Should an Insurance company inform you if the policy is cancelled?

[shaun holmes]

I have had my van insurance with the same company for the last 12 months and in september received my renewal quote and it said ' RELAX, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING '

 

Brilliant i thought!

 

My insurance is paid from my wife's bank account and she accidently cancelled the direct debit! a genuine mistake, only discovered when i was stopped by the police 2 weeks ago claiming I had no insurance!

 

I phoned my insurance company and checked my status and i was indeed not insured! I then asked the insurance company when they had sent me notification that i was not insured, they replied that the last correspondence they had sent me was my renewal notice!

 

Now I fully understand that a mistake has been made and i also know if a direct debit on a current insurance policy is not paid they write to you and tell you that your insurance will be cancelled.

 

My argument is, if the last correspondence or contact from the insurance company says that I am insured, is it not reasonable of me to expect some notification from the insurers to tell me that I am not insured ?

 

I have just paid 430 pound to get my van back from where it was towed to and i face the prospect of going to court and receiving more fines and 6 points.

 

Mistakes are made every day, it could have been a banking mistake or a clerical error within the insurance group! the fact is my wife made the mistake and it seems that a accidental wrong push of a button will cost me 700 pound plus!!

 

Can anyone help me with this problem, i do intend to fight this in court as i feel that last correspondence from them confirmed i was insured, I have still not received as of today any notification to say that i wasn't.

 

The funny thing is when i realised i wasn't insured i spoke to the insurance company who then immedietly insured me without me making ANY payment, they could have informed me that there was a problem with the direct debit and one phone call and NO money could have sorted this out !

 

HELP!!!!

 

The direct debit was cancelled on line using internet banking, my wife litterally ticked the box by mistake!

Edited November 28, 2009 by shaun holmes

[postggj]

its normal policy for an insurance co/broker to send out a letter by recorded delievery stating the policy is void and to return the policy doc

 

cant say in legislation though if its a requirement

 

still looking

[shaun holmes]

Thanks for the post postggj

 

As it was a renewal, i hadn't received the new docs at the time. As far as the legislation goes if it's not a requirement then it should be!

Any insurance company wants to know if your details or circumstances change, are we not afforded the same courtesy?

 

Regards

 

Shaun