I'd Like To Cancel My Policy Please...how Much?!!

[jac-in-a-box]

Not directly motorhome related but the company in question does provide motorhome policies. Not sure what the naming and shaming policy is on here, so names for now.
A little clue, it's a town/city in Lancashire and has a university.

Anyway, I took a classic car policy out for a MG Midget that was cluttering up my drive. In need of a MOT and therefore insurance. I'd previously had a policy with this company via the MG Owners club - didn't have to use it in anger, so gave them a try.

Polite sales staff to whom I explained I was looking for comp insurance simply to get the car away for a test, if it passed the car would be advertised for sale and I was hoping that the car would sell quickly at a realistic price and I would be looking to cancel the policy; not a problem I'm told.

So, a years policy taken out for a total of £139.00. Car sailed through the test and was subsequently sold yesterday. Total days on cover 28...on the phone to insurer expecting a decent chunk of my cash back; oh no, not a chance!

Can't remember the breakdown of charges, there were no extra's on the policy - just simple comp' insurance. Out of my hard earned 139 of the Queens finest pounds I'm entitled to £2.10...no I haven't missed a zero out, 2 pounds and 10 pence.
To add a poke in the eye to my sore back end, they'll not refund anything less than £10.00 instead it's held "on account" should I ever insure another car. As if!
Punitive or what...when I complained, "it's in our (written in our favour not yours) T&C's sir"
Perhaps your sales person might have advised that an annual policy might not be the best way of satisfying my needs, he was told it could be cancelled early on I said..."that would be my choice and my decision" I'm told.
As a sop to my anger, they have lodged an "active complaint" Who fancies a little bet that said company will feel magnanimous and charitable and offer me just a little more than square root of f**k all.

Yes, it is in their T&C's but who reads the reams of small print that's barely written in common mans language?
Ten miles of travelling and 28 days of insurance for £13.90 per mile...stonking value!

Worth a bleat to the FSA over unreasonable charges?

Not sure if there's a moral to my tale apart from wading through the conditions of a new policy ....it was cathartic!

 

[DavidG58]

hopefully the sale price of the car will offset some of your disappointment, piss poor policy advice though, but net win for you

 

[Puddleduck]

They are quick to take your money but.......

Having said that we recently had to claim under our home insurance policy. The Loss Adjuster came the same day, phone call that night to give us his figure for the cost of repair, should they organise the repair or would we be doing most of the work ourselves ( the house is a self-build and the claim was for something the "professionals" did incorrectly) - we said we would organise specialist work and do some ourselves, cheque arrived within the week. So full marks to AVIVA. The estimate of the loss was pretty much spot on as well had we gone with the local quotes.

 

[robnchris]

Been there got the Tee Shirt, they should have told you that you were entering into a 12 month contract

 

[Billy23]

Been there got the Tee Shirt, they should have told you that you were entering into a 12 month contract

But he did enter a 12 month contract, he paid £139 for a years policy.

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[pappajohn]

You arent the only one.

Did you read this thread ?

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/insurance-robbing-idiots.111299/#post-1467993

 

[jac-in-a-box]

You arent the only one.

Did you read this thread ?

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/insurance-robbing-idiots.111299/#post-1467993

I have now!

in the past I've cancelled policies and have got something back after 4 or 5 months cover. Must be a relatively new insurance ploy to rip the unwary off. Pretty poor behaviour by any standards.

Though I wouldn't expect anything positive I'll go for the FSA to see if they're they're anymore effective than the last bunch of toothless hounds they replaced.

Not much in the way of ethics or morals in these financial industries.

Still the Midget went for a nice price...just a few more of the fleet to find new owners for.

 

[Neilfg]

I cancelled a Comfort policy after 3 months refunded 60%. They charged admin, and claimed no refund for the recovery bit then prorated (?). Apart from the recovery element not surprised, but no mention of it when i took the policy out and asked about cancelling, admin was mentioned but not recovery, they did it all quite quickly so not unhappy.

 

[34127]

But he did enter a 12 month contract, he paid £139 for a years policy.

Is it any difference to buying 12 months rod tax, wouldn't be happy if DVLA refused refund if SORNing or selling vehicle.

 

[gus-lopez]

It always used to be cancel anytime from day 1 up to 5 months & you received back 7/12ths of the premium.
When I bought a new vehicle here a month after renewing,the premium for the new one was 250€ lower but, they don't transfer; Even with the same company. so I had to start a new policy & then they refunded me 11 months premiums from the
1 st one. lol Can't complain at that.

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[Allanm]

Bit late now but a few years ago I was in a similar position needing to insure a car for a short time. I found a company that does monthly policies, I think it cost me around £25 for a months cover. But I do agree, you were ripped off.
Still no idea who the company you dealt with was, where's Lancashire again?

 

[Shrimp]

If they didn't make all clear verbally were you mis-sold?

 

[Linda and Steph]

Bit late now but a few years ago I was in a similar position needing to insure a car for a short time. I found a company that does monthly policies, I think it cost me around £25 for a months cover. But I do agree, you were ripped off.
Still no idea who the company you dealt with was, where's Lancashire again?

Subtitle swearing warning.

 

[Judge Mental]

Bruno the best H yet. here is the top 25 list

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6262709/Hitler-Downfall-parodies-25-worth-watching.html

 

[Viennese]

Subtitle swearing warning.

As a Yorkshirewoman I couldn't agree more...

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[Viennese]

I was looking for the Motorhome Fun one and can't find it - any clues??

 

[busby]

If you pay it monthly by direct debit you just stop the payments when you cancel...BUSBY.

 

[mitzimad]

i had a similar experience with insurance i went from a saab convertable to a nissan note and they refused to transfer my policy over and said i could cancel and start a new policy with a different company but i lost 7 months on the original policy needless to say the new policy was with a different broker
i still think it was just a scam how many car insurers who would insure a saab wouldnt insure a nissan

 

[DuxDeluxe]

They are quick to take your money but.......

Having said that we recently had to claim under our home insurance policy. The Loss Adjuster came the same day, phone call that night to give us his figure for the cost of repair, should they organise the repair or would we be doing most of the work ourselves ( the house is a self-build and the claim was for something the "professionals" did incorrectly) - we said we would organise specialist work and do some ourselves, cheque arrived within the week. So full marks to AVIVA. The estimate of the loss was pretty much spot on as well had we gone with the local quotes.

When we lost 16 metres of garden wall in the St Jude storm, Direct Line did exactly that and the estimated cost was spot on. We used our own tradesman.

 

[JJ]

Insurance Companies = Crooks.


JJ

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[Theonlysue]

There is usually a cancellation clause so if you change your mind within 14 days, you can cancel with no penalty.
Some folk do this for their holiday insurance. They take a policy out, have their holiday, then cancel it on their return saying they gave changed their mind, and nothing the insurers can do.

 

[etap]

I sympathise with you.
Three years ago we changed from a caravan to MH, having sold our caravan the buyer was picking it up three days after the insurance ran out, I tel. CC club asking if I could extend the insurance for three days and when the new MH arrived some four weeks later I would contact them and insure it with them ( I had been a customer and member for over 25 years) no was the answer, I could take out insurance for another year and they would transfer the caravan insurance to MH at the time of delivery, not wanting to be insured when not owning either for a month I declined and have not used them since.
Whilst moaning can I add this! I telephoned the CC to ask whether they would be interested if I wrote a couple of pages with pics on a MH trip we took from Brisbane to Adelaide , seeing as they don't have a lot of interesting stuff in their magazine, I was told that they have a lot of people writing in and they may not be interested, so I didn't bother, I haven't read anything yet in the magazine on any such trips.
Moan over.
Etap

 

[MikeD]

I worked in the insurance industry for nearly 40 years. Believe me - nothing honest or ethical about insurance companies.

The biggest problem with them is trying to work out their latest scam

just been caught twice

Changed insurer, declared accidents etc as required. Accepted their quote, paid in full. Just after the 14 day cooling off period received a letter advising as the claim was £2700 they would require another £40 and in the second paragraph advised there was a £40 cancellation fee.

Second time it occurred they wanted to double their premium, I complained and said the ombudsman could sort this one out and lo and behold. The found they could insure me for just £26 more.

When the original quote is only around £200 a increase of these amounts adds up to a lot of money. Both were then not the cheapest quote.

Both times they asked as I declared an accident what the actual costs involved were. This is a number we are not advised off and also often not advised who was found to be held responsible.

The second one advised they would cancel the insurance policy if not addressed within five days. So required a lot of premium rate telephone calls to sort out.