This morning I got a letter from Direct Line informing me that my motor insurance would be automatically renewed next month and the premium deducted from my credit card (they'd stored its number).
Can they have any legal right to do this?
Also, how do I terminate my dealings with Direct Line? There was nothing in the letter and I haven't had time to go through the bumf they sent me last year.
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It's only an offer to renew - most companies do it.
I change most years for price reasons and have never had any problems not renewing the previous cover by ringing the company to tell them.
I suspect some of the companies send out the renewal offer quite late, so you haven't much time to look about for others, if you've not already thought about it.
A note of caution, when you ring, do not use the word cancel, because your new cover will start from the expiry of the old.
So you want the old policy to run its course, not cancelled.
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When you took out/renewed 12/24/36 months ago did you authorise an auto renewal?
Not to worry, look around and see if there is a better offer of cover. If you can find a better deal you just phone DL up and cancel before the renewal date.
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I'm sorry, this is a really stupid post. Try reading the communication where it says "if you do nothing" before the automatic renewal.
You would be the first person to be on here whinging and whining if you were away, didnt read your letter and they cancelled you insurance.
Of course they can renew on your credit card, you agreed to it when you signed up.
Do try reading stuff like this - it's important and cut out the "avoid Direct Line" stuff simply because you can't be bothered to read.
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+1
It will be in the documentation you have previously received.
Not worthy of a "Name and Shame" thread.
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Communicate with DL and if they send a certificate then just send it back telling them you do not wish to continue doing business with them any more.
Of course ask them to refund any monies or tell your Credit Card company that it was an unauthorised withdrawal, if indeed it is that
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>> Of course ask them to refund any monies or tell your Credit Card company that
>> it was an unauthorised withdrawal, if indeed it is that
>>
It would not be an unauthorized withdrawal, they are not stupid. you have authorized automatic renewal even if only by default. If you don't read the bumph you have no complaint. As said above, if your insurance expired while you were on a spur of the moment visit to a sunny beach somewhere abroad and the plods zapped you with an ANPR camera on your drive home from the airport and impounded the car whose fault would that be?
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>> I'm sorry, this is a really stupid post. Try reading the communication where it says
>> "if you do nothing" before the automatic renewal.
>>
The letter tells me to do nothing if I want my insurance renewed, it doesn't say what to do if I don't. I can't see anything on their website either.
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>> The letter tells me to do nothing if I want my insurance renewed, it doesn't
>> say what to do if I don't. I can't see anything on their website either.
Having just not renewed a motor policy with Direct Line I can tell you that you 'phone them up using the number on the renewal letter and they politely thank you for your call. They then send you a letter confirming your no claims years. Simples!
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>> Also, how do I terminate my dealings with Direct Line? There was nothing in the letter....
Surely there was a phone number?
IIRC when I was insured with DL for 8+ years all their correspondence clearly showed their phone number at least once on the first page.
Just phone them and discuss renewal options. Chances are they'll offer you a cheaper quote than the one they sent you by post.
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Most of them do it now. You need to ring them before renewal and request not to do that.
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I buy on line and remember to untick the auto renewal box.
Really difficult at my age...:-)
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To the OP.
Be proactive and do a Google search for 'Direct Line automatic renewal' and see the results there! I'm not doing the work for you!!!
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Here's a contact number.
"If you are already a Direct Line customer
Call: 0845 246 8706"
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My renewal letter got lost in the post. Had I not been aware that my insurance was due for renewal, they would have charged me a greatly increased premium.
As it was, I chased them about renewal and also beat down the price.
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RE: "Also, how do I terminate my dealings with Direct Line? There was nothing in the letter and I haven't had time to go through the bumf they sent me last year."
I doesn't really matter now - I've just had a look at GoCompare and they're at least a tenner cheaper than anyone else.
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Pick up something called a telephone, ring them tell them to cancel the auto renew, then send them the certificate back (the new one) and cross it out and write cancel on it.
Make sure you send the new 2011-2012 though, not your existing one.
I just had to the same with Admiral, I was a little annoyed at the auto renew too, but in some ways its better as some really stupid people over look issues like renewing their insurance.
Edit didn't see your last post.
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Wed 12 Oct 11 at 12:24
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Also make sure they send confirmation of your full no claims
There are some who mess around for ages to send this out, and one insurer threatened to cancel my insurance because they where waiting for this confirmation despite several phone calls to the previous insurer - I'm sure they do this on purpose.
Auto renew, all the insurance companies i have had the pleasure to be with have done this - I just make sure I get the first with another company.
I usually get the line "we can try to match that", I have responded "Well you should have done that in the 1st place instead of jacking up the premium"
The auto renew is legal as you have signed up to it, however it serves for the gullable who don't bother to shop around. I know mine is due in December sometime so in November I start shopping around.
Last edited by: Redviper on Wed 12 Oct 11 at 12:40
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Good point about the proof of no claims.
I believe they are required to provide this by industry regulations.
My last two insurers sent one to me without being asked.
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>> My last two insurers sent one to me without being asked.
>>
Our problem was the new insurer Coop seemingly unable to read the clearly stated 65% on the NFU renewal, they insisted on a confirmation letter from NFU which arrived and was forwarded the following day.
Still not sure we've done the right thing from this start..;)
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...they insisted on a confirmation letter from NFU which arrived and was forwarded the following day...
My previous change didn't ask for confirmation of no claims, although the new company did this year.
There's a lot of sharing of information among insurance companies in terms of claims, so I wonder if the new company could check your history themselves, if they wanted to.
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>> There's a lot of sharing of information among insurance companies in terms of claims, so
>> I wonder if the new company could check your history themselves, if they wanted to.
I have no doubt they know everything including my weight and waist size Iffy, however they made themselves look clots.
They sent a quite curt letter telling me i hadn't sent proof of no claims (the original only acceptable) and threats of hugeky increased premiums if not sent within 14 days etc, so i phoned them and asked them to reread it, which they did and still couldn't find the noclaims figure.
I then went through my copy with them over the phone and pointed out the bold 65%, which after some umming and ahhring they then said was the wrong renewal date, it wasn't, it was for 2011/12, i'm getting dafter by the day but i can still read a date.
I saved them face though by getting NFU to send a letter of confirmation, which Coop never acknowledged...by now i realised why i'd stayed with NFU so many years.
Goodness knows what pigs ear the new lot will make in the event of a claim if they can't even take your money without a theatrical performance.
Hopefully NFU will be come a bit closer again next year at renewal time.
Last edited by: gordonbennet on Wed 12 Oct 11 at 13:22
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>> I just had to the same with Admiral, I was a little annoyed at the
>> auto renew too, but in some ways its better as some really stupid people over
>> look issues like renewing their insurance.
You don't have to be stupid Rats, just busy. I've done it at least once.
Insurance expires 26 Jan. Receive renewal notice around 10th and put in 'admin to do' file for attention nearer time. Couple of weeks of long days at work further extended by snow on roads/rails and/or weekends away. Remember on 30th!
Auto renew presents the same risk - stick it in to do folder pending time to test prices on line etc - but at least I'm still legal if I forget.
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>> I haven't had time to go through the bumf they sent me last year."
But you had time to post here!!!!
You could have used that same time instead to type "direct line car insurance contact number" into google.
www.directline.com/motor/page04.htm
Also a quick search of their FAQ's provided an answer
faqs.directline.com/help/car-insurance/do-not-to-renew
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Some people are just not 'with it' and they'll use every excuse.
I know to within a few days +/- when all my insurances, bills etc. are due and make sure that, if I want to renew, I do it there and then. But I realise that not everyone is like me a 73+ year's oldie.
Many people are just very cavalier in the more mundane matters of their lives and perhaps that is why some get caught out in this way.
Procrastination is the thief of time!! Don't forget that.
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>> >> I haven't had time to go through the bumf they sent me last year."
>>
>> But you had time to post here!!!!
>>
The bumf was at home - I just had a quick look at the renewal letter on the way to work.
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>> Also a quick search of their FAQ's provided an answer
>>
>> faqs.directline.com/help/car-insurance/do-not-to-renew
>>
Try clicking on your link - it tells you how to renew your insurance and says nothing about how not to renew.
This is the sort of thing that alienates customers.
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Perhaps you are looking at a different link, but it seems pretty clear. "Should I decide I do not wish to renew my car insurance policy with you, when do I have to notify you by?
You must let us know whether or not you wish to renew your policy prior to its expiry."
What did you expect? A choir of underwriters singing the Dies Irae? tinyurl.com/3bmylb
Last edited by: NortonES2 on Wed 12 Oct 11 at 19:59
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>> >> Also a quick search of their FAQ's provided an answer
>> >>
>> >> faqs.directline.com/help/car-insurance/do-not-to-renew
>> >>
>>
>> Try clicking on your link - it tells you how to renew your insurance and
>> says nothing about how not to renew.
>>
>> This is the sort of thing that alienates customers.
Direct line have offered you the chance to renew with them with the minimum amount of hassle, at a cost 10 pounds less than you can get elsewhere, and you castigate them, and claim they alienate customers.
Words fail me.
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>> Try clicking on your link - it tells you how to renew your insurance and
>> says nothing about how not to renew.
Huh!!
Did you not have time to read it properly, just like the renewal letter?
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Yes - it says "You must let us know whether or not you wish to renew your policy prior to its expiry," but it doesn't say how and I have to rely on them acknowledging that I've done this.
The auto-renew option shouldn't have defaulted to true in the first place.
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>> Yes - it says "You must let us know whether or not you wish to
>> renew your policy prior to its expiry," but it doesn't say how and I have
>> to rely on them acknowledging that I've done this.
>>
>> The auto-renew option shouldn't have defaulted to true in the first place.
>>
Rubbish!
It is VERY easy to cancel, I did so recently.
One 5 min phone call, with a very polite guy, who didn't try and twist my arm to stay.
Letter confirming arrived within a week, complete with proof of NCB.
If only all transactions where that quick and easy.
Auto-renew is set to true, with most insurance companies, I think its a brilliant idea, to prevent you driving uninsured by mistake.
Again, Im sure one phone call would sort out cancellation if thats wjat you wished to do, even after auto-renewal had kicked in.
IF only they had been to efficient when I made a claim a few years back.....
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>> Rubbish!
>> It is VERY easy to cancel, I did so recently.
>> One 5 min phone call, with a very polite guy, who didn't try and twist
>> my arm to stay.
>> Letter confirming arrived within a week, complete with proof of NCB.
>>
There is nothing in the letter on how to cancel and you shouldn't have to do it in the first place.
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I will agree that the words 'how to cancel' do not appear, BUT top right on the front of all pages, in large bold letters 'Customer Helpline 0845 246 8822'.
on the bottom of the 1st page of the renewal notice, 'If any of your detail have changed or you wish to change your payment method, please call our customer helpline on 0845 246 8822'
(You wished to change payment details to NONE!)
I haven't looked, but I'm sure that in the policy handbook it will state about both the auto-renewal, and how to cancel it.
Better in my mind that peoples insurance is auto renewed, that when they have an accident, they find out the hard way they are no longer covered.
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>> The auto-renew option shouldn't have defaulted to true in the first place.
Do you have a choice at first instance?
I can see the downside if the renewal is subject to 'escalator' pricing but as a backstop against domestic admin incompetence I'm in favour
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Not so long ago motor insurers provided a 14 day RTA certificate with their renewal notice to avoid the "domestic admin incompetence" problem. This "free" insurance was abolished so that they could comply with the legal requirement of setting up the Motor Insurers Database.
They then introduced auto renewal as an alternative way of avoiding the problem.
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I think you're fighting the wrong battle. Insurers' dodgy practices are -
- passing no-fault claims to claims management companies who offer push expensive hire cars at the third party insurer's expense, adding to everybody's premiums;
- selling no-fault claims details to personal injury solicitors and their agents, ditto;
- charging extortionate fees for policy changes;
- 'de-tuning' renewal premiums so penalising customers for loyalty,
to name but four.
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Or save money and call them on 0117 9849922
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The whole flaming business is crackers..
My bike insurance is due at the end of the month. I'm with Swinton...cheapest last year at £78ish comp.
Renewal arrived today at £178 ! Just been on a comparison site and Swinton are £87 !
Bennetts are cheapest at £74.
I'll see if Swinton still want my business tomorrow. They all just try and take the mick every year !
Ted
Last edited by: VxFan on Thu 13 Oct 11 at 18:55
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Beware of Direct Line motor insurance - Iffy
