Automatic Insurance Renewal When You Don't Want It.
Discussion
A week or so ago I received the renewal notice so started shopping around. Received a much more reasonable quote elsewhere which I resolved to accept although with a few days to go until expiry of the existing policy I was in no rush.
This afternoon (three days before expiry/renewal) I received an email from the current broker saying "Thank you for renewing your current policy.....". What?! I've done no such thing. I replied immediately using my mobile saying I did not want to renew with them and they were NOT to process it as such. Arrived home half an hour later and phoned to confirm my instruction only to be told it had already been done as "They are always processed a few days in advance".
Examination of the renewal offer fine print reveals a sentence to the effect that unless they hear from me to the contrary they will automatically renew the policy (no mention of three days in advance) and a re-read of the last email reveals another along the lines of 'Do not reply to this email...' because, they told me, they don't have enough staff to check their inbox!
Needless to say I've made it quite clear that they won't be getting my business. They even had the cheek to ask how much I'd been quoted so they could match it which led us into the whole 'Why should I give you my business when someone else was good enough to quote me first time around?' thing.
The ploy is obvious, they are relying on people not bothering, but don't get caught out by an implied acceptance. Actually, there's a thought. Seeing as they don't have enough staff to check their inbox I may email saying that unless I hear to the contrary by midnight I'll be expecting them to pay me a sum of money. Sauce for the goose and all that.
This afternoon (three days before expiry/renewal) I received an email from the current broker saying "Thank you for renewing your current policy.....". What?! I've done no such thing. I replied immediately using my mobile saying I did not want to renew with them and they were NOT to process it as such. Arrived home half an hour later and phoned to confirm my instruction only to be told it had already been done as "They are always processed a few days in advance".
Examination of the renewal offer fine print reveals a sentence to the effect that unless they hear from me to the contrary they will automatically renew the policy (no mention of three days in advance) and a re-read of the last email reveals another along the lines of 'Do not reply to this email...' because, they told me, they don't have enough staff to check their inbox!
Needless to say I've made it quite clear that they won't be getting my business. They even had the cheek to ask how much I'd been quoted so they could match it which led us into the whole 'Why should I give you my business when someone else was good enough to quote me first time around?' thing.
The ploy is obvious, they are relying on people not bothering, but don't get caught out by an implied acceptance. Actually, there's a thought. Seeing as they don't have enough staff to check their inbox I may email saying that unless I hear to the contrary by midnight I'll be expecting them to pay me a sum of money. Sauce for the goose and all that.
This is common practice. It will say so in the renewal letter - did you read this?
My policy with Admiral was the same, I phoned up to cancel as I wanted to go elsewhere due to a cheaper quote. In the ended, they managed to undercut the new quote so kept my business.
I think I'm right in saying that they should/have to notify you of the auto renewal when you take the policy out in the first place. I feel your pain as I don't like the idea of it either in the same vain that I have an (i)rational hate of direct debits.
My policy with Admiral was the same, I phoned up to cancel as I wanted to go elsewhere due to a cheaper quote. In the ended, they managed to undercut the new quote so kept my business.
I think I'm right in saying that they should/have to notify you of the auto renewal when you take the policy out in the first place. I feel your pain as I don't like the idea of it either in the same vain that I have an (i)rational hate of direct debits.
Flintstone said:
Did you read my original post?
Yes. I meant, did you not read it when it was sent - presumably about 3 weeks before your renewal date? I tend to read my post when I open it as I don't trust any company these days
. In my case at least, it stated quite clearly that if I didn't contact them they would auto renew my policy.FWIW, I've been caught out by it too on a breakdown policy with More Than.
Mazdarese said:
This.
If you're too busy to sort it, just bear in mind that you have 14 days to sort something else and cancel the expensive one.
If only I listened to my own advice, I might not be paying £850 with Direct Line.
Thanks, GKP too. I've already gone with A1 and saved £100. AF say they'll cancel the policy (which doesn't come into effect for three days so work that one out If you're too busy to sort it, just bear in mind that you have 14 days to sort something else and cancel the expensive one.
If only I listened to my own advice, I might not be paying £850 with Direct Line.
) so I shouldn't be out of pocket. 'm sure the standard response will be they are doing their clients a favour but I'm not falling for that one 
It's your own fault for not reading the renewal letter when it arrived instead of waiting until 3 days before the renewal date and receiving the "thankyou for renewing your insurance" email, it's a lesson learned. And with the fact that you replied back to an email that said DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL, perhaps you need to slow down a bit and take a little more time to go through things 
Edited by Regiment on Tuesday 10th May 19:22
Not that I agree, but playing devils advocate for a moment...
They charge your card at the end of the last day of the policy (not heard from you not to renew). For some reason the payment fails. You're then uninsured.
Now, the next day you have a crash and want to claim...to find out you're uninsured (not paid up). You'll be the first to moan.
Whilst I don't agree, I see the logic.
Cheers
The Moose
They charge your card at the end of the last day of the policy (not heard from you not to renew). For some reason the payment fails. You're then uninsured.
Now, the next day you have a crash and want to claim...to find out you're uninsured (not paid up). You'll be the first to moan.
Whilst I don't agree, I see the logic.
Cheers
The Moose
The Moose said:
Not that I agree, but playing devils advocate for a moment...
They charge your card at the end of the last day of the policy (not heard from you not to renew). For some reason the payment fails. You're then uninsured.
Now, the next day you have a crash and want to claim...to find out you're uninsured (not paid up). You'll be the first to moan.
Ummm, no. I take responsibility for my own actions. If I let the policy lapse that's my fault.They charge your card at the end of the last day of the policy (not heard from you not to renew). For some reason the payment fails. You're then uninsured.
Now, the next day you have a crash and want to claim...to find out you're uninsured (not paid up). You'll be the first to moan.
Assumptions, the mother of all cock-ups
Flintstone said:
The Moose said:
Not that I agree, but playing devils advocate for a moment...
They charge your card at the end of the last day of the policy (not heard from you not to renew). For some reason the payment fails. You're then uninsured.
Now, the next day you have a crash and want to claim...to find out you're uninsured (not paid up). You'll be the first to moan.
Ummm, no. I take responsibility for my own actions. If I let the policy lapse that's my fault.They charge your card at the end of the last day of the policy (not heard from you not to renew). For some reason the payment fails. You're then uninsured.
Now, the next day you have a crash and want to claim...to find out you're uninsured (not paid up). You'll be the first to moan.
Assumptions, the mother of all cock-ups
k up and never have people fk up on your behalf thenCheers
The Moose
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff