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Auto-Renewal Direct Line

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Just signed up Buildings & Contents insurance with Direct Line after several years with LV. I always received a postal pack with renewal prices, documents including any changes such as excesses. This was maybe 3 weeks or a month before renewal date, and would automatically renew unless they heard from me. In recent years I always rang them after significant rises in premiums, obtained big reductions, and agreed to renew. This year they knocked off only £20 off a 100% increase, so I didn't renew.

The options with Direct Line were to auto-renew, but receiving renewal documents 21 days before the date, or manual renewal, which I see says that cover will end on the appointed day. I picked auto, on basis that it looked similar to LV. I've seen posts covering other insurers where policies have auto-renewed without renewal quotes having been received, and want to avoid this.

I'd just like a piece of re-assurance from Direct Line users that barring accidents I will receive postal renewal quotes in advance, or should I have gone manual, and maybe they'll still send me a quote well before renewal date?

Comments

  • 400ixl
    400ixl Posts: 4,482 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Fewer providers are quite rightly not sending postal renewal quotes (1 its bad for the environment, 2 less reliable). Most now send the renewal quote digitally to your provided email address.

    Auto renewal basically means that unless you tell them otherwise they will renew based on their generated renewal quote terms. Manual mean the other way around, they will still create a renewal quote but the onus is on you to tell them you accept it, else the policy will lapse.
  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 18,544 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    You normally get to select if it's postal or email, though more are not offering email. Irrespective of the medium you will receive a renewal quote, a copy of the proposed schedule, a document highlighting any material changes in the policy terms and a copy of the full terms. 
  • db3745
    db3745 Posts: 460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    Thanks. I understand more insurers are not sending written renewal quotes, though principally for cost reasons way above anything else. I think I'll stay on auto, and remind myself to look for the renewal quote so I have plenty of time to decide.
  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 18,544 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    db3745 said:
    Thanks. I understand more insurers are not sending written renewal quotes, though principally for cost reasons way above anything else. I think I'll stay on auto, and remind myself to look for the renewal quote so I have plenty of time to decide.
    The safest thing it to always have on auto renewal but to set yourself a diary 3-4 weeks before the renewal so just in case your Junk Mail folder decides to grab the renewal or RM is being slow with post you dont accidentally renew without shopping around. 
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 17,958 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    We've been with Direct Line for some years and always receive postal notification of the premium change 3 to 4 weeks before renewal date.
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