Feel conned by Bennetts

[craigs23]

Sorry for any fans of insurance... rant ahead, but feel I've been conned a bit.

I recently sold one of my bikes, which was on its own on a Bennetts policy (with a few years of no claims now), so I called them up today to cancel aforementioned policy.

The chap on the line told me there will be a cancellation charge, of which he'll calculate throughout the process. I felt that was okay, I'm used to being charged accordingly after all, and assumed from previous experience with insurance companies there wouldn't be much of an issue - or much of a charge either.

Wrong.

The cancellation charge worked out at over £100, for some bizarre nonsense insurance-small-print-fuelled-jargon-tastic reason. The problem is, I still had 4 months left on the policy, and was paying a little over £20 a month in instalments.

Hence my problem; it would cost me more to cancel the policy than to keep it running (!)

Once I fathomed that, I asked whether I could call them back before proceeding, as despite being a bit of a hassle, I could transfer one of my other bikes to my Bennetts policy, which would make more financial sense.

But apparently, the Bennetts bod explained that I'd already cancelled the policy by merely mentioning I wished to do so (even before he told me the cancellation charge figure), and that I was now legally bound to pay over £100 for doing so.

One expensive phone call. Even if I'd hung up, apparently the paperwork was already to be dispatched and I'd receive a bill in the next couple of days.

In future I'll always triple check the small print on all of my documents before making such a phone call. And probably never use Bennetts again; even if I get a cheap quote from them, it's going to need to be £100 cheaper than the other insurance brokers out there.

[MarJay]

Now you have to have insurance permanently on any vehicle that isn't SORN, and cancelling the insurance is a legal requirement when you sell or dispose of a bike, I don't doubt that they can basically charge you what you like for it.

Personally I'd have complained until they waived the charge, but that's just me. Have you tried tweeting them and stuff like that? Sometimes that works? Have you tried going on bikesocial.co.uk and complaining? (It's their 'motorcycle social network').
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[doggone]

I had a massive row with them for doing this about ten years ago, and vowed never to use them again.
They don't all do it, at least Carol Nash didn't last time I changed.

[Wonko The Sane]

Two things at play here:

1) you mention you were paying in instalments.
So, what happened when you took your policy out is that Bennets took out / gave you a loan to cover the total cost of the insurance (Insurance must be paid in full at the time of taking out the policy)

You owe 4 months on the loan at £20 a month + £20 admin fee =£100.

2) You asked to cancel, were told there was an admin fee and said "ok" or something similar and so had initiated the cancelation period - I don't agree that this is right, but can see how it's happened.

The latter is why I will always say to insurance companies "I am thinking of...." so that any recording of the call will clearly show that I was asking for information to inform a decision, not that I wanted to do something.


You may be able to contest the admin fee,

You may be able to argue point 2 that you were not aware that you had canceled and were expecting to be asked "do you wish to go ahead with cancelling the policy now"

Arry is the chap on here to speak to.
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[Freddyfruitba...]

I've also ended up highly disgruntled after being charged by an insurer for removing a bike from the policy after having sold it. (FWIW, I'd paid the premium in full up front).

Advice gleaned from BCF was that if you decide not to bother cancelling, and if the new owner then ends up having an accident without insurance (maybe even riding his new bike home), then legally your insurer will still be on the hook for any third-party claim resulting - and because you've broken the T&C's of the policy they will come after you personally for the amount of the payout (ie, they could take your house). So, realistically you have no option but to play their game.
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[blurredman]

Had a similar thing last year albeit for a car.. Adrian Flux mind.


Phoned up to say my policy was incorrect as my car is parked in a 'private car park, but publically accessed', when they put 'public car park'- I live in a flat.


I said that i would not be cancelling the policy to start a new one because i was not in the wrong, i put the phone down.


Found cancellation documents in my inbox minutes later and a cancelation fee on my on-line banking...


Later they phoned up to say that they were indeed wrong through recorded messages that i had indeed said what I did. Got full re-fund. Hate isnurance.

All my vehicles are over 25 years old now, and when I take out a policy they don't tell me that the policy would be 'classic' and therefore i would not receive NCD. I request normal policy now straight from the off.
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (bored to 295cc) - 38k, 1990 MZ ETZ251 - 49k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k.

[Nobby the Bastard]

There's a difference between charging a fee due to non declaration of relevant information and cancellation as you've sold the vehicle. In my experience (including bennetts a couple of years ago) they cannot charge you more than the remaining outstanding balance due.

Go directly to the ombudsman.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[andys675]

arseholes

decided to let them auto renew one year as the price was acceptable, four days later no money had left my account, no confirmation email, no post so rang them up and due to a 'weekend computer glitch' she couldn't tell me if my renewal had processed or not, in a panic I quickly took out some insurance with someone else and an hour later they called to say I was on cover even though the payment hadn't been taken, I told them to shove it and wouldn't be returning
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[Ste]

[Wonko The Sane]

[Evil Hans]

[Bikeless]

Bennetts are still arseholes then, I steered clear of them and Carole Nash when I was riding, their quotes on my bikes were obscene.

[andym]

[M.C]

[stevo as b4]

Shit isn't it this new insurance system/cover ruling. I take it that's it's an EU thing? Or is it just because plod has asked for continuous insurance compulsory ruling to make their life easier?

No help to OP, but I think the way to sell any vehicle now is MOT it for 12months, then Sorn it and cancel policy. Keep bike locked up in house or somewhere safe and very secure. Don't meet buyers at your house, just pick a location that's convenient. No test rides unless they tax and insure it or have 3Rd party cover. If someone wants your bike enough they'll play by your rules.

If not they can do one,! No fucks will be given in true Hetz style.

[Ste]

It's not up to them to decide whether they will continue to insure the vehicle after you've sold it.

If you ring up and tell them that you've sold the vehicle then the policy is finished. That much isn't open to discussion.

[M.C]

[pompousporcup...]

[stevo as b4]

[MCN]

As explained, the small print wasn't really jargon it was the credit agreement you never read.

It is always more expensive to buy insurance on credit, bankers have mouths to feed too you know.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Spamalittle]

Not related to the OP but my renewal quote with Bennetts just landed. £450 against last year's premium of £250. No surprises there then!

Jumped on their website, popped in exact same details, add-ons, excesses etc and quote came back at £219. Rang em up, politely told them to stuff their renewal, and took out new policy online. Chap on the phone didn't seem in the least bit interested when I called them out on the absurd premium hike.

"We've searched our bank of insurers and are pleased to offer you our best possible quote". My arse.

Pain is, I do like Bennetts' packages - roadside assist EU, helmet & leather, legal costs etc as when bought as a package it's pretty reasonable. So year after year I stick with them, despite having to take out a new policy each time. Just waiting for the "We need your NCD" phone call
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Story so far: RV125 VanVan > SV650 > Indian Scout > Triumph Thruxton, SV650 (again) & CG125

[M.C]

[Ste]

So you didn't try running your details though any of the price comparison sites to see if anyone is cheaper than Bennetts?

[Riejufixing]

That (running details though any of the price comparison sites to see if anyone is cheaper than Bennetts) is what I'm about to do. Their online mechanism quoted £4K for TPFT insurance on his RS3!!!

[Spamalittle]