Cancellation Hero Article Discussion

nikyp

Hi Dave
go (or call up) your bank. Tell them younever got an advance notice from More than and you would like a refund under your direct debit guarantee. Ask them to raise an indemnity claim and cancel the Direct Debit at the same time. You will have the money refunded within 24 hours in your bank account, then it's between your bank and RSA to sort it out between them.
Your bank will try to tell you that you need to go back to RSA for the money, you have to tell them that under the DD guarantee, you are entitled "to a full and immediate refund" from your bank - don't listen to them if they try to fob you off

Let me know how it goes
Niky X

RayWolfe

Unfortunately, because you didn't terminate the policy, you have been insured by them. It is not their fault that you ignored the instruction on the renewal notice and you would have expected them to pay up if a claimable event had occurred.
However, I would suggest that you send them a copy of the new insurance that you took out with another insurer at renewal time. The fact that another policy was in effect, may persuade them to refund your premiums. The DD Guarantee arrangement will not apply because your insurer has not taken the money incorrectly or without your permission.

davep123

When I though the More than policy ended, I did not renew my insurance policy with anybody else until last week. As I was a bit skint at the time.

Your thoughts ?

Dave

RayWolfe

So you WERE insured by More Than, therefor they have earned their premium. You can try asking for it back but it's like any of us going to our insures after some months without claiming and asking for their money back. Would you pay up?

davep123

Yes I am inclined to agree with you, I know its my fault not to officialy cancel my policy. Just think it's unfair that unless the consumer does this they automatically keep your policy running (renewed) and keep taking DD's.

Dave

I guess there is nothing I can do then ?

YorkshireBoy

davep123 wrote: »

Just think it's unfair that unless the consumer does this they automatically keep your policy running (renewed) and keep taking DD's.

It would be very much more unfair if you had assumed the policy would continue when it didn't...and then your house was burgled/burned down :eek:. For every policyholder who assumes it will terminate, there will be one who assumes it will roll over. You've learned a valuable lesson here...when you receive important documentation, read it.

I guess there is nothing I can do then ?

My guess is that any DD guarantee claim (as, IMHO, ill-advised by the "former DD trainer" above) might be embarrassing for you when More Than refuse your bank's DD indemnity claim by providing proof in the form of the renewal notice they sent you. Equally embarrassing for you, will be the fact that you've been paying it for the last 6 months before realising!

davep123

fair comment

Buggs_2

Dear all,

I'm new to this forum; and good thing I read this article J

I have just found out that the DD I cancelled for mobile phone insurance was still being deducted from my account: £9 per month. I cancelled it in Dec 2005 and although I always check my statement, I thought that this DD (“policy admin services”) was paying for an additional account fee; but when I rang the bank to cancel it – I was told its nothing to do with them…. It’s actually mobile phone insurance from phones4u.

When I contacted phnoes4u, they confirmed that i was still paying for the insurance that was taken out three years ago for a phone I no longer have! They have offered me half of the money back as a “good will gesture” but this will not cover all of the 29 payments that left my account after I requested that the insurance cover be cancelled. Phones4u have a record of my phone call but not of my request to cancel and they can not listen to the original call as it was too long ago.

Should I accept the offer from phones4u or push for the full amount through the bank? I have spoken to the bank and they have made an indemnity claim… What is the likelihood that this claim will be successful?

Thanks in anticipation of your reply
Buggs x

jMac_3

I left my perfectly satisfactory broadband provider (Zen) in February, because I found the download limit ,on their light tariff, too little. I then visited a comparison site, and made the mistake of choosing Pipex.
They promised the earth and a new modem as part of the package, but started by sending a completely dead second hand modem to replace the one I had (which was not working properly with Vista).
A long period of my attempting to get a replacement via e-mail and telephone calls to their expensive 0871 "helpline" finally led me to cancel the contract by letter (unanswered) on the grounds of breach of contract on their part. In short I was left with no broadband service.

Unfortunately I had paid the initial charge by credit card and as you can guess Pipex ignored my letters and continued to withdraw monthly payments from my Visa card for two months.

The good news is that I have an account with Smile, the internet branch of the Cooperative Bank. After I sent them full details, and copies of my letters to Pipex, they refunded the amounts taken, with the caveat that if the company had a right to the money they could in future allow payment.

This did not stop Pipex from taking the money again but each time Smile refunded it .
My experience tells me that it is better not to use a credit card in these circumstances, but if you have to, then make sure you use one which is allied to a bank in which you have confidence. I cannot praise Smile too highly. When I telephoned - as I had to without internet access, I found the person I spoke to full of good advice and sympathy. I wish all financial organisations were like that. Since I am quite old and not in the best of health, they were a lifeline to sanity!

It is another story - and not relevant here - the battle I had with that loathly firm Pipex to clear the line, but eventually following repeated e-mails from OFCOM they did, and I am now with Waitrose who have an excellent reputation.

flawsy

I have had an account with these theiving ****s since february 2007. They were new to the area, and i took a £300 advance on my salary via them, opting to pay back monthly in increments. After doing a little research, I decided them having a DD wasnt the safest thing to do, so I cancelled the arrangement, and told them i would pay in branch. Silly me missed the hidden section of the agreement that said they could take payment from my debit card, which they surupticiously gained by saying they needed to photocopy it for ID purposes. This card was duely cancelled, and i informed them i would pay in person at the store where I took the loan. Due to ill health over the new year, I thought it would be easier to make a 1 off payment from an account we dont use, which i did, stating at the time to not try and take extra from the account, as it was always empty. They took their payment of £10, then proceeded to take a further £30, leaving me overdrawn and with bank charges of £90 (which were given back) We cancelled that card also, and all has been quiet since may 08. But this morning, Loan Store have taken £468, from an account with 24p in it. My first thought is, how have they been able to take £468, why did the bank not decline it. Secondly, how have they got my new card details after 4 months of silence.
I have spoken to the Loan Store directly, who are their usual abrasive selves, told me I must have given them the card details (yeah right) and what they have done isn't fraud, and that as i asked to be only contacted by letter, they suggest i do the same with them and hung up.
It is worth mentioning that this card they have taken funds from, is from an account that is no way tied to the original account used for the initial agreement. Also, it might be worth mentioning that the account is in my wifes name, and the agreement is in my name only. We have spoken to the bank(lloyds tsb) once before regarding the smaller amounts, and they refused to do anything about it, saying it was our fault for giving out the info.

These funds were earmarked 2 days ago, and we reported them at branch as possible fraud then. I fear as this account shows transactions to the loan store back in may, the bank with say its not fraud.

any ideas?