Plus, I've no doubt that the auto-renewal is stated in the Terms & Conditions, which of course the OP read (not).

 

Of course I read the Terms and Conditions - you do not have to be insulting with every post you make.   YOU quite clearly have not read Briskoda's Terms and Conditions!

They do not make any mention of having to phone up to cancel the auto-renew, or of the fact that phoning Admiral's renewal line is at premium rates and will involve a lengthy call.

Edited 18 September, 201411 yr by bealine

The number I always used for Admiral, when I had them on and off, is 0203 018 3157. It is not a 'fact' you have to call any premium number, just spend a minute on google/saynoto0870 first as every special number is backed by a geographic one.

The number I always used for Admiral, when I had them on and off, is 0203 018 3157. It is not a 'fact' you have to call any premium number, just spend a minute on google/saynoto0870 first as every special number is backed by a geographic one.

 

 

Read The Fine Manual that Admiral send you.   There is no mention of non-premium rate numbers.   You don't always have access to "SayNoto0870.com".

Anyway, I have reported Admiral to Ofcom as all UK businesses are now required by law, allegedly, to provide either local (0845 type) or STD phone numbers.

Anyway, I have reported Admiral to Ofcom as all UK businesses are now required by law, allegedly, to provide either local (0845 type) or STD phone numbers.

 

I've just had a quick check online and also on their own website.

There's quite a lot of free, local and national rate numbers available for people to ring.

I heard there s actually an app for 0800 or 0845 numbers.

Basically type your 0800/0845 on mobile (chargeable) and the app will re-route the number to a landline - not actually tried it - so can't really endorse it ...just a thought ...

I used an 03 number for them, that's saved on my phone. Say No to 0870 website

+1

It's well known that insurance companies won't offer you their best deal when they provide a renewal quote. Not sure I would go as far as calling it a 'scam' but I do feel for those people not clued-up enough or confident to seek out the best deal and challenge it accordingly.

I'm with Admiral and the renewal quote is sometimes double what I end up paying. I spend 5minutes re-quoting it online as a 'new customer' through a comparison site then ring up with the quote reference number and they match it. Bingo, job done £££'s saved.

No different really to car dealers selling a motor at list price when those if us 'in the know' can negotiate thousands off because a little research gets you past the sticker price to the true cost to buy. :-)

It's well known that insurance companies won't offer you their best deal when they provide a renewal quote. Not sure I would go as far as calling it a 'scam' but I do feel for those people not clued-up enough or confident to seek out the best deal and challenge it accordingly.

I'm with Admiral and the renewal quote is sometimes double what I end up paying. I spend 5minutes re-quoting it online as a 'new customer' through a comparison site then ring up with the quote reference number and they match it. Bingo, job done £££'s saved.

No different really to car dealers selling a motor at list price when those if us 'in the know' can negotiate thousands off because a little research gets you past the sticker price to the true cost to buy. :-)

 

they must have changed their tune recently then . because last renewal quote was for £1000 for two cars multi quote. £600 for new customers rang up as you did & said i would pay £600 &they refused to budge. so cancelled my insurance there & then .how is that god business could have had £600 got £0 makes no sense

they must have changed their tune recently then . because last renewal quote was for £1000 for two cars multi quote. £600 for new customers rang up as you did & said i would pay £600 &they refused to budge. so cancelled my insurance there & then .how is that god business could have had £600 got £0 makes no sense

You might have found someone on a bad day.

I used to be with Admiral and pulled this trick every year for about 5 years, playing Admiral, Elephant and Bell off against one another.

Read The Fine Manual that Admiral send you. There is no mention of non-premium rate numbers. You don't always have access to "SayNoto0870.com".

Anyway, I have reported Admiral to Ofcom as all UK businesses are now required by law, allegedly, to provide either local (0845 type) or STD phone numbers.

Fine manual?

I would urge anyone reading this thread to auto-renew their insurance and breakdown cover.

 

You are pretty much paying for my cheaper 'new customer' cover.

 

Thanks everyone!

I never let insurance autorenew even if i stick with same company i try to bid them down. However I would say the one conpany i found worse was the rac.

You sign up online then the next year they send you a letter saying thanks for your loyal custom because of this we have knocked off £150 +, but when you add up what they are charging its actually more than you paid then when you signed up.

I argued first year about this saying i wanted internet price, i was told could only get that if i was a new customer so i said fine cancel my policy and i sign up again. I was then told you have to wait 30 days after cancelling before you can renew, my reaponse was my car hasnt broke down in the last year so i think it will manage 30 days. So they renewed it at internet price.lol.

Year later same letter same trick but this time the guy on the phone said brake down is like your car insurance, i said if thats true then it should go down every year if i dont claim but yet its still cheaper for new customers than existing ones. He wasnt budging so cancelled and never had breakdown since.

I always ring the free phone numbers when renewing, they've never asked me to ring any other number just take the call. I notice many companies always provide you with a free phone number when they want new business and a pay line for other enquiries. Don't fall for it.

 

I got my daughters car insured with Admiral, I told her to cancel the auto renew well before she gets the renewal notice.

 

I do all the ringing round stuff for better quotes every year, shouldn't have to but they give you no option, when they keep bumping the price for no apparent reason other than greed.

 

Like another post says, it's about time the insurance industry is regulated, well overdue.

Always tell them you don't want automatic renewal, which can be the default (insurance companies are allowed to do this, as they successfully argued that it is in your interest, as if you forget you won't become uninsured).

There is nothing wrong with automatic renewal so long as you bother to read the renewal quote they send a few weeks before it actually renews. If you are happy no need to do anything. If not (which is likely to be the case lol) then take action to get a cheaper price.

No point whingeing about the price hike and getting stressed trying to cancel the policy after the event. Just don't ignore the renewal quote letter! :-)

I got my Green Flag renewal in last week. they were going to automatically renew. I've got cover with the new car so if I did nothing I'd be paying for something I didn't need.

 

When you first take up any service like this you can ask then not to retain your payment details then they would be unable to automatically renew. They may or may not allow you to do that.

...you can ask then not to retain your payment details then they would be unable to automatically renew...

... or you can just ask them not to auto renew. It's not a problem.

I insured my Citroën Xantia with the Co-Op last year and had a very cheap premium of only £179, fully comp, including my wife on the policy-good deal! This year the premium had risen to £329, (almost DOUBLE!) which unless I acted to cancel it in 2 weeks, would auto-renew! I shopped around and found, via Go-Compare, a Co-Op policy for (you've guessed it....) £179 fully comp!!! I called and confirmed that I wished to take them up on this new policy and when asked to confirm my 9 years' no claims bonus, I referred them to their own original policy number! The guy on the 'phone was genuinely embarrassed & as a goodwill gesture offered me no claims bonus protection for free (normally £11) so all in all, not a bad day on the 'phone and t'internet! 

I've that to be pretty standard. I've used that several time over the years to lower my renewal. You just quote back the reference to them. Stupid you have to go through that but they hope that you'll be lazy or forget,