AA Car Insurance- charges and bailiffs - sri DCA.

[Megan99]

Hi there just after some advice please.

 

On the 30th June I had to cancel our car insurance direct debit

since 3 payday loans had used all the funds in our account and I knew if I didn't then that would mean £50 in returned direct debit fees.

 

I then received a letter saying that because the direct debit had been returned with them,

a £12 admin fee had been charged (note this is all x2 since my husbands policy is with them). I

 

emailed straight away trying to get the £12 x 2 "administration fees - sending out a letter)

saying the bank had cancelled the direct debit in error (a fib I know). I

 

asked if they could refund the fee and asked to reset up the direct debit for payment on the 15th

(when husbands salary went in) instead of previously on the 5th.

 

4 days later, I received an email reply, refusing to refund the £12 fees and that £31.73 (direct debit + fee)

would be taken on the 5th.

 

I replied immediately saying I would have to cancel the direct debit again

since I knew there would be insufficient funds to make payment. I

asked why they would not consider moving the direct debit to the 15th.

 

There was no reply.

 

I emailed again on 21st July asking to reset up the direct debit for the 26th Monthly and arrange to pay the fee separately.

They responded on the 22nd July asking me to confirm address, postcode and date of birth.

 

By this time, I was engrossed in pursuing the PDL companies and so did not reply.

 

On 16th August I received a letter demanding full payment immediately

- the debt had now increased to £84.56 for my husbands and £82.25 for mine (

presumably the next months payments as well).

 

In my emails I said I would cancel the policy.

I cancelled the direct debits and moved our car insurance elsewhere.

I emailed immediately back to them and asked for a full breakdown of how the amounts had been calculated.

I also explained that as we were now in severe financial difficulty

I could not afford to pay in one go and offered to send a full I&E to confirm this.

No reply was received.

 

Now we have received a letter from Collections at AA saying despite requests for payment

the balance remains unpaid and f payment wasn't received our file will be passed to a debit collection agency.

 

However they have renewed our insurance with them for the coming year! Documents were received on 22 August.

 

In the meantime, we had insured our car elsewhere and

 

this morning I have received from my husbands new insurers that they have received correspondence

from another car insurance company that his car is still insured with them

and it is an offence to hold dual insurance on any vehicle.

 

Is there anything I can do as I dont think they have been very helpful in my requests?

[dx100uk]

firstly

DCA's are NOT BAILIFFS

they have NO SUCH LEGAL BAILIFF POWERS.

 

as to whatever they threaten, take with a VERY large pinch of salt.

 

tell the AA you did not ask nor give permission for the renewal

cancel it

 

so, when was the lasttime they got money from you

 

if you cancelled the old policy, then they have no right to renew.

 

its p'haps also better to WRITE to them

rather than email

 

it appears they are getting lost.

 

dx

[Megan99]

The first direct debit was returned on the 5th June...so they want paying for all premuims now

[dx100uk]

who the AA thought you cancelled it.

and got other ins.

 

trying to spoof you me thinks.

 

dx

[Megan99]

Just found the default notice they sent me on 18th July saying if no payment was received THEY would cancel the insurance!

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

If you are paying insurance premiums by instalment, the amount you are paying each month is to pay for the instalment plan you have entered into (often this is a credit agreement) that has paid the premium IN FULL to the insurer. I believe the AA may act as a 'broker'.

 

So if you cancel early the balance becomes due.

[Wooks001]

Think Brig is right on this one, most policy's offer a refund if cancelled but after a certain number of months this is 0. You can cancel (probably with an admin fee) but you lose any remainder.

Did this a few months ago to get the proof of ncb as it was cheaper than changing vehicle with my existing insurer.

 

I am wondering though what proof of ncd you used with the new insurer, if the AA policy was still running as they didn't cancel. Only mentioning this because they can deny any claim you might need to make if you give them a reason. Could potentially cause you major problems if they cancel the policy.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I agree, reinsuring whilst another policy exists is going to cause even more problems.

[D.H AA Rep]

Hi there just after some advice please.

 

On the 30th June I had to cancel our car insurance direct debit

since 3 payday loans had used all the funds in our account and I knew if I didn't then that would mean £50 in returned direct debit fees.

 

I then received a letter saying that because the direct debit had been returned with them,

a £12 admin fee had been charged (note this is all x2 since my husbands policy is with them). I

 

emailed straight away trying to get the £12 x 2 "administration fees - sending out a letter)

saying the bank had cancelled the direct debit in error (a fib I know). I

 

asked if they could refund the fee and asked to reset up the direct debit for payment on the 15th

(when husbands salary went in) instead of previously on the 5th.

 

4 days later, I received an email reply, refusing to refund the £12 fees and that £31.73 (direct debit + fee)

would be taken on the 5th.

 

I replied immediately saying I would have to cancel the direct debit again

since I knew there would be insufficient funds to make payment. I

asked why they would not consider moving the direct debit to the 15th.

 

There was no reply.

 

I emailed again on 21st July asking to reset up the direct debit for the 26th Monthly and arrange to pay the fee separately.

They responded on the 22nd July asking me to confirm address, postcode and date of birth.

 

By this time, I was engrossed in pursuing the PDL companies and so did not reply.

 

On 16th August I received a letter demanding full payment immediately

- the debt had now increased to £84.56 for my husbands and £82.25 for mine (

presumably the next months payments as well).

 

In my emails I said I would cancel the policy.

I cancelled the direct debits and moved our car insurance elsewhere.

I emailed immediately back to them and asked for a full breakdown of how the amounts had been calculated.

I also explained that as we were now in severe financial difficulty

I could not afford to pay in one go and offered to send a full I&E to confirm this.

No reply was received.

 

Now we have received a letter from Collections at AA saying despite requests for payment

the balance remains unpaid and f payment wasn't received our file will be passed to a debit collection agency.

 

However they have renewed our insurance with them for the coming year! Documents were received on 22 August.

 

In the meantime, we had insured our car elsewhere and

 

this morning I have received from my husbands new insurers that they have received correspondence

from another car insurance company that his car is still insured with them

and it is an offence to hold dual insurance on any vehicle.

 

Is there anything I can do as I dont think they have been very helpful in my requests?

 

Hello Megan99, this is certainly something we would like to address, please email the details including your full name, address and policy number to [email protected] with Reference FOR49956. We look forward to hearing from you. Kind Regards, The AA