Thanos

Automatic renewals are now fairly common.

Personally I don't like the way Swiftcover operate by sending renewals by email only. And this is not the first time I have heard about such problems caused by poor administration.

In regard to renewals, the 28 days relates to those posted. Swiftcover issuing theirs by email is compliant at 25 days before renewal.

If you want to make a complaint about Swiftcover, you should write to their head office to make them aware of the issues you have experienced. As for complaining to the FSA, FOS or ICO, I think you will find this is a frustrating experience. They will take a long time to look into, even if they accept that the complaint falls within their remit.

Huckster

Apoligies if this has already been covered elsewhere...

Firstly, can i just say to avoid Swiftcover insurance like the plague. I let them know that I did not wish to renew my policy, and have a confirmation receipt for the email, BEFORE the old policy expired. In spite of this they had already renewed the policy before the old one ended and charged my credit card. Is this legal? I can appreicate that it can often make sense for a company to renew when a policy lapses but can they do it before? They tell me that I had been warned that the policy would renew, and I agree, which is why I told them I didn't want to before the old one lapsed!

I've just read Peter Gerrard's article about automatic insurance renewals with interest. He mentions that it's a legal requirement to send a policy renewal notice 28 before the policy expires. Can anyone point me to this legislation as Swiftcover do this, by email only, 25 days before. Peter also mention ICO guidance about good practice. Swiftcovers hide the renewal information away in the small print which the ICO say is bad practice - can I actually do anything about this? Is is something they 'shouldn't' do or is it actually a breach of the Data Protection Act. Would the ICO take a complain seriously?

I should say that it does look like Swiftcover are going to give me my money back, while still somehow blaming me for this happening, but it'lll take upto 14 days so I may have to pay my credit card bill in the meantime. I should be able to afford it but what happens to other people who can't? Is there anyone I should complain to to try and stop this happening again? The FSA?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.