Backdated Insurance Charge - £450!!
Discussion
Hey guys,
My insurance policy expires next week, but I got a letter this morning from Bell telling me that due to a discrepancy they've found in my policy details they're charging my card for an extra fee of £450. It turns out my Dad had a crash 2 years ago that I didn't know about (I don't live with him) and as he's a named driver on my policy (but hasn't actually ever driven my car!), this £450 is the increase in premium from the beginning of the policy last November. I know it's my responsibility to make sure the details on any policy are correct when I take it out, but A) I didn't know about his accident and B) Is 11.5 months into a 12 month policy not a bit late to realise a discrepancy and then backdate charges for it?!
I know not knowing about his accident isn't an excuse, but I don't see that it's fair now charging me £450 2 weeks before the end of the policy! I also wouldn't have expected them to pay up if the details were wrong!
Any advice from anyone, or am I stuck?
Cheers!
Dom
My insurance policy expires next week, but I got a letter this morning from Bell telling me that due to a discrepancy they've found in my policy details they're charging my card for an extra fee of £450. It turns out my Dad had a crash 2 years ago that I didn't know about (I don't live with him) and as he's a named driver on my policy (but hasn't actually ever driven my car!), this £450 is the increase in premium from the beginning of the policy last November. I know it's my responsibility to make sure the details on any policy are correct when I take it out, but A) I didn't know about his accident and B) Is 11.5 months into a 12 month policy not a bit late to realise a discrepancy and then backdate charges for it?!
I know not knowing about his accident isn't an excuse, but I don't see that it's fair now charging me £450 2 weeks before the end of the policy! I also wouldn't have expected them to pay up if the details were wrong!
Any advice from anyone, or am I stuck?
Cheers!
Dom
I've just had similar with Admiral, part of the same group, they said they would take payment from my card without warning, I contacted them and told them I did not authorise that at all, they said ok, then took the funds anyway, plus a further charge a few weeks later for no apparent reason. I will never, ever insure with anyone in that group again.
Cheers guys - I did say seeing as he's never even driven the car can't they just remove him from the policy, but apparently they can't do that. The best they've offered is to let me pay it off over 6 months - great!
I know it was my fault not to check the details on the policy, but I do think their charge is excessive and realising it after 11.5 months is just out of order! My policy was only about £550 in the first place, but they say this charge is what it would have cost if I'd added him at the start of the policy (I paid upfront).
Dom
I know it was my fault not to check the details on the policy, but I do think their charge is excessive and realising it after 11.5 months is just out of order! My policy was only about £550 in the first place, but they say this charge is what it would have cost if I'd added him at the start of the policy (I paid upfront).
Dom
Muncher said:
I've just had similar with Admiral, part of the same group, they said they would take payment from my card without warning, I contacted them and told them I did not authorise that at all, they said ok, then took the funds anyway, plus a further charge a few weeks later for no apparent reason. I will never, ever insure with anyone in that group again.
Looks like I'm at that point too - I've been with them for the past 4 years but I guess it's time to go!Dom
They aren't acting unfairly, It is unreasonable for you to expect they could remove your dad from the policy from day 1 (because they have still insured his 'risk' since day 1, and for all they know he could have an outstanding claim ready to make it's way into their call center).
If the "I think £450 is excessive, could we please try to reduce it" approach isn't going to work, I fear you're stuffed
If the "I think £450 is excessive, could we please try to reduce it" approach isn't going to work, I fear you're stuffed
First point is to put in writing your complaint.
If they still take the money then try the Ombudsman for help
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/default.htm
I had an Insurance company take £350 from me after I switched companies as they wouldn't cover my new car. I was paying monthly and they decided to take the remainder of the yearly payments all in one go as I'd had a windscreen claim.
The ombudsman got my money back and the insurance company sent a grovelling apology.
In this case - have you made any claims in the last 11.5 months?
If they still take the money then try the Ombudsman for help
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/default.htm
I had an Insurance company take £350 from me after I switched companies as they wouldn't cover my new car. I was paying monthly and they decided to take the remainder of the yearly payments all in one go as I'd had a windscreen claim.
The ombudsman got my money back and the insurance company sent a grovelling apology.
In this case - have you made any claims in the last 11.5 months?
HustleRussell said:
They aren't acting unfairly, It is unreasonable for you to expect they could remove your dad from the policy from day 1 (because they have still insured his 'risk' since day 1, and for all they know he could have an outstanding claim ready to make it's way into their call center).
If the "I think £450 is excessive, could we please try to reduce it" approach isn't going to work, I fear you're stuffed
I do understand that - I said to them that if they'd either a) realised after a month and billed me then (so that I can remove him from the policy and claim the refund) or b) not paid out if my dad was driving my car and crashed, then I'd accept that as my responsibility! Just seems weird that their system has only just realised the mistake 12 months later. My inlaws were getting a quote recently from a different insurer and the guy on the phone asked them to check the named driver details as the system showed a discrepancy - that was immediate, and only for a quote!If the "I think £450 is excessive, could we please try to reduce it" approach isn't going to work, I fear you're stuffed
Dom
In fairness to them. anyone could just say "I did not know he had an accident"...It's your job to tell them the facts...also the fact that your dad did not drive is irrelevent, he might have done...
However, £450 seems ridiculous, how did they arrive at that figure?
You certainly have my sympathies...I would be gutted too.
However, £450 seems ridiculous, how did they arrive at that figure?
You certainly have my sympathies...I would be gutted too.
Wacky Racer said:
In fairness to them. anyone could just say "I did not know he had an accident"...It's your job to tell them the facts...also the fact that your dad did not drive is irrelevent, he might have done...
However, £450 seems ridiculous, how did they arrive at that figure?
You certainly have my sympathies...I would be gutted too.
Yeah I understand that, it is my fault that they didn't know about the accident and I should have checked before confirming. They say the £450 is the difference in premium had he been added last year when it started!However, £450 seems ridiculous, how did they arrive at that figure?
You certainly have my sympathies...I would be gutted too.
Dom
Nick1point9 said:
RevolveR said:
Claim your card is lost/stolen with the bank, it might stop payments going out.
The insurance company will just pursue him for the funds by another means.Might be worth speaking to Citizens advice to see if there is anything that can be done.
Zeemax_Mini said:
Wacky Racer said:
In fairness to them. anyone could just say "I did not know he had an accident"...It's your job to tell them the facts...also the fact that your dad did not drive is irrelevent, he might have done...
However, £450 seems ridiculous, how did they arrive at that figure?
You certainly have my sympathies...I would be gutted too.
Yeah I understand that, it is my fault that they didn't know about the accident and I should have checked before confirming. They say the £450 is the difference in premium had he been added last year when it started!However, £450 seems ridiculous, how did they arrive at that figure?
You certainly have my sympathies...I would be gutted too.
Dom
Very sour taste in my mouth. When does back charging for "quote massaging" i.e leaving something out, turn into extortion?
Please go to the insurance ombudsman, I fear they've done this to many, many people as its hard to argue back when your morally in the wrong.
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