Car insurance auto-renewed

Lenzar

Last year, I found it was MUCH cheaper to switch to eSure as opposed to staying with Hastings Direct. After switching, I got an e-mail from Hastings Direct that my auto-renewal was coming up. The email contained the following:

'Your renewal pack is ready in the app and MyAccount. All you need to do is log in before your renewal date, check all the details are correct and the policy still meets your needs. Look out for any changes to your policy, which will be highlighted in the 

Important Notice to Policyholders

 document.'

At the time, I took this email to be saying that I would need to login for renewal to happen. I didn't log in, not wanting the policy. However I discovered today that HD did indeed renew my policy, even though I had one with eSure! I am over £500 down because of this. I am disabled (I have Autism and ADHD), and live on my own. I shouldn't have to check absolutely everything with how much I have to do just to keep going.

oldernonethewiser

The wording on their email could have been clearer however an auto-renewal is just that, you need do nothing and it automatically renews.

Have you made sure to cancel auto-renewal for any subsequent policies, and indeed anything else you wish to have more control over?

twopenny

Ok I know it's difficult but a lot of us have problems.

You should have rung or checked online to remove the auto renew as soon as you had another policy. You can also do this at any time during the year.

So you made a mistake. Stuff happens.

However now give them a ring, say you were unwell at the time and missed it but you already took a policy out with someone else and see if it can be cancelled, refunded.

If this is a problem for you in future make sure you don't go for auto renew.

Ask for a paper statement when the next is due and either accept or find something else. If it's not auto renew you must be sure you're covered which is what you correctly did.

flaneurs_lobster

How long ago did the unwanted policy start?

You might be able to cancel the policy and be refunded for the unused part of the year.