Direct line refuses to refund dead Dad's car insurance

Dirty_Herbert

Last year my father died 3 weeks into his car insurance policy with Direct line. He paid in full, but when we tried to get a partial refund  they refused. The car was given to my daughter who insured it two months later.  Can they do this? They claim they have kept the premium as they have insured the car for fire and theft. 

in_my_wellies

When my husband died I was the named driver on his insurance. Churchill said I could drive the car as normal for 4 weeks to give me time to grieve and sort myself out. I rang them after about three weeks and they refunded me everything pro-rata. The policy and the add-ons - no claims protection, legal, roadside assistance, everything. 
My husband was a named driver on my daughters policy and when his name was removed they didn't put up the premium for the remainder of the year as 'good will' (10 months)

I can't see why fire and theft makes a difference?

Dirty_Herbert

It seems like I might be entitled to a refund, if my Dad had paid it in installments, they couldn't have taken the full amount.

user1977

Did they give a reason for refusing? I'd generally expect a pro rata refund less an admin charge (assuming there hadn't been any claims).

Thrugelmir

Dirty_Herbert said:

Last year my father died 3 weeks into his car insurance policy with Direct line. He paid in full, but when we tried to get a partial refund  they refused. The car was given to my daughter who insured it two months later.  Can they do this? They claim they have kept the premium as they have insured the car for fire and theft. 

Who insured the vehicle between weeks 3 and 8?  When was cancellation notified to the insurer? 

Dirty_Herbert

I used a Probate company who informed direct line and transferred the car into my daughter's name back in February.They refused to refund, but I've only just been made aware of it.  It's been chased up again this week and they are claiming "They have stated that although the insurance was paid relatively close to the date of your late father’s passing, that they keep the insurance running to cover the vehicles against fire and theft."
????

dunstonh

 but when we tried to get a partial refund  they refused.

Did the executor request it or did someone who is not the executor request it? - You say a probate company but were they the executor at the time of the request and had the provided probate or evidence they were executors?
Was the request to cancel whilst the car was still owned by the estate? - this seems likely from what you are saying the response was.    The request to cancel should have gone in once the car ownership was transferred.

Dirty_Herbert

dunstonh said:

 but when we tried to get a partial refund  they refused.

Did the executor request it or did someone who is not the executor request it? - You say a probate company but were they the executor at the time of the request and had the provided probate or evidence they were executors?
Was the request to cancel whilst the car was still owned by the estate? - this seems likely from what you are saying the response was.    The request to cancel should have gone in once the car ownership was transferred.

The car was still owned by the estate at the transfer stage, but direct line refused any refund at that point.

Sandtree

Was the policy paid in full up front or paid in instalments?
Had a claim been made in those 3 weeks?

Dirty_Herbert

Sandtree said:

Was the policy paid in full up front or paid in instalments?
Had a claim been made in those 3 weeks?

There had been no claims made and when the probate company spoke to direct line after the car transferred to my daughter, the policy should have been cancelled and I would expect a refund for the remaining 8 months cover (less admin fee) my dad paid for in full.  But they refused to refund anything at the time and they're sticking to it.

csgohan4

Ensure T+Cs back you up for refund and then make an official complaint. If not satisfied after 8 weeks, go to the ombudsman