My experience of Post Office Motor Insurance was sadly not a happy one.
I took advantage of a cash back offer for taking out a comprehensive Motor Insurance policy, within a short time the documents arrived, but then I found a better offer. As I was still well within the 14 day okay-to-change-your-mind ... Read review
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Advantages: cheap car insurance, some polite and friendly staff Disadvantages: stressful, costly, some lying staff, hassle, grief, don't touch with a barge pole
My experience of Post Office Motor Insurance was sadly not a happy one.
I took advantage of a cash back offer for taking out a comprehensive Motor Insurance policy, within a short time the documents arrived, but then I found a better offer. As I was still well within the 14 day okay-to-change-your-mind 'cooling-off' period, I cancelled the policy and took one out with the alternative provider.
Somehow the Post Office, despite ... ... I contacted the Post Office to ask why they had taken payment on what was clearly a cancelled policy. They apologised, saying it had been a mistake, very sorry. I grumbled about the inconvenience and the hassle and generally was able to convey that I was not a happy bunny, they were very apologetic, said it wouldn't happen again etc, and sounded quite sincere as they said it. 'Okay, all sorted then' I thought.
My experience of Post Office Motor Insurance was sadly not a happy one.
I took advantage of a cash back offer for taking out a comprehensive Motor Insurance policy, within a short time the documents arrived, but then I found a better offer. As I was still well within the 14 day okay-to-change-your-mind 'cooling-off' period, I cancelled the policy and took one out with the alternative provider.
Somehow the Post Office, despite being very pleasant and understanding on the telephone, and having had the Certificate of Insurance documents returned to them as requested, somehow charged my debit card for the full amount anyway.
I thought this must simply be an error, however I was concerned as my bank account was not exactly flush at the time, I had after all just paid the OTHER insurance provider for their policy, and lots of other bills were coming out too, so I went straight to my bank and was fortunately able to reverse this, though they did warn me that if it happened again they might not be able to reverse it, and that I might be charged.
I asked how it was possible that a company could take money from my account in this way, when I had not authorised the transaction, surely this was a matter for the police? My bank manager informed me it was because I had used a Solo Debit Card, this gave the company free reign to request the payment (in fact any amount of their choosing) whenever they liked! So, by giving them my Debit Card details they could do what they liked and did not require authorisation in order to do it! Can you believe that? This a system which operates today, were you aware of it? I certainly wasn't until this happened.
I contacted the Post Office to ask why they had taken payment on what was clearly a cancelled policy. They apologised, saying it had been a mistake, very sorry. I grumbled about the inconvenience and the hassle and generally was able to convey that I was not a happy bunny, they were very apologetic, said it wouldn't happen again etc, and sounded quite sincere as they said it. 'Okay, all sorted then' I thought.
Alas no, because they did indeed make yet another attempt to take the payment from my bank account, this time my bank were prepared to reverse the payment, however they would have to charge me if it happened again.
I explained that the money should never have been taken, with a potted history of events leading up to that day. They basically said 'not our fault, if it goes over, you get charged, them's the rules', I'm sure you can imagine how annoyed and frustrated I was by this time. A company as supposedly reputable as the Post Office, helping themselves to my money as and when they liked, I could barely believe they were doing it.
So, I called the Post Office Car Insurance department AGAIN. They apologised AGAIN, and said it had been a mistake. I told them that the payment had been reversed by my bank, but that if it happened again I would be charged by my bank as taking the money at this stage would not only incur the charge, but also put my account overdrawn (which would of course incur even more charges!). I even told them that if the money was taken and these charges were placed on my account, I would pass those on to the Post Office as it was so clearly their fault. I was assured in no uncertain terms that they would not try to take the money from my account again.
Yes you guessed right. They DID take the money out for a THIRD time, only this time I knew the bank would charge me for the honour and privilege of reversing the payment, so I first went to the Citizens Advice Bureau. The CAB took the matter up on my behalf and I had that payment reversed without charges. Phew!
On the suggestion of the bank (who said it was a really sure way to put an end to it) I cancelled my Direct Debit card rendering it useless to anyone wishing to use it to withdraw a payment from my account, including me, though it only took a few days for a new one to arrive, this one had a different number, thus preventing them from taking any more payments from my account .
The CAB are wonderful (yet completely undervalued in my view - come on, they're volunteers, and they make such an tremendous and positive impact on people's lives every day. Let's see more funding going their way!). The CAB also established that in fact when I had been speaking with the Post Office to request that they should not take a payment for the third time, the staff member must have known that the payment request was already winging it's way to my bank account, so by apologising, and telling me 'no we won't take it again', they would have been well aware that it in fact WAS being taken, only it was a Friday afternoon, and they couldn't be bothered to try to sort it out properly, so they thought they'd just fob me off, lying through their teeth, until I went away, in the hope that when I came back to complain, as I surely would, it might be one of their colleagues who would be left to deal with it instead. I almost wish I had the name of the individual so I could write a letter of complaint to the Post Office naming the staff member personally, however I didn't get it, and even if they'd given a name, one can never be absolutely sure it really is their name, after all, I've worked in offices, I've seen people do name-swapping as a harmless 'one-way-to-pass-the-time' prank, not so much 'angry customer' dodging, as a bit of fun. 'I'm Chris, John, Kate, Harry! I'm Spartacus'!
So here endeth my lesson in not only my experince of taking out a Post Office Motor Insurance policy, but also the security of using your Debit Card online!
What an absolute nightmare this became, when it should have been a very simple and straightforward transaction.
Advantages: Low Cost + Cashback Disadvantages: Havent Found Any Yet
...a insurance policy with the post office on my wifes behalf (about 3 months ago). Having gone to several comparison sites and brokers they were able to offer a quote about £30 cheaper than anyone else. Since the policy only cost £230. this represented a conciderable saving. We also recieved a postal order worth £50 after about 10 days of the policy starting which we were able to cash at our local post office. So esentially the policy was £80 cheaper ... ...insurance I went with the post office again. I purchased a package saving me £60. on my renewal (£225) and am set to recieve the £50 cashback soon making this another great deal.
Unfortunately as with all the best layed plans we found a need to replace my Car before the start of my new policy , and to make life more complicated I would be driving my wifes car and she would be having the new one. So I phoned the customer service number and explained ...
khomer 27.11.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Post office car insurance.
Quick review of Post office car insurance.
As mentioned elsewhere - good initial price, however well stung for change of vehicle. Charged me £20 for the amendment (fair enough I suppose), however my excess went up from £100 to £250, and could not be brought down ! The car is a Peugeot 107, with one of the lowest insurance ratings you can get !!
Good initial price, but you'll pay if you need to change anything. ...
Gilesme 27.11.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Post office car insurance.
Quick review of Post office car insurance.
Athough relatively cheap in comparison with others, I thought I had a good deal. Hire car as standard, personal possessions cover etc... However, as my car was a write-off after an accident which wasn't my fault, the underwriters (Cornhill) said I wasn't entitled to a car, only if my car was 'repairable'. After much haggling with a 'foreign' operator and talking with their supervisor, I was able to get a car for 48 hours. I plan to keep hold of it! The personell I spoke to were hard to understand, very un-sypathetic and completely un-concerned about my predicament. I vehemently DO NOT recommend Post Office Insurance! If you do use them, make sure you check the courtesy car clauses as a matter of course. ...
worzelworzel 17.01.2008
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Post office car insurance.
Advantages: Very cheap comprehensive cover. Cheap renewals. Easy to set up online. Disadvantages: None.
...recieved a quote from the post office after seeing a flyer in my local post office, I was very suprised to see that the quote knocked pounds off my existing insurer. The cover was fully comprehensive and had all the features of my previous insurer. The quote was done online, and the premium was paid for online quickly and very simply, instalments were on offer but the quote was so cheap they weren't necessary. Within a couple of days all the paperwork ... ...could come close to my post office renewal quote. I telephoned and made my payment, the person on the other end was very polite, plesant and friendly, which again I haven't always experienced with other call centres.
I would recommend these insurers for anyone where price is of paramount importance, with cover not being comprimised. My dealings with the post office have been smooth and swift. ...
clairemg 22.03.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Post office car insurance.
Advantages: Very competitive, cash back, easy to apply Disadvantages: None as yet
...the unlikely candidate of the Post Office, whom at the time I was not aware did car insurance. Their quotation was in some cases £100's of pounds cheaper than other quotes I had received.
Applying online was straightforward and painless, their quotation was confirmed and insurance received witin a matter of days.
I have dealt with them by telephone and e-mail to resolve a few changes after receiving their quotation. Their responces has been quick ...
Bruce666 03.05.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Post office car insurance.
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