[Ragwing]

I own an old classic motorcycle...its insurance renew time...the company I insured with till Nov 4th this year sent me an email hiking there price as they all do.

So I shopped around and found a far better price...asked them is they could match...no sir.

Ok I dont want to continue...no probs do you want me to sent you proof of NCD...yes please I say...it was only for one year...I need to contact the previous company for the second year I have....now I dont think I ever said to them...I am not staying with you...I prob just started with a new company....thinking once the insurance runs out thats it.

Rang them today....seems they have auto renewed my policy 4th Nov this year and Nov 4th last year...2 years I didn't give them the ok...nor did they ask or contact me to see if I wanted to continue with them....so at present I have 2 policy's running...as I did last year but had no idea.

1 can they auto renew without my permission.
2 how can I get a refund...they want £60 to cancel...my new cover cost me £66.

[Sooty25]

You probably did approve automatic renewal when you originally started the policy.

Often you have to opt out of auto renewal and opt out of them storing your credit card details!

[Ragwing]

Not aware of doing so...if I had of noticed an option like that I would have not ticked it...

Anything I can do I wonder.

[Artschool]

call and cancel. same thing happened to me and they refunded it.

[Ragwing]

Did you have to do anything...ie send copies of policies for the period for the other insurer.

[Gas Guzzler]

You should have a 14 day "cooling off" period even if there was an automatic re-newal, suggest you call them now and invoke it!

[Ragwing]

Its [passed...but they did say even if the could cancel...I would still have a £60 cancellation fee.

The policy was not much more.

[MikeB]

Perhaps you could try disputing the payment with the credit card company?

[Paultheparaglider]

Was that with Bennetts, Nick? They did the same to me earlier this year, and told me it is a condition down in the small print somewhere. Plus they hoiked the premium some 40%. Fortunately, in my case I called in the morning and the policy was due to start at noon. They had apparently charged my card a few days earlier even though I had given them no such ongoing authority to my knowledge.

I hit the roof and told them in no uncertain terms that I took that as very sharp practice. They agreed to refund, and I told them I wouldn't use Bennetts again.

They told me they were doing it as a helpful customer service as they had conducted research that showed this was helpful to the majority of their customers. My reply would probably get me banned from here if I put it in type.

If I were you, I'd complain to the FCA, and send in a letter to MCN. Plus follow Mike's advice to take it up with the credit card company.

[Ragwing]

No not Bennets Paul...it was Devitt which as far as I know is part of the Post Office.

I get the feeling this practice is wide spread...god know how many unsuspecting people are being shafted with the day light robbery.

It was pure chance I discovered it.

My wife is the banker in our house and I leave all that side of things to her...I have asked her several times if she checks bank statements for unknown payments....of course I do dear.

I wonder how many years they would have carried on fleecing me in this way.

I wont let it rest Paul.

[Paultheparaglider]

By the way, Bennetts also told me there is no opt out of the auto renewal with them. If you take a policy out with them, it will happen if you don't call them up before your old policy expires to tell them you don't wish to renew.

Bennetts users beware.

[Boxkite]

I've just had my motorcycle expiry notice from LV 1 month in advance. I need to contact them or do it online if I wish to renew - that's how it should be.

I swapped to LV from Carole Nash when CN seemed to become less approachable.

[riverrock]

Admiral send paper letters and an email a month or so in advance before auto renewing, then another letter once they have done it with the cool off period details.
Auto renew can be a good thing, but you need kept informed!

[cockney steve]

Being a fan of "moneysaving expert" I checked all the comparison sites, then the ones not on the comparison sites...(apart from one, who's website was so horrendous, I did a rapid exit.
Oddly, Esure came out on top. I have twice called on them for multicar. Just added a T-reg. BMW 5-series estate, for £185, full Comp (not that I'll ever make a claim for it!) call-centre helpful, declined for them to hold debit-card details or spam for other products. Son included, and for commuting, no extra charge....to the penny, the premium was the same as the 2-litre Volvo estate I use as a "main" car.....Another "coincidence"- the top 2 quotes on all the comparison sites were the same companies and to within a pound, around the £220 mark
Esure also send paper, saving me the cost/effort of printing-out....no extra charge and a good refund when I sold the last car on "multicar" cover with them

[stevelup]

I'm surprised they didn't write or e-mail to you with the renewal quote.