Insurance renewal

CJA1951

Got a 25% increase on my home insurance renewal letter with a note that it would be autorenewed using my credit card 
Couldnt cancel renewal online or by e mail I had to call. Went through the usual set of identifying questions 
I was told repeatedly that I had to answer more questions before I could stop autorenewal - as it was a CC unlike a direct debit its difficult to cancel from my end so eventually had to answer the questions
They were ones about a smallholding - I have a normal semi - which I had already answered on the original application and magically they could now reduce my premium by 23% 

Thuis seems to exactly the same sort of scam mobile phones used to run - with a specialist who you had to talk to in order to cancel 

Has anyone else had this on trying to stop an auto renewal ?

DullGreyGuy

Stopping payment doesn't stop the renewal, it goes ahead automatically and they then attempt to take payment. When it fails it then goes down the non-payment route ultimately resulting in the policy being cancelled for non-payment which you then have to declare in the future. So it's somewhat a good job that it wasnt by DD else you may have given yourself a major millstone to carry for the rest of your days. 

Many insurers and sellers of insurance want the chance to try and save the business hence prefer for customers to call. It's very expensive to win new customers, much cheaper to save existing ones. Insurers were supposed to be making canceling auto-renewal easier but haven't worked in consumer insurance in recent years so dont know the details of the exact requirements. 

Annemos

One of the big Travel Insurance Providers has several Customer Reviews on this issue. 

They write the following on Trustpilot...


I am sorry to hear that your policy was renewed when you had cancelled it. Unfortunately, your request to opt out of auto renewal did not come through to us. Once the renewal notice has been generated, it is not possible to opt out of the auto renewal online and we would need you to call us to opt out.

Another reply.....

Once the renewal quote has been generated, it isn't possible to opt out of auto renewal online and would require you to contact us directly. The cancellation button won't work as the new policy hasn't yet been processed.

We will be happy to cancel and refund the policy in full within the 14 day cooling off period

dunstonh

Thuis seems to exactly the same sort of scam mobile phones used to run - with a specialist who you had to talk to in order to cancel 

The rule changes outlawed early year discounting but didn't outlaw retention discounting.     There is no scam here.  Its just a change in the model due to regulatory changes.