Bennett Insurance.....What a rip off!!!

When my son first got his 125 Honda on the road Bennetts wanted over two grand - closely followed by Carole Nash at £1850. That's with a year's no claims! He's now with Scooters and Bikes who have real people you can talk to - whilst saving £1500.
 
Update: I sent them two emails telling them not to auto-renew but they still did it and took £616 from my account a couple of days ago.
I suspected they might be dishonest enough to try that and had already warned my bank, so the money was automatically charged back against them. So it was only out of my account for half a day.
That counts as a bad mark against them with the banks and credit card companies if they do it enough times they will be penalised.
But now they have proved what they are like I will never insure with them again and would recommend others not to touch them with a barge pole.
 
I once notified them that I'd sold my bike and so no longer needed cover. I had 3 months left to run and the policy was paid for. When I told them I was told I had to pay an administration charge. I didn't expect a refund but I certainly didn't expect to be told to pay administration charges ..

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Sure I read somewhere(probably here) but the reason to cancel a policy on a sold bike is that if the new owner chooses not to insure it, then has a prang and damages someone or something, the bike still has a valid cover and claims could be made against your policy!
Incredible but stinks nonetheless
 
Sure I read somewhere(probably here) but the reason to cancel a policy on a sold bike is that if the new owner chooses not to insure it, then has a prang and damages someone or something, the bike still has a valid cover and claims could be made against your policy!
Incredible but stinks nonetheless

You MUST cancel your policy in relation to a sold bike immediately, for the above reason - they will go for whoever they can.....
 
My experience with Bennets today: My insurance with them is up for renewal on 13th November. I haven't received a renewal notice yet and after having read this thread and not knowing whether I have the automatic renewal thing, I was a bit worried and decided to give them a ring. I got through immediately, was told the renewal notice was in the post, was given the price (£25 increase over last year, oh well) and was able to sort the renewal then and there. Because I was expecting it, I heard her rattle off the thing about automatic renewal and asked for it to be cancelled (although my card would have expired by then anyway). No complaints.
 
My experience with Bennets today: My insurance with them is up for renewal on 13th November. I haven't received a renewal notice yet and after having read this thread and not knowing whether I have the automatic renewal thing, I was a bit worried and decided to give them a ring. I got through immediately, was told the renewal notice was in the post, was given the price (£25 increase over last year, oh well) and was able to sort the renewal then and there. Because I was expecting it, I heard her rattle off the thing about automatic renewal and asked for it to be cancelled (although my card would have expired by then anyway). No complaints.

I asked my bank (HSBC) about getting a new card to stop them taking the money and was told that even if your card has expired the funds will still be taken. I suggested that I might close the account and open up a new one and was told that the money could still be taken from the new account because there is a historic payment from my old account. However my bank was very good and said that if they take the money they would instigate a automatic charge back against Bennetts, which is exactly what happened, even after I'd emailed them telling them not to renew (I have a copy of the email I sent them by screen shot) they still took the money!!! A-holes

I have emailed Saga UK who I am a customer of for other products asking them if that is the way the whole of Saga is run? and if I should sack them completely? Sure enough I got a email from a Bennetts Operations Support Executive today asking for my policy number so he can look into it. He can look into it as much as he likes, I won't be insuring with them again. I'll need a full apology in writing if I'm not to sack Saga completely.
 
I asked my bank (HSBC) about getting a new card to stop them taking the money and was told that even if your card has expired the funds will still be taken. I suggested that I might close the account and open up a new one and was told that the money could still be taken from the new account because there is a historic payment from my old account. However my bank was very good and said that if they take the money they would instigate a automatic charge back against Bennetts, which is exactly what happened, even after I'd emailed them telling them not to renew (I have a copy of the email I sent them by screen shot) they still took the money!!! A-holes

I have emailed Saga UK who I am a customer of for other products asking them if that is the way the whole of Saga is run? and if I should sack them completely? Sure enough I got a email from a Bennetts Operations Support Executive today asking for my policy number so he can look into it. He can look into it as much as he likes, I won't be insuring with them again. I'll need a full apology in writing if I'm not to sack Saga completely.

I have eventually got a response yesterday, with a full apology in writing and a £30 offer of compensation. So they did eventually handle my complaint, so I may consider them again but they won't be near the top of my list.
 
I have eventually got a response yesterday, with a full apology in writing and a £30 offer of compensation. So they did eventually handle my complaint, so I may consider them again but they won't be near the top of my list.

That is good news, I had exactly the same issue with the AA on a buildings/ contents insurance policy, automatic renewal even though I had specifically said no to AA call centre , even e-mailed them after the conversation.
I also called my bank ( Clydesdale ) told them not to allow any automatic AA renewals..

AA took the money from my account 7 days later.

I made an official complaint to my bank and they finally agreed after 2 months "their system" had made an error ?

Got my money back and £100 compensation from the bank.

Be aware, Bennett aren't the only business doing "automatic renewals"

Dave.
 
Another update:
After they upheld my complaint in full and offered me £30.00 compensation.
I rang the number they gave me to accept the £30.00 compensation and guess what....No answer. I did get an answer phone where I left a message accepting the £30.00 compensation, giving my policy number, name and letter reference.
But that was over three weeks ago and there is still no sign of the money!!! I've tried to ring them today but got no reply, I then rang SAGA head office and they tried to ring Bennetts internally but they got no reply either.
In the letter of apology their customer services executive said that my experience was unfortunate but extremely rare.....Obviously not that rare as it keeps happening even to their parent company.
 
Forget about auto renewal, this is rip off, they are counting on you to forget to review and then charge you more. And when you call to cancel they may charge you even more. As other guy sad, loose your debit card, so they can't charge you, and remember they take money 5-7 days before renewal
 


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