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JumboBeef
Original Poster
1,730 posts
46 months
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Hello all.
I recently spent forever finding a decent insurance renewal for my wife's Range Rover. In the end, a comparison website sent me to an insurance company run by a bank (where Howard used to work).
I completed all the on-line forms and, before paying, read a sample policy to check 'driving other cars not belonging to you' was included. It was.
I paid a deposit and agreed to pay the rest monthly. When the paperwork turned up, guess what, driving other cars was not included.
I called them, and they point blank refused to accept that I did indeed read a sample policy on-line which showed driving other cars was included.
They offered to change the policy for me.......they would require another (larger) deposit and I would only receive a fraction of my original deposit back. I said, hang on a minute, I have a 14 day cooling off period. They agreed I did but said I would have to pay a £20 admin fee if I cancelled under the 14 day cooling off period.
Are they within their rights to charge a £20 "admin fee"?
Thanks.
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lost in espace
3,359 posts
76 months
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Unfortunately they have started charging fees in most cases to cancel within the 14 days. I suspect that it is probably contrary to the law, but just pay it for an easy life.
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SS2.
7,383 posts
107 months
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It's my understanding that insurers can charge a reasonable administration fee if the policyholder cancels during the 14 day cooling off period.
Are they charging you for any cover provided between the policy commencing and being terminated ?
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Olly RM
692 posts
38 months
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Hate to say, CIA wanted £45 when they started to change the ball park on me last year. I ended up just staying as any saving would have been lost, however I am pleased I never needed them in any way at all.
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Noger
6,779 posts
118 months
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Yes they can.
And £20 is pretty reasonable.
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JumboBeef
Original Poster
1,730 posts
46 months
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PAULJ5555
910 posts
45 months
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They charge to stop people getting 14 days free insurance cover.
i.e insure a car, drive for 14 days and cancel, however £20 for 2 weeks insurance is not bad.
I know a few people who do this.
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StottyZr
4,093 posts
32 months
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PAULJ5555 said: They charge to stop people getting 14 days free insurance cover.
i.e insure a car, drive for 14 days and cancel, however £20 for 2 weeks insurance is not bad.
I know a few people who do this. I was wondering about this. Can I cancel my insurance after 14 days (incidentally today is my 14th day) then take out an online policy the same day? £27.50 is my cancellation fee, thats about a third of what per week I pay if I run it for the year...
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downimpact
10 posts
60 months
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No they can't charge you, distance selling regs apply. I've cancelled a policy before for similar reasons, just wrote them a letter quoting the regs ad it was all sorted for free. Muppets on the phone wanted to charge me. (disclaimer - rules may have changed in the last few years)
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SS2.
7,383 posts
107 months
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downimpact said: No they can't charge you.. They can, but the charge must be reasonable. downimpact said: ..distance selling regs apply. Those regulations are specifically excepted as far as insurance is concerned and, as such, do not apply.
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Noger
6,779 posts
118 months
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Indeed. The Financial Services (Distance Marketing) Regulations 2004 (which do apply whereas Distance Selling doesn't) specifically allow for admin charge and charges for time on risk. Backed up by the ICOBS for insurance.
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JumboBeef
Original Poster
1,730 posts
46 months
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StottyZr said: PAULJ5555 said: They charge to stop people getting 14 days free insurance cover.
i.e insure a car, drive for 14 days and cancel, however £20 for 2 weeks insurance is not bad.
I know a few people who do this. I was wondering about this. Can I cancel my insurance after 14 days (incidentally today is my 14th day) then take out an online policy the same day? £27.50 is my cancellation fee, thats about a third of what per week I pay if I run it for the year... It's £20 plus per-day cost for the insurance, pro rata.
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Pontoneer
2,553 posts
55 months
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Next time you read a sample policy - print it out .
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StottyZr
4,093 posts
32 months
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JumboBeef said: StottyZr said: PAULJ5555 said: They charge to stop people getting 14 days free insurance cover.
i.e insure a car, drive for 14 days and cancel, however £20 for 2 weeks insurance is not bad.
I know a few people who do this. I was wondering about this. Can I cancel my insurance after 14 days (incidentally today is my 14th day) then take out an online policy the same day? £27.50 is my cancellation fee, thats about a third of what per week I pay if I run it for the year... It's £20 plus per-day cost for the insurance, pro rata. Apparently not so. Its 2 weeks exactly since I took out my policy. Just ran an online quote and it was £180 cheaper than 2weeks ago! I've just called up and explained the circumstances and asked them to price match. They declined. I was passed to cancellations and cancelled. My initial policy was refunded minus ~£25 admin fee. And I've just paid for a new policy starting tomorrow  £150 and 2weeks insurance up :P To be honest, I wouldn't have used the cooling off period if they had simply refunded me the difference! And yes, I'm feeling quite smug now, especially as I'm skint 
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