and would replace this. The one that was offered we did not like and so swapped it for a different one, for some reason the insurance company carried on taking payment for the machine we did not want, this was from 2014 until March this year when I set up on online account to see what items I have insured with them is when I noticed this. I called them up and told them, they said they will investigate and get back to me. They did call me once and asked me a few questions, it felt like they were trying to put this fault of the irs on me when it is clearly their fault, the machine was not accepted by us we decided to take a better machine that we paid extra for. Yet they charged insurance for the machine we refused until I noticed this.

What can I do. Can I get all my payments back?  Does anyone have any experience of this type of problem and what the outcome was.

Thanks
kind regards
Idris

noitsnotme

You didn’t notice the payment coming out of your account for 7 years?!

greyteam1959

Nobody's fault but your own.
Why should they pay you the money back ??

eddddy

Are you saying that...

• The insurance company supplied you with a replacement washing machine of brand X

• The insurance company continued to provide washing machine breakdown cover - but the policy mistakenly stated that the washing machine was brand Y

If so...

Did you ever make a claim on the policy? Was the claim rejected because the policy stated the wrong washing machine brand?

Or would they have simply corrected the mistake in the policy, and dealt with the claim?



I guess the bottom line is that it doesn't sound like you've suffered a financial loss as a result of the mistake, so you don't have a legal basis for any kind of claim for damages (i.e. a refund).

idriskp

I have several different  insurance cover for different appliances with them. I did not keep an eye on each one. May be I should have done.

When I signed up for an online account that is when I saw there was an extra machine being covered and notified them immediately. 

The new machine that we took had a different insurance cover. The original machine that was offered and declined should never have been added to my account. That was a mistake on their side. 

MalMonroe

It's always a good idea to keep an eye on what's happening in your bank account. I learned that lesson the hard way. 

I don't think you'll be able to get any money back. I once set off paying this kind of insurance for three items and it eventually dawned on me that I could just open a savings account and save some money myself for a replacement item. Yes, I'd be paying a bit more but those insurance companies don't always pay up anyway and insist on fixing things that should really be replaced. 

Very often you can buy white goods that have two year guarantees or warranties and you don't really need to be paying insurance as well, in my opinion. I started to feel it was all just a big rip off but when I phoned to cancel, the insurance company didn't like it. I cancelled my direct debit and they did write a few times after that trying to persuade me to take out more insurance but I'd had enough.

missile

I would suggest reconsider "I have always taken insurance for our white goods"

idriskp

Apologies, it should read taken out insurance for kitchen white goods e. g. Washing machine, dryer, fridge, cooker,... 

TELLIT01

Taking out insurance on white goods is really not necessary.  I had it as an addon to my British Gas boiler cover and never used it.  I accepted it initially because it was very cheap, but then BG increased the price massively so I cancelled.  I can only remember ever calling anybody out for a problem with white goods once so simply putting money aside each month to cover the eventuality is a far better way of covering the cost.  The money remains yours if it's not required for repair.

Regarding the current policy, it really is your responsibility as the customer to ensure the cover is still relevant.

dunstonh

I have always taken insurance for our white goods. 

That is a waste of money.   You have probably paid more in insurance than replacing one or two of the outright (let alone repairs).

I have several different  insurance cover for different appliances with them. I did not keep an eye on each one. May be I should have done.

There is no "may" about it.  You are either in control of your finances or you are not.   7 years paying for something unnessarily indicates you are not.

Has the insurer said they would not have paid out in the event of a claim on the new machine?   Often these policies, on replacement of the machine, transfer the cover to the new machine so they can carry on getting premiums from you.  If the insurer say they would still have covered it, then there is absolutely no grounds for a refund.

Ditzy_Mitzy

dunstonh said:

I have always taken insurance for our white goods. 

That is a waste of money.   You have probably paid more in insurance than replacing one or two of the outright (let alone repairs).

I have several different  insurance cover for different appliances with them. I did not keep an eye on each one. May be I should have done.

There is no "may" about it.  You are either in control of your finances or you are not.   7 years paying for something unnessarily indicates you are not.

Has the insurer said they would not have paid out in the event of a claim on the new machine?   Often these policies, on replacement of the machine, transfer the cover to the new machine so they can carry on getting premiums from you.  If the insurer say they would still have covered it, then there is absolutely no grounds for a refund.

I read it as follows:

OP owned washing machine A, and took out insurance policy X to cover it.  Washing machine A broke down, terminally, two years later.  Insurance policy X considered the breakdown an insurable event, declared washing machine A a total write off and offered washing machine A2 in replacement.

OP decided that he didn't want washing machine A2 and elected not to receive it or, we assume, proceed with the claim.  Bereft of a machine, he purchased washing machine B.  He then took out insurance policy Y to cover washing machine B.  

OP continued to own washing machine B and insure it under policy Y.  At the same time, however, he kept paying the premiums for insurance policy X.  He had cover, therefore, for a washing machine which did not exist.  I have no idea whose fault this is.  There's probably blame on both sides.