Cancellling auto-renewed breakdown cover

petere123

hello folks, 
I need to cancel an auto-renewal (now just over 48hrs since received renewal email), and wondering whether a cooling off period applies to auto-renewals, in same way as it does to new insurance policies. Called to ask, but my precise question "is there a cancellation charge?" was met with vagueries. Thanks very much 

DullGreyGuy

Cooling off period doesn't mean it's fee free to cancel, just means you can cancel it. After a cooling off period you have no statutory right to cancel it at all and can be committed for the full year/policy period.

petere123

Thanks Dullgreyguy. Yes i expect to pay a fair cancellation charge. Trying to establish if statutory right within 14 days for auto-renew, is same as 'new' business. Cheers for your help. 
Phone reply was vague. Email to their customer service address is met with faq reply.    

petere123

Cancelled at cost of £24. Well worth it considering customer service (phone) so vague, then email to dedicated customer service email address unmanned. Naturally, they don't tell you that till you write, waste time & energy, then get auto-response to tell you it is unmanned. Autoaid customer for 12 yrs, never had to use their breakdown cover, but if the admin is so s***, i'm out of there. Good luck folks 

trishmor

Customer service tell you that you ticked their terms & conditions box when signing up. Nowhere does it say there is a charge to cancel the policy before the start date. Even the AutoAid cancellation page says if you cancel mid-term there is a charge. So despite cancelling the policy before it started I was charged £15. Called them & they say to read terms & conditions which are not visible before paying. Really sneaky and not a good way to operate a trustworthy service. I shall not use them in future and hope MSE will note the cancellation "no cooling off" period in their blurb when recommending this company

born_again

petere123 said:

hello folks, 
I need to cancel an auto-renewal (now just over 48hrs since received renewal email), and wondering whether a cooling off period applies to auto-renewals, in same way as it does to new insurance policies. Called to ask, but my precise question "is there a cancellation charge?" was met with vagueries. Thanks very much 

No there is not a new 14 day period.
All you are doing is extending the current policy.

Should not be a charge for cancelling a policy that has reached the end of it's term.