This cant be right ???

[fatboy]

I cancelled my car insurance last week but not in time to stop this months pa yment. Oh well.
They wrote to me telling me they have taken the outstanding balance using my card details, didnt tell me how much.
If I have already paid this months premium there should be no outstanding balance.
They have charged me £248, which i think is for the remainder of the term.
how can they charge me for something I have cancelled ?
Bastards have sent me well over the overdraught, more bloody fees

[BikerGran]

Get back to them, tell them you've cancelled. Trouble is, iof you weren't in time they will still charge you for the first month at short term rate which is astronomical PLUS an admin fee.
Yes it's a big con - but you shouldn't have left it too late!

[Falcorob]

The cancellation fees should be listed in your original agreement.

Check them carefully and then get back on to the Company and ask why they are so high.

[GregD-UK]

Hi all,

Have found alot of company's now have automatic renewal built into their terms. You have to cancel the repeat payment or payments normally 30 days or so before renewal date.

They obviously want your "repeat" business AND more importantly your money! Then, they charge you an admin fee to cancel pro-rata. Damn sneaky gits. I normally pay on my credit card for the likes of insurance, they card company can "Claw" back any payments I deem that was unnecessary, or, I thought invalid. They, then talk to the company if needs be. Usually, if I change to a new company, most years, I get an "Introductory Offer" with big discounts, then, cancel the repeat thing six months in advance as I paid in one payment

Hope you get your money back amigo...

[BikerGran]

I must give credit to Churchill Insurance here - they use thye 'recurring payment' system, which I quite like as it means I don't find myself driving uninsured because I've forgotten.

However, they send me a renewal notice a reasonable time before the renewal, telling me what date they will take the money, so if I don't want to renew I know exactly when I have to tell them.

[D-Rider]

They have charged me £248, which i think is for the remainder of the term.

Two Hundred and Forty Eight Quid - that's more than I pay for a whole year.

Unfortunately if you don't play by the letter of their rules you'll be very lucky if they show any sympathy.

[fatboy]

Will get in touch on tuesday, request a printed statement explaining all charges. My 'e' document is lurking somewhere so no idea what the cancellation fee is, usually around £25 to £50.
I had cancelled the direct debit so they used my card details to fleece me ( used the card to pay deposit )
Not sure if that is strictly legal, thought a buisness can only hold your card details for only one transaction,requiring card holders permission for any further transaction

[flatlander]

They will probably tell you that as you were getting the policy at a discount rate the discount doesn't apply when it's cancelled and it is then cancelled at the full non discounted rate and that is the minimum you have to pay. I had something like that years ago I asked them for a copy if the original signed contract knowing I had never sent it back and then played heck that they had lost it effectively leaving me uninsured so not only did I want no charge I wanted a refund for the previous year as they would not have honoured any claim ... The compromise came fairly quickly after that

[fatboy]

I spoke to the insurance company today and asked them to explain the outstanding balance....
The answer ' Extra's, like hire cars.
I havent had a bloody hire car, you dont get 'extra's on TPFT.
Now wait for their breakdown of charges and contact the financial ombudsman

[Willopotomas]

Whenever I've had to cancel something on a Direct Debit, I've put a stop to the DD mandate. This way, they'll have to let me know what they're after before getting their hands in it. It's a lot easier than trying to get it back. Once bitten, twice shy.

[BikerGran]

Yes, DDs are simple to deal with, the problem comes when it's a 'continuing payment' via a credit or debit card.