Snoozed and got screwed

[mthee]

 By Bennett's insurance. Automatic renewal at 50% increased premium, despite no whiff of any claim whatsoever. Marked it on my calendar and everything - sob! 

[CrazyFrog]

Let me guess - there's a large cancellation fee too?

[spooky]

Nasty trick, just got my renewal for my 4 bikes from Peter James   £101 !  gone up £6 !!!

[mthee]

Let me guess - there's a large cancellation fee too?

Yup! Cancellation fee + first month's cover + increased quotes due to having insurance cancelled (doesn't matter why) means I have to wear it...and the dunces cap! 

[Guzziless Steve]

Bad luck.  My wife's bike insurance is with Bennetts and went down a tenner this year to 80 quid so just let it auto renew. 

[mthee]

Bad luck.  My wife's bike insurance is with Bennetts and went down a tenner this year to 80 quid so just let it auto renew.

Kick a man whilst he's down, why don't you?!  So why the reduction for your good lady wife, then?

[Guzziless Steve]

Bad luck.  My wife's bike insurance is with Bennetts and went down a tenner this year to 80 quid so just let it auto renew.

Kick a man whilst he's down, why don't you?!  So why the reduction for your good lady wife, then?

No idea, 1996 Honda Rebel with limited mileage use, female rider and no commuting.  Low risk I suppose.

[mthee]

Bad luck.  My wife's bike insurance is with Bennetts and went down a tenner this year to 80 quid so just let it auto renew.

Kick a man whilst he's down, why don't you?!  So why the reduction for your good lady wife, then?

No idea, 1996 Honda Rebel with limited mileage use, female rider and no commuting.  Low risk I suppose.

But the premium being reduced on auto renewal? This is where they make their money out of Muppets who forget to switch (ahem) Anyway, 87 XBR, limited mileage, male rider, no commuting. I'll fetch me skirt, shall I?

[Moto63]

Ooo eerrr more tea vicar.... mind you I suppose twisted sister carried the look off to great effect 💃🤘🤘

[mthee]

Ha, ha, can you imagine those heels on the bike!? Plus, even Kevlar fishnets wouldn't be a good look on an off!
Days gone by, I would have made a quip about riding like a girl to get a reduced premium, but I'm far too PC these days...

[johnr]

surely you should have 14 days cooling off period if you change your mind. this is precisely why i refuse to go with bennets. the wifes little 125 was with them, they were going to auto renew at a much higher rate than the previous year. i went online and got a quote from of all places, bennets, for 70 quid less than the auto renew price, and a tenner less than the previous years price, when i rung up they wouldnt honour it as she would bee an existing customer, so i told them to cancel the auto renew and we went elsewhere, it was the same price as she paid the year before, so i called bennets customer service and told them that i had got cover and paid more than if i had gone with them, and was happy to do so because i wasnt putting the business their way, and i wouldnt ever go with them again.

[mthee]

£30 cancellation fee during 14 day cooling off period + 1 month's payment because I use direct debit    They've definitely lost a customer, as I'm off to get ," Do not renew with Bennett's" tattooed on my forehead. Knowing my luck though, I'll probably forget to shave on the day in question 
Does anyone insure with a company where no claims and loyalty is automatically rewarded?

[Mutt]

Insurance has generally managed to get itself a poor reputation due to the crass antics by the likes of Bennetts. There is also to be fair (again generally) a lack of serious attention by the buyers of policies to read/ask what they are buying, however the onus is on the seller to be clear when making the sale - even if bought on-line. What follows is applicable to any personal insurance policy and are the remedies if you believe that you have been sold the policy poorly:

1. Use their complaints procedure. They have to respond within 3 working days OR tell you they are going to take longer which can be up to 8 weeks. Whatever their decision is to the complaint they have to make it in writing (called a final decision) unless you agree to an offer they could make in talking with you but even then they have to confirm it. If you don't like what they confirm then you can refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) which they have to tell you in their confirming letter.
2. The referral to FOS is easy and does not cost you anything. It will cost the likes of Bennetts circa £500 because they must have used their "free" allocation of 25 referrals to FOS by now this year but if not then it will be one less on the allocation! FOS won't be too quick so patience is needed. If FOS agrees with your complaint then they instruct the seller to put it right but if they don't agree then they will tell you why.

There is a separate remedy if payment was by direct debit - just call your bank and tell them to recall the payment which they have to do under the DD guarantee charter. Again there is no cost to you. The other party (Bennetts) can try to re-process the DD and if they do then that may add more weight to the complaint and FOS's considerations.

I hope this helps.

[themoudie]

Mutt,

Thank you for the timely piece of advice, I have copied and pasted it in my Insurance folder for reference, sad old ****** that I am! 

My regards, Bill

[Moto63]

Just don't forget to have the tattoo written backwards Matt, that way every time you look in the mirror it'll be the right way round 😉😉🤘