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UK riders beware auto-renewal Bennetts insurance UK riders beware auto-renewal Bennetts insurance
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  #1  
Old 12 Sep 2013
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UK riders beware auto-renewal Bennetts insurance
I have just been reading the insurance policy for my now dead Honda 125 with Bennetts and I spotted written in the smallest print on the page a note about auto-renewal, something I have not come across before with bike insurance. I don't know if other companies do this, they probably do but it is something to look out for especially as I like to shop around each year before renewing.
There was an option on their contact page for stopping it which I have now done.
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  #2  
Old 15 Sep 2013
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My renewal quote from Carol Nash came though last week with an auto renewal on it as well.
Went online as a new customer and it £60 cheaper with protected no claims bonus added as well!
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  #3  
Old 15 Sep 2013
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OP, what's the problem with the auto-renewal clause on your policy? Normally I like my insurance (car, house, health, whatever) to automatically renew because otherwise I've got to fill out a fresh application in advance of it running out every 6 months or year. Much simpler to have it renewed without any attention by me; the company sends me a bill and I pay it.

It's difficult to see any downside. I don't put insurance on any form of automatic payment (i.e. by direct debit to my bank account), so if I don't want it renewed I can easily not pay the premium.

The only exceptions are travel-related policies--medivac insurance, or the bike insurance I purchase when entering some countries. Those never auto-renew.

I've never tried to re-apply as a new customer per #2. I'd expect that claiming to be a new customer would involve lying in print, which might cause me difficulties down the line. However, that's just an assumption.

Mark
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  #4  
Old 16 Sep 2013
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Bike sure do it too - sneaky gits. They have a small print clause that allows them to take the money out of your account via auto renew up to five days before its due....meaning they've done it before you remember to renew or shop around. They gave mine back but only after a fight (I no longer had the bike and hadnt cancelled it because the bike was trashed and I didnt want to pay the cancellation fee).
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  #5  
Old 16 Sep 2013
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Auto renew should be banned.

They put the prices up year on year, and hope you won`t notice.

Renewing as a new customer is no issue. Once your policy has expired you are a new customer.

Even if you ask them on the phone, they will requote with you as a new customer, thats what they do when you call and say you are unhappy with the renewal price anyway

Insewerance, robbery.
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  #6  
Old 16 Sep 2013
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Interesting. I like auto-renew. Sometimes the price goes up, sometimes down. We don't get introductory discounts for new members here. I never have my policy hooked into my bank account, so I pay by check once or twice a year.

Maybe different in the States, or maybe what works for me doesn't work for you. Certainly it'd be different for #4 if he never authorized auto-payment in the first place.

Mark
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  #7  
Old 16 Sep 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brads View Post
They put the prices up year on year, and hope you won`t notice.

Renewing as a new customer is no issue. Once your policy has expired you are a new customer.
Exactly right – motor (and household) insurance policies are annual contracts.

The insurer only has the legal right to invite renewal towards the end of the contract’s 12-month term. Sometimes they don’t make the offer, of course, especially if you’ve had a bad claims experience over the course of the previous year. Actually, thinking about it, I think a motor insurer is obliged to offer terms at renewal, irrespective of your claims record, because it is a legal requirement to insure a motor vehicle whilst on the road in the UK. Of course, the insurer can hike the premium to make it very unattractive to re-new if they don’t fancy you as a risk on their books.

An insurer has the perfect defence to auto-renew, doesn’t it? - citing that because motor insurance is compulsory, they wouldn’t want to see you inadvertently breaking the law by overlooking the policy’s renewal (then pointing the finger at them for allowing the policy to lapse, resulting in you ending-up as a lawbreaker.) But despite this semi-rational excuse .. they’re still sneaky b@stards IMHO with all this auto renewal malarkey!

[Btw, for my sins, I used to work in the insurance racket! ..]

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  #8  
Old 17 Sep 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
OP, what's the problem with the auto-renewal clause on your policy? Normally I like my insurance (car, house, health, whatever) to automatically renew because otherwise I've got to fill out a fresh application in advance of it running out every 6 months or year. Much simpler to have it renewed without any attention by me; the company sends me a bill and I pay it.

It's difficult to see any downside. I don't put insurance on any form of automatic payment (i.e. by direct debit to my bank account), so if I don't want it renewed I can easily not pay the premium.

The only exceptions are travel-related policies--medivac insurance, or the bike insurance I purchase when entering some countries. Those never auto-renew.

I've never tried to re-apply as a new customer per #2. I'd expect that claiming to be a new customer would involve lying in print, which might cause me difficulties down the line. However, that's just an assumption.

Mark
In the UK we are usually sent a renewal letter/e-mail and we just phone up/go on-line and pay it without filling in any forms, the downside is that renewals often have a large price increase over the previous year, I have had increases of over 50% with no claims being made and no change of circumstance.
The UK insurance market is very competitive and give the best deals to new customers, this is the same for motorcycle, car and home insurance and to keep these deals you have to shop around every year and change insurer or go back to them and they revise the premium down if you threaten to go elsewhere.
It can be a time consuming pain but saves a lot of money.
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  #9  
Old 18 Sep 2013
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Maybe this thread could be merged with the sticky one about experiences with UK insurance?
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...iences-63707-2
Then, the information etc in here would be easier to access in future.
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