Girlys insurance problem
Girlys insurance problem
Author
Discussion

htid

Original Poster:

229 posts

200 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
Girlfriend has insurance since December and tried to ring up today to add business miles on for her job expecting to have to pay a bit extra. However they won't let her and say she now has to cancel completely and pay the cancellation fee and get insurance elsewhere. From what she’s saying I’m guessing the co-op just doesn’t do business miles full stop.

Carrot

7,294 posts

218 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
htid said:
Girlfriend has insurance since December and tried to ring up today to add business miles on for her job expecting to have to pay a bit extra. However they won't let her and say she now has to cancel completely and pay the cancellation fee and get insurance elsewhere. From what she’s saying I’m guessing the co-op just doesn’t do business miles full stop.
What do the original T&C's say?

Some policies allow for changes in the policy (like my current one), others do not (like my old motorcycle policy).

The Nur

9,168 posts

201 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
If they want impose different terms you are probably better off changing insurers. Not really losing much in terms of no-claims bonus etc.

McSam

6,753 posts

191 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
Just on principle, I would walk immediately. If they're like that over you actively trying to give them more money, what're they gonna be like with a claim?

Not heard much about the Co-Op's insurance, sounds like a result that might've popped out of Confused - if you shop around some yourself, you might find you can get business insurance with a different company for less than is already being paid smile

htid

Original Poster:

229 posts

200 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies guys, seems like a change is in order, First Direct are quoting £340 so will just have to swap to them

CampDavid

9,145 posts

214 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
How much is the cancellation fee? Check that first, it maybe that you effectively throw 9 months insurance away

htid

Original Poster:

229 posts

200 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
CampDavid said:
How much is the cancellation fee? Check that first, it maybe that you effectively throw 9 months insurance away
Cancellation fee is £160, she's on the phone to the complaints dept at the moment trying to sort it out

McSam

6,753 posts

191 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
CampDavid said:
How much is the cancellation fee? Check that first, it maybe that you effectively throw 9 months insurance away
Nah, usually it's an admin charge designed to discourage you from leaving. £20-25 is standard, some are as cheeky as £50, but the balance of your unused insurance is usually refunded accurate to the day. Ten minutes on the phone to your insurer, twenty on the phone to the new one, might even have some cash left over when you're done smile
ETA - £160 is a joke figure yikes if that's not in the terms and conditions they can whistle.. If it is, well, what can I say..

htid

Original Poster:

229 posts

200 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
McSam said:
ah, usually it's an admin charge designed to discourage you from leaving. £20-25 is standard, some are as cheeky as £50, but the balance of your unused insurance is usually refunded accurate to the day. Ten minutes on the phone to your insurer, twenty on the phone to the new one, might even have some cash left over when you're done smile
ETA - £160 is a joke figure yikes if that's not in the terms and conditions they can whistle.. If it is, well, what can I say..
T+C’s say cancellation fee is £35 !!! wtf

ZOLLAR

19,914 posts

189 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
htid said:
McSam said:
ah, usually it's an admin charge designed to discourage you from leaving. £20-25 is standard, some are as cheeky as £50, but the balance of your unused insurance is usually refunded accurate to the day. Ten minutes on the phone to your insurer, twenty on the phone to the new one, might even have some cash left over when you're done smile
ETA - £160 is a joke figure yikes if that's not in the terms and conditions they can whistle.. If it is, well, what can I say..
T+C’s say cancellation fee is £35 !!! wtf
Its probably £35 admin cancel fee then time on cover so if you've paid up from they'll refund you any time left minus £35.

That made sense in my head hehe

McSam

6,753 posts

191 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
htid said:
T+C’s say cancellation fee is £35 !!! wtf
Then there you go smile "It clearly states in the terms and conditions of the policy that a voluntary cancellation by my party will incur a fee of £35. I am voluntarily cancelling my policy."

Why the hell they're trying to charge £160 properly cements the decision to move.. Mental!

ETA - Zollar's right. If you read slowly biggrin

htid

Original Poster:

229 posts

200 months

Friday 11th February 2011
quotequote all
I’m still confused the guy on helpdesk was no help.

£35 cancellation fee +

Then he started going on about
Time on cover fee (which is worked out of a percentage of what you paid and how long you’ve been covered)
If you cancel within 1 month pay 20%, 2 months pay 30% and 3 months 40% etc)
Said that was £85.38

Short term rate £75.12 (which I guess is a hidden penalty clause for cancelling early. ) Pretty sure hidden penalty clauses are illegal under unfair contract terms act 1977. Can’t find it explicitly mentioned anywhere in the T+C’s.

Wouldn’t put me through to customer complaints. So I’m going to ring back 2moro. Once I get a chance to so some legal research

He totally didn’t seem to understand the figures himself and keep saying he didn’t have a pen or calculator