Admiral insurance and cancellation fees issue

majeedk

This has happened to my brother and I am asking for help on his behalf. My brother and his family has been out of UK since last August due to a family situation.

He had a multi car insurance policy with Admiral. he always pays the full amount every year rather than monthly instalments. He is sure that he never agreed to auto-renew with Admiral Insurance.

Anyway, before leaving the UK, he SORN'd the cars  and parked them in his friends garage. Today, I went to his house to check on things and  I found this letter from Admiral Insurance asking to pay £121  (which includes £80 admin fee) with in ten day because his policy has been cancelled. Then I checked his recent statements and there are fees from his bank due to failed payments to Admiral because of insufficient funds which is probably the reason they cancelled it.

He doesn't have proper access to internet and can't make international calls. So I need to contact Admiral in his behalf.

What options do I have to contest this ridiculous admin fee?  

Edit:

I have his permission to speak to them on his behalf that's why I am asking here on what to say to Admiral.

as per Admiral's website:

You'll receive your renewal notice from us between 14 and 21 days before it's due. If you registered online this will be sent out as an email. Once you've received your renewal invite, you can call our renewals department at any time to discuss it or cancel the renewal. If you cancel outside the 14 day cooling off period you'll be charged for the days on cover.

My brother is locked out of his email accounts after he tried to log in from the country he is in. How come emails are considered the only way to when Admiral have no way to prove that it was delivered and actually opened by the receiver (unless they are using tracking technology in the email).

Sandtree

Most insurers there is no option to buy insurance without agreeing to auto-renewal; the regulator is also highly supportive of auto-renewal as its been credited as one of the key reasons that there has been a big drop in uninsured vehicles on the roads even prior to the continuous insurance requirements coming into force.

Unless he has given Admiral third party authorisation to speak to you or a power of attorney was sorted before he went then you will not be able to deal with this for him. 

Unfortunately he has chosen to go to one of the few places in the world without internet or international calling facilities without putting his affairs in order before going. Why didnt he cancel the policy when he SORNed the vehicle(s)?

The administration fees will be nothing compared to what his future insurance bills will be when he has to declare he has had insurance cancelled for non-payment for the rest of his life.

Aylesbury_Duck

As above, I can't see that you can contest the fee (nor could he) because he will have agreed to an auto-renewing policy.   He needs to find some way of getting in touch with Admiral if he wants you to be an authorised representative.  How are you communicating with him?

jimbo6977

It's not clear why they are charging £121, and in what circumstances the policy has been "cancelled". What does the letter say exactly? 

Alderbank

majeedk said:

What options do I have to contest this ridiculous admin fee?  

You don't have any options. It is not your account. Your brother accepted the T&Cs when he signed up to the account.

How come emails are considered the only way to when Admiral have no way to prove that it was delivered and actually opened by the receiver (unless they are using tracking technology in the email).

They used that email address because he told them to use it. They also wrote to him at the address he gave them.

majeedk

Alderbank said:

They used that email address because he told them to use it. They also wrote to him at the address he gave them.

The renewal notice was sent via email only.

majeedk

Update:

I called Admiral's customer service and explained the situation. I was told that they (Admiral) have sent renewal notice via email only and that was 14 days before the insurance expiry date. But when it came to chasing for payment they sent like 5 letters  in the post. The amount to be paid  is £55 cancellation fee + insurance price for the period between auto renewal and cancellation.

It is really annoying ...... why couldn't they send the renewal notice via post.

The agent said that there are further letters coming and its likely going to debt collection department. So to save my brother's credit profile i caved in and paid them to clear this mess.

powerful_Rogue

majeedk said:

Update:

I called Admiral's customer service and explained the situation. I was told that they (Admiral) have sent renewal notice via email only and that was 14 days before the insurance expiry date. But when it came to chasing for payment they sent like 5 letters  in the post. The amount to be paid  is £55 cancellation fee + insurance price for the period between auto renewal and cancellation.

It is really annoying ...... why couldn't they send the renewal notice via post.

The agent said that there are further letters coming and its likely going to debt collection department. So to save my brother's credit profile i caved in and paid them to clear this mess.

Because i'm presuming your brother agreed to email communication.

Don't think i've ever had a renewal letter in the post in over 10 years.

Aylesbury_Duck

powerful_Rogue said:

majeedk said:

Update:

I called Admiral's customer service and explained the situation. I was told that they (Admiral) have sent renewal notice via email only and that was 14 days before the insurance expiry date. But when it came to chasing for payment they sent like 5 letters  in the post. The amount to be paid  is £55 cancellation fee + insurance price for the period between auto renewal and cancellation.

It is really annoying ...... why couldn't they send the renewal notice via post.

The agent said that there are further letters coming and its likely going to debt collection department. So to save my brother's credit profile i caved in and paid them to clear this mess.

Because i'm presuming your brother agreed to email communication.

Don't think i've ever had a renewal letter in the post in over 10 years.

I agree.  I was with Admiral for a while and agreed to paperless communication for policy documents, etc.  All my renewal notices were sent via the online portal, which sent me email alerts to log in and read them.  OP's brother will have done the same.  They only sent letters once it was clear OP's brother wasn't responding.

Ergates

Both my partner and I get renewal letters in the post  - we're not with Admiral.

Sandtree

Ergates said:

Both my partner and I get renewal letters in the post  - we're not with Admiral.

Most insurers give you the choice these days and then follow your wishes