Devitt / post office beware

[elefantman]

Last year I insured with the post office who turned out to be devitt , all good so far until renewal time , they sent a renewal quote saying it would auto renew in the small print , I looked around and got a better quote so waited until the renewal eve and started new policy and called to cancel auto renew.
Only then was I told the full payment has been taken 7 days earlier to "allow continuity of cover" I asked it be refunded and stopped , jumped through online hoops and forms and finally had it cancelled.
Today I've had an email saying they've refunded to my card minus £40 cancelation fee .
Beware of this if you are dealing with them .

 

[ChasMill]

Interesting. Why did you wait until the evening before renewal to cancel?
Mine renews on Saturday via Devitt (BMW Motorad scheme) - I called them last week as I will be in France on Saturday with Wapping, ex of the Parish and wanted to make sure that the cover would be in place and was told the same thing, except they had taken the premium (and sent me the documentation via email) on Thursday.

Good news if you are in my position, not so good in yours.

 

[elefantman]

Waited until day before as work and other commitments take up most of my time , things like this take a back seat until they need doing, this is the first time any company has taken payment 7 days before due date , just wanted to warn people of this practice which does seem to be just carried out by devitts , my car and motorhome have also been renewed so far this year and the day before worked for both .
Also £40 seems a lot for a cancelled policy well within the usual 14 day cool off period considering the auto renewal circumstances

 

[Blackal]

I would say that you cancelled the auto-renewal, and since the policy was not in effect - then there can be no cancellation fee.

Send them a letter alleging FRAUD on their part, and copy the insurance ombudsman.

Al

 

[ChasMill]

Not meant as a criticism, just interested why you had arranged alternative (cheaper) cover but hadn't cancelled (non-renewed) your existing policy.

There is a thread elsewhere on here about Direct Line not charging for policy alterations (shame they don't do bikes). Threaten them with the Insurance Ombudsman seems to be the advice given.

 

[bisbee]

Was auto renew ever mentioned at policy inception either verbally or in writing? I'll wager not It's dodgy practice to say the least imho

 

[elefantman]

It's the first time in 32 years of buying bike insurance that any company have required 7 days notice of non renewal , I've complained and filled in all the required forms explaining the situation but once they have your cash you're largely stuffed , considered cancelling card payment but that can open a can of worms and a black mark on insurance list might haunt you forever I guess , just want the world to know and not be bitten like I've been .

 

[malcopopolo]

Always pay by credit csrd for insurance. Credit card companies will refund dodgy charges