MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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I had a car insurance policy with Norwich Union/Aviva which ended last August when I changed cars.
At the time of cancelling I had to pay a cancellation fee, so I assumed all was fine.
About 2 months ago my old address started getting mail from Aviva saying that I owed £40, then others saying I owed £60, then £40....So on contacting Aviva by telephone they actualy said I owed £200, because I or my bank had cancelled the direct debit. Yes I agree I should check my bank records, but you expect direct debits work ok. I spoke to my bank and they said the direct debit hadn't been cancelled at all.
So speaking to Aviva again they just washed over the fact and said I owed £200. I asked for a letter and account break down confirming what had been paid and what was out standing. Whilst waiting for this letter I got one from a debt collection agency asking for £17 on behalf of Aviva. I paid this direct to the, and they confirmed the outstanding debt was cleared.
However today another letter as tunred up from Aviva saying I owe £40. So again I rang and they said in fact no I owe £200!! They do not even have a record that I have paid £17 to a debt agency.
I have no problem paying up if I owe money, but I am not going to pay £200 because some one on the phone says I should.
Any ideas what to do from here ?
Ta
Ask for a full breakdown. Email MD if they keep ****ing you around?
You should never have paid the debt collection people for a start if you don't owe money.
Insurance Ombudsman
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/
Contact them, detailing the issue and the steps you've taken to resolve it and detail the mistakes made by Aviva.
Insurance companies get hammered by the ombudsman if they f*ck up.
You should follow the complaints procedure of Aviva first of all. Ombudsman will resist getting involved until this is exhausted.
As always, keep records, dates, letters, calls, etc...
Once they continually **** up, refer to Ombudsman.
And you shouldn't have paid the debt management company (although it's tempting to, given the lower amount). Did you get a receipt?
And next time pick an insurer who doesn't charge admin fees.
I had no option but to pay the debt collection agency. They were not interested in what I was saying about Aviva and Aviva were just as clueless. I have got a receipt from the debt collection agency thankfully.
I will start the Aviva formal complaints procedure as I could do without the stress.
I had no option but to pay the debt collection agency. They were not interested in what I was saying about Aviva and Aviva were just as clueless. I have got a receipt from the debt collection agency thankfully.
That's irrelevant, wait for them to call, call the police and then present the evidence that they're wrong and watch them walk away. By paying the debt you're effectively admitting to having it.
I had no option but to pay the debt collection agency.
why no option? baseball bats?
I had no option but to pay the debt collection agency.
Of course you did. Debt collection agencies are virtually powerless. All you had to do is tell them the debt is in dispute and they must pass the case back to Aviva.
Plenty of good advice to be found here: http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/
1) deny you are the person they claim
2) deny you ever had a car
3) deny you ever had a policy with them
4) insist you overpaid and demand a refund
play them at their own game
If the bailiffs come again, act all crazy by doing that thing that Mel Gibson did at the start of the first Lethal Weapon film.