A polite rant off topic entirely

[barry]

Sorry fellas but you are the only large group of people I know so I am taking advantage of you. I am feeling old and sad because I am so easily ripped off by large companies these days because I do not think fast enough to protect myself.

My target gripe mainly for UK users is Norwich Union Insurance (in reality the AVIVA group)and their enforced direct debit scheme. I have used this company for most of the last 25 years and like an old idiot trusted them. I got through to an Indian call centre and tried to talk to a man who knew no English but give him his due by the time he had finished he had sold me a policy which was pretty awful, my fault for a lot of family reasons I was rushing it.

On the policy it clearly stated how long the insurance was in effect for, actually the 3rd of this month so I thought right that has lapsed. Scrapped my beautiful old Rover 3.5 litre which made me sad just another step downwards in old age could not afford a cat exhaust.

Then I got my bank statement which they were still taking payments for this year so I rang them and asked them to stop this and return the money. NO WAY was the answer you should have informed us before the date of expiry because you have signed up for LIFE I pointed out I thought it was just a little unethical to charge £75 for insuring a non existant vehicle. I was told this was perfectly legal and was politely told to P**S OFF and write a letter of complaint which lets be honest would only come back with same statement that I have not got a legal leg to stand on.

What really worries me is I then got conned again by the smooth talking s*d at the end of the line into paying him this charge by debit card instead of sending a cheque (which 24 hours later I would not have sent) this in spite of telling him I was getting old and more than a bit confused.

So my rant is NORWICH UNION WILL NOT QUOTE YOU HAPPY whatever you do do not sign their Direct Debit form or if you do immediately send them a cancellation for next year.

Please Lord it's been a good life but can I have a bit of common sense back and remember the world has changed honesty is a dirty word.

Thank you for allowing the boiler vent if this offensive then take it off the site no offence will be taken.

regards

[kronos]

Hey we all need to vent from time to time when I get those just give me your debit , creditcard or bank acct info call I just tell them I can give them my attorneys name and number and that his firm handles all my finances at that point they usualy hang up

[Golden Bear]

Geez Barry. That is simply awful. As I am getting older and greyer I frequently spend time, like you probably, thinking about how complex and intrusive things have become in life... multinational corporation, insurance companies, etc. If you grow up in it it doesn't probably seem so bad - just the way life goes. But having a different perspective from age it appears more and more obvious how our individuality is just disappearing.

I feel helpless for not being able to do anything for a friend in this instance. I'd give you a hug a three fingers of scotch if we were closer. Good luck with the idiots.


Carl

[Jaybats]

i think you can call the bank or debit card company directly and tell them to stop payments to the company. direct debit transactions are like check transactions, only without the check, if i am not mistaken. any authorization that you gave for them to debit the account in favor of Norwich can be revoked.

you can complain to the government agency which governs insurance companies. don't know which one that is over there in the UK.

you said the policy says it was supposed to lapse on the 3rd month of this year? that is what governs the term, not what the guy on the line said. i don't think you cannot insure a vehicle "FOR LIFE", because if the vehicle is gone there is nothing to insure.

[paperbeam]

To avoid a legal hassle you could just close your bank account and open another at the same branch/bank.

If all the other options don't pan out...

Terry

[Mark_1984]

Hi Barry,

What a bummer...... However, read the direct debit guarantee carefully and talk to the bank. You may be able to get an erroneous payment back.

The last time I got a quote from them it wasn't "Quote you happy" It was fell off my chair laughing as they wanted about 5 times what the specialist bike insurance company wanted for my Kawasaki 600.

[Darwin]

Barry, you have my sympathies entirely. I went through this kind of thing myself when my wife had a moment of head softness and told the kindly old Video Professor to send her the free computer lesson he was offering. How can you loose?....easily. They started sending unordered "lessons" to her at the rate of one per week at $80 US per pop. Several hundred dollars and initiation of a lawsuit later, they finally stopped....but never did recover the dollars for the unwanted merchandise.

I'm not that familiar with banking laws in the UK, but there should be the equivalent of a "stop payment" order for direct debit transactions. I'd also look into seeing if there is a channel in the UK for filing formal consumer fraud complaints. Best of luck, buddy. NON ILLIGITIMI CARBORUNDUM!!!!!

[wunwinglow]

Barry, drop one of the TV consumer programs a line. http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/ is one. Also Martin Lewis who does all the Radio 2 consumer slots would love to know the details, I am sure! www.MoneySavingExpert.com is his website. Good luck. I'd just cancel the direct debit and let them whistle.... but then I'm not a lawyer! Still, here's one more consumer who won't be putting any business there way. This stinks.

Tim

[Elliott]

Hi Barry,

Gettting old stinks sometimes and I certainly sympathize with you. I don't know about the UK but here in the US you can go to the Legal Aid sociiety for free advice on situations like this. It is unconscionable how some people will prey on those of us who need a moment to think things through. My dearly beloved has adopted the policy of taking the phone from me when I get into a situation like you described, saying "Thank you, No." and hanging up. I love her for it as I have a hard time doing that.

Regards,

Elliott

[Kaz]

Sorry to hear that Barry, telemarket salesdogs.... I know you had to phone them, but for those who get cold called here in the UK
http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/ go register your landline here, and within two weeks no sales marketers will be allowed to call you, EVER unless you say they can. If they do, you can report them, and they can be fined bigtime. Since I registered I have had 2 calls in the last three years. You can set up your mobilephone too, but it only lasts a year.

[barry]

Thanks fellas this place restores my sanity just felt I could not fight back now I can. If nothing else works I will find out how to run a blog and slag em off till they sue me.

My resolution is hang up when asked for money and think about it for 24 hours !!!

regards

barry

[Darwin]

Good strategy, Barry. I've reached the point that I absolutely refuse to consider any unsolicited sales pitch. It takes some effort to overcome all mama's work to make me a polite citizen, but I'm finding out just how easy it is to hang up the telephone after saying the first "no, I'm not interested."

[Jim Krauzlis]

Yipes, Bazzer!

Yes, do wait a bit and think about any solicitation before commiting your hard earned money.

Call your bank and tell them to cancel the debit authorization...be sure they clearly understand the unethical con that was pulled on you. Most banks will do what you, the customer, says, or explain what your options are. Do that as soon as you can.

Hope it works out well for you, mate.

Cheers!
Jim

[cjd]

As someone who used to work for a major insurance co.(ducks head below parapet), I can tell you that direct debits are customer controlled, and you have every right to cancel them - if you feel you have been misadvised, or sold a policy erroneously, contact the insurance ombudsman (the details should be on any insurance documentation). Alternatively, go to the Citizens Advice Bureau, who are generally very sympathetic, and will only give advice that has been fully checked out. Your other option is the customer care rep at your bank. In any event, I hope you can sort out your problems.

Chris

[barry]

Thanks Chris

No Barclay's comment is that it is outside their remit to help in any way (meaning I think Norwich Union is big and you are just a useless OAP)and also that payments made by a debit card are not the same as cheques once issued they cannot be cancelled. Still you live and learn I think and get a little more cynical every day.