Pauleds2

I have had my Policy with A plan for 3 and a half months.
Deposit of £180 plus so far £160 in finance payments.

I decided to sell my car and therefore had to cancel my policy and i have not replaced the car.

Just got a letter from them demanding another £132.

Total payment of £472 for 14 weeks cover!

The entire 12 Month premium was only £560.

Prepare to be hammered if you cancel with them.The low premium in the first place is all very nice but if you have to cancel prior to the policy running it's course for a genuine reason as i have then this is where they get you.


I am very unhappy with them and i believe other Scoobynetters have suffered the same fate.

LUCKO

iTrader: (3)

refer your policy booklet or have a look on here for more information

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/

Pauleds2

I have referred to my Policy booklet, they have me over a barrel.

I'm just sick at getting taken to the cleaners by them, they're all very nice when taking your hard earned off you but soon change their tune when you query why you are getting ripped off.

LUCKO

iTrader: (3)

very harsh indeed

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Ouch, not good mate.

Unfortunately there are a few insurers who sell the policy very cheap but make their money in other ways, i had a similar experience a few years ago on my old car.

Pauleds2

I've decided not to pay it, bollocks to em.

scoobynut555

I had the same problem ended up paying about £400 for 3 weeks cover, and yes nice as pie when taking your hard earned but not at all sympathetic when trying to cancel, to$$ers.

CyprusScooby

Quite right mate!

Johnny E

My quote was £680 which was great so i paid in full.6 weeks later I had to sell my car to pay for a funeral.

I cancelled my insurance and they gave me £285 back.

Could not be bothered arguing just would not use them again.

Ok we know they have to make money but this is taking the p@ss.

Pauleds2

Not good Johnny,

When i told the General manager that A Plan had been recommended to me through S/N and that i was going to canvass opinion on the board about the rediculous cancellation charges he just said "Go on then".

killa

iTrader: (7)

Insurance well, first it's too high to get then it's too high to even cancel, have u been able to check if the contract terms are unfair and this may give u a point to argue, if u get the full details ill get some person to check it out for u,

simo

There is 2 sides to every story. I am sure that they have cancellation charges to cover as well as their admin / staff to pay. I am not saying that I would be happy with costs like these but if the terms & conditions state them then buyer beware springs to mind.

Simon

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Certain insurers are awful with their cancellation charges, which is why certain brokers ( ) will not use any insurer who apply such high charges!!!!

Pauleds2

Simo,

That's really all i'm saying here. It's all very well them sponsoring this section of the board BUT buyer beware.

I have had insurance policies for cars and bikes for 15 years and i have never been ripped off by anyone like i have by A Plan.

scoobynutta555

That is ******* ridiculous. Ive just cancelled my policy with Norwich union direct for my old Impreza, halfway through my policy, I incurred a 30 quid admin charge and got the balance of the policy (500 quid) paid straight to me in an hour.

I just looked on this tread to get A plans number to get a quote, as many seem to rave on about them here. Read the rip off due to cancellation post up on top here, and you know what I won't even bother calling them. A very poor way to treat somebody who cancels their policy. Makes you wonder what other hidden extras they have, and how long it would be to receive a claim etc. Added to that the blase attitude of the GM (if quoted accurately)

Good PR A plan, youve just lost my custom for 2 insurance policies, and Im sure I wont be alone when others read this.

Moley

iTrader: (9)

pauleds2 - request a copy of your 'statement of fact' from A-Plan.

This will show you a full breakdown of the premium and costs, and will show if there have been any extra charges put on the policy.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

I am seriously thinking about not renewing if that is their policy to cancellations

I expect to pay a fair amount under all circumstances. There is not point throwing high admin charges at you when you try and cancel. All that happens then is that you never use them again

The signs of a good insurance company as the ones that are fair to you, and are flexible. They were slightly more expensive than Privelage as well, only used them because of what people said on here.

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Paul, did you not read the small print? Did you not check what the cancellation charges would be? Obviously not, but you will next time.

If A Plan detailed the cancellation charges up front and you didn't read them, then who's to blame?

F

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

^^ They are, to answer your question.

Its hard enough to get an insurance quote, and there are so many things to check. Its really hard to check everything every time you get a quote no matter how hard you try. For a company to take advantage of that is simply immoral.

scoobynutta555

I know of no insurer broker that tells you what the cancellation policies, nor any other of their policies when you call them and take out insurance after a good quote. You only get the paperwork in the post after you have taken out a policy and not before. It doesn't change the fact that this is profiteering and very very poor for customer relations, there is simply no need.

I question the policy of letting an advertiser use scoobynet in the way it does when its patently obvious that they shaft you like this when you come to cancel a policy. I know of no other insurer that charges so much in this area.

simo

maybe a good thing to come out of this for the future is that we all ask for details of cancellation charges before we take out insurance with the company!!

Luminous, if it is in the terms & conditions I think you maybe wrong chap

Johnny E

Has anyone ever had to put a claim in to A-Plan ?

I would like to know if they paid out or was there something in the small print !

They were the cheapest quote that I had but I now reliase that the cheapest is not always the best.

IMO. Their robbing b@stards and lets hope they lose some customers.


Johnny............................

buster10

It seems it depends on which A-Plan shop you go to.

I phoned their performance centre in Newbury (01635 521818) today to find out if this was this case with my policy as well.

Apparently as I am insured with Service there cancellations are pro-rata, and that is why they use them rather than Marker Study.

Apparently different shops have different schemes with different insurers.

We all know that A-Plan are cheap so if the only thing that is putting you off is the cancellation rates then perhaps you should try the Newbury branch. The guy I speak to there is Matt.

missie

What you guys have been charged is awfull, which a plan do you guys go to? Hope I never get stung!!!!

Pauleds2

Floyd,

You are assuming that i didn't read the policy booklet.

I DID as it happens and there is a tiny section showing a table of percentage cancellation charges.No figures are quoted obviously as each quote is different.
The charge i have incurred is consistent with me cancelling the policy after it has run for 7 months or more NOT 3 and a half.

So in answer to your question, A plan is to blame in my opinion.

simo

Pauleds, if the charge is wrong against your policy why not call them & query it. If they have charged you for 7 months not the 3.1/2 that you have cancelled against then surely you should get more back if thats what it says in the policy. No good moaning on here if you have not queried it & you are sure that you are right .

Let us know how you get on as very interested as I insure my cars with them.

simo

Buster

APlan Newbury use Marker Study as well as that is the branch I insured my cars through & both are with Marker Study.

Simon

Pauleds2

Simo,

I have queried it. But they say that the charges stand. I'm not a fool, i've not just started this thread for a laugh.
I'm not paying it anyway, this thread is more for information than anything and as a buyer beware.
There seem to be other people with similar grievences here too.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

Report them to the FSA if they continue to hassle you for more than they should. That should slow them down a little

Tony@Greenlight

The cancellation charges do seem high, but like Moley says you should have had the policy 'key facts' when you arrange the policy.

This will be despatched to you with the original documentation that you receive after going ahead with your policy.

With the distance marketing directive that applies since October 2004 to policies purchased via the internet or in a telephone sales discussion, along with the Financial Services Authority regulating general Insurance products with effect from 14th January 2005 you are entitled to 14 days 'cooling off' to read through the documentation sent and to make an informed decision as to whether you still wish to accept the terms and proceed with the policy.

The cancellation scale will be listed within the policy booklet supplied and most Insurers will also list these charges upon their "key facts" summary or the actual Insurance contract (proposal form) provided.

If you choose to cancel within the 'cooling off' period you will purely be charged a nominal cancellation charge (usually £25) by the Insurer in question.

Most Insurers only look to offer annual contracts and if they were aware that you are looking for short term cover at inception of the policy would probably not proceed with the policy.

The admin involvement within the first year of a policy can be considerable compared to a renewal scenario and involves the underwriter vetting all documentation supplied by you, sourcing and confirming your NCB entitlement, placing your details upon the Motor Insurers Database etc

After renewal (ie. from year 2 forward) you may find that the cancellation charges are much better as the admin and vetting element is far lower.

Please also bear in mind that in the event that you change the vehicle you can often change the policy to the new vehicle and use the remainder of your policy. It would be prudent to check this prior to cancelling your policy.

If the new vehicle/driver/requirement is outside the parameters covered by the particular Insurer most Insurers are decent enough to provide preferential cancellation rates calculated on a pro-rata (daily) basis due to their being unable to accomodate and offer you cover following your change in circumstances. They are not obliged to do this but in practice most do.

I hope this helps as a general idea of the mechanics and I can certainly sympathise if you have purchased a policy of this nature.

Kind regards

Tony